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PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — An anonymous tip led KXAN investigators to discover hundreds of medical debt lawsuits piling up in one Central Texas court filed on behalf of one local hospital. While its collection methods are legal, what’s most important to convey is the impact they have on patients.
This project aims to show you what can happen financially when you face medical debt, how you can avoid it and why what we discovered could soon have Texas leaders taking a closer look at the state’s debt collection system.
Explore the ‘Medical Debt Lawsuits’ project
- Read the story: Hear from people facing lawsuits and lawmakers and explore interactive charts and multmedia
- Listen to the podcast: A special episode about medical debt challenges across Texas and the U.S.
- Explore behind the scenes: Watch a timeline of lawsuits in Central Texas and learn how this story came together
- Get help: Learn what you should do if you’re sued over medical debt
Catalyst is a specialty unit within the KXAN investigative team focused on “digital-first” storytelling that aims to make a positive change in society. The unit takes a multi-platform, innovative approach to each project and rotates among various investigators. | https://cw33.com/news/texas/medical-debt-lawsuits-hit-hundreds-of-central-texas-patients-prompt-lawmaker-questions/ | 2022-09-12T16:09:58Z |
CHICAGO, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports and merchandise retailer, Rally House, opens their Town and Country location in Arlington Heights, IL, at the Town and Country Shopping Center today. Rally House Town and Country is about 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Perfectly situated right next to US-12 and just south off E Palatine Rd, you can easily find this Rally House store right next to Dick's Sporting Goods.
Now with five locations in the Chicago area, Rally House is proud to continue their growth in the area by providing the best selection of professional, collegiate and local merchandise to fans. With the addition of Rally House Town and Country, customers have the opportunity to shop an even wider, ever-growing assortment of gear for their favorite teams.
Rally House sets themselves apart from other sports and merchandise retailers with an incredible selection of product. They are constantly adding and restocking the latest styles from familiar brands such as Adidas, Nike, New Era, '47 and Antigua. Rally House expands their selection even more with unique merchandise and exclusive designs from vendors located throughout the country. Alongside their in-house private label RALLY Brand™, Rally House embraces local Chicago retailers to complete the assortment of Chicago-inspired designs, some of which are only available at Rally House.
Along with selling local stuff, the new location provides merchandise for the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Fire, Blackhawks and Packers. They also have a wide assortment of college gear for the Illinois Fighting Illini, Loyola Ramblers, Northwestern Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers, Indiana Hoosiers and more.
Rally House offers a full online shopping experience at www.rallyhouse.com featuring a complete selection of merchandise found in over 100 store locations across the U.S. All online orders are packed and fulfilled by local Rally House locations and can be shipped to all 50 states.
For more updates, head to https://www.rallyhouse.com/rally-house-town-and-country or follow Rally House Town and Country on Facebook (@RallyTandC) and Instagram (@rallytandc).
About Rally House
Rally House and Sampler Stores Inc. is a family-owned specialty boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, hats, gifts and home décor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams in addition to locally inspired apparel, gifts and food. Proudly based in Lenexa, Kansas, Rally House operates 100+ locations across 12 states.
CONTACT:
Ashley Beard, District Manager
abeard@rallyhouse.com
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SOURCE Rally House | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/rally-house-grows-five-locations-chicago/ | 2022-04-08T17:34:58Z |
Ana de Armas grew emotional at the premiere of her Marilyn Monroe biopic, "Blonde," at the Venice Film Festival.
The film landed a 14-minute standing ovation on Thursday, where de Armas was seen wiping tears from her face and hugging her costar, Adrien Brody.
The actress stars as Monroe in the movie, which was adapted from Joyce Carol Oates' novel of the same name. Brody plays her third husband, Arthur Miller.
Brody had earlier praised her performance at the film's press conference, saying de Armas was able to transport him "to another time and place."
De Armas told the UK's Sunday Times that the role required a lot of preparation.
'It took me nine months of dialect coaching, and practicing and some additional dialogue replacement sessions [to perfect the accent]. It was a big torture, so exhausting. My brain was fried," she told the outlet.
Brad Pitt, a producer on the film, also showed up to the premiere.
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Ryan Joyce assumes role of President & CEO
Stuart Joyce assumes role of Executive Vice President
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Joyce Farms, a premier provider of all-natural and heritage breed meat and poultry products, announced today that Ryan Joyce, formerly VP of Finance, and Stuart Joyce, formerly VP of Operations, have assumed the roles of President & CEO and Executive Vice President of Joyce Farms, respectively. Ron Joyce, who has served as President & CEO for the last 40 years, will remain Chairman of the Board and will play an active advisory role with the company moving forward.
The change comes as part of a succession plan to ensure company longevity and success. "Both of them grew up in the business," says Ron Joyce. "They helped build Joyce Farms into a successful third-generation company. I am proud of them and what they have already accomplished. This will allow Joyce Farms to continue to grow as a family-owned business long into the future."
Ryan and Stuart represent the third generation of Joyces to lead Joyce Farms since it was founded in 1962 by their grandfather, Alvin Joyce. They follow in the footsteps of their father Ron Joyce, who joined the business in 1971 and spearheaded its growth from a small chicken wholesaler to a multi-species meat and poultry producer specializing in heritage breeds and regenerative farming practices.
"Ron leaves behind big shoes to fill," said Ryan Joyce, "but thanks to his hard work, we have a strong foundation to build on as we lead Joyce Farms into the future."
Ryan first joined Joyce Farms in 2008 after graduating from N.C. State University with a degree in Business Management. In 2010, he left the company to attend Wake Forest University, where he earned his JD/MBA, and soon after, passed the NC Bar. Ryan returned to Joyce Farms in 2014 as VP of Finance before assuming his role as President & CEO.
Executive Vice President Stuart Joyce joined Joyce Farms after graduation from N.C. State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business Management. He has played an active leadership role in the company, overseeing all poultry operations from the plant and hatchery in Winston-Salem to the grow-out of birds for Joyce Farms' Heritage Poultry line.
Established in 1962, Joyce Farms is a family-owned business providing all-natural and heritage meat and poultry products with superior culinary qualities to chefs, butchers and consumers nationwide. Joyce Farms specializes in unique old-world heritage breeds, raised using humane and regenerative agricultural practices. Their Heritage line of products includes Poulet Rouge® Chicken (GAP Step 4), Poulet Rouge® Poussin (young chicken - GAP Step 2), Pintade (French Guinea), Spanish Black Turkey, Aberdeen Angus Beef (GAP Step 4), and Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork (Certified AWA). They also offer a Naked product line, produced without the use of hormones, antibiotics, animal by-products or anything artificial; it includes chicken, duck and rabbit. For more information, visit www.joyce-farms.com.
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SOURCE Joyce Farms | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/joyce-farms-announces-leadership-transition/ | 2022-08-02T15:28:46Z |
In announcing their mother Naomi's death Saturday, Ashley and Wynonna Judd wrote that they lost their "beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness."
She wrote about her battle with severe depression and anxiety in her 2016 memoir, "River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope."
"It's the account of hitting rock bottom and rising again to be thankful for taking my next breath, for the gift of clear thought, for wrestling from a nightmare a way to find joy in each day," Judd wrote in her book.
"They tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal," Judd said at the time. "It really felt like, if I live through this I want someone to be able to see that they can survive."
"Nobody can understand it unless you've been there," Judd told People in 2016. "Think of your very worst day of your whole life -- someone passed away, you lost your job, you found out you were being betrayed, that your child had a rare disease -- you can take all of those at once and put them together and that's what depression feels like."
Her experiences led Judd, who was a nurse before she became famous, to begin advocating for mental health care.
In an essay for NBC in 2017, Judd said her condition kept her "inert for two years" and devastated her daughters and her husband, Larry Strickland, whom she married in 1989.
She advised those suffering from depression to seek assistance from "people that you trust."
"It helps if they've known you a long time, because they can see that there's a pattern. You have to raise your hand and say, 'I'm in deep you-know-what'," Judd wrote.
She shared her struggles with the hope of helping others feel less alone, Judd wrote in the forward to her book, and to thank those who helped her.
"Even in the darkest days," Judd wrote, "I was never blinded to the compassion from my beloveds who continually reached down with loving hands and lifted me out of my harrowing nightmare of despair."
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/naomi-judd-talked-about-her-depression-and-worked-to-help-others-with-it/article_69242d9b-c453-5b3d-817a-de2100b40b72.html | 2022-05-02T16:43:26Z |
San Antonio, TX, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biglari Capital Corp. today issued the following letter to shareholders of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL). See below for the shareholder letter in its original form.
Dear Fellow Cracker Barrel Shareholders:
We are shareholders of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (the "Company"), with an ownership of 2,055,141 shares, representing 8.8% of the Company's outstanding shares.
On December 14, 2021, we issued a public letter to shareholders highlighting our concerns about Cracker Barrel's poor performance. Six months later, Cracker Barrel continues to lag behind its peer group, as the table below demonstrates.
Total Shareholder Return
We believe management has neglected to focus on core issues relating to the Company's customer traffic and store-level margins. In our view, there is no sound rationale for pursuing headlong expansion of new units when a significant productivity gap persists in existing units.
Clearly, management is unable to execute effectively. An example is its insistence on pursuing a younger demographic customer base, which has not gained traction. The effects of poor managerial decisions are manifest in the Company's revenue and profit figures. Unlike many of its peers, Cracker Barrel has struggled to return to pre-Covid profit levels. The Company's average restaurant sales are still below those of the pre-Covid era. Among its peer group, Cracker Barrel has one of the worst operating earnings post-Covid in comparison to its pre-Covid performance.
Over the last five years, the CEO has failed to retain customers; failed in a major acquisition, with a 100% loss within eight months; and failed to adapt to a modern post-pandemic environment. Cracker Barrel management has been consistent in losing customers and blaming external factors for its underperformance. It is time to replace CEO Sandy Cochran. Furthermore, the Company should return cash to shareholders through an aggressive share repurchase program or through a significant special dividend. We continue to see that a dollar in the hands of current management turns into less than a dollar of value for shareholders.
Sincerely,
/s/ Sardar Biglari
Sardar Biglari
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SOURCE Biglari Capital Corp. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/biglari-capital-corp-issues-letter-shareholders-cracker-barrel-old-country-store-inc/ | 2022-06-06T12:40:52Z |
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its HUD Production team in Chicago with the addition of Brett Murphy. Mr. Murphy will be responsible for growing the FHA seniors housing business utilizing the power of Walker & Dunlop's platform across HUD, GSE, bridge, and investment sales.
"We are pleased to welcome Brett to the team at Walker & Dunlop," said Dana Wade, Chief Production Officer of the FHA Finance team. "His skills and expertise will translate well into his new role, and I believe he will play an important part in our continued growth and ability to maintain the leadership positions that we've earned with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD."
Before joining Walker & Dunlop, Mr. Murphy was a director at Lancaster Pollard, a Lument legacy firm, where he was responsible for originating and leading seniors housing and healthcare transactions, including tax-exempt bond offerings, proprietary lending, HUD/FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and USDA financing programs. Prior to joining Lument in 2013, Mr. Murphy worked at Banco Santander. He also held positions at Wells Fargo and State Street Bank & Trust.
Mr. Murphy earned his bachelor's in finance from Bentley University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame with a dual focus in corporate finance and investments. He also holds registered licenses FINRA Series 79, 52, and 63.
Walker & Dunlop was recently ranked the #3 HUD lender based on both MAP (Multifamily Accelerated Processing) and LEAN volume for the 2021. In 2021 alone, the firm originated nearly $737 million of seniors housing, skilled nursing, and healthcare transactions through various capital sources. To learn more about our capabilities and financing options, visit our website.
About Walker & Dunlop
Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest providers of capital to the commercial real estate industry in the United States, enabling real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities — where Americans live, work, shop and play — to life. Our people, brand and technology make W&D one of the most insightful and customer-focused firms in our industry. With more than 1,400 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work® and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.
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SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/walker-amp-dunlop-grows-hud-production-team-with-addition-senior-director-brett-murphy/ | 2022-08-01T23:58:05Z |
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. , July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A leader in value-based, precision medicine, Integra Connect shares its perspective on the program and lessons from the Oncology Care Model
--Dr. Charles Saunders, CEO of Integra Connect
Integra Connect, LLC. is pleased that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) announced the next iteration of its value-based, oncology care model – the Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM). It's clear that CMMI is committed to advancing value-based, patient-centered cancer care and supporting provider and payer efforts to improve patient outcomes, while managing costs.
Integra Connect worked with approximately 1,500 oncology providers to drive their success in the Oncology Care Model (OCM), generating more than $200M in value-based care revenue and $50M in shared savings for our customers. In our experience, high-performing organizations used technology and insights to effectively manage hospital admissions, emergency department (ED) admissions, end-of-life expenses, and treatment decisions. Based on this experience, we are pleased that CMMI rolled several of these OCM program components into the EOM program, but also made strategic enhancements that will enable participants – regardless of their performance or participation in OCM – to find opportunities for improvement and growth, including:
- Diagnosis-specific target pricing: Oncology providers received a higher monthly enhanced oncology services fee (MEOS) under OCM, but the risk adjustment to determine target prices was based on a single price prediction model regardless of cancer type. This impacted the ability for practices to earn a performance-based payment (PBP) for in episodes with higher cost, more complex cancers.
Under EOM, target prices will be determined using cancer type specific price predictions, with CMMI setting pricing targets specifically for seven prevalent types of cancer, all commonly treated with systemic chemotherapy. These cancer types include breast cancer, chronic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and small intestine/colorectal cancer.
This is a positive change given that some cancer types are extremely complex and those patient cases require more time intensive interventions, enhanced support and services, as well as potentially more expensive treatments.
- Data availability: As part of OCM, CMS only sent claims data on a quarterly basis. Under EOM, practices can request the data be shared monthly. This increased transparency can help EOM participants by providing greater clarity on the episode attribution process – identifying patients who are most likely eligible for the program early on, and monitoring performance vs. the claims-based quality measures included in EOM.
- Benchmark pricing: With OCM, some practices found it difficult to compete against their own baselines-- or did not enroll in the program-- because they were already efficient. Benchmark pricing continues to be an important part of CMMI's oncology value-based care program, but under EOM, prices will not be based solely on a practice's own historical data – it added regional and national comparators to the experience adjuster that will be used to establish benchmark pricing. This is good news for high-performing organizations because it outlines how they can succeed and generate savings or performance bonuses based on those actions.
EOM also features new program components that reflect feedback from the industry, including: prioritizing health equity, understanding social determinants of health and using electronic patient reported outcomes (ePROs). While we don't yet know the impact of these actions, we believe that by making them a priority, EOM will play an important role in improving patient outcomes for years to come.
The EOM announcement was exciting, but not without controversy. Like others, we were surprised that CMMI introduced a lower MEOS payment under EOM, compared to OCM. However, upon further review, we believe that the change may create a smoother path towards shared savings, especially given the positive changes outlined above. Additionally, while we were not surprised by the inclusion of a two-sided risk model with stop loss and stop gain limits, we do acknowledge that this will be different for organizations, but also an imperative for those seeking to improve performance and impact provider behaviors.
As the industry awaits more information about the program, Integra Connect is evaluating ways to leverage our OCM experience, value-based care expertise, and technology leadership to help practices and payers succeed under EOM. For this reason, we will be hosting a webinar on August 3, 2022 at 3PM EDT/12PM PDT to provide insights on the program, how to evaluate your organization's readiness and capacity for EOM, and actions you can take now to succeed in 2023.
Register for the webinar
Read the blog
About our OCM Experience
Integra Connect supported OCM-participating oncology providers, practices, and payers for five years and across more than 200,000 patient episodes, representing one of the largest networks of OCM lives.
About Integra Connect
Integra Connect is a value-based, precision medicine company. While other companies may focus on one of these areas, Integra Connect's combined approach means providers, payers, and life sciences companies can harness value-based, precision medicine principles to improve their decision-making and make a difference in patients' lives.
Media Contact: Alyssa Howerton, +1.240.816.1645, alyssa@fordhutmanmedia.com
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SOURCE Integra Connect | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/integra-connect-statement-enhancing-oncology-model/ | 2022-07-14T20:42:16Z |
LOS ANGELES, April 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaMedia, the world's first global entertainment platform that delivers movies, premium content and live events to cinemas and other venues, today announced that Premiere Cinemas and Fridley Theatres will join its network.
"We're thrilled to partner with Fridley and Premiere as we continue to help usher in a content and technology renaissance for the cinema industry," said MetaMedia CEO Jason Brenek. "Where movie theatres have always been a mainstay of entertainment, now many cinema circuits are finding that with the MetaMedia network, they can also become centers for concerts, sports, faith-based, education, gaming, fan gatherings and other live events. Ultimately, our platform enables cinemas to evolve from being a part of a community, to the center of it."
In total, the two additional cinema circuits will add more than 350 movie screens to the MetaMedia network. Premiere Cinemas, which was one of the first cinemas to convert from 35 mm film to digital projectors and the first exhibitor to deploy cinemas without traditional projection booths, operates 266 screens across 18 theatres. Fridley Theatres, an Iowa-based exhibitor, operates 18 theatres and 98 screens.
"As an exhibitor that has always leveraged leading-edge technology to provide the most innovative cinematic experience possible, we are excited to adopt MetaMedia's game-changing technology" said Premiere Cinemas Chief Operating Officer Joel Davis. "We are eager to realize both the operational and expense efficiencies of MetaMedia's broadband delivery network as well as the new content opportunities that MetaMedia is helping us to have access to."
For nearly fifty years, Fridley Theatres has been at the forefront of the Iowa cinema industry, and MetaMedia's new technology will help us be continue to deliver new and exciting content to our audiences for another fifty more" said Fridley Theatres President Russell Vannorsdel. "With MetaMedia's technology we can look forward to providing even more of the best entertainment experiences for our guests."
As cinemas continue to see attendance rising above pre-pandemic levels, Premiere Cinemas and Fridley Theatres will join MetaMedia's revolutionary cloud-based network, which provides users with access to a variety of premium pre-recorded and live content from a number of content producers and distributors. Over the past year, MetaMedia delivered more than a hundred Bollywood, Japanese Anime and Hollywood Studio movies, premieres and fan events. This includes esports and concerts, involving BTS, Bon Jovi, Florida Georgia Line, Radiohead side project The Smile and more.
MetaMedia also maintains an exclusive partnership with Magic Screen, the world's first interactive platform for animated and live content. The groundbreaking technology, supported by industry leading partners, engages audiences and allows them to have individual, unscripted conversations with live-action and animated characters. It also allows thousands of people in multiple theatres and cities to simultaneously share the same experience, which is all controlled from one centralized location.
About MetaMedia
MetaMedia is the first global entertainment platform that delivers movies, premium content and live events to cinemas and other venues around the world. Powered by Microsoft Azure, MetaMedia's cloud-based platform provides for the secure, rapid and cost-effective delivery of big-screen entertainment to cinemas, drive-ins, arenas and other commercial venues. MetaMedia is headquartered in Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.metamedia.global.
About Premiere Cinemas
Texas-based Premiere Cinemas is among the nation's largest independent cinema circuits and is known for the state-of-the-art all digital multiplexes it has built throughout the South. Together with its in-house design and construction division, Premiere Development Corp., and its equipment supply division Premiere Projection Technologies, Premiere has positioned itself as a one-stop cinema shop handling all aspects of the cinema implementation initiative by focusing on innovation, aesthetics, and functionality and value. For more information, please visit www.pccmovies.com.
About Fridley Theatres
R.L. Fridley Theatres, Inc. was formed as an Iowa corporation in 1974 and operates 98 screens across its 18 theatres. For more information, please visit www.fridleytheatres.com.
Contacts:
Charles Chamberlayne
ChamberlaynePR
Tel. (202) 302-7612
charles@chamberlaynePR.com
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SOURCE MetaMedia | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/20/metamedia-welcomes-premiere-cinemas-fridley-theatres-its-network-adding-over-350-new-screens/ | 2022-04-20T20:37:02Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of 17 Education & Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: YQ) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with 17EdTech's December 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important September 19, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline, in the securities class action commenced by the Firm.
SO WHAT: If you purchased 17EdTech securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the 17EdTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7395 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 19, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the IPO Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendant 17EdTech's K-12 Academic AST Services would end less than a year after the IPO; (2) as part of its ongoing regulatory efforts, Chinese authorities would imminently curtail and/or end 17EdTech's core business; and (3) as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the 17EdTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7395 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/yq-investor-notice-rosen-top-ranked-national-investor-attorneys-encourages-17-education-amp-technology-group-inc-investors-with-losses-excess-100k-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-filed-by-firm-yq/ | 2022-08-09T19:06:44Z |
Last Tuesday’s primary election was in many ways a test of former President Trump’s influence in Georgia. He endorsed no less than eight different Georgia candidates for various offices as he sought to flex his political muscle.
Hoping that his support would act as a magic silver bullet that would slay political opponents and clear the path to electoral success, many candidates slavishly strove to obtain his endorsement. But how effective was Trump in Georgia on primary election day? It turns out not very much.
There were no Georgia races that Trump was more interested in than governor and secretary of state, and he has minced no words about his feelings for Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He blames them, in part, for his failed re-election bid, and wanted them to violate the Constitution and invalidate a legally run and fair election.
Given his vendetta, Trump endorsed former Sen. David Perdue for governor and Congressman Jody Hice for secretary of state — both of whom have peddled debunked falsehoods about stolen elections. However, the Trump endorsement seems to have lost much of its power. Not only did Kemp defeat Perdue, it was a complete rout. Kemp hauled in nearly 74 percent of the vote. Raffensperger also enjoyed a fruitful election night. He had enough votes to avoid a run-off and won outright.
These races weren’t outliers, though. Trump-backed candidates for attorney general and insurance commissioner also were soundly defeated. Patrick Witt for insurance commissioner garnered only around 17% of the vote, while John Gordon earned some 26 percent in the AG race. Yet, it wasn’t a total loss for Trump on Tuesday night.
Trump threw his support behind Vernon Jones and Jake Evans for different congressional seats. Both men competed in crowded fields, and they are poised to make it to runoffs even though neither was the top vote-getter in his race. Despite this, their candidacies shouldn’t be discounted, given that Georgia runoffs sometimes favor those who were the runners-up in primary elections.
Where Trump will likely see proof of his influence is in the senatorial and lieutenant governor races. Former University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker grabbed Trump’s endorsement for Senate and sprinted to an easy victory — capturing more than 68 percent of the vote. Did Trump elevate him to victory? I don’t think so. Trump could have endorsed anyone else in the race, and it probably wouldn’t have mattered. Walker is essentially royalty and a mega-celebrity in Georgia, and he was viewed as the presumptive nominee since he announced his candidacy.
Trump supported another former UGA football player — state Sen. Burt Jones — for lieutenant governor, and Jones enjoyed a strong showing on election night. While he teetered on the edge of being forced into a runoff with Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller, Jones eventually won outright by the narrowest of margins. It’s hard to determine whether Trump’s backing played a major role in this race, but it is apparent why Trump continues to remain politically active.
After his electoral rebuke and banishment from Twitter, he has refused to fade into obscurity or retire to a quiet life of opulence at Mar-a-Lago. Rather, he has held rallies and endorsed a slew of candidates. In fact, he seems to be attempting to refashion himself into a sort of GOP king-maker or party boss. Meanwhile, Trump appears pleased to have politicians from across the country begging for his approval, and understandably so.
His political involvement keeps him relevant in the political realm; he can reshape the Republican Party in his own image; he can help put men and women in power who will subsequently owe him a favor, if he ever needs it; and finally, he can use his endorsements to punish officials who crossed him.
For some time, the Trump endorsement was a powerful tool in GOP primaries. So was it a powerful tool in the recent Georgia primaries? Of the eight races covered in this piece, only two of his candidates were the top vote getters and four were resoundingly defeated at the polls, which isn’t a great record. This suggests that Trump’s backing isn’t so potent after all. That’s not to say that it isn’t valuable — far from it.
There is certainly a cadre of Trump loyalists who blindly make their decisions based upon what the former president tells them to do. For most Georgians, I think the Trump endorsement is much less important and is only one small factor among many others that inform their decisions. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/marc-hyden-how-effective-is-the-trump-card-in-georgia-elections/article_2f806b96-e28c-11ec-a3ef-8b3973ff9cc6.html | 2022-06-02T22:06:25Z |
When a shooter attacked a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, over the weekend, its security guard tried to stop him. At least one of his shots hit the gunman, but it didn’t stop the deadly rampage because the gunman was wearing body armor.
Ten Black people died in the racist massacre, including security guard Aaron Salter, a retired Buffalo police officer hailed as a hero. It’s the latest mass shooting in which the gunman apparently came prepared for anyone trying to stop him with a gun.
At least 21 mass shooters over the last four decades have worn some kind of body armor — and the majority of those were within the last 10 years, according to a database maintained by The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research group that tracks gun violence.
Among them: A massacre that killed 12 people and injured dozens more at a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012, and another in nearby Boulder that left 10 people dead at a supermarket last year. The shooter in Texas’s deadliest mass slaying was also wearing protective gear when he killed more than two dozen people at a church in 2017, as was a radicalized Islamic couple who carried out a terror attack in San Bernardino, California, in 2015.
“They’re demonstrating this intent that, ‘I want to absolutely kill or hurt as many people as I possibly can before I just can’t fight anymore,’” said Chris Burbank, the former police chief in Salt Lake City who’s now with the Center for Policing Equity.
The Violence Project database doesn’t show a clear correlation with body armor and the number of victims. But such gear can enable attackers to shoot longer and is a symbolic way to adhere to societal expectations of what a mass shooting looks like, said James Densley, a criminal justice professor at Metro State University in Minnesota who co-founded The Violence Project.
“A mass shooting is intended to be a final act — you don’t get away with a mass shooting,” Densley said. “So it’s meant to be a big spectacle, and it’s meant to have people pay attention and to notice it. One of the ways you do that is you dress up pretending you’re in the military.”
Police officers are seeing body armor in other types of investigations, like narcotics cases, said former Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. Body armor is relatively easy to get, especially the soft body armor similar to the bulletproof vests regularly worn by police officers that are effective against handguns.
Getting body armor isn’t difficult under U.S. laws. It’s illegal under federal law for a convicted felon to buy body armor, but other than that there are few restrictions on purchasing it. Only one state blocks it from being ordered online and shipped to homes: Connecticut, which requires a face-to-face purchase.
Colina would like to see more states consider stricter rules.
“I don’t think it’s something that is really thought about too much, but we’ve seen it many times and we’ve seen it here in south Florida,” Colina said. “Somebody commits a crime wearing body armor, and it’s terrifying. The idea that you may not be able to stop them if you had to use deadly force is terrifying.”
Still, body armor itself isn’t inherently dangerous and is in fact aimed at protection — something on the minds of many people amid a spike in gun violence in the U.S., Burbank said. And it’s unclear what effective body armor regulation would even look like, given the difficulty of regulating the weapons that are used in the shootings.
“Most of those same laws apply to guns,” Burbank said. “Does that prohibit anyone in this nation from having access to a firearm?”
Body armor hasn’t been worn in the majority of mass shootings, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who has been tracking mass killings back to 2006 along with The Associated Press and USA Today.
But it does indicate a level of planning. Body armor was mentioned more than a dozen times in the online writings attributed to the white suspect in the Buffalo shooting, Payton Gendron, who was arrested at the supermarket and has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The Violence Project database also doesn’t include slayings that don’t meet the definition of a mass shooting because fewer than four people were killed.
In one such shooting at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University Hospital last October, a nursing assistant wearing blue scrubs and a ballistics vest killed a co-worker and then wounded two police officers before being killed himself. In another, this month in Round Rock, Texas, a 31-year-old Marine veteran wounded a neighbor before engaging in a shootout with law enforcement, after which he was found dead, wearing body armor.
In contrast to U.S. laws, four Canadian provinces have enacted severe restrictions on the possession of body armor — Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Residents must obtain permits to possess body armor, including ballistic vests, and must undergo background checks before getting those permits, which must be renewed on an annual or biannual basis. Violators face hefty fines and jail time.
Alberta adopted its law in 2012 because of spiraling gang violence in which gang members wore vests while committing crimes such as drive-by shootings and even sported them in public, said Ian Roddick, a spokesman with the province’s Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General.
Applicants must have no criminal record. Permits generally are granted to those whose jobs, such as security guards, require protection.
Some Australian territories also restrict body armor possession.
___
Associated Press writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/buffalo-is-latest-mass-shooting-by-gunman-wearing-body-armor/ | 2022-05-19T08:47:43Z |
TAIPEI, Taiwan, R.O.C., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (TAIEX: 3711, NYSE: ASX) ("We", "ASEH", or the "Company"), the leading provider of semiconductor assembly and testing services (ATM) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today reported its unaudited net revenues[1] of NT$160,439 million for 2Q22, up by 26% year-over-year (or up by 33% year-over-year on pro forma basis) and up by 11% sequentially. Net income attributable to shareholders of the parent for the quarter totaled NT$15,988 million, up from a net income attributable to shareholders of the parent of NT$10,338 million in 2Q21 (or up from a net income attributable to shareholders of the parent of NT$9,539 million in 2Q21 on pro forma basis) and up from a net income attributable to shareholders of the parent of NT$12,907 million in 1Q22. Basic earnings per share for the quarter were NT$3.69 (or US$0.253 per ADS), compared to NT$2.40 for 2Q21 (or NT$2.21 for 2Q21 on pro forma basis) and NT$3.01 for 1Q22. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were NT$3.61 (or US$0.247 per ADS), compared to NT$2.30 for 2Q21 (or NT$2.12 for 2Q21 on pro forma basis) and NT$2.92 for 1Q22.
We are providing you with the unaudited pro forma financial information to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of our disposal of the China Sites in 4Q21. The unaudited pro forma financial information was based on our historical financial statements and historical financial statements of our China sites, given effect to the disposal as if it had occurred for the preceding three months and six months ended 2Q21. For more details on our operations, please refer to "Supplemental Financial Information", "Summary of Consolidated Statement of Income Data", and "Summary of ATM Statement of Income Data."
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2Q22 Results Highlights – Consolidated
- Net revenues contribution from packaging operations, testing operations, EMS operations and others, each represented approximately 49%, 9%, 41% and 1%, respectively, of the total net revenues of the quarter.
- Cost of revenues was NT$126,051 million for the quarter, up from NT$115,920 million in 1Q22.
- Raw material cost totaled NT$79,348 million for the quarter, representing 50% of the total net revenues.
- Labor cost totaled NT$17,637 million for the quarter, representing 11% of the total net revenues.
- Depreciation, amortization and rental expenses totaled NT$12,603 million for the quarter. - Gross margin increased by 1.7 percentage points to 21.4% in 2Q22 from 19.7% in 1Q22.
- Operating margin was 12.8% in 2Q22, compared to 11.2% in 1Q22.
- In terms of non-operating items:
- Net interest expense was NT$702 million.
- Net foreign exchange loss of NT$1,301 million was primarily attributable to the appreciation of U.S. dollar against New Taiwan dollar.
- Net gain on valuation of financial assets and liabilities was NT$1,543 million.
- Net gain on equity-method investments was NT$486 million.
- Other net non-operating income of NT$504 million was primarily attributable to miscellaneous income. Total non-operating income for the quarter was NT$530 million. - Income before tax was NT$21,136 million for 2Q22, compared to NT$16,663 million in 1Q22. We recorded income tax expenses of NT$4,479 million for the quarter, compared to NT$3,278 million in 1Q22.
- In 2Q22, net income attributable to shareholders of the parent was NT$15,988 million, compared to NT$10,338 million in 2Q21 and NT$12,907 million in 1Q22.
- Our total number of shares outstanding at the end of the quarter was 4,359,927,932, including treasury stock owned by our subsidiaries in 2Q22. Our 2Q22 basic earnings per share of NT$3.69 (or US$0.253 per ADS) were based on 4,326,986,427 weighted average numbers of shares outstanding in 2Q22. Our 2Q22 diluted earnings per share of NT$3.61 (or US$0.247 per ADS) were based on 4,375,107,331 weighted average number of shares outstanding in 2Q22.
2Q22 Results Highlights – ATM
- Net revenues were NT$94,998 million, up by 20% year-over-year (or up by 31% year-over-year on pro forma basis) and up by 13% sequentially.
- Cost of revenues was NT$67,230 million for the quarter, up by 10% sequentially.
- Raw material cost totaled NT$26,615 million for the quarter, representing 28% of the total net revenues.
- Labor cost totaled NT$14,575 million for the quarter, representing 15% of the total net revenues.
- Depreciation, amortization and rental expenses totaled NT$11,383 million for the quarter. - Gross margin increased by 1.7 percentage points to 29.2% in 2Q22 from 27.5% in 1Q22.
- Operating margin was 18.9% in 2Q22, compared to 16.7% in 1Q22.
2Q22 Results Highlights – EMS
- Net revenues were NT$66,218 million, up by 8% sequentially.
- Cost of revenues for the quarter was NT$59,568 million, up by 7% sequentially.
- Raw material cost totaled NT$52,633 million for the quarter, representing 80% of the total net revenues.
- Labor cost totaled NT$2,953 million for the quarter, representing 4% of the total net revenues.
- Depreciation, amortization and rental expenses totaled NT$948 million for the quarter. - Gross margin increased by 1.2 percentage points to 10.0% in 2Q22 from 8.8% in 1Q22.
- Operating margin was 4.0% in 2Q22, compared to 3.6% in 1Q22.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
- Capital expenditures in 2Q22 totaled US$515 million, of which US$290 million were used in packaging operations, US$161 million in testing operations, US$53 million in EMS operations and US$11 million in interconnect materials operations and others.
- Total unused credit lines amounted to NT$312,365 million as of June 30, 2022.
- Current ratio was 1.18 and net debt to equity ratio was 0.50 as of June 30, 2022.
- Total number of employees was 97,800 as of June 30, 2022, compared to 94,879 as of March 31, 2022.
BUSINESS REVIEW
Customers
ATM Basis
- Our five largest customers together accounted for approximately 46% of our total net revenues in 2Q22, compared to 47% in 1Q22. Two customers each accounted for more than 10% of our total net revenues in 2Q22 individually.
- Our top 10 customers contributed 59% of our total net revenues in both 2Q22 and 1Q22.
- Our customers that are integrated device manufacturers or IDMs accounted for 30% of our total net revenues in 2Q22, compared to 29% in 1Q22.
EMS BASIS
- Our five largest customers together accounted for approximately 66% of our total net revenues in 2Q22, compared to 70% in 1Q22. One customer accounted for more than 10% of our total net revenues in 2Q22.
- Our top 10 customers contributed 75% of our total net revenues in 2Q22, compared to 79% in 1Q22.
About ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
ASEH is the leading provider of semiconductor manufacturing services in assembly and test. The Company develops and offers complete turnkey solutions covering front-end engineering test, wafer probing and final test, as well as packaging, materials and electronic manufacturing services through USI with superior technologies, breakthrough innovations, and advanced development programs. With advanced technological capabilities and a global presence spanning Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico, and Tunisia as well as the United States and Europe, ASEH has established a reputation for reliable, high quality products and services.
For more information, please visit our website at https://www.aseglobal.com.
Safe Harbor Notice
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although these forward-looking statements, which may include statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects, are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements for reasons including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor or electronic industry; changes in our regulatory environment, including our ability to comply with new or stricter environmental regulations and to resolve environmental liabilities; demand for the outsourced semiconductor packaging, testing and electronic manufacturing services we offer and for such outsourced services generally; the highly competitive semiconductor or manufacturing industry we are involved in; our ability to introduce new technologies in order to remain competitive; international business activities; our business strategy; our future expansion plans and capital expenditures; the strained relationship between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China; general economic and political conditions; the recent shift in United States trade policies; possible disruptions in commercial activities caused by natural or human-induced disasters; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and other factors. For a discussion of these risks and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2021 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on March 29, 2022.
Supplemental Financial Information
(Unaudited)
Consolidated Operations
ATM Operations
EMS Operations
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Summary of Consolidated Statement of Income Data
(In NT$ millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Summary of ATM Statement of Income Data
(In NT$ millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Summary of EMS Statement of Income Data
(In NT$ millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Summary of Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(In NT$ millions)
(Unaudited)
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
Summary of Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Data
(In NT$ millions)
(Unaudited)
Investor Relations Contact:
ir@aseglobal.com
Tel: +886.2.6636.5678
http://www.aseglobal.com
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SOURCE ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/ase-technology-holding-co-ltd-reports-its-unaudited-consolidated-financial-results-second-quarter-2022/ | 2022-07-28T07:58:15Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — In case you missed them last time they were in town, don’t worry, here is another chance to grab a bite of Chicago.
Portillo’s Beef Bus Food Truck is coming back to North Texas this month from Sept. 13-24. Officials say they will serve up classic food items including:
- Chicago-style hot dog with everything: mustard, relish, celery salt, chopped onions, tomatoes, kosher pickle, and sport peppers on a steamed poppy seed bun
- Italian Beef Sandwich, a mini version, served on French bread, and topped with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera peppers
- Polish Sausage with everything: mustard, celery salt, chopped onions, tomatoes, kosher pickle, and sport peppers on a poppyseed bun
- Maxwell Street Polish Sausage with yellow mustard and sliced grilled onions
Here is their full North Texas schedule
- Tuesday, 9/13 – Wednesday, 9/14 Dallas Arboretum 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218 10:30 a.m. (while supplies last)
- Tickets are required to enter. Enter at Gate 4. Tickets are $10 for non-members.
- Friday, 9/16 Harvest House 331 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201 2 p.m.; open through dinner (while supplies last)
- Saturday, 9/17- Sunday, 9/18 Taste of Oak Cliff 221 West Twelfth Street, Dallas, TX 75208 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (while supplies last)
- Tickets are required to enter.
- Tuesday, 9/20 Nebraska Furniture Mart 5600 Nebraska Furniture Mart Dr., The Colony, TX 75056 4 p.m.; open for dinner (while supplies last)
- Wednesday, 9/21 Truck Yard Dallas 5624 Sears St, Dallas, TX 75206 11 a.m.; open for lunch and dinner service (while supplies last)
- Thursday, 9/22 Truck Yard The Colony 5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX 75056 11 a.m.; open for lunch and dinner service (while supplies last)
- Friday, 9/23 Truck Yard The Colony 5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX 75056 11 a.m.; open for lunch and dinner service (while supplies last)
- Saturday, 9/24 Texas Live! 1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, TX 76011 11 a.m.; open for lunch (while supplies last)
For more information, click here. | https://cw33.com/news/local/portillos-beef-bus-food-truck-is-coming-back-to-north-texas-heres-when/ | 2022-09-09T16:02:55Z |
BERLIN (AP) — German police recorded a significant increase of depictions of sexual abuse against children last year compared to the year before, the country’s top criminal police official said Monday.
More than 39,000 cases — or an increase of 108.8% — came to the attention of authorities last year, according to a special analysis of police crime statistics presented to reporters in Berlin. Those cases include the distribution, acquisition, possession and production of depictions of sexual violence against children and teenagers.
According to the report, known cases of child sexual abuse rose by 6.3% last year to more than 15,500. The annual figures only cover the fraction of cases that police are aware of — the real figures are expected to be much higher, said Holger Muench, the head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office.
Authorities estimate that one to two students per school class in Germany are affected by sexual violence.
Muench also said that more people are reporting suspicions of child abuse than in the past.
“We very much welcome this: serious acts of violence against children and young people, as the weakest members of society, must be particularly outlawed, prosecuted and brought to an end,” he said.
Germany’s Independent Commissioner on Child Sexual Abuse, Kerstin Claus, pointed out that Europe has become a hub for the dissemination of abuse images.
“We need increased European cooperation and significantly more investment in the human and technological resources of the investigating authorities,” she demanded. “Every investigative success is important because it offers the chance to stop acute child abuse and prevent further acts.”
Later Monday, police and prosecutors in Cologne presented new findings about a suspected sexual child abuse case.
Cologne Police President Falk Schnabel told reporters that a 44-year-old German man from Wermelskirchen near Cologne was arrested on suspicion of several cases of severe child abuse and possession of huge amounts of child abuse depictions on both video and photos.
“I am truly shocked and stunned,” Schnabel said. “I have not yet encountered such a level of inhuman brutality and callous indifference to the suffering of young children in pain with their cries and obvious fear.”
The married man, whose name wasn’t given in line with German privacy rule, offered his services as a babysitter online. He abused babies as young as a month old and teenagers up to 14 years old. The amount of data — from 1993 to the present — found on his computer is so big that investigators have only been able to scour about 10% of the abuse depictions even though the suspect was detained in December.
In addition to the child pornography, authorities also found a list on the man’s computer of more than 70 suspects who shared or possessed child abuse material with the main suspect. These suspects are now also being investigated, Schnabel said. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/germany-reports-rise-of-child-sex-abuse-depiction-of-abuse/ | 2022-05-31T07:59:35Z |
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Spring 2022 Fort Riley combined graduation honors recent graduates
MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - Soldiers, veterans, and family members celebrated completing degrees from the colleges and universities serving Fort Riley.
More than 100 graduates crossed the stage at the Hilton Garden Inn, receiving diplomas from their respective schools.
Some graduates say making it through the pandemic to graduation was a milestone of its own.
“It’s crazy ‘cause I didn’t really think that I would make it this far…after COVID…it kind of got hard to stay with it.” Barton Community College Graduate Associate in Arts degree Jillian French says.
Another graduate is successfully completing her Associate’s degree -- before graduating high school.
“It is a lot of work. It takes a lot, you have to have a very high mental strength…but you can definitely do it, if you put your mind to it, you can definitely do it.” Barton Community College Graduate Associate in Arts in Business Administration Degree Kathryn Krepel says.
“To actually complete her degree before her high school education shows the kind of character and the leader…the born leader that she’s going to be.” Barton Community College Graduate Associate in Arts in Business Administration Degree DaWayne Krepel says.
Fort Riley partners with seven colleges – including k-state – central Michigan – and Barton and Hutchinson community colleges – to offer both on-post and online degree programs. Since not everyone can attend the ceremonies at schools far away, the post wanted to be sure to recognize their efforts.
The graduates say earning a degree makes the sleepless nights and hard work worth the effort.
“The harder something is, the greater the reward, so that’s what I would say…it is tough but it’s all worth it in the end.” French says.
“I couldn’t be prouder.” DaWayne Krepel says.
Graduates and their families were treated to a cupcake reception following the graduation ceremony.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/20/spring-2022-fort-riley-combined-graduation-honors-recent-graduates/ | 2022-05-20T03:37:57Z |
SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as "updated boosters," contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
The monovalent COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized or approved by the FDA and have been administered to millions of people in the United States since December 2020 contain a component from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2.
What you need to know:
- The authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
- The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter. In June, the agency's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly to include an omicron component in COVID-19 booster vaccines.
- For each bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the FDA based its decision on the totality of available evidence, including extensive safety and effectiveness data for each of the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, safety and immunogenicity data obtained from a clinical study of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA from omicron variant BA.1 lineage that is similar to each of the vaccines being authorized, and nonclinical data obtained using a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA of the original strain and mRNA in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant.
- Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant. Individuals who receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may experience side effects commonly reported by individuals who receive authorized or approved monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
- With today's authorization, the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.
- The agency will work quickly to evaluate future data and submissions to support authorization of bivalent COVID-19 boosters for additional age groups as we receive them.
Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:
- Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
- Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
"The COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, continue to save countless lives and prevent the most serious outcomes (hospitalization and death) of COVID-19," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants."
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent contain mRNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mRNA in these vaccines is a specific piece of genetic material that instructs cells in the body to make the distinctive "spike" protein of the original virus strain and the omicron variant lineages BA.4 and BA.5. The spike proteins of BA.4 and BA.5 are identical.
"The FDA has been planning for the possibility that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines would need to be modified to address circulating variants. We sought input from our outside experts on the inclusion of an omicron component in COVID-19 boosters to provide better protection against COVID-19. We have worked closely with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the development of these updated boosters was done safely and efficiently. The FDA has extensive experience with strain changes for annual influenza vaccines. We are confident in the evidence supporting these authorizations," said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "The public can be assured that a great deal of care has been taken by the FDA to ensure that these bivalent COVID-19 vaccines meet our rigorous safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards for emergency use authorization."
For each of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines authorized today, the FDA evaluated immunogenicity and safety data from a clinical study of a booster dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained a component of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and a component of omicron lineage BA.1. The FDA considers such data as relevant and supportive of vaccines containing a component of the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages. Furthermore, data pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of the current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which have been administered to millions of people, including during the omicron waves of COVID-19, contributed to the agency's evaluation.
Data Supporting the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization
To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 individuals 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two-dose primary series and one booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) at least 3 months after the first booster dose. After 28 days, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
The safety of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older is supported by safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Moderna's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.
The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 800 participants 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two dose primary series and one booster dose of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and then at least 3 months later, received a second booster dose with either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1).
Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection, nausea/vomiting and fever.
Data Supporting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization
To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 adults greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series and one booster dose with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) 4.7 to 13.1 months after the first booster dose. After one month, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The safety of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older is based on safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.
The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 600 participants greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series, one booster dose of the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and then 4.7 to 13.1 months later, received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech's investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1). Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever.
The fact sheets for both bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for recipients and caregivers and for healthcare providers include information about the potential side effects, as well as the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis.
With today's authorization, the FDA has also revised the EUA of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to remove the use of the monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for booster administration for individuals 18 years of age and older and 12 years of age and older, respectively. These monovalent vaccines continue to be authorized for use for administration of a primary series for individuals 6 months of age and older as described in the letters of authorization. At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine remains authorized for administration of a single booster dose for individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The amendments to the EUAs were issued to Moderna TX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
Additional Resources:
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained
Media Contact: FDA Office of Media Affairs, 301-796-4540
Consumer Inquiries: Email or 888-INFO-FDA
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use-booster-dose/ | 2022-08-31T15:14:07Z |
Well-rounded software executive with more than 20 years of experience in B2B to join Board
CHICAGO, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE: DFIN), a leading provider of risk and compliance solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chandar Pattabhiram, Chief Marketing Officer for Coupa Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: COUP), to its board of directors. Pattabhiram will stand for election at the company's 2023 annual meeting and will serve on the board's compensation committee. In connection with the appointment of Pattabhiram to the board, the Company also increased the size of the board to nine members effective as of July 14, 2022.
"We are thrilled to welcome Chandar as a new independent director to the DFIN Board," said Richard L. Crandall, chairman of the board. "As a highly regarded, well-rounded software executive with more than 20 years of B2B enterprise marketing leadership in high growth SAAS product offerings, Chandar will bring critical insights to our board as we continue to execute on our business plan to drive growth and enhance shareholder value."
Pattabhiram, 53, brings a wealth of experience in marketing leadership. At Coupa, a leading Business Spend Management software provider, he is responsible for all of revenue marketing including go-to-market marketing strategy, product and segment marketing, growth marketing, and corporate/brand marketing.
Prior to Coupa, Chandar was Chief Marketing Officer at Marketo where he was responsible for all aspects of marketing and drove the positioning of Marketo as a leader in marketing automation. He began his career at Compucom Systems, joined Andersen Consulting (Now Accenture) where he worked on a myriad of management consulting projects across IT strategy and business process reengineering and eventually went on to serve in senior marketing leadership roles at Badgeville Inc., and Sequoia-backed startup Cast Iron Systems, Inc. (acquired by IBM in 2010).
"I am really excited to join the esteemed Board of Directors of DFIN," said Chandar Pattabhiram. "The company is on an exciting transformation journey into a financial regulatory and compliance software solutions leader. I look forward to bringing my experiences in building success with high-growth companies and working with the team."
Pattabhiram received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from PSG College of Technology in India and, his master's degree in management information systems from University of Texas. He is on the Board of Directors for BlueShift, an AI platform for consumer engagement, and a strategic advisor to the CEO of Freshworks.
About Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
DFIN is a leading global risk and compliance solutions company. We provide domain expertise, enterprise software and data analytics for every stage of our clients' business and investment lifecycles. Markets fluctuate, regulations evolve, technology advances, and through it all, DFIN delivers confidence with the right solutions in moments that matter. Learn about DFIN's end-to-end risk and compliance solutions online at DFINsolutions.com or you can also follow us on Twitter @DFINSolutions or on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Donnelley Financial Solutions | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/donnelley-financial-solutions-appoints-chandar-pattabhiram-board-directors/ | 2022-07-15T11:32:23Z |
US: Strikes kill 4 Iranian-backed militia members in Syria
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Iranian-backed militia members were killed in U.S. strikes in Syria on Wednesday in response to attacks by the group in recent weeks, the U.S. military said Thursday.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces also destroyed seven enemy rocket launchers on Wednesday hours after militia fighters fired rockets at two U.S. military installations in northeast Syria. Central Command provided additional details about the strikes on Thursday, saying they were done with Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships and M777 Howitzers.
The latest spike in attacks came after militias backed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard targeted U.S. troops on Aug. 15 at the al-Tanf Garrison in the south. There were no casualties or damage in that attack. But, in response, the U.S. struck bunkers and facilities used by the militias.
At the Pentagon on Thursday, Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said it would be premature to say if these strikes represent a broader escalation of violence in Syria.
“Certainly time will tell,” said Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary. “Based on the strikes that we have taken, we’ve sent a very loud and clear message, and a proportional message, that any threat against our forces who are operating in Syria or anywhere will not be tolerated. My hope would be that these groups would have received the message loud and clear and that we will not see similar behavior in future.”
President Joe Biden informed Congress of his decision to approve the initial U.S. strikes on the bunker facility, saying the goal was to disrupt the ongoing series of attacks and “to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran-backed militia groups from conducting or supporting further attacks on United States personnel and facilities.”
The opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the U.S. airstrikes on the bunkers targeted the Ayash Camp run by the Fatimiyoun group made up of Shiite fighters from Afghanistan and that at least six Syrian and foreign militants were killed.
Within hours after the U.S. strikes, militia rocket attacks hit Green Village and the Conoco gas field in Deir el-Zour, where U.S. troops are stationed. According to U.S. Central Command, at least three servicemembers were treated or evaluated for minor injuries. U.S. forces retaliated by targeting the rocket launchers.
“We will respond appropriately and proportionally to attacks on our servicemembers,” said Gen. Erik Kurilla, who heads U.S. Central Command. “No group will strike at our troops with impunity.”
Deir el-Zour is a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields. Iran-backed militia groups and Syrian forces control the area and had often been the target of Israeli war planes in previous strikes.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has denied that Iran had any link to those targeted. Iran routinely denies arming militia groups that target U.S. forces in the region, despite weaponry linking back to them.
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Follow AP’s coverage of Syria at https://apnews.com/hub/syria.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/25/us-strikes-kill-4-iranian-backed-militia-members-syria/ | 2022-08-25T22:03:45Z |
Billy Holland: Knowing when to hold on and when to let go
When it comes to being knowledgeable, it’s not how much we know but how much we understand.
It’s one thing to have bags of information seeds stacked up in the barns of our minds, but more importantly, how many seeds of truth have been planted and nurtured to take root within our conscience?
Even the devil himself has more knowledge about God than the average person, but he does not allow it to change who he is. It’s called selective thinking where facts are learned and accumulated but not acted upon. This is where we see a critical difference between knowledge and wisdom.
Just because we read about how to live a victorious Christian life does not mean we will automatically be converted into a victorious overcomer. We must absorb His Word through our perception and into our spirit all the while learning how to surrender our will and discipline our carnality.
Beware of powder-puff messages that only talk about strolling through life and enjoying the overflowing storehouses of blessings. They do nothing to awaken our desperate need to be a living sacrifice for God. The Christian life is a constant challenge, in fact, the more serious we become about taking up our cross the more difficult it will be. If we are genuinely born again, our spirit is connected with God’s Spirit, and we have a wonderful opportunity to channel His energy into us.
If we can prevent our old corrupt nature from talking us out of it, we can be saved from ourselves, but it’s going to take a burning passion and a total commitment to live God’s way. Being a follower of Jesus means we are accepting a golden opportunity to transform the way we think, which will literally change who we are.
Persistence and even stubbornness can be good if we incorporate them into following Christ more intensely. Yes, being stubborn for God can be considered faith, however, being stubborn against God is an attitude of rebellion.
He appreciates us for being determined, but when He tells us no and we still keep pushing forward, we fall into the dangers of disobedience. There have been times in my life when I did not know if I should stop believing or if I should keep pushing. I’ve had doors slammed in my face and my share of disappointments, but I kept knocking even to the point of trying to force them open with a crowbar.
Maybe God never intended for them to open and my demolition attitude just made things worse. Or maybe He wanted to see if I knew the difference between a vision and a whim. Whatever the case, the key to avoiding resentment and confusion and knowing if the dark side is working against us or if the Lord is directing us, is spiritual discernment.
Wisdom and understanding comes from seeking God’s still small voice with all of our heart and mind.
Pray and research thoroughly before you move forward.
If you are standing in a crossroad and not sure where to go, do something positive while you are waiting for His confirmation. If you’ve been seeking His direction and have not heard anything, I once heard someone say, “while waiting for a door to open, keep praising Him in the hallway.” You might sense the need to begin a personal fast in order to become more sensitive to His voice. Fasting is not always just about food but can be the denial of other activities as you dedicate quiet time alone with Him. Just how desperate are you?
By the way, this is personal, and there is no need to broadcast it on social media.
When you list all the requirements associated with your goals, you may realize you are simply not ready to proceed at this time, or maybe not at all.
Yes, God can move mountains, but since He is the one who created our destiny, our ideas may not be the same as His. He can influence others, give us favor, and create divine appointments, but it’s our spiritual awareness that brings us into the position to receive.
He is preparing a path for you behind the scenes that can utilize your strengths and will be a perfect fit for you, however, your obedience and patience are critical factors as you follow HIS plans and not your own.
Dr. Billy Holland is a Christian minister, author, and community outreach, chaplain. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com. | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/2022/06/24/holland-knowing-when-hold-and-when-let-go/7706744001/ | 2022-06-24T08:58:57Z |
NEW YORK, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. has announced the appointment of Rocco Impreveduto as Vice President of Transactional, Retirement and eCommerce, effective June 1.
Rocco brings more than 20 years of experience spanning the media, digital, and tech industries to his new role. He joined Wolters Kluwer five years ago and has served as Vice President of Marketing for the past two years, leading the company's data-driven marketing transformation, enhancing its business intelligence function, and aligning marketing systems and processes to support sales. In his new role Rocco will lead the company's Transactional, Retirement and eCommerce portfolios, focusing on extending the value of their legal and regulatory content and scaling best-in-class expert solutions, including ftwilliam.com.
"We are delighted for Rocco to lead the Transactional and Retirement businesses and our eCommerce channel," said Atul Dubey, General Manager of Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "With his strong customer focus and track record of driving business performance, I am confident that he will continue to successfully serve our customers."
Rocco has driven growth and facilitated critical change at some of the best known brands in the world. Prior to Wolters Kluwer, he held leadership roles at NBC Universal, Nielsen, LexisNexis, and Kaplan. During his time at Wolters Kluwer and throughout his career, he has been a force for change, advancement, and evolution, keeping a keen eye on the needs of customers, building and implementing rigorous data-driven strategies, and improving business performance.
"I'm honored to take on this new role and continue delivering maximum impact to our customers via industry-leading solutions like ftwilliam.com," said Rocco. "Our commitment to our customers is well-established, and we look forward to providing even greater value with the energy and expertise they've come to expect from us."
About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.
Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of €4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.
Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Gharib
Director, Brand & Communications
Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962
Email: lrusmedia@wolterskluwer.com
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SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/wolters-kluwer-legal-amp-regulatory-us-names-rocco-impreveduto-vice-president-transactional-retirement-ecommerce/ | 2022-06-01T17:07:30Z |
Expands Aviat's Private Networks Offering with Private LTE/5G, Unlicensed Wireless Access Solutions
- Creates an integrated end-to-end offering for wireless access and transport in the Private Networks segment
- Leverages Aviat's sales channel to address a $8 billion Private LTE/5G addressable market
- Increases Aviat's reach in mission-critical industrial Private Networks
- Expected to be accretive to Gross Margin %, Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP EPS, and Free Cash Flow in first year
- Aviat to host conference call Thursday, April 14th, at 8:30am (ET)
AUSTIN, Texas and TORONTO, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviat Networks, Inc. ("Aviat") (Nasdaq: AVNW)) , the leading expert in wireless transport solutions, and Redline Communications Group, Inc. ("Redline") (TSX: RDL), a leading provider in mission-critical data infrastructure, announced today that they have entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") under which Aviat will acquire all outstanding shares of Redline for CAD$0.90 per common share (approximately USD$0.71 per share), in an all-cash transaction (the "Transaction") valued at approximately CAD $16.2 million (approximately USD$12.9 million). Aviat expects to fully fund the acquisition from cash on hand. Subject to customary closing conditions and necessary regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close within four months.
Commenting on the Transaction, Pete Smith, Aviat CEO, said, "This is an exciting opportunity for both Aviat and Redline. The acquisition expands Aviat's share in private networks by adding Redline's wireless network access capabilities in industrial PTP/PTMP and licensed Private LTE and 5G to Aviat's existing wireless transport backhaul solutions. Redline products will leverage Aviat's sales and marketing presence for broader reach. Likewise, Aviat will benefit from Redline's presence in the Oil & Gas, and Transportation verticals."
Smith continued, "We expect this deal to be immediately accretive to Aviat's gross margin %, Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP EPS, and Free Cash Flow all in the first year. We look forward to finalizing this transaction which we believe will generate significant value for our shareholders."
Richard Yoon, President and CEO, Redline added that, "Aviat is a great partner for Redline. We look forward to leveraging our portfolio in conjunction with Aviat's global scale."
This Transaction is expected to provide both Aviat and Redline customers with a broader, more integrated portfolio of wireless access and transport solutions and reinforces Aviat's roadmap and commitment to the future of Private Networks as the environment evolves to 5G and beyond.
Transaction Details
Aviat intends to fund the acquisition with cash from the balance sheet.
Aviat and Redline will run independently until the closing of the Transaction.
The Transaction will be carried out by way of a Court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Canada Business Corporations Act, pursuant to which Aviat will acquire all the outstanding common shares of Redline (the "Redline Shares"). The implementation of the Arrangement will be subject to the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Redline shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the annual general and special meeting of Redline shareholders (the "Meeting") and a majority of all of the votes cast by Redline shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting after excluding votes of certain persons whose votes must be excluded in accordance with Canadian Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, and the receipt of applicable approvals from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The implementation of the Arrangement will also be subject to the completion of a reduction in the stated capital of the Redline Shares, which will require the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Redline shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.
The Arrangement Agreement provides for, among other things, customary representations, warranties and covenants, including a non-solicitation covenants from Redline, subject to customary "fiduciary out" provisions that allow Redline to accept a superior proposal in certain circumstances and a five-business day "right to match period" in favour of Aviat. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for the payment of a termination fee of CAD$ 0.65 million to Aviat in the event the Transaction is terminated in certain specified circumstances, including if Aviat does not exercise its right to match in the context of a superior proposal supported by Redline. The completion of the transaction is not subject to any financing condition.
All directors and executive officers of Redline and certain other shareholders of Redline, holding approximately 29.7% of the issued and outstanding Redline Shares as of the date hereof, have entered into voting and support agreements in favour of Aviat pursuant to which, among other things, they have agreed to vote their Redline Shares in favour of the Transaction.
A management information circular relating to the Meeting and containing further details regarding the Arrangement and the Arrangement Agreement will be mailed to Redline shareholders and made available on SEDAR under Redline's profile at www.sedar.com. Further details related to the Transaction can be also found on the Investor Relations tab at www.aviatnetworks.com.
Board of Director Approvals
The Transaction has been unanimously approved by Aviat's Board of Directors.
Redline's Board of Directors established a Special Committee of independent directors (D. Neil McDonnell and Josef Vejvoda) to oversee the Transaction discussions and the Arrangement. The Special Committee unanimously recommended the Transaction to the Board of Directors, and the full Board of the Directors of Redline unanimously approved the Transaction, determined that the Transaction is fair to Redline shareholders and in the best interests of Redline, and passed a resolution to recommend that Redline shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction. Evans & Evans, Inc , financial advisor to Redline, has provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Redline that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out in such fairness opinion, the Consideration to be received by Redline shareholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair from a financial point of view to Redline shareholders.
D. Neil McDonnell, Chair of the Company's Board of Directors and Special Committee, commented: "We are pleased to announce our acquisition by Aviat, which strategically aligns Redline with a proven market leader, providing access to additional customers and markets and generating operational efficiencies. After careful deliberation, the Special Committee and Redline's Board of Directors have unanimously concluded that the Transaction is fair to Redline's shareholders from a financial point of view offering an opportunity to monetize their investment and is in the best interests of Redline and its employees."
The Arrangement Agreement will be available on SEDAR under Redline's profile at www.sedar.com within 10 days following the date of this press release.
Conference Call
Aviat will host a conference call for investors and industry analysts to discuss the transaction at 8:30am (ET) Thursday, April 14th.
To listen to the live conference call, please dial toll-free (US/CAN) 800-289-0438 or toll-free (INTL) 1 323-794-2423 conference ID: 8638497. We ask that you dial-in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time.
About Aviat Networks
Aviat Networks, Inc. is the leading expert in wireless transport solutions and works to provide dependable products, services and support to its customers. With more than one million systems sold in 170 countries worldwide, communications service providers and private network operators including state/local government, utility, federal government and defense organizations trust Aviat with their critical applications. Coupled with a long history of microwave innovations, Aviat provides a comprehensive suite of localized professional and support services enabling customers to simplify both their networks and their lives. For more than 70 years, the experts at Aviat have delivered high-performance products, simplified operations, and the best overall customer experience. Aviat Networks is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aviatnetworks.com or connect with Aviat Networks on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Redline Communications
Redline Communications (TSX:RDL) designs and manufactures powerful wide-area wireless networks for mission-critical applications in challenging locations. Redline networks are used by Oil & Gas companies onshore and offshore, Mining companies on surface and underground operations, by municipalities to remotely monitor infrastructure, and by specialized telecom service providers to deliver premium services. Thousands of businesses worldwide rely on Redline to engineer, plan and deliver ruggedized, secure and reliable networks for their IoT, voice, data, and video communications needs. For more information visit www.rdlcom.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained in this document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and "forward looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. Such statements include with respect to Aviat and Redline, their beliefs and expectations regarding the ability to close the Transaction, the ability to obtain the approval of Redline shareholders, the satisfaction of other conditions to the closing of the Transaction on proposed terms and in the time assumed, expectations regarding business conditions, new product solutions, customer positioning, revenue, future orders, bookings, new contracts, cost structure, operating income, profitability in fiscal 2022, process improvements, realignment plans and review of strategic alternatives. All statements, trend analyses and other information contained herein regarding the foregoing beliefs and expectations, as well as about the markets for the services and products of Aviat and Redline and trends in revenue, and other statements identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including, without limitation, "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "will," "see," "continue," "delivering," "view," and "intend," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, forward-looking statements are based on estimates reflecting the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the senior management of Aviat and Redline regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should therefore be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this document. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include the following:
- the ability to close the Transaction;
- the ability of Redline to obtain the approval of Redline shareholders and the satisfaction of other conditions to the closing of the Transaction on proposed terms and in the time assumed;
- the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and cash flows;
- continued price and margin erosion as a result of increased competition in the microwave transmission industry;
- the impact of the volume, timing, and customer, product, and geographic mix of our product orders;
- the timing of our receipt of payment for products or services from our customers;
- our ability to meet projected new product development dates or anticipated cost reductions of new products;
- our suppliers' inability to perform and deliver on time as a result of their financial condition, component shortages, the effects of COVID-19 or other supply chain constraints;
- the effects of inflation and the timing and extent of changes in the prices and overall demand for and availability of our inputs;
- customer acceptance of new products;
- the ability of our subcontractors to timely perform;
- weakness in the global economy affecting customer spending;
- retention of our key personnel;
- our ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships;
- uncertain economic conditions in the telecommunications sector combined with operator and supplier consolidation;
- our failure to protect our Intellectual property rights or defend against Intellectual property infringement claims by others;
- the results of our restructuring efforts;
- the ability to preserve and use our net operating loss carryforwards;
- the effects of currency and interest rate risks;
- the effects of current and future government regulations, including the effects of current restrictions on various commercial and economic activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- general economic conditions, including uncertainty regarding the timing, pace and extent of an economic recovery in the United States and other countries where we conduct business;
- the conduct of unethical business practices in developing countries;
- the impact of political turmoil in countries where we have significant business;
- the impact of tariffs, the adoption of trade restrictions affecting our products or suppliers, a United States withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, the occurrence of trade wars, the closing of border crossings, and other changes in trade regulations or relationships; and
- Aviat's ability to implement its stock repurchase program or the extent to which it enhances long-term stockholder value.
For more information regarding the risks and uncertainties for Aviat's business, see "Risk Factors" in Aviat's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on August 25, 2021 as well as other reports filed by Aviat with the SEC from time to time. For additional information on the risks and uncertainties for Redline's business and the Arrangement, see Redline's most recently filed Annual Information Form and Annual Management Discussion & Analysis, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Redline's website at www.rdlcom.com. Neither Aviat nor Redline undertakes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, for any reason, except as required by law, even as new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.
For further information:
Aviat Contact(s):
Investor Relations:
Keith Fanneron
Vice President Global Finance & Investor Relations
Phone: (512) 861-1022
Email: keith.fanneron@aviatnet.com
Redline Contact(s):
Richard Yoon
Chief Executive Officer
+1-905-479-8344
ryoon@rdlcom.com
Investor Relations:
Ron Shuttleworth
Partner
OakHill Financial
+1-647-500-7371
rshuttleworth@oakhillfinancial.ca
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SOURCE Aviat Networks, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/aviat-networks-announces-intent-acquire-redline-communications/ | 2022-04-13T21:35:11Z |
Giants place pitcher Anthony DeSclafani on injured list
WASHINGTON (AP) — The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on the 10-day injured list with right ankle inflammation. Manager Gabe Kapler made the announcement prior to the Giants game against the Washington Nationals. In addition, outfielder Steven Duggar was placed on the 60-day injured list with a moderate left oblique strain. DeSclafani allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings in a loss to the New York Mets on Thursday. Kapler said the plan is for DeSclafani to have an MRI on Monday. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/22/giants-place-pitcher-anthony-desclafani-on-injured-list/ | 2022-04-22T23:26:28Z |
Sarasota County Schools hiring school bus drivers
Published: Jul. 25, 2022 at 4:55 PM EDT|Updated: 16 minutes ago
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Sarasota County Schools are looking to hire bus drivers ahead of the 2022-23 school year.
They are offering 186 workdays a year, split shifts, a $2500 bonus and benefits.
You can learn more about applying by visiting https://sarasotacountyschools.net/hr
🚍 $17.67 per hour with a $2500 bonus!
— Sarasota Schools (@sarasotaschools) July 25, 2022
🚍 100% employer-paid benefits
🚍 District-provided CDL training and licensing
🚍 Split shifts from 5-8 hours per day
🚍 186 workdays per year with the opportunity for additional shiftshttps://t.co/y7xWtDnnby pic.twitter.com/WQbK7YgHH9
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/25/sarasota-county-schools-hiring-bus-drivers/ | 2022-07-25T21:11:50Z |
SEATTLE, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Air's more than 700 pilots, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), voted to ratify a new agreement aimed at supporting the company's pilots and retaining talent as mainline airlines continue hiring pilots away from regional airlines at record levels. The agreement includes important pay increases and enhancements to retirement benefits. Additional improvements involve commuter policies and instructor benefits.
More than 91% of Horizon pilots voted, and the agreement passed by 99%.
A tentative agreement was reached with the IBT on Sept. 2 and is effective immediately upon today's ratification.
"Horizon Air is proud to serve communities throughout the West – places that we call home. The ongoing industry pilot shortage has put a strain on this service, and it's more critical than ever that we attract and retain our talented pilots," said Joe Sprague, president of Horizon Air. "We are focused on making Horizon the regional carrier of choice for pilots, and this agreement positions us well. I'm grateful to our pilots and to our colleagues at the IBT for their collaboration and hard work in getting to this point. Together, we are positioning Horizon for a strong future."
"In light of recent wage increases across all segments of our industry, significant improvements were necessary for Horizon Air to remain competitive in attracting and retaining pilots," said Horizon pilot and IBT 1224 Executive Council Chairman Henry Simkins. "We identified what was important to our pilot group and worked to implement an approach that will help Horizon Air retain an experienced workforce and attract new talent. We appreciate management's investment in our skilled professionals that continue to safely deliver our wonderful passengers every day."
The pilot shortage and the transition to a single fleet of Embraer 175 aircraft has resulted in a temporary reduction of Horizon's scheduled flying. Nonetheless, Horizon continues to fly to every community we serve. Regional air service provides essential support for economic development and strong local communities. We're committed to ensuring this service remains strong into the future.
The new agreement with Horizon pilots complements other company efforts that are expanding and diversifying the pilot pipeline through investments in the Ascend Pilot Academy and the Pilot Development Program. This is a priority, as Alaska and Horizon estimate the need to hire 500 pilots each year through 2025.
With bases in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, Horizon serves more than 45 cities throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, the Midwest, and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. Horizon maintains pilot crew bases in Anchorage, Boise, Everett, Medford, Portland, Seattle and Spokane.
About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize providing low fares for our guests, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
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SOURCE Horizon Air | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/16/horizon-air-pilots-ratify-critical-retention-agreement/ | 2022-09-16T22:54:57Z |
Summary Q1 Results1
- Revenue of €2,199 million, representing growth of 16.5% year-over-year in constant currency, driven by strong growth across all segments
- Recorded Music revenue grew 11.3% year-over-year in constant currency, Music Publishing revenue grew 32.5% year-over-year in constant currency and Merchandising and Other revenue grew 69.8% year-over-year in constant currency
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.0% year-over-year in constant currency driven by the revenue growth
HILVERSUM, The Netherlands, May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group N.V. ("UMG" or "the Company") today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.
"As important as the positive performance of the business this quarter is its breadth and strength," said Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG's Chairman and CEO. "Our strategic portfolio approach–creatively, geographically, technologically, and across a broad range of artists, partners, formats, businesses and revenue streams--not only deliver results now but, over the long run, we believe will produce an even better and more stable performance while delivering incredible value to our artists and shareholders."
"With this quarter's results, we continue to deliver on our commitment of long-term growth throughout the company's major business units and across its multiple and growing revenue streams, including ad-supported streaming, subscription, physical, licensing, music publishing, and merchandising, among others," said Boyd Muir, EVP, CFO and President of Operations for UMG. "We remain enthusiastic about the diversified revenue growth that our strategy is producing."
1 This press release includes certain alternative performance indicators which are not defined in the International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as endorsed by the EU. The descriptions of these alternative performance indicators and reconciliations of non-IFRS to IFRS measures are included in the Appendix to this press release.
Revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was €2,199 million, an increase of 21.6% year-over-year, or 16.5% in constant currency. UMG's Recorded Music, Music Publishing and Merchandising and Other segments all had strong, double-digit revenue growth, as discussed further below.
EBITDA for the quarter grew 14.9% year-over-year, or 14.1% in constant currency, to €454 million, driven by revenue growth. EBITDA margin was 20.6%, compared to 21.8% in the first quarter of 2021. EBITDA and EBITDA margin were impacted by €1 million of non-cash share-based compensation during both the first quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2021. Excluding these items, Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was €455 million, up 14.9% year-over-year, or 14.0% in constant currency, driven by revenue growth. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.7%, compared to 21.9% in the first quarter of 2021. In the first quarter of 2021, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and Adjusted EBITDA margin had a €20 million benefit related to a release of historic royalty provisions and an exceptional recovery of artist related provisions. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margins were also impacted by revenue mix, as revenues were more heavily weighted towards Merchandising and Other revenues in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the prior-year quarter, which carry a significantly lower EBITDA margin than Recorded Music and Music Publishing revenues.
Recorded Music revenues for the first quarter of 2022 were €1,721 million, up 16.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, or 11.3% in constant currency. Subscription and streaming revenue grew 19.9% year-over-year, or 14.6% in constant currency, with subscription revenue up 18.3% year-over-year, or 13.4% in constant currency, and ad-supported streaming revenue up 25.1% year-over-year, or 18.4% in constant currency. Physical revenue showed another quarter of strong growth, increasing by 11.3% year-over-year, or 8.7% in constant currency, on improvements in both CD and vinyl sales, led by King & Prince, Fujii Kaze, Ado, Stromae and Taylor Swift. Downloads and other digital revenue were down 16.0% year-over-year, or down 20.0% in constant currency, as download sales continue their industry-wide decline. License and other revenue improved 14.4% year-over-year, or 10.1% in constant currency, as a result of improvements in synchronisation revenue. Top sellers for the quarter included releases from Disney's 'Encanto' Soundtrack, King & Prince, The Weeknd, Fujii Kaze and Ado, while top sellers in the prior-year quarter included King & Prince, Morgan Wallen, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
Music Publishing revenue amounted to €375 million in the first quarter of 2022, up 38.4% year-over-year, or 32.5% in constant currency.
As disclosed in the UMG Annual Consolidated Financial Statements for 2021, UMG adjusted its accounting policy in relation to certain revenues that are collected through societies. This primarily affected Music Publishing digital, performance, and mechanical revenue. In prior years, these revenues were recognised when the relevant collection society notified UMG of the usage by the end customer and collectability was assured. Recognition of that revenue is now based on an accrual for the best available estimate of when the usage occurs and the amount of consideration which is probable to be collected. This has affected the timing of the recognition of certain revenues across financial reporting quarters, with a benefit for the first quarter of 2022, compared to the prior year.
Music Publishing revenue also benefited from underlying organic growth trends and initial contributions from catalogue acquisitions made in prior years.
Within Music Publishing, digital revenue grew 51.6% year-over-year, or 44.7% in constant currency, reflecting the continued growth of streaming and subscription, as well as the change in accounting. Performance revenue grew 19.7% year-over-year, or 16.7% in constant currency, reflecting the change in accounting. Synchronisation revenue grew 34.8% year-over-year, or 29.2% in constant currency, as a result of increased income from advertising and film. Mechanical revenue grew 27.8% year-over-year, or 21.1% in constant currency, driven by the recent rebound in industry-wide physical sales, as well as the change in accounting.
Merchandising and Other revenue grew to €107 million, up 81.4% year-over-year, or 69.8% in constant currency, as touring-related merchandising revenue rebounded following a COVID related slow-down in live touring.
The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 6:15PM CEST. A link to the live audio webcast will be available on investors.universalmusic.com and a link to the replay will be available after the call.
While listeners may use the webcast, a dial-in telephone number is required for investors and analysts to ask questions. Investors and analysts interested in asking questions can pre-register for a dial-in line at investors.universalmusic.com under the "Financial Reports" tab.
This press release is published by Universal Music Group N.V. and contains inside information within the meaning of article 7 (1) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation).
This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements with respect to UMG's financial condition, results of operations, business, strategy and plans. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as 'profit forecast', 'expect', 'estimate', 'project', 'anticipate', 'should', 'intend', 'plan', 'probability', 'risk', 'target', 'goal', 'objective', 'will', 'endeavour', 'optimistic', 'prospects' and similar expressions or variations on such expressions. Although UMG believes that such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are related to factors that are outside UMG's control, including, but not limited to, UMG's inability to compete successfully and to identify, attract, sign and retain successful recording artists and songwriters, failure of streaming and subscription adoption or revenue to grow or to grow less rapidly than anticipated, UMG's reliance on digital service providers, UMG's inability to execute its business strategy, the global nature of UMG's operations, UMG's inability to protect its intellectual property and against piracy, UMG's inability to attract and retain key personnel, changes in laws and regulations and the other risks that have been described in UMG's 2021 annual report. Accordingly, UMG cautions readers against placing undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. UMG disclaims any intention or obligation to provide, update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This press release includes certain alternative performance indicators which are not defined in IFRS issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as endorsed by the EU. The descriptions of these alternative performance indicators and reconciliations of non-IFRS to IFRS measures are included in the Appendix to this press release.
At Universal Music Group (EURONEXT: UMG), we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group N.V. visit www.universalmusic.com
Media
James Murtagh-Hopkins - communicationsnl@umusic.com
Investors
Erika Begun - investorrelations@umusic.com
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders: May 12, 2022
1H 2022 Results: July 27, 2022
In this press release, UMG presents certain financial measures when discussing UMG's performance that are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under IFRS ("non-IFRS"). These non-IFRS measures (also known as alternative performance measures) are presented because management considers them important supplemental measures of UMG's performance and believes that they are widely used in the industry in which UMG operates as a means of evaluating a company's operating performance and liquidity. UMG believes that an understanding of its sales performance, profitability, financial strength and funding requirements is enhanced by reporting the following non-IFRS measures. All non-IFRS measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, other IFRS measures of operating and financial performance as described in this press release. In addition, it should be noted that other companies may have definitions and calculations for these non-IFRS measures that differ from those used by UMG, thereby affecting comparability.
EBITDA and EBITDA margin
UMG considers EBITDA and EBITDA margin, non-IFRS measures, to be relevant measures to assess the performance of its operating segments as reported in the segment data. It enables UMG to compare the operating performance of operating segments regardless of whether their performance is driven by the operating segment's organic growth or by acquisitions. EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by revenue. To calculate EBITDA, the accounting impact of the following items is excluded from the income from Operating Profit:
i. amortization of intangible assets;
ii. impairment losses on goodwill and other intangibles;
iii. other income and expenses related to transactions with shareowners (except when directly recognized in equity);
iv. depreciation of tangible assets including right of use assets;
v. (gains)/losses on the sale of tangible assets, including right of use assets and intangible assets;
vi. (income)/losses from equity affiliates;
vii. restructuring expenses; and
viii. other non-recurring items.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin
The difference between EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA consists of non-cash share-based compensation expenses [and certain one-time items that are deemed by management to be significant and incidental to normal business activity, including but not limited to professional fees and listing fees related to UMG's listing on Euronext Amsterdam. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. UMG considers Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, non-IFRS measures, to be relevant measures to assess performance of its operating activities excluding items that may be incidental to normal business activity.
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SOURCE Universal Music Group N.V. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/universal-music-group-nv-reports-financial-results-first-quarter-ended-march-31-2022/ | 2022-05-03T16:52:39Z |
DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan city violated the U.S. Constitution by chalking tires to enforce parking limits, but it won’t be forced to refund thousands of tickets in the class-action case, a judge said.
Saginaw must only pay vehicle owners “nominal damages” of $1.00 for each marking, U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington said Monday.
“The basic problem is that chalking is relatively harmless,” he said, noting there was no damage to cars.
Saginaw staff marked tires and subsequently wrote tickets if they returned to find a vehicle was parked too long.
After five years of litigation, including two appeals to a higher court, Ludington ruled in favor of Alison Taylor, who received 14 tickets. The judge said marking tires without a warrant violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.
“No reasonable person would argue that something as trivial and transitory as chalk on a tire offends a reasonable expectation of privacy. But the Fourth Amendment protects more than those expectations that society deems reasonable,” Ludington said.
Saginaw, among other arguments, had cited a 1974 U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of police who were investigating a murder and scraped paint from a vehicle without a search warrant. Ludington said that case didn’t fit.
“The governmental interest in solving a murder is considerably greater than the governmental interest in enforcing a parking ordinance,” he said.
Tire chalking was used in approximately 4,800 Saginaw parking tickets, which cost $15 or $30, depending on whether they were paid on time, Taylor’s attorney, Phil Ellison, said in a court filing.
Saginaw stopped chalking tires in 2019.
“We cleaned clock. We did very well. Nobody had ever done this before,” Ellison said Tuesday.
But he said he was still trying to understand why the judge ordered only $1 per chalking as a remedy. An appeal by either side is possible.
___
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez | https://cw33.com/strange-news/ap-strange-news/chalking-tires-illegal-judge-says-but-city-gets-big-break/ | 2022-08-10T18:09:21Z |
LONDON, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Executive Search Firm, Forsyth Barnes, announced that everyone in the company would be receiving a 10% raise across their offices in London, Nottingham, and New York. The decision was made in response to rising energy and fuel prices to minimize the impact of the cost of living increases.
"We are incredibly proud to have developed a family of talented, hard-working, and loyal individuals. We are a people-first business who will always, always look after our own," said Managing Partner Scott Parsons.
Forsyth Barnes' second Managing Partner, Roheel Ahmad thanked the team for their hard work and resilience over the past six years, stating, "Your ambition to work alongside us and grow this business into a lasting legacy that is bigger than any of us is infectious and inspiring, and this is just one of the ways we give thanks to you all."
Speaking with some employees, it's clear how significant this gesture is. "I had relocated to our London office at the end of 2021, and the cost of living had already increased. This is such an unexpected surprise, adding to all of the other incentives, rewards, and raises over the years. I'm so excited and proud to work for such a people-centric business," notes one employee.
The business profits funding this raise are wholly organic, as Forsyth Barnes has never received external funding. "We are built entirely off the back of our own success," said Parsons. He continues, "The main driver for us as business owners is to ensure everyone within our team will work their best selves and leave the office each day their best selves too."
ABOUT FORSYTH BARNES
Forsyth Barnes are specialists in Mid-Senior to Executive Level recruitment on a permanent and interim basis. They operate across eTail, Fintech, and Sports & Entertainment industries, globally.
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SOURCE Forsyth Barnes | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/talent-partner-forsyth-barnes-announces-10-company-wide-pay-rise-aid-cost-living-crisis/ | 2022-06-09T15:36:58Z |
DALLAS, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its second quarter 2022 financial results:
- Strong quarterly net income of $760 million1
- Record quarterly net income, excluding special items2, of $825 million
- Record quarterly operating revenues of $6.7 billion
- Cash provided by operations of $1.9 billion
- Liquidity3 of $17.4 billion, well in excess of debt outstanding of $10.5 billion
Bob Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to report all-time record quarterly revenues and net income, excluding special items, representing a significant milestone in our pandemic recovery. Travel demand surged in second quarter, and thus far, strong demand trends continue in third quarter 2022. As anticipated, we experienced inflationary pressures and headwinds from operating at suboptimal productivity levels in second quarter, which we expect will continue in second half 2022; however, our fuel hedge continues to provide significant protection against higher jet fuel prices. Barring significant unforeseen events and based on current trends, we expect to be solidly profitable for the remaining two quarters of this year, and for full year 2022.
"We are making meaningful progress against our 2022 priorities, and I am very proud of our People and their heroic efforts to fight against the pandemic. Since April, we have been delivering a more reliable product for our Customers with cancellations representing less than one percent of scheduled flights in May and June 2022, which is a completion factor of more than 99 percent. We have added flights in second half 2022—especially in short-haul business markets—to better support our operation and the restoration of our route network. We reached another milestone, returning to overall pre-pandemic staffing levels in May 2022. We plan to continue our hiring and training efforts in specific areas—in particular, Pilots—to support further network restoration and future growth with plans to add over 10,000 Employees, net of attrition, this year. However, we plan to begin moderating overall hiring in second half 2022 as our focus shifts to 2023 planning and executing on our goals to better optimize staffing to flight schedules, reduce cost inefficiencies, and return to historic efficiency levels.
"We are experiencing delays in our aircraft deliveries from The Boeing Company (Boeing), and we now estimate 2022 deliveries to be 66 versus the previously expected 114, ending the year with 765 aircraft. Despite those delays, we are confident about our ability to fly our flight schedules as planned, which are currently published through March 8, 2023. We continue to invest in technologies, airports, and facilities to further modernize our operation and allow us to scale for future growth.
"We are also investing in the Southwest Customer Experience, and I am thrilled about today's announcement introducing yet another exciting Customer benefit that sets Southwest even further apart from the competition: Flight credits don't expire4. We are famous for offering industry-leading flexibility for Customers, and it is a key differentiator of our brand. Based on research and feedback, we believe flexibility has become even more important to Customers over the past few years. This further extension of flexibility for our Customers reinforces Southwest as industry-leading and builds on our low-fare brand with no fees to change or cancel plans5; two bags fly free®6; Rapid Rewards® points that don't expire; and transferable flight credits7. With flight credits that don't expire and the addition of our new Wanna Get Away PlusTM fare product—along with recently announced investments to enhance WiFi, install latest-technology onboard power ports, offer larger overhead bins, and enable new self-service capabilities—we are making travel even easier. We believe we have the strongest route network and value proposition for Customers in the domestic U.S., and also believe this policy change will both win new Customers and increase Customer loyalty."
Guidance and Outlook:
The following tables introduce or update selected financial guidance for third quarter 2022 and full year 2022, as applicable:
Revenue Results and Outlook:
- Second quarter 2022 operating revenues were an all-time quarterly record $6.7 billion, increasing 13.9 percent compared with second quarter 2019—in line with the Company's previous guidance
- Second quarter 2022 operating revenues per available seat mile (RASM, or unit revenues) increased 22.0 percent driven primarily by a passenger yield increase of 18.4 percent, coupled with a load factor increase of 0.7 points, all compared with second quarter 2019
- Second quarter 2022 managed business revenues were down 24 percent compared with second quarter 2019—in line with the Company's previous guidance
- Successfully launched new Wanna Get Away Plus™ fare product in May 2022
The Company's revenue performance in second quarter 2022 was a quarterly record primarily due to a surge in leisure demand, especially in June, which resulted in strong passenger bookings, yields, and load factors. In addition, the Company's second quarter 2022 loyalty program revenue represented a quarterly record. June 2022 managed business revenues were down 19 percent, a sequential improvement compared with April and May 2022 managed business revenues, which were down 31 percent and 23 percent, respectively, all compared with their respective 2019 levels. While second quarter 2022 managed business revenues remained below 2019 levels, the Company was encouraged by the sequential improvement during the quarter, as well as managed business average fares that exceeded 2019 levels. June 2022 is estimated to represent a monthly peak for 2022 operating revenues based on first half 2022 results and current expectations for second half 2022.
Currently, the Company continues to experience strong passenger bookings, yields, and load factors. Leisure bookings remain strong and in line with seasonal expectations in third quarter 2022, including post-Labor Day. Based on bookings thus far, the Company's third quarter 2022 managed business revenues are currently estimated to be down in the range of 17 percent to 21 percent, compared with third quarter 2019. Although early in the booking curve, the Company is encouraged by current business bookings post-Labor Day and the expected sequential improvement from second quarter to third quarter 2022, of managed business revenues compared with the same periods in 2019. The Company increased short-haul trips in business markets in its third quarter 2022 published flight schedule, relative to first half 2022, in an effort to support both the reliability of its operational performance and expected business travel demand. Given the Company's estimate that managed business revenues will remain below 2019 levels in third quarter 2022, the increase in short-haul trips in business markets is estimated to be a two point sequential operating revenue growth headwind from second quarter to third quarter 2022, compared with their respective 2019 levels.
In accordance with applicable accounting guidance and the Company's revenue recognition policy, the amount of tickets that will expire unused, referred to as breakage, are estimated and recognized in Passenger revenue once the scheduled flight date has passed, in proportion to Customer behavior. Breakage estimates are based on historical experience over many years, and the Company has consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from unused tickets at the date of scheduled travel. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company had a significant amount of Customer flight credits that were set to expire on September 7, 2022. The Company's policy change to eliminate expiration dates on qualifying flight credits, in particular those that were set to expire on September 7, 2022, results in a shift in the timing of revenue recognition and an estimated negative impact to third quarter breakage revenue in the range of $250 million to $300 million, or a five point sequential operating revenue growth headwind from second quarter to third quarter 2022, compared with their respective 2019 levels. The Company does not anticipate a material impact from this policy change beyond third quarter 2022, and estimates that breakage as a percentage of revenue will normalize to pre-pandemic levels. The Company expects that this policy change, combined with its other attractive brand attributes, will contribute to an increase in Customer loyalty and new Customers.
Fuel Costs and Outlook:
- Second quarter 2022 fuel costs were $3.36 per gallon—in line with the Company's previous guidance—and included $0.05 per gallon in premium expense and $0.68 per gallon in favorable cash settlements from fuel derivative contracts
- Second quarter 2022 fuel efficiency improved 2.1 percent compared with second quarter 2019 due to more MAX aircraft, the Company's most fuel-efficient aircraft, as a percentage of the Company's fleet
- As of July 21, 2022, the fair market value of the Company's fuel derivative contracts settling in third quarter 2022 through the end of 2024 was an asset of $1.0 billion
The Company's multi-year fuel hedging program continues to provide insurance against spikes in energy prices and significantly offset the market price increase in jet fuel in second quarter 2022. The Company's current fuel derivative contracts contain a combination of instruments based in West Texas Intermediate, Brent crude oil, and refined products, such as heating oil. The economic fuel price per gallon sensitivities8 provided in the table below assume the relationship between Brent crude oil and refined products based on market prices as of July 21, 2022.
In addition, the Company is providing its maximum percentage of estimated fuel consumption10 covered by fuel derivative contracts in the following table:
Non-Fuel Costs and Outlook:
- Second quarter 2022 operating expenses of $5.6 billion increased 12.7 percent compared with second quarter 2019
- Second quarter 2022 operating expenses, excluding fuel and oil expense, special items, and profitsharing, increased 5.6 percent compared with second quarter 2019
- Second quarter 2022 operating expenses per available seat mile, excluding fuel and oil expense, special items, and profitsharing (CASM-X), increased 13.1 percent compared with second quarter 2019—favorable to the Company's previous guidance
- The Company accrued $81 million of profitsharing expense in second quarter 2022 bringing first half 2022 profitsharing expense to $118 million
The Company's second quarter 2022 CASM-X increase was primarily due to continued unit cost headwinds from operating at suboptimal productivity levels, inflation in labor rates and airport costs, and accruals for expected future contractual wage rate increases. However, the Company's second quarter 2022 CASM-X increase was lower than its previous guidance range primarily due to lower benefits costs, as well as the shifting of certain maintenance costs from second quarter to second half 2022.
The Company continues to experience cost inflation in third quarter 2022, in particular with higher rates for labor, benefits, and airports. The Company also expects cost headwinds from operating at suboptimal productivity levels as headcount is expected to increase in third quarter 2022 while capacity levels are expected to remain relatively in line with third quarter 2019. The Company has increased short-haul trips in second half 2022 in an effort to restore its route network and support the reliability of its operational performance, which results in a decrease to average stage length, and adds further unit cost headwinds. As a result of its successful hiring efforts and much improved operational reliability, the Company plans to begin moderating hiring where opportunities exist and intensify its focus on returning to historical efficiency levels.
Fleet and Capital Spending:
For first half 2022, the Company was scheduled to receive 28 -8 aircraft, of which only 12 were received, all during second quarter 2022. The Company ended second quarter 2022 with 730 aircraft, which reflects four owned -700 retirements. In addition, the Company had four -700 aircraft in storage as of June 30, 2022, all of which were subsequently retired from the Company's fleet in July 2022. While the Company is contractually scheduled to receive 114 MAX deliveries, including options, this year, a portion of its deliveries are expected to shift into 2023 due to Boeing's supply chain challenges and the current status of the -7 certification. Based on recent discussions with Boeing regarding the pace of expected deliveries for the remainder of this year, the Company is currently estimating it will receive a total of 66 -8 aircraft deliveries and no -7 deliveries in 2022.
Since the Company's previous disclosure on April 28, 2022, the Company exercised seven -8 options for delivery in 2022; exercised two -7 options for delivery in 2023; accelerated and exercised seven 2023 -8 options for delivery in 2022; and shifted seven 2022 MAX firm orders into 2023, which are reflected as -7 firm orders in the Company's updated order book. Additionally in July 2022, the Company converted 48 2023 -7 firm orders to -8 firm orders in 2023.
Based on these modifications and recent discussions with Boeing, the Company is currently assuming 23 and 31 -8 aircraft deliveries in third quarter and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. The Company plans to retire 12 and 7 -700 aircraft in third quarter and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. As a result, the Company expects to end third quarter with 741 aircraft and end 2022 with 765 aircraft, compared with its previous guidance of 814 aircraft. The Company now expects to retire 29 -700 aircraft in 2022, compared with its previous guidance of 28 -700 retirements this year.
The Company's second quarter 2022 capital expenditures were $987 million driven primarily by aircraft-related capital expenditures, as well as technology, facilities, and operational investments. The Company now estimates its 2022 capital spending to be approximately $4.0 billion, which assumes the exercise of its five remaining 2022 options, and a total of 66 -8 aircraft deliveries in 2022, compared with its previous 2022 capital spending guidance of approximately $5.0 billion which assumed the delivery of 114 MAX aircraft in 2022. The Company's 2022 capital spending guidance continues to include approximately $900 million in non-aircraft capital spending.
The following tables provide further information regarding the Company's contractual order book and compare its contractual order book as of July 28, 2022, with its previous order book as of April 28, 2022. Given current supply chain and aircraft delivery delays, the Company will continue working with Boeing on its order book with focus on 2022 and 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Deployment:
- The Company ended second quarter 2022 with $16.4 billion in cash and short-term investments and a fully available revolving credit line of $1.0 billion
- The Company had a net cash position11 of $5.9 billion, and adjusted debt12 to invested capital (leverage) of 53 percent as of June 30, 2022
- The Company paid $231 million during second quarter 2022 to retire debt and finance lease obligations, including the extinguishment of $138 million in principal of the Company's convertible notes for a cash payment of $178 million, the extinguishment of $30 million in principal of various unsecured notes for a cash payment of $31 million, as well as $22 million in scheduled debt payments
- The Company's 2022 total debt repayments is expected to be $820 million, compared with its previous guidance of $650 million, due to the unscheduled extinguishments noted above
- The Company recently extended the maturity of its revolving credit facility agreement two years to August 3, 2025
Awards and Recognitions:
- #1 Marketing Carrier in Customer Satisfaction per the U.S. Department of Transportation13
- Named Loyalty Program of the Year for Rapid Rewards Program and recognized for providing the Best Loyalty Credit Card by the 2022 Freddie Awards; Received the 2022 Freddie Awards title of Best Customer Service
- Named a Top 100 Company by BetterInvesting Magazine
- Awarded by Port of Seattle the "2022 Port of Seattle Sustainable Century Aviation Award" for the greatest airline use of ground power systems to reduce emissions, while docked at Seattle airport gates
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG):
- Published the Company's annual corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability report—the Southwest Airlines One Report—a comprehensive, integrated report that includes information on the Company's Citizenship efforts and key topics including People, Performance, and Planet, along with reporting guided by the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) Standards, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) frameworks.
- Published the Southwest Airlines Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Report (DEI), a companion piece to the One Report. This comprehensive report is focused on the Company's current DEI priorities and path forward.
- Announced an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC, as part of a Department of Energy (DOE) backed project to develop and produce scalable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Funded with a DOE grant matched by the Company's investment, SAFFiRE is expected to utilize technology developed by the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to convert corn stover, a widely available waste feedstock in the U.S., into renewable ethanol that then would be upgraded into SAF.
- Launched updated southwest.com/citizenship website pages that celebrate the Company's citizenship story and share details about its ongoing ESG efforts.
- In honor of Global Volunteer and Earth Month, Southwest Employees served over 7,100 volunteer hours during April 2022, sharing their love for the environment and their communities.
- Expanded the Company's Repurpose with Purpose program to include a new partner—the Tropical Agricultural and Higher Education Center (CATIE). CATIE aims to promote a route to achieve Inclusive Green Development, through the construction of human capital, and institutional strengthening for research, development, and external projection.
- Launched a one-of-a-kind Leadership book, "Leading with Heart: Living & Working the Southwest Way" to celebrate more than 50 years of putting People first.
Conference Call:
The Company will discuss its second quarter 2022 results on a conference call at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time today. To listen to a live broadcast of the conference call, please go to https://www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com.
Footnotes
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company's financial and operational outlook, expectations, goals, plans, and projected results of operations, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections; (ii) the Company's network plans and expectations and the associated expected operational benefits, including with respect to adding flights, future growth, and restoring its network, in particular with respect to short-haul business routes and stage length; (iii) the Company's priorities and expectations with respect to investments in the Company's operations and People, including the Company's hiring and training plans and associated goals with respect to operational reliability, efficiency, productivity, optimization, and stability; (iv) the Company's plans and expectations regarding its fleet and fleet delivery schedule, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's plans and expectations; (v) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to capacity and capacity adjustments, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections; (vi) the Company's expectations with respect to fuel costs, hedging gains, and fuel efficiency, and the Company's related management of risks associated with changing jet fuel prices, including factors underlying the Company's expectations; (vii) the Company's plans, estimates, and assumptions related to repayment of debt obligations, interest expense, effective tax rate, and capital spending, including factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections; (viii) the Company's expectations regarding passenger demand, revenue trends, and bookings, including with respect to managed business revenues; (ix) the Company's expectations with respect to breakage revenues and breakage trends; (x) the Company's expectations with respect to its Flight credits policy change, including the expected impacts from the policy change and the benefits associated with the policy change, in particular the expected increase in Customer loyalty; and (xi) the Company's expectations regarding wage and other cost inflation, including the factors and assumptions underlying the Company's expectations and projections. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current estimates, intentions, beliefs, expectations, goals, strategies, and projections for the future and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of fears or actual outbreaks of other diseases, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, actions of competitors (including, without limitation, pricing, scheduling, capacity, and network decisions, and consolidation and alliance activities), consumer perception, economic conditions, fears of terrorism or war, socio-demographic trends, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on consumer behavior and the Company's results of operations and business decisions, plans, strategies, and results; (ii) any negative developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, for example, with respect to the duration, spread, severity, or any recurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic or any new variant strains of the underlying virus; the effectiveness, availability, and usage of COVID-19 vaccines; the impact of government mandates, directives, orders, regulations, and other governmental actions related to COVID-19 on the Company's business plans and its ability to retain key Employees; the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on overall demand for air travel and the Company's related business plans and decisions; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's access to capital; (iii) the Company's dependence on its workforce, including its ability to employ sufficient numbers of qualified Employees to effectively and efficiently maintain its operations; (iv) the Company's dependence on Boeing with respect to the Company's fleet plans, deliveries, operations, strategies, and goals; (v) the impact of fuel price changes, fuel price volatility, volatility of commodities used by the Company for hedging jet fuel, and any changes to the Company's fuel hedging strategies and positions, on the Company's business plans and results of operations; (vi) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; (vii) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions on the Company's business plans and operations; (viii) the Company's dependence on Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to the certification of the Boeing MAX 7 aircraft; (ix) the Company's dependence on other third parties, in particular with respect to its fuel supply and Global Distribution Systems, and the impact on the Company's operations and results of operations of any third party delays or non-performance; (x) the impact of labor matters on the Company's business decisions, plans, and strategies; and (xi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). These GAAP financial statements may include (i) unrealized noncash adjustments and reclassifications, which can be significant, as a result of accounting requirements and elections made under accounting pronouncements relating to derivative instruments and hedging and (ii) other charges and benefits the Company believes are unusual and/or infrequent in nature and thus may make comparisons to its prior or future performance difficult.
As a result, the Company also provides financial information in this release that was not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company provides supplemental non-GAAP financial information (also referred to as "excluding special items"), including results that it refers to as "economic," which the Company's management utilizes to evaluate its ongoing financial performance and the Company believes provides additional insight to investors as supplemental information to its GAAP results. The non-GAAP measures provided that relate to the Company's performance on an economic fuel cost basis include Fuel and oil expense, non-GAAP; Total operating expenses, non-GAAP; Operating expenses, non-GAAP excluding Fuel and oil expense; Operating expenses, non-GAAP excluding Fuel and oil expense and profitsharing; Operating income (loss), non-GAAP; Other (gains) losses, net, non-GAAP; Income (loss) before income taxes, non-GAAP; Provision (benefit) for income taxes, net, non-GAAP; Net income (loss), non-GAAP; and Net income (loss) per share, diluted, non-GAAP. The Company's economic Fuel and oil expense results differ from GAAP results in that they only include the actual cash settlements from fuel hedge contracts - all reflected within Fuel and oil expense in the period of settlement. Thus, Fuel and oil expense on an economic basis has historically been utilized by the Company, as well as some of the other airlines that utilize fuel hedging, as it reflects the Company's actual net cash outlays for fuel during the applicable period, inclusive of settled fuel derivative contracts. Any net premium costs paid related to option contracts that are designated as hedges are reflected as a component of Fuel and oil expense, for both GAAP and non-GAAP (including economic) purposes in the period of contract settlement. The Company believes these economic results provide further insight into the impact of the Company's fuel hedges on its operating performance and liquidity since they exclude any unrealized, noncash adjustments and reclassifications that are recorded in GAAP results in accordance with accounting guidance relating to derivative instruments, and they reflect all cash settlements related to fuel derivative contracts within Fuel and oil expense. This enables the Company's management, as well as investors and analysts, to consistently assess the Company's operating performance on a year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter basis after considering all efforts in place to manage fuel expense. However, because these measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations, and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, the aforementioned measures, as presented, may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
Further information on (i) the Company's fuel hedging program, (ii) the requirements of accounting for derivative instruments, and (iii) the causes of hedge ineffectiveness and/or mark-to-market gains or losses from derivative instruments is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
The Company's GAAP results in the applicable periods may include other charges or benefits that are also deemed "special items," that the Company believes make its results difficult to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, or industry trends. Financial measures identified as non-GAAP (or as excluding special items) have been adjusted to exclude special items. For the periods presented, in addition to the items discussed above, special items include:
- Proceeds related to the Payroll Support programs, which were used to pay a portion of Employee salaries, wages, and benefits;
- Charges and adjustments to previously accrued amounts related to the Company's extended leave programs;
- Adjustments for prior period losses reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") associated with forward-starting interest rate swap agreements that were terminated in prior periods related to 12 -8 aircraft leases;
- Noncash impairment charges, primarily associated with adjustments to the salvage values for previously retired airframes;
- Unrealized mark-to-market adjustment associated with certain available for sale securities; and
- Losses associated with the partial extinguishment of the Company's convertible notes and early prepayment of debt.
Because management believes special items can distort the trends associated with the Company's ongoing performance as an airline, the Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a supplemental presentation of results that exclude the impact of special items in order to enhance consistency and comparativeness with results in prior periods that do not include such items and as a basis for evaluating operating results in future periods. The following measures are often provided, excluding special items, and utilized by the Company's management, analysts, and investors to enhance comparability of year-over-year results, as well as to industry trends: Fuel and oil expense, non-GAAP; Total operating expenses, non-GAAP; Operating expenses, non-GAAP excluding Fuel and oil expense; Operating expenses, non-GAAP excluding Fuel and oil expense and profitsharing; Operating income (loss), non-GAAP; Other (gains) losses, net, non-GAAP; Income (loss) before income taxes, non-GAAP; Provision (benefit) for income taxes, net, non-GAAP; Net income (loss), non-GAAP; and Net income (loss) per share, diluted, non-GAAP.
SW-QFS
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/southwest-airlines-reports-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-07-28T11:35:59Z |
In a landmark first, scientists have grown plants in lunar soil using samples collected during the Apollo missions to the moon. This is the first time plants have been sprouted and grown on Earth in soil from another celestial body.
The study could lay the foundation for growing plants that supply oxygen and food on the moon, a timely consideration as NASA's Artemis program looks to land the first woman and the first person of color at the lunar south pole later this decade.
But the experiments also reveal just how stressful it is for plants to grow in lunar regolith, or soil, which is wildly different from natural habitats on Earth.
A study detailing the plant experiment published Thursday in the journal Communications Biology.
Different types of plants, including food crops, have flown on the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Plant samples have even been used to prove that lunar samples aren't harmful to life on Earth.
"Plants helped establish that the soil samples brought back from the moon did not harbor pathogens or other unknown components that would harm terrestrial life, but those plants were only dusted with the lunar regolith and were never actually grown in it," said study coauthor Anna-Lisa Paul, research professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Paul and study coauthor Rob Ferl, distinguished professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, wanted to take things a step further and see if seeds would grow in lunar soil.
"For future, longer space missions, we may use the Moon as a hub or launching pad," Ferl said in a statement. "So, what happens when you grow plants in lunar soil, something that is totally outside of a plant's evolutionary experience? What would plants do in a lunar greenhouse? Could we have lunar farmers?"
Historic samples
It's an experiment that has been long in the making -- 15 years have passed since the researchers made their first proposal and request for lunar samples. The request was granted 18 months ago.
The research team requested 4 grams of lunar material collected during the Apollo 17 mission from NASA. Ryan Zeigler, NASA's Apollo sample curator, saw the scientific value in providing more from different Apollo missions. He sent them a total of 12 grams (2.7 teaspoons) from lunar samples collected from the Apollo 11, 12 and 17 missions.
"That made a big difference in enabling us to take a deeper look into the science and the effects of lunar regolith on plants than we would have otherwise been able to do," Paul said.
The researchers used wells the size of thimbles as pots. Typically, these plastic trays are used to culture cells.
The scientists filled each well with a gram of lunar soil, added nutrients and water, and poked in a few seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress, a small flowering plant native to Eurasia and Africa.
Thale cress is an attractive plant specimen to researchers because it is well studied and its genetic code has been mapped -- which allowed the researchers to study how the alien soil affected the plant's gene expression. And the plant has already been to space aboard the shuttle and space station, providing the team with space data to use for a comparison.
Arabidopsis seeds were also planted in a synthetic substance that simulates lunar soil, as well volcanic ash and other substrates from extreme environments.
To the surprise of the researchers, almost all of the seeds planted in the dark lunar soil actually sprouted and began to grow.
"We did not predict that," Paul said. "That told us that the lunar soils didn't interrupt the hormones and signals involved in plant germination."
Antagonistic soil
The Arabidopsis sprouts, however, showed signs of struggle as they adjusted to the lunar soil.
The seedlings were smaller, grew slower and varied in size compared with plants grown in Earth soils. The roots were stunted. And the plants took longer to grow expanded leaves than the Arabidopsis plants grown in volcanic ash. Some of the lunar soil plants showed reddish black pigments in their leaves, an outward sign of stress.
On a genetic level, three of the smaller, darker plants expressed more than 1,000 genes that were largely related to stress.
"At the genetic level, the plants were pulling out the tools typically used to cope with stressors, such as salt and metals or oxidative stress, so we can infer that the plants perceive the lunar soil environment as stressful," Paul said.
"Ultimately, we would like to use the gene expression data to help address how we can ameliorate the stress responses to the level where plants -- particularly crops -- are able to grow in lunar soil with very little impact to their health."
The Arabidopsis plants that struggled the most were grown in mature lunar soil, and they turned purple as an oxidative stress response. These soils collected during the Apollo 11 mission were more exposed to the harsh space environment, and the plants grown in the Apollo 12 and 17 samples seemed to fare better.
The lunar surface, regularly bombarded by cosmic rays and solar wind, also includes iron particles and tiny fragments of glass. All of these elements could impair plant growth.
"Even the plants that looked healthy were struggling to stay looking healthy," Paul said. "They grew in lunar regolith, but they had to deal with it at a metabolic level in order to maintain that kind of health."
Space greenhouses
The researchers want to conduct follow-up studies to understand how growing plants in the lunar environment could actually alter the moon's soil.
"The Moon is a very, very dry place," said study coauthor Stephen Elardo, UF assistant professor of geology. "How will minerals in the lunar soil respond to having a plant grown in them, with the added water and nutrients? Will adding water make the mineralogy more hospitable to plants?"
On the moon, these plants could pull resources from the lunar soil, like metallic iron, and make them available in useful forms.
Further research could also help the researchers determine the most efficient way to grow plants in lunar soil and help them avoid the stressors identified during the study. And the team wanted to reach a clear understanding of the nutritional value of these plants -- and if that's affected by the soil.
While thale cress is edible, it's not tasty or considered to be a food crop. But it's in the same plant family as broccoli, kale, turnips and cauliflower.
Sharmila Bhattacharya, chief scientist for astrobionics at NASA, found the plant growth discovery to be "quite thrilling" and said the study presents many follow-up opportunities for scientists. Bhattacharya did not participate in this study.
"We need to work out how to make the plants grow even better in this regolith substrate," Bhattacharya wrote in an email. "For example, do we need to add other components to help the plants along, and if so, what are they? Are there other plants that can adapt better to these regolith substrates, and if so, what traits make them more robust to these environments?
"That's what's so exciting about science; each new finding leads to more unique and transformative results down the road, which we can then use to help improve sustainability for our future space exploration missions!"
The scientists see their experiment as a positive result for what may be possible as humans push the boundaries of space exploration.
"It's amazing that the plant still grows in this harsh environment," Elardo said. "It's stressed, but it doesn't die."
"When humans move as civilizations to stay somewhere, we always take our agriculture with us," Ferl said. "The idea of bringing lunar soil into a lunar greenhouse is the stuff of exploration dreams."
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™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/plants-have-been-grown-in-lunar-soil-for-the-1st-time-ever/article_d4cf29ce-ec78-59e8-af22-c7c2f43c101f.html | 2022-05-12T16:13:42Z |
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new prime minister has pledged to rebuild the economy and “ride out the storm” gathering over the country, but Liz Truss faces a daunting job.
She inherits an ailing economy on the brink of a potentially long recession, with record inflation that’s forecast to worsen in coming months and millions crying out for government help to cope with soaring energy bills.
Here’s a look at the scale of the economic challenges that Truss faces and how she is expected to tackle them:
HIGH ENERGY COSTS
At the top of Truss’ agenda is a cost-of-living crisis driven by spiraling natural gas and electricity costs. Starting in October, millions of households will see their average yearly energy bill jump to about 3,500 pounds ($4,000) — almost triple what they paid a year ago. The bills are expected to continue to climb and could exceed 4,000 pounds in January.
The sharp increases began last year, as economies worldwide recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and global demand for natural gas and oil surged. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered further volatility in wholesale gas prices, as Moscow switched off or reduced gas flows to European countries like Germany.
Britain only imports a small percentage of its gas from Russia, but the U.K. relies more on gas than its European neighbors because it has less nuclear and renewable energy. Compared with other European countries, the U.K. is much more dependent on gas to heat homes and generate electricity. The country also does not have as much capacity to store gas, forcing it to buy on the short-term spot market.
Charities and health bosses warn the crisis will hit the poorest hardest heading into winter. Hospitals say crippling energy costs will affect patient care, while scores of small businesses warn they face closure without urgent government aid.
SOARING INFLATION
It’s not just gas and electricity — other costs, such as food, have risen across the board. Inflation has crept up since last year and now stands above 10% for the first time since the oil price shocks of the 1970s and 1980s.
Worse is to come: The Bank of England predicted that the war in Ukraine could drive U.K. inflation to 13.3% next month. Some, like U.S. bank Citi, believe inflation could go as high as 18% next year before coming back down.
It’s a shock to the system for millions. Before the crisis, the U.K. had seen average inflation rates of around 2% for years.
Meanwhile, average wages, especially those in the public sector, have failed to keep pace with soaring costs. Tens of thousands of rail, port and postal workers, lawyers and garbage collectors have gone on strike this summer to demand better pay. Multiple other industries are mulling similar industrial action.
“Real wages are falling, certainly faster than they have done for at least 45 years, possibly for about as much as 100 years,” said Greg Thwaites, an economist and research director at the Resolution Foundation, a U.K. economic and social affairs think tank.
WARNINGS OF A LONG RECESSION
The Bank of England has predicted that skyrocketing energy prices will push the U.K. into recession later this year, with economic output forecast to decline in every quarter of 2023.
The International Monetary Fund says the U.K. economy is expected to have the weakest growth among the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in 2023.
“The point is that this acute living-standard crisis that we’re living through now comes on the back of 15 years of very weak growth in the U.K. economy,” Thwaites said.
Britain’s exit from the European Union didn’t help matters, he added.
WHAT IS TRUSS DOING TO HELP?
Truss is due to announce a major financial package Thursday to tackle soaring energy costs.
Her government has not released details, but British media reports suggest she will approve an immediate freeze on household energy bills and extra support for businesses.
The BBC reports that energy bills could be capped with the introduction of a government “superfund,” from which energy firms can borrow, and the cost of such aid could reach 100 million pounds ($116 billion).
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said Wednesday that such measures will likely calm inflation in the short term. But it’s not clear how Truss’ government intends to foot that huge bill, while meeting her core campaign promises to slash taxes and grow the economy.
“There’s a reasonable question about whether it should be paid for by future electricity bills or by future taxpayers or by current taxpayers,” Thwaites said. “But ultimately, somebody needs to pay.”
Hannah White, acting director of the Institute for Government, says the measures go against the prime minister’s inclinations.
“What (Truss) is being pushed into, which is way against her instincts, is a big program of government spending to support people in this situation,” White said. “She’s really got no alternative, but it goes directly counter to how she would ideally govern as prime minister.” | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/ap-new-uk-prime-minister-liz-truss-inherits-an-economic-storm/ | 2022-09-07T16:54:36Z |
CHICAGO and SEATTLE, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research (Nasdaq: MORN), has completed its previously announced acquisition of Leveraged Commentary & Data (LCD), a market leader in news, research, data, insights, and indexes for the leveraged finance market from S&P Global.
LCD is the industry standard for leveraged loan data, news, analysis, and indexes, providing coverage across the full lifecycle of loans. The leveraged loan market data provider will integrate with Morningstar's PitchBook Platform, which delivers data, research, and technology covering the breadth of the private and public equity markets. The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index—the flagship benchmark for this asset class—and related indexes will become part of the expanding fixed-income capabilities from Morningstar Indexes.
"LCD is the standard for private credit and leveraged loan data and research. By integrating LCD's data, news, and analysis on leveraged loans into PitchBook, we'll be able to address two major investor needs. First, provide transparency into every metric of the leveraged loan market, including structure, pricing, yield, volume, along with secondary market performance and leveraged buyout/private equity activity. Second, create a centralized tool for private capital and debt markets. We're looking forward to partnering with LCD to deliver even greater value to our customers," said John Gabbert, founder and CEO of PitchBook.
Nearly 60 LCD employees will join Morningstar as part of the PitchBook team and the Morningstar Indexes group. The transaction was funded through a combination of cash on hand and Morningstar's five-year multi-currency credit facility. Additional information about the acquisition is available here.
PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscape—including public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news, and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, London, and Hong Kong and serves more than 70,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as a subsidiary.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The Company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers and owners, retirement plan providers and sponsors, and institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $265 billion in assets under advisement and management as of March 31, 2022. The Company has operations in 29 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com/company. Follow Morningstar on Twitter @MorningstarInc.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations about future events or future financial performance. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and often contain words such as "project," "outlook," "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "remain," "target" or "will" and similar references to future periods. Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements, including (i) the future demand for news, research, data, insights, and indexes for the leveraged finance market; and (ii) the risks and costs associated with the integration of, and the ability of Morningstar to integrate LCD successfully. Factors that will influence the impact on our business and operations include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Morningstar that are described our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialize, our actual future results and other future events may vary significantly from what we expect. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.
©2022 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
MORN-C
Morningstar Media Contact:
Sarah Wirth, +1 312 696-6037 or newsroom@morningstar.com
PitchBook Media Contact:
Bailey Fox, pr@pitchbook.com
Investors may submit questions to investors@morningstar.com
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SOURCE Morningstar, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/morningstar-inc-completes-acquisition-leveraged-commentary-amp-data/ | 2022-06-01T17:04:18Z |
Productivity loss from employees dealing with debt costs U.S. businesses over $40 billion annually
SAN MATEO, Calif., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Financial Network (FFN), a leading digital personal finance company, released a new whitepaper, Filling the Gap in Financial Wellness Benefits, which examines how employers that expand financial benefits beyond traditional wealth management and retirement savings programs can reduce workers' stress and improve productivity.
In recent years, workplace benefits have grown beyond retirement and health insurance to include financial wellness programs focused on wealth accumulation and savings for financially secure employees. But the reality is that a significant segment of the workforce struggles to meet day-to-day cash flow needs and is unable to use these long-term planning vehicles.
Research indicates that employer-sponsored financial wellness benefits that help workers repay or manage their debt can significantly reduce employee stress, alleviate other wellness issues and mitigate workplace productivity losses that result from employees' present-day financial struggles.
"Today, very few companies offer comprehensive financial wellness programs, leaving gaps in benefit offerings, especially for the growing number of people who are too focused on their immediate financial struggles to adequately prepare for the future," said Andrew Housser, co-founder and co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network. "In the U.S. alone, businesses experience over $40 billion in annual productivity losses due to their employees' struggles with unsecured debt. By expanding workplace benefits to include financial literacy and education, debt management or resolution offerings, budgeting help or even debt consolidation programs, more employees can have their financial needs met and get on a path to a better financial future."
Examples of four key financial wellness benefits that focus on meeting the needs of debt-stressed employees include:
- Budgeting tools: Employees who are dealing with tight finances need access and assistance in using a budgeting tool that can help them manage cash flow. By learning to proactively plan for and anticipate needs, employees can avoid some of the stress and time that come with constant reactive behavior. Ideally, a budgeting tool will be a part of a broader financial education and literacy effort and include an app-based platform.
- Debt management tools: As part of that broad financial education effort, employees who are dealing with significant debt need help finding a pathway out. They need to start by understanding the range of alternatives that are available, including a debt management plan that can help some people who are struggling with credit card debt with a lower interest rate.
- Debt consolidation programs: Debt consolidation can be a powerful tool for making debt payments both more affordable and easier to manage. This type of program can incorporate the buying power of a benefits platform to make discounts available for participants.
- Debt resolution services: The most acute debt problems involve having to deal with creditors and collection agencies — demands that often require attention during work hours. Debt resolution services can provide relief by reducing the principal amount of the debt the employees owe, and by helping to organize payments.
For more information about financial wellness benefits, download the Filling the Gap in Financial Wellness Benefits white paper: https://www.freedomdebtrelief.com/media-assets/surveys-studies/
Freedom Financial Network is a leading digital personal finance company. We do what traditional banks don't: Put people first. Our solutions help everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a brighter financial future, with innovative technology and personalized support. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of a consumer's financial journey and include personal loans (FreedomPlus), home equity loans (Lendage), help with debt (Freedom Debt Relief), and even financial tools and education (Bills.com). Freedom Financial Network has more than 2,300 dedicated employees across California, Arizona and Texas and is recognized as a Best Place to Work. For information on career opportunities at Freedom Financial Network, visit: https://jobs.freedomfinancialnetwork.com/
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SOURCE Freedom Financial Network | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/employers-that-offer-comprehensive-financial-wellness-benefits-can-reduce-workers-stress-improve-productivity-according-new-freedom-financial-network-study/ | 2022-06-28T13:38:17Z |
Company Recognized as a Leader Again Based on Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Delinea, a leading provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions for seamless security, today announced it has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Leaders Quadrant of the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management. The report evaluated 11 vendors based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.1
GET COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS TO THE 2022 GARTNER MAGIC QUADRANT FOR PRIVILEGED ACCESS MANAGEMENT: https://delinea.com/resources/gartner-magic-quadrant-pam
Delinea was formed in April 2021 after TPG Global acquired and merged Centrify and Thycotic. Centrify was previously named a Leader in the 2018, 2020, and 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management reports. Thycotic was also named a Leader in the 2020 and 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management reports. This is the fourth consecutive time Delinea has been recognized as a Leader.
"We are thrilled that Delinea has been recognized as a Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management," said Art Gilliland, CEO, Delinea. "We believe this recognition reinforces our commitment to seamless usability while reinforcing best practices such as least privilege and zero standing privileges. Furthermore, we believe the recognition acknowledges the successes Delinea has earned since merging two of the PAM Leaders last year to become a stronger partner to our customers, with a more comprehensive solutions portfolio delivered as SaaS or on-premises."
As organizations face growing threats including ransomware, data breaches, insider attacks, and more, Delinea believes that placing strict controls on privileged accounts and access is required now more than ever. Delinea puts privileged access at the center of cybersecurity for the modern, hybrid enterprise by granting access to critical data, devices, code, and cloud infrastructure using a centralized dashboard. With Delinea, the boundaries of access are easily defined to help customers reduce risk, ensure compliance, and streamline security.
Get complimentary access to the report to learn more about evaluations by Gartner: https://delinea.com/resources/gartner-magic-quadrant-pam. For more information about Delinea, visit delinea.com.
1 Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management, Michael Kelley, James Hoover, Felix Gaehtgens, Abhyuday Data, 19 July 2022.
Required Disclaimer:
Gartner and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About Delinea
Delinea is a leading provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions that make security seamless for the modern, hybrid enterprise. Our solutions empower organizations to secure critical data, devices, code, and cloud infrastructure to help reduce risk, ensure compliance, and simplify security. Delinea removes complexity and defines the boundaries of access for thousands of customers worldwide. Our customers range from small businesses to the world's largest financial institutions, intelligence agencies, and critical infrastructure companies. Learn more about Delinea on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
© Delinea Inc. (formerly Centrify Corporation) 2022. Delinea™ and Centrify® are trademarks of Delinea Inc. Thycotic® is a registered trademark of Thycotic Software, LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Brad Shewmake
Delinea
brad.shewmake@delinea.com
+1-408-625-4191
John Kreuzer
Lumina Communications
delinea@luminapr.com
+1-408-963-6418
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SOURCE Delinea | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/22/delinea-named-leader-2022-gartner-magic-quadrant-privileged-access-management-fourth-consecutive-time/ | 2022-07-22T16:18:31Z |
New capabilities allow for UK customers to change channels and search guides simply using their voice, making access to programming and customer service requirements easier than ever
BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance Communications, Inc. announced today that Liberty Global has expanded its use of Nuance Dragon TV for Virgin Media O2 customers in the United Kingdom. The expansion includes new capabilities that provide enhanced support for visually impaired customers, such as reading aloud program information.
Nuance Dragon TV, powered by Nuance conversational AI, has proven popular worldwide with subscribers and providers alike, currently handling more than 1.5 billion interactions every month, with the average user making 100 voice requests. Over 70% of subscribers that use Dragon TV capabilities within the first month still navigate and search with their voice nine months later.
"Seamless, personalized TV experiences with voice‑enabled AI technologies are the future of entertainment, and we believe every customer should be able to experience and benefit from these capabilities," said Pieter Vervoort, Vice President Entertainment Products, Liberty Global. "By partnering with Nuance, we've made it easier for all of our customers to enjoy voice‑enabled entertainment experiences, better customer service and easier navigation between channels and apps, building upon the voice enabled services our already customers enjoy."
"Today's TV subscribers have so many options and content to sort through, with more being developed daily. A voice-enabled experience can make sorting and finding content easy, opening up new opportunities for viewers and providers alike," said Tony Lorentzen, SVP of Intelligent Engagement Solutions, Nuance. "Liberty Global continues to push the boundaries of what's possible with voice, always keeping in mind the needs of their diverse customer base. We're thrilled to further expand our partnership with them to increase accessibility and create better experiences for their subscribers."
For more information on Nuance's Dragon TV, click here.
Nuance Communications is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational AI and ambient intelligence. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and more than 75 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others. Nuance is a Microsoft company.
Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
Nuance Communications
Dayna McCoubrey
Tel: 781-565-4728
Dayna.McCoubrey@nuance.com
Vanessa Richter
Tel: + 32 475769507
Vanessa.Richter@nuance.com
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SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/liberty-global-nuance-expand-voice-enabled-tv-services-provide-accessibility-visually-impaired-customers/ | 2022-09-08T13:49:53Z |
BATON ROUGE, La., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernhard Capital Partners ("Bernhard Capital"), a services and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm, today announced that Phillip Preis has joined the firm as a Managing Director, responsible for helping lead the firm's capital markets activities across all aspects of the investment and portfolio management processes.
Mr. Preis brings nearly two decades of investment banking experience, where he specialized in advising middle market clients on complex transactions and capital markets situations. Most recently, Mr. Preis was a Managing Director at Dundon Advisors, LLC, where he led the firm's investment banking team and helped build its unsecured creditor committee advisory business. Previously, he served as a Director in Houlihan Lokey's Financial Restructuring group, where he led both company and creditor-side financial restructuring engagements. Mr. Preis earned an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia.
"Having worked closely with Phil on a range of complex transactions and capital markets activities, we have strong confidence in his capabilities, vision and ability to execute," said Timothy Poche, COO at Bernhard Capital. "His unique perspective will serve both the firm and our portfolio companies well as we navigate today's increasingly sophisticated capital markets and grow our investment platform. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Bernhard Capital team."
"I have had the privilege of working with the Bernhard Capital team for many years, and I am excited about the opportunity to join such a talented organization with a long track record of business-building success," said Phillip Preis. "I look forward to leveraging my experience in both credit and the broader capital markets to build on the firm's momentum and support its portfolio of exceptional infrastructure and services-focused businesses."
About Bernhard Capital Partners
Bernhard Capital Partners is a services and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm established in 2013. Bernhard Capital Partners has deployed capital in four funds across several strategies, has approximately $2.5 billion of gross assets under management and is ranked as one of Private Equity International's 300 largest private equity firms worldwide. Bernhard Capital Partners seeks to create sustainable value by leveraging its experience in acquiring, operating and growing services and infrastructure businesses. For more information, visit www.bernhardcapital.com.
Contacts
Ed Trissel / Erik Carlson
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
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SOURCE Bernhard Capital Partners Management, LP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/phillip-preis-joins-bernhard-capital-partners-managing-director/ | 2022-07-26T15:10:29Z |
ATLANTA, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees (the "Board") of each of Invesco High Income Trust II and Invesco Senior Income Trust (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") today announces the payment of the following dividends:
Effective August 1, 2018, the Board of Invesco High Income Trust II (NYSE: VLT) approved a Managed Distribution Plan (the "VLT Plan") for the Fund, whereby the Fund increased its monthly dividend to common shareholders to a stated fixed monthly distribution amount based on a distribution rate of 8.5 percent of the closing market price per share as of August 1, 2018, the date the VLT Plan became effective. The VVR Plan and the VLT Plan are collectively referred to herein as the "Plans."
The Board of Trustees (the "Board") of Invesco Senior Income Trust (NYSE: VVR) (the "Fund") approved an increase in the monthly distribution amount payable to common shareholders pursuant to the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan (the "Plan"). Effective April 1, 2022, the Fund will pay its monthly dividend to common shareholders at a stated fixed monthly distribution amount of $0.026 per share, an increase from a stated fixed monthly distribution amount of $0.021 per share.
The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the sources indicated. You should not draw any conclusions about the Funds' investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Plans. All amounts are expressed per common share. Each Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution is estimated to be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Funds' investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the 19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend on each Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. Each Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The monthly distributions are based on estimates and terms of each Fund's Plan. Monthly distribution amounts may vary from these estimates based on a multitude of factors. Changes in portfolio and market conditions may cause deviations from estimates. These estimates should not be taken as indication of a Fund's earnings and performance. The actual amounts and its sources may be subject to additional adjustments and will be reported after year end.
Each Fund's Performance and Distribution Rate Information disclosed in the table below is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Fiscal Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate and the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate. Each Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. NAV performance may be indicative of a Fund's investment performance. The value of a shareholder's investment in each Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Funds' Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each Fund will provide its shareholders of record on the record date with a 19(a) Notice disclosing the sources of its dividend payment when a distribution includes anything other than net investment income.
The Plans will be subject to periodic review by each Fund's Board, and a Fund's Board may terminate or amend the terms of its Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund's shareholders. The amendment or termination of a Fund's Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of such Fund's common shares.
The amount of dividends paid by each Fund may vary from time to time. Past amounts of dividends are no guarantee of future dividend payment amounts.
Investing involves risk and it is possible to lose money on any investment in the Funds.
For additional information, shareholders of the closed end fund may call Invesco at 800-983-0903.
About Invesco Ltd.
Invesco Ltd. is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive, and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in more than 20 countries, Invesco managed $1.4 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of June 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.invesco.com.
Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the US distributor for Invesco Ltd. It is an indirect, wholly owned, subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.
Note: There is no assurance that a closed-end fund will achieve its investment objective. Shares are bought on the secondary market and may trade at a discount or premium to NAV. Regular brokerage commissions apply.
NOT A DEPOSIT l NOT FDIC INSURED l NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK l MAY LOSE VALUE l NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
—Invesco—
CONTACT: Jeaneen Terrio 212-278-9205 Jeaneen.Terrio@invesco.com
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SOURCE Invesco Ltd. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/invesco-closed-end-funds-pay-dividends/ | 2022-07-29T13:22:54Z |
COUNCE, Tenn., June 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At long last, Brandon Lester has his trophy.
A veteran pro at only 34 years old, the Tennessee angler slammed the door Sunday in the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, winning his first Elite Series tournament in nine seasons on tour.
Entering Championship Sunday with a 3 1/2-pound lead, Lester didn't let up, catching 22 pounds, 14 ounces, which was the VMC Monster Bag of the tournament. That gave him a four-day total of 20 bass for 86-1, almost 6 pounds more than any of the nine other pros who made the final-day cut.
Lester competed in more than 110 Bassmaster tournaments before he won his first one in February — the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida's Kissimmee Chain of Lakes presented by Mossy Oak Fishing. But as sweet as that win was, it wasn't a notch in his Elite Series belt like this week's big victory on Pickwick, only two hours from his home in Fayetteville, Tenn.
"This is unreal," he said. "That Open win, I was super proud of it. It's a stacked field in the Opens. But an Elite Series win is next level. I guess it's between an Opens win and a Classic win. That's the only thing that can top it. These are the greatest bass fishermen in the world. I believe that. If they're not, they won't last long."
The $100,000 first-place prize pushed Lester's career Bassmaster earnings past $1 million — a sign of not only his longevity in the sport but his undeniable success.
He was head and shoulders above the 91-boat field this week, competing on a lake he's fished regularly the past few years, but never in an Elite event on Pickwick when ledges were dominant. He said being on familiar water narrowed his focus and raised his confidence.
"I would never tell anybody 'Hey, I'm on the fish to win,'" Lester said. "I've been in that position before and it didn't work out. But I knew if I made the right decisions and did my job this week that I could win this tournament."
Lester found a special spot during practice that replenished daily and provided the bulk of his catch.
"It was shellbed, and where the current rolled up on that bar, from 8 feet to 4 feet, there was a hard spot," he said. "The fish were sitting up on that spot. It was small, maybe three times the size of my boat. It was a typical Tennessee River feeding spot, right off the main river. There was a ton of bait in there — gizzard shad, threadfin shad.
"It was the perfect combination."
He found the spot pretty much by accident. Lester saw bass there on his side scanners while motoring through the area during practice. Had he gone over the top of the fish, they likely wouldn't have shown on his down scan in such shallow water.
Lester started strong on Sunday, catching 17 pounds in the first 20 to 30 minutes. He made a couple of culls later in the morning, but a 6-pounder just after 1 p.m. provided cushion. He caught the big bass on a secondary spot he found several years ago (a main-river ledge that dropped from 14 to 21 feet.)
"I've not caught a fish on a Scrounger all week, and I threw a 3/4-ounce Scrounger head (with a 5-inch Castaic Jerky J) out there and caught that 6-pounder," he said. "That's the most memorable fish of my life. I'll never forget that catch. I pretty much knew (I had won) at that point."
Most of Lester's Pickwick bass were caught on a Strike King 4.0 crankbait (chartreuse shad), though the 6-13 largemouth he hooked on Day 3 came on a football jig. He also used a Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hit Worm (plum apple) with a 1/8-ounce Mustad tungsten nail weight in the head.
The familiarity with the lake and knowing what to throw was a winning recipe. He's been waiting nine years for the feast.
"I can't even put this into words," he said. "It's just a lot of hard work coming to fruition. People don't realize how much work we put into this. I spent countless hours here from 2015 to 2020. I'd come over seven or eight times a year, and it's a two-hour drive from my house. I was getting up at 4 a.m., fishing all day and driving back home.
"When I first started my career, I would have told you my weakness was ledge fishing," Lester said. "So, I knew it was a gap I needed to fill."
What started as only a modest 3 1/2-pound lead turned into a runaway as Lester defeated second-place angler Cody Huff of Ava, Mo. (80-5) by almost 6 pounds. Texas pro Chris Zaldain (77-15) finished third, followed by Tennessee rookie Jacob Foutz (77-3) and veteran Florida pro John Cox (70-0).
Lester won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with the 6-13 he caught Saturday.
Huff took home $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and Zaldain earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Zaldain earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Idaho's Brandon Palaniuk claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Canada's Cory Johnston won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
With the solid finish, Cox stayed right on the heels of Palaniuk in the race for Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year. Palaniuk has 536 points, while Cox has 518. They are followed by Tennessee pro David Mullins with 486 and Lester with 477.
For Foutz, it was his second Top 5 finish in three events — and it moved him into second place in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 370 points, just three points behind leader Joseph Webster of Alabama.
The Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake was hosted by Tour Hardin County.
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Strike King, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster Conservation Partners: AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters
Media Contact: Emily Harley, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, eharley@bassmaster.com
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SOURCE B.A.S.S. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/lester-saves-his-best-last-slams-door-bassmaster-elite-series-win-pickwick-lake/ | 2022-06-06T02:51:14Z |
FAIRFAX, Va., July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Financial Holdings (OTCQX: FDVA), (the "Company" or "Freedom"), the holding company for The Freedom Bank of Virginia (the "Bank") today announced net income of $2,227,385 or $0.30 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2022. This compares to net income of $2,784,296 or $0.38 per diluted share, for the linked quarter and net income of $2,626,381 or $0.36 per diluted share for the three months ending June 30, 2021.
Joseph J. Thomas, President, and CEO, commented, "We experienced the full impact of cyclical changes in the economy in the second quarter of 2022 as fee-based revenue fell meaningfully, but the decline was largely offset by very strong core income from loan growth and net interest margin expansion. As interest rates increased, the residential real estate market began to cool, with mortgage banking revenues declining by $1.04 million or 51.29%. Likewise, as the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") wound down, the Bank's income from PPP loan forgiveness decreased by $364,438 or 244.42%, in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. Our banking team was able to offset these expected declines in fee-based revenue with growth in net interest income (excluding the impact of PPP loans) of 18.24% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. This was driven by strong growth in loans held for investment (excluding PPP loans) of 28.72% annualized and 23.50% annualized growth in deposits, relative to the prior quarter. In response to the increase in interest rates, the Bank's net interest margin expanded by 27-basis points to 3.65% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Consequently, our pre-tax, pre-provision net income declined by 11.5% to $3.24 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Notably, the allowance for loan losses at 1.13% (excluding PPP loans) and Tier 1 Capital Ratio at 13.84% puts us in a very strong position to manage through a potentially more challenging economic environment and continue to focus on proactively serving and innovatively growing with our clients."
Second Quarter 2022 Highlights include:
- Net income for the second quarter was $2,227,385 or $0.30 per diluted share compared to net income of $2,784,297 or $0.38 per diluted share in the linked quarter and net income of $2,626,381 or $0.36 per diluted share for the three months ending June 30, 2021.
- Return on Average Assets ("ROAA") was 1.01% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 1.29% for the linked quarter and 1.24% for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- Return on Average Equity ("ROAE") was 11.44% for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 13.53% for the linked quarter and 13.65% for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
- Total assets were $895.52 million on June 30, 2022, an increase of $32.40 million or 3.75% from the end of the prior quarter and an increase of 2.15% from total assets on December 31, 2021.
- Loans held-for-investment (excluding PPP loans) increased by $41.60 million or 7.16% during the quarter.
- PPP loan balances decreased by $3.66 million during the second quarter on loan forgiveness and mortgage loans held for sale decreased by $4.49 million during the same period, on a decline in mortgage activity.
- Cash balances at the Federal Reserve decreased by $5.40 million during the second quarter.
- Available for sale investment securities increased by $1.28 million during the second quarter.
- Total deposits increased by $41.90 million or by 5.86% in the second quarter. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits increased by $8.04 million from the linked quarter to $216.21 million and represented 28.58% of total deposits on June 30, 2022.
- Excluding income from PPP loans, net interest income in the second quarter of 2022 increased by $1.68 million or by 29.17% compared to the same period in 2021. Excluding PPP loans, the net interest margin for the second quarter of 2022 was 3.62%, higher by 9 basis points compared to the prior quarter and was higher by 49 basis points compared to the same period in 2021. The net interest margin for the second quarter of 2022 was 3.65% if the income from PPP loans was included.
- The cost of funds was 0.45% for the second quarter, higher by 9 basis points compared to the linked quarter and higher by 3 basis points compared to the same period in 2021, as deposit and borrowing costs increased during the quarter.
- Non-interest income decreased by 8.84% compared to the linked quarter and decreased by 27.72% compared to the same period in 2021. The decrease in non-interest income compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to lower mortgage revenue and other fee income. The decrease in non-interest income compared to the calendar quarter was primarily due to lower mortgage revenue stemming from a slowdown in mortgage activity, partially offset by higher revenue from SBA loan sales and other fee income.
- Non-interest expense in the second quarter increased by 3.72% compared to the linked quarter and was higher by 6.09% compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in non-interest expense in linked quarters was primarily due to higher professional fees and an increase in data processing expenses. Higher expenses compared to the calendar quarter were primarily related to an increase in compensation costs in the second quarter of 2022.
- The Efficiency Ratio was 65.10% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 61.70% for the linked quarter and 62.38% for the same period in 2021.
- Non-accrual loans were relatively unchanged in the second quarter from the prior period, and the ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.97% on June 30, 2022, compared to 0.11% on June 30, 2021.
- As a result of an increase in loans held-for-investment during the quarter and an assessment of the risks in the held-for-investment loan portfolio, the Company recognized a $375,000 provision for loan losses during the second quarter and the ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") to loans held-for-investment was 1.11% (or 1.13% excluding PPP loans, which carry a full faith and credit guarantee of the US Government) compared to 1.12% in the linked quarter (or 1.15% excluding PPP loans);
- The Bank continues to be well capitalized and capital ratios continue to be strong with a Leverage ratio of 11.95%, Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 13.84%, Tier 1 Risk Based Capital ratio of 13.84% and a Total Capital ratio of 14.77%.
Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") Activity
For the first six months of 2022, 103 PPP loans with balances of $13.35 million were forgiven by the SBA, and the Company recognized $608,952 of income from acceleration of processing fees associated with these loans. This compares with 354 PPP loans with balances of $55.08 million forgiven by the SBA in the first six months of 2021 with $1.09 million of income from acceleration of processing fees.
Net Interest Income
The Company recorded net interest income of $7.61 million for the second quarter of 2022, relatively unchanged compared to the linked quarter, and 11.53% higher than the same period in 2021.
Income from PPP loans during the second quarter of 2022 was $166,582 (including $149,105 from forgiveness of $3.15 million of PPP loans), compared to PPP loan income of $504,177 (including $459,847 from forgiveness of $14.42 million of PPP loans) during the first quarter of 2022, and $1,061,442 (including $513,343 from forgiveness of $30.25 million of PPP loans) during the second quarter of 2021. Excluding income from PPP loans, net interest income in the second quarter of 2022 increased by $338,597 or 4.76%, and by $1.68 million or 29.17% compared to the same period in 2021.
The net interest margin in the second quarter of 2022 was 3.65%, lower by 3 basis points compared to the linked quarter and higher by 27 basis points compared to the same period in 2021. Excluding PPP loans, the net interest margin increased by 9 basis points compared to the prior quarter and was higher by 49 basis points compared to the same period in 2021.
The following factors contributed to the changes in net interest margin during the second quarter of 2022 compared to the linked quarter:
- Yields on average earning assets increased by 7 basis points to 4.08% compared to 4.01% in the linked quarter, driven by higher yields on investments and deposits at the Federal Reserve, offset partially by lower yields on loans during the quarter.
- Loan yields decreased by 8 basis points to 4.67% from 4.75% in the linked quarter, while yields on investment securities increased by 33 basis points to 2.78% from 2.45% in the linked quarter. Excluding PPP loans, loan yields would have increased by 5 bp from the prior quarter.
- Cost of funds increased by 9 basis points to 0.45%, from 0.36% in the linked quarter, on higher deposit and borrowing costs.
- Excluding the impact of PPP loans from the second and prior quarter, the net interest margin increased by 9 basis points across linked quarters.
The following factors contributed to the changes in net interest margin during the second quarter of 2022 compared to the calendar quarter:
- Yields on average earning assets increased by 30 basis points to 4.08% compared to 3.78% in the calendar quarter, driven by higher yields on loans, investments, and deposits at the Federal Reserve.
- Loan yields increased by 19 basis points to 4.67% from 4.48% in the calendar quarter, while yields on investment securities increased by 56 basis points to 2.78% from 2.22% in the calendar quarter.
- Cost of funds increased by 3 basis points to 0.45%, from 0.42% in the calendar quarter, on higher deposit and borrowing costs.
- Excluding the impact of PPP loans from the second and calendar quarter, the net interest margin increased by 49 basis points across quarters.
Non-interest Income
Non-interest income was $1.66 million for the second quarter, lower by 8.84% compared to the linked quarter and lower by 27.72% compared to the same period in 2021. The lower non-interest income across linked quarters was primarily due to a decline in mortgage revenue and lower fee income from other sources, while the decline in non-interest income compared to the calendar quarter was largely due to lower mortgage gain-on-sale and fee revenue, stemming from a decline in mortgage activity, partially offset by higher SBA income and fee income from other sources.
Total Revenue
Total revenue, defined as the sum of net interest income, before provision for loan losses, and non-interest income, was lower by 1.69% compared to the linked quarter, primarily due to lower non-interest income, and higher by 1.66% compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to net margin expansion and loan growth.
Non-interest Expenses
Non-interest expenses in the second quarter of 2022 were higher by 3.72% compared to the linked quarter and increased by 6.09% compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in non-interest expenses in the second quarter compared to the prior quarter was largely due to higher professional fees and an increase in data processing expenses. Higher expenses compared to the calendar quarter were largely due to an increase in compensation costs in the second quarter of 2022.
The Efficiency Ratio was 65.10% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 61.70% for the prior quarter and 62.38% for the same period in 2021.
Asset Quality
Non-accrual loans were $8,712,326 or 1.38% of loans held-for-investment as of June 30, 2022, compared to $8,770,552 or 1.48% of loans held-for-investment at the end of the linked quarter. There were no troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") as June 30, 2022. On June 30, 2022, there were no loans that were 90 days or more past due and accruing. There was no Other Real Estate Owned ("OREO") on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2022. Total non-performing assets (defined as the sum of loans on non-accrual, loans greater than 90 days past due and accruing, loans that are TDRs but not on non-accrual, and OREO assets) were $8,712,326 or 0.97% of total assets on June 30, 2022, compared to $8,770,552 or 1.02% of assets, at the end of the linked quarter.
Following an assessment of the collectability of the loans held-for-investment at the end of the second quarter, it was determined that a $375,000 provision for loan losses was necessary to account for loan growth and changes to environmental factors. The Company booked a provision of $191,000 in the first quarter of 2022. The Company's ALLL ratio was 1.11% of loans held-for-investment (or 1.13% of loans held-for investment excluding PPP loans) as of June 30, 2022, compared to an ALLL ratio of 1.12% on March 31, 2022 (or 1.15% of loans held-for-investment excluding PPP loans).
Total Assets
Total assets on June 30, 2022, were $895.52 million compared to $863.12 million on March 31, 2022. Changes in major asset categories during linked quarters were as follows:
- Cash balances at the Federal Reserve decreased by $5.40 million
- Available for sale investment balances increased by $1.28 million
- PPP loan balances decreased by $3.66 million on loan forgiveness by the SBA
- Other loans held-for investment grew by $41.60 million
- Mortgage loans held-for-sale declined by $4.49 million
Total Liabilities
Total liabilities on June 30, 2022, were $820.05 million compared to total liabilities of $783.33 million on March 31, 2022. Total deposits were $756.58 million compared to total deposits of $714.69 million on March 31, 2022. Non-interest-bearing demand deposits increased by $8.04 million during the quarter and comprised 28.58% of total deposits at the end of the quarter, compared to 31.66% of total deposits on December 31, 2021. Other interest-bearing demand deposits increased by $9.02 million, savings deposits decreased by $730,576 and time deposits increased by $25.56 million during the quarter. Federal Home Loan Bank advances decreased by $10.75 million during the quarter, while Federal Reserve borrowings increased by $6.28 million.
Stockholders' Equity and Capital
Stockholders' equity on June 30, 2022, was $75.47 million compared to $79.79 million on March 31, 2022. Additional paid-in capital was $58.82 million on June 30, 2022, compared to $58.66 million on March 31, 2022. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI"), which generally comprises unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and derivative positions, decreased by $6.71 million on net unrealized losses during the second quarter of 2022. Retained earnings were $28.56 million on June 30, 2022, compared to $26.33 million at the end of the prior quarter. Total shares issued and outstanding were 7,319,006 on June 30, 2022, compared to 7,286,915 shares on March 31, 2022. The tangible book value of the Company's common stock on June 30, 2022, was $10.29 per share compared to $10.95 per share on March 31, 2022, and $10.81 per share on June 30, 2021.
As of June 30, 2022, the Bank's capital ratios were well above regulatory minimum capital ratios for well-capitalized bank holding companies. The Bank's capital ratios on June 30, 2022, and March 31, 2022, were as follows:
About Freedom Financial Holdings, Inc.
Freedom Financial Holdings, Inc. is the holding company of The Freedom Bank of Virginia, a community bank with locations in Fairfax, Reston, Chantilly, Vienna, and Manassas, Virginia. The Freedom Bank of Virginia also has a mortgage division headquartered in Chantilly. For information about deposit, loan and other services, visit the website at www.freedom.bank.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates, and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing; general economic and financial market conditions, in the United States generally and particularly in the markets in which the Company operates and which its loans are concentrated, including the effects of declines in real estate values, increases in unemployment levels, inflation, recessions and slowdowns in economic growth, including as a result of COVID-19 and the impact of the geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine; maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships; the adequacy or inadequacy of our allowance for loan and lease losses; acquisition or loss of key production personnel; and the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, such as weather-related disasters, wars, terrorist acts or public health events (such as COVID-19), and of governmental and societal responses thereto; these potential adverse effects may include, without limitation, adverse effects on the ability of the Company's borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Company, on the value of collateral securing loans, on the demand for the Company's loans or its other products and services, on incidents of cyberattack and fraud, on the Company's liquidity or capital positions, on risks posed by reliance on third-party service providers, on other aspects of the Company's business operations and on financial markets and economic growth. The Company cautions readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and the Company may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance. Some of the financial tables in this document reflect classifications to accounts to improve consistency in financial reporting.
Contact:
Joseph J. Thomas
President & Chief Executive Officer
703-667-4161: Phone
jthomas@freedom.bank: Email
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SOURCE Freedom Financial Holdings | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/freedom-financial-holdings-announces-earnings-second-quarter-2022/ | 2022-07-29T13:28:13Z |
Northern Spirit is Known for their Luxury RVs that are Loaded with Amenities
LEXINGTON, N.C., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The founders of Country Roads RV Center are proud to announce that they have been an authorized dealer for the Coachmen Northern Spirit line of RVs for 4 years.
To learn more about Country Roads RV Center, please visit https://www.crrvc.com/about-us/.
As a company spokesperson noted, since Country Roads RV Center opened its doors in 2008 the company has strived to offer only the highest quality, 5th wheels, travel trailers, and toy haulers.
Now, as one of the largest dealers in the state, Country Roads RV Center has grown to offer a full service and parts department. The family-owned and operated dealership strives to give their customers the most enjoyable experience possible.
"Our mission is to provide high-quality new and used RVs to our customers. At the same time, we understand that travel trailers, 5th wheels, and motorhomes are not created equally. Because of this, we do a thorough analysis of new product lines we carry prior to making the decision to place them in our inventory," the spokesperson noted, adding that after reviewing the Northern
Spirit makes and models, it was an easy decision to add these outstanding RVs to their lineup of products.
The Northern Spirit XTR 2549BHX is a roomy bunk plan with the "Max Bed Storage" under the master bed. Pack all the kid's stuff in one place. A plan that the entire family will love.
The Northern Spirit 1943RB remains an extremely popular couples plan with a deep slideout and theater seating for evening relaxation.
As one of the largest dealers in the state, Country Roads RV Center carries many different lines of 5th Wheels, Travel-Trailers, and Toy Haulers, as well as a full service and parts department. Family-owned and operated, they strive to give their customers the most enjoyable experience possible. For more information, please visit https://www.crrvc.com.
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SOURCE Country Roads RV Center, Inc | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/country-roads-rv-center-celebrates-4-years-an-authorized-dealer-coachmen-northern-spirit/ | 2022-08-15T22:50:35Z |
GREENVILLE, S.C., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) was named Top Genetics Diagnostics Solutions Provider by Healthcare Tech Outlook. With one of the largest Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) capabilities in the country, PMLS has played an instrumental role in tracking COVID-19 variants and helping scientists understand the mutations that create new strains of the virus overtime. In February of 2022, they were able to identify some of the first BA.2 variant cases in Florida and South Carolina, and most recently, three new BA.4 variant cases in Florida.
Besides NGS, PMLS also offers advanced genetic disease screening solutions through their coveted specialty testing line, MDHealthPro. The tests cover a wide range of health conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hereditary cancers, infections, allergies, and more. "With its advanced genetic disease screening solutions, Premier Medical Laboratory Services is playing a catalytic role in helping healthcare organizations keep their patients out of harm's way," stated Healthcare Tech Outlook.
Overall, as a CAP accredited laboratory, PMLS offers 2,000 advanced diagnostic testing options that we run on state-of-the-art equipment. "We are a full-service clinical laboratory focused on delivering clinically meaningful results for better patient outcomes. As an industry leader in molecular diagnostics, our in-house Ph.D. scientists, laboratory staff, and customer care team deliver accurate and reliable disease screening results," Steve Kamalic, COO of PMLS, told Healthcare Tech Outlook.
Premier Medical Laboratory Services has a growing network of laboratories that span across the United States. With such a wide reach, they can serve physicians in every region and help to provide quality care for their patients. PMLS is also focusing on expanding their reach directly to consumers with a new retail-based medical testing product line for at-home use. With this at-home testing line and a diverse, highly advanced menu of physician ordered tests processed at their laboratory, PMLS is able to serve a breadth of healthcare needs for the population.
About PMLS
Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS), headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, is an advanced molecular diagnostics lab fully certified by top laboratory accrediting organizations, including CLIA and CAP. PMLS prides itself on delivering some of the most rapid turnaround times of testing results in the industry and patient friendly billing. They offer thousands of advanced medical diagnostic tests and screenings including genomic risk assessment assays for heart disease and diabetes, as well as women's health panels, toxicology, allergy testing, pharmacogenomics, routine blood chemistry, and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). With a heartfelt mission to improve patient care, their in-house research and development team of PhD scientists and forward-thinking laboratory staff are continually innovating to provide the most advanced medical diagnostics available to improve patient lives. For more information about PMLS, please visit www.premedinc.com or call 866-387-2909.
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SOURCE Premier Medical Laboratory Services | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/premier-medical-laboratory-services-named-top-genetics-diagnostics-solutions-provider/ | 2022-06-15T19:54:41Z |
Which textured throw pillow is best?
We spend a lot of time considering the color and style of our throw pillows, but one often overlooked quality that can make a pillow stand out is texture. Whether you’re going for a monochromatic look but still want visual appeal, or you want a modern vibe in your living spaces, choosing throw pillows with distinctive fabrics is one of the best ways to inexpensively dress up your rooms.
If you’re looking for a textured throw pillow that fits your budget and your decor, try the Oake Chunky Knit Decorative Pillow.
What to know before you buy a textured throw pillow
Colorful or monochromatic
It is possible to create a varied look all with one color. The key is adding texture. A series of cream pillows — one in a knobby fabric, a second in a Mongolian sheepskin and the last in a distinctive weave — will give your eye something to play with while also reaping the benefits of peaceful, single-color design.
But texture doesn’t need to be relegated to modern single-color decor. You can add texture and color together for a pop that draws the eye. If you opt for this route, choose one or two accent colors to pull your design together.
Cleaning method
Texture often means chunky, easy-to-catch fabric — often wool and other materials that can be a challenge to wash. If you’re shopping for a high-traffic area, look carefully at what it will take to keep your pillows clean. Avoid dry-clean-only throw pillows in homes with young children and pets.
Style
Textured pillows are versatile and can add some drama to both classic and modern design sensibilities. Rough, bumpy fabrics look great paired with sleek, modern styles, while a woolly pillow adds some dimension to more classic decor. Whether you like a shabby-chic living room or a modern monochromatic bedroom, think about the overall look you’re trying to achieve.
What to look for in a quality textured throw pillow
Matching your colors
A rough rule of thumb in any room is to have one or two main colors, such as navy and white or brown and cream, plus an accent color. Pillows can fall into the main color category but can also do a lot of heavy lifting in the accent color category.
A pair of bright yellow textured accent pillows with a vase of a matching hue on the coffee table can be all you need to add a fun pop of color to your navy and white living room. In a shabby-chic bedroom decorated in soft whites and pinks, a chunky blush pillow can add a cozy feel.
Softness
Just because a pillow is cool to look at doesn’t mean it has to be rough or uncomfortable. If you’re shopping for a spot where the pillow will get lots of use (like a couch pillow you’ll want to rest your head on or a bed pillow), be sure to check for softness. If you want a pillow that will mostly serve a decorative function, then feel free to get a bumpy, less skin-friendly fabric.
Pillow size
Texture is one way pillows please the eye, and a logical sizing scheme is another. The eye seeks symmetry, so buy couch pillows in pairs. Place the biggest ones on the outer edges and the smallest ones near the center. On a bed, you can work from biggest in the back (think big, square European pillows) to smallest in the front (think neck roll pillows).
How much you can expect to spend on textured throw pillows
On average, a good textured throw pillow with insert will run in the $30-$60 range. If you’ve got good inserts, lower your costs by buying just the pillow cover.
Textured throw pillow FAQ
What are popular fabrics for textured throw pillows?
A. Wool lends itself to dramatic texture, either from thick weaves or cozy knitting. Canvas pillows also often come with interesting cording or weaving. Chenille is always a good choice for adding texture (it can be made of wool, rayon, cotton or even silk). Matelassé pillows (those with elaborate stitching) can be a good way to add texture to more classic design.
How often do I need to replace my textured throw pillows?
A. The answer to this depends on several factors. First, how washable is the cover fabric? If it’s made of a material that can easily be popped in the washing machine, then your pillow can have a long life. Secondly, how often do you rest your head on the pillow? If it’s getting regular wear, you need to wash it no less than once or twice a month. If that’s not possible, replace it at least once a year.
The one exception to this is Mongolian sheepskin, which can be spot-cleaned but not washed. Reserve pillows like these for places where they won’t get soiled.
What’s the best textured throw pillow to buy?
Top textured throw pillow
Oake Chunky Knit Decorative Pillow
What you need to know: Nothing says cozy like a chunky knit pillow. Great in any room, the texture is homey and blends well with many styles.
What you’ll love: This gives you the classic look of a knit pillow with something of a twist on the traditional cable knitting. The wide knit stripes add texture. It’s available in a range of warm and cool colors to fit most decor.
What you should consider: Although it’s labeled machine-washable, wash it with special detergent formulated for wool and dry it flat, not in the dryer.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy’s
Top textured throw pillow for the money
Faycole Morocco Tufted Throw Pillow Case
What you need to know: This modern geometric throw pillow adds dimension to a couch or bed without adding visual clutter. It will add a touch of boho to your style.
What you’ll love: The tassel corners give it a touch of whimsy, and even the raised portions of the design are soft and touchable.
What you should consider: It is affordable because it’s just the cover without the insert, so be sure to measure your existing insert for a perfect fit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Rizzy Home Blue Vertical Stripe Transitional Throw Pillow
What you need to know: Add texture and fun to your room with this eclectic pillow.
What you’ll love: The irregular vertical stripes add visual height without being too regimented or stiff, creating a unique accent.
What you should consider: This only comes in beige with pops of blue, so if you aren’t looking to incorporate blue into your style, this may not be the one for you.
Where to buy: Sold by Kohl’s
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Maria Andreu writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/best-textured-throw-pillow/ | 2022-05-04T16:55:17Z |
- The four day hybrid event will help organisations develop their net zero targets and roadmaps and discover practical ideas to accelerate this process.
- Anita Bhatia, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and deputy executive director for UN Women, will open the event with keynote remarks. She will also provide an update on the current state of gender equality around the globe and highlight key opportunities to work collaboratively to make gender equality a reality.
- Economist Impact's principal for energy sustainability, Phillip Cornell will kick-off the in-person day event by hosting a fireside chat with David Livingston, senior advisor from the office of the special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry, of the US Department of State, discussing delivering on the US Energy Transition.
LONDON, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This will be Economist Impact's second Sustainability Week held in the U.S., this time with the added in-person component. There are more than 8,000 registrants, with 400 plus expected for the in-person event. The conference will run from Monday, June 6th to Thursday, June 9th virtually and with an in-person day on Tuesday June 7th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Members of the media are invited to register here.
Over 150 leading figures from across the sustainability community, from business to intergovernmental organisations, investors, national governments, central bankers and civil society, are confirmed to speak at this year's event. Anita Bhatia, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and deputy executive director for UN Women, will give her keynote remarks to open the virtual event at 9:45 a.m. ET, Monday, June 6th. Tuesday's in-person event will kick-off with a fireside chat at 8:35 a.m. ET, Economist Impact's principal for energy sustainability, Phillip Cornell will discuss delivering on the US Energy Transition with David Livingston, senior advisor from the office of the special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry, of the US Department of State.
Additional speakers confirmed for next week's event include Ben Ratner, executive director sustainability, JPMorgan Chase & Co; Caroline D'Angelo Deputy chief sustainability officer, office of management strategy and solutions, U.S. Department of State; Jeff Merkley, US senator, Oregon State; Ali Nouri, assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); Cassie Sutherland, managing director of the climate solutions and networks team; Charlene Lake Chief sustainability officer and senior vice-president, corporate social responsibility, AT&T; Elizabeth Lewis, managing director and deputy head of ESG, Blackstone; Fiona Morgan, global director, purpose & impact, SailGP; Glenn Llewellyn, vice-president, zero-emission aircraft, Airbus; Renee Morin, chief sustainability officer, eBay; Helaina R. Matza Director of energy transformation, Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State; Ivo Mulder, head, climate finance unit, UN Environment Programme; John Rogers, head of sustainability, North America, Anheuser-Busch, Julia Pallé, sustainability director, Formula E; Peter land Director of energy transformation, Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State; Roberto Marques, executive chairman of the board of directors, group chief executive, Natura & Co; Sara Bogdan, director, head of sustainability and ESG, JetBlue. A full list of speakers is available here.
The theme of the four-day global event looks at "how the promise of a green future will be kept." As with the Sustainability Week held in March, its aim is to help policymakers and business leaders in implementing practical strategies to become more sustainable. The cross-industry agenda will examine how businesses and governments can join their efforts and take a society-centred approach to solve the critical issue of climate change. The programme will consist of live conversations, interactive sessions, roundtables and a virtual exhibition.
Themes that will be explored throughout the week include:
- How will rapid sustainable transformation insulate you from the impending energy crisis?
- How can financial markets and regulators come together to mobilise capital towards a greener, more inclusive and more climate-resilient economy?
- How can firms best understand the business risks that arise from environmental degradation and their own impact on biodiversity?
- What investment is needed to ramp up infrastructure development for the net-zero transition?
- What changes will businesses need to bring to their operations to ensure that the social dimension is being taken into account?
- How can green stimulus contribute to a "just transition" to net zero?
- What is the new status quo for climate related disclosures?
- How ready is America's Economy for a voluntary carbon market?
- How can a just transition provide new jobs and raise the socioeconomic status of society as a whole?
- How can sustainable low emission development in emerging economies be ensured through green investment and partnership
- How will the US deliver on a green transition amidst a backdrop of growing inflation and an energy crisis?
Some key sessions over the week include such topics as "How to drive forward a green agenda in a way that benefits society as a whole," moderated by Anne McElvoy, executive editor, strategy, The Economist; Making, measuring and maintaining - How to develop a strong net-zero company," Moderated by Anna Gueorguieva, senior economist, World Bank; "Treating decarbonisation as a business opportunity," moderated by Faith Taylor, former global environmental social governance leader, Tesla and global sustainability leader, Kyndryl. In addition, there will be some essential fireside chats such as, Allyson Anderson Book, vice-president of energy transition, Baker Hughes, and moderated by Jon Creyts, chief program officer, RMI, discussing "Accelerating the energy transition," and Vaibhav Sahgal, Principal, North America, Economist Impact speaking with Matthew Slovik, managing director and head of global sustainable finance group, Morgan Stanley about "Enabling sustainability through finance."
The virtual program will also feature pertinent conversations such as "Leading the energy discussion," moderated by Helaina Matza, director for energy transformation, Department of State. Also, "Building for the future - Investing in green infrastructure FY2022," moderated by Mike Bird, Asia business and finance editor of The Economist along with Danny Alexander, former secretary of state for Scotland, vice president, policy and strategy for Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Another session will examine if "nuclear microreactors bridge the energy gap" from an industry perspective, moderated by Sofia Economopoulos, manager, policy and insights for Economist Impact, along with Tom Samson, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR.
"The world is at an inflection point in the fight to reverse climate change, and develop a sustainable economy," said Harry Chapman, head of sustainability events at Economist Impact. "It is critical for governments and corporations to join together with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint and adopting executable sustainability programmes. Sustainability Week focuses on helping businesses and governments navigate the complexity surrounding sustainability and ultimately helps them achieve their goals, through practical case studies, roundtables and debate."
More details about the week including the programme and a link to register are on the event website.
To stay-up-date with the topics throughout the year, visit the Sustainability Project website.
Thank you to our sponsors: Avery Dennison, Baker Hugues, Deloitte, Dupont, Guidehouse, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Invesco, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Nasdaq, National Grid, NCX, Novisto, OneTrust, Schneider Electric, Standard Chartered, The Integrity Council, Workiva.
Additionally we are working with rePurpose as our sustainability partner.
About Economist Impact
Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, Economist Events, El Studios and SignalNoise.
Our track record spans 75 years across 205 countries. Along with creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, we produce framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, making Economist Impact's offering unique in the marketplace. Visit www.economistimpact.com for more information.
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SOURCE Economist Impact | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/economist-impacts-second-annual-sustainability-week-us-looks-how-promise-green-future-can-be-kept/ | 2022-06-01T12:48:05Z |
Couple gets married on Southwest Airlines plane after flight to Las Vegas canceled
(CNN) - Pam Patterson will never forget the moment she walked down the aisle to marry Jeremy Salda.
This is because the aisle was 37,000 feet in the air over the state of Arizona.
The Oklahoma City couple had planned to get hitched in Las Vegas, but their connecting flight out of Dallas got canceled.
An ordained minister overheard what was going on and offered to marry them himself, and they found three open seats on another flight.
As they were boarding, Patterson joked with the pilot about a plane wedding, and when the pilot agreed to do it, the crew sprung into action by decorating the cabin with toilet paper streamers.
A flight attendant stood in as the maid of honor, and there was a professional photographer on board to handle the pictures.
Another passenger passed around an old notebook as a makeshift guest book.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/29/couple-gets-married-southwest-airlines-plane-after-flight-to-las-vegas-canceled/ | 2022-04-29T21:29:18Z |
Ex-Twitter executive alleges reckless cybersecurity policies
(CNN) - A former employee is accusing Twitter of having major security issues and being mismanaged.
The claims come from whistleblower Peiter Zatko.
In a disclosure he sent to Congress and other agencies last month, Zatko said many Twitter staffers have access to sensitive information and central controls without proper oversight.
Zatko also said some of the higher-ups at Twitter have been trying to hide some of the company’s vulnerabilities.
According to the disclosure obtained by CNN, Twitter also allegedly does not properly delete user data after accounts are canceled.
Zatko was the company’s head of security before being let go earlier this year for poor performance.
Twitter also released a statement saying privacy and security are among its prime priorities.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/23/ex-twitter-executive-alleges-reckless-cybersecurity-policies/ | 2022-08-23T13:36:02Z |
Biden White House hatches plans for return of the Egg Roll
By Betsy Klein, CNN
The plans are hatched, the wooden spoons are procured and 50,000 eggs have been hard boiled and driven to Washington on a refrigerated truck.
It’s Easter Egg Roll time at the White House once again.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are taking their first crack at the time-honored Easter tradition on Monday, which will mark the 142nd White House Easter Egg Roll following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The theme of the event, the first lady’s office says, is “EGGucation,” with the South Lawn being “transformed into a school community” for 30,000 visitors to enjoy, including military families from the USS Delaware.
The American Egg Board is donating 90,000 eggs to the event as part of its longtime partnership with the White House, egg board president and CEO Emily Metz told CNN. That includes approximately 50,000 hard-boiled eggs that will be used for the egg roll races with wooden spoons, the egg hunt, and for dyeing and decorating. Those eggs were hard-boiled, dyed and transported from North Carolina to Washington on a refrigerated truck by Braswell Family Farms’ John Watson, where they will be stored over the weekend ahead of Monday’s festivities.
Forty thousand additional eggs have been donated to be used for food items for guests, Metz said.
The commemorative egg
The American Egg Board will also present its annual commemorative egg to the first lady, part of a 45-year tradition beginning with the Carter administration. Artist Russ Hagen, a member of the International Egg Art Guild, was selected to paint the 2021 and 2022 commemorative eggs, a months-long undertaking that included a design to match the “EGGucation” theme created by Mary O’Reilly and the inside of a real chicken egg being blown out through a special process, leaving the shell intact, before the decoration could begin.
This year, all 45 eggs that have been presented to first ladies over the years are being displayed together for the first time in a special “Colonnade of Eggs” in the East Wing of the White House for visitors to view on tours.
Getting all of those extremely delicate painted eggs to the White House for the exhibition was a challenge. The safest way to transport a painted egg, Metz told CNN, is to wrap it “very gingerly” in a clean diaper. The diapered eggs are then flown with a member of the egg board to Washington. Most of the 45 eggs are stored at the American Egg Board’s headquarters in Chicago, but some of them belong to presidential libraries or the White House Historical Association. Two of the 45 eggs couldn’t be tracked down and were replicated for the exhibition.
Biden will be presented with the 2022 egg on Monday, pending its arrival intact. There is a “backup egg” just in case, Metz said, “But the goal is to be very, very careful.”
A brief history of the Egg Roll
The egg rolling tradition began in the 1870s on US Capitol grounds. After a particularly rotten 1876 roll in which eyewitness John C. Rathbone observed “the wanton destruction of the grass on the terraces of the park,” President Ulysses S. Grant signed legislation to protect Capitol grounds, which prohibited egg rolling, per the National Archives.
But in 1878, a more egg-friendly President Rutherford B. Hayes allowed children to roll their eggs on the White House South Lawn.
According to an article in that evening’s edition of the Evening Star, per the National Archives, the children were quite pleased with their new egg rolling headquarters: “Driven out of the Capitol grounds, the children advanced on the White House grounds to-day and rolled eggs down the terraces back of the Mansion, and played among the shrubbery to their heart’s content.”
The tradition continues as a collaboration between the White House, the White House Historical Association and the National Park Service.
Florence Harding dyed the eggs herself in 1921, The Washington Post reported at the time.
In 1927, the Post reported that Grace Coolidge brought her pet raccoon, Rebecca, out on the grounds on a leash, to Rebecca’s annoyance.
“The crush was too much for Rebecca and she showed her displeasure plainly. But the first lady was not so easily discouraged. She carried the pet indoors and returned to the delight of the crowd,” the report said.
Eleanor Roosevelt oversaw the egg roll during her husband’s four terms in office, including 1937, when more than 50,000 children attended. Cold weather was to blame for depressed turnout in 1940, when just under 5,500 children attended, the Syracuse Herald-Journal reported.
During the Obama administration, first lady Michelle Obama used the egg roll to promote her “Let’s Move” initiative, and the star-studded lineup included performances by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Beyoncé and Jay-Z were among the attendees in 2016. The Trump administration saw a return to Egg Roll basics, with activity stations, egg and cookie decorating and costumed characters.
To this day, the egg roll remains one of the only times of the year that the White House South Lawn is open to the public — with tickets — to enjoy.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/16/biden-white-house-hatches-plans-for-return-of-the-egg-roll-2/ | 2022-04-16T16:02:17Z |
Atlanta’s G League team flourishes with women in key roles
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
Tori Miller didn’t play college basketball, since she thought standing 5-foot-2 would be a bit of a drawback. Kelly German’s only college playing experience was a brief intramurals career. Janice Koon grew up on a farm in northern Canada, not knowing much about the game. The College Park Skyhawks might be lost without them. The Skyhawks — the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate — are the hottest team in the G League headed into Tuesday’s start to the playoffs, carrying an 11-game winning streak into the postseason. And much of their success can be traced back to the work of those three women, who aren’t exactly dissuaded by the fact that most of their colleagues across the league are men. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/04/atlantas-g-league-team-flourishes-with-women-in-key-roles/ | 2022-04-04T20:23:03Z |
Justin Bieber postponing performances due to facial paralysis
Published: Jun. 10, 2022 at 5:26 PM CDT|Updated: 34 minutes ago
(CNN) - Pop star Justin Bieber announced Friday on Instagram that a medical issue is forcing him to take a break from performing.
Bieber said he is suffering from paralysis on one side of his face, a condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Medical professionals say a shingles outbreak can trigger the condition.
The pop star said he is doing facial exercises to help but isn’t sure how long it will take him to recover.
Earlier this week, three of his upcoming performances were postponed.
In March, his wife Hailey was hospitalized after having a mini-stroke due to a small blood clot in her brain.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/10/justin-bieber-postponing-performances-due-facial-paralysis/ | 2022-06-10T23:01:52Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s upbeat message that the economy is cruising along hit a troublesome speed bump on Thursday when the federal government reported that U.S. gross domestic product shrank during the first three months of 2022.
Economic activity declined at annual rate of 1.4%, a sharp reversal from last year when growth was the strongest since 1984. There were technical reasons for the decline that likely obscured the actual health of the economy, yet the drop clearly put the president on the defensive after he has said repeatedly that the booming job market means the U.S. can withstand inflation at a 40-year high.
Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package was supposed to propel the economy to new heights that Democrats could then sell to voters in this year’s midterm elections. But the muddled data has weakened the clarity of Biden’s pitch and emboldened Republican criticism.
The president told reporters at the White House that the consumer spending and business investment portions of the GDP report were solid, evidence that growth should resume in the months to come. The biggest drag on GDP was an increase in imports, but a one-off glitch — a sharp drop in business inventories — was a key contributor to the overall drop. The inventory decline reflected the aftershocks of the pandemic, rather than the underlying health of the economy, the president said.
“What you’re seeing is enormous growth in the country that was affected by everything from COVID and the COVID blockages that occurred along the way,” Biden said.
While the president maintained that there would not be a recession this year, he conceded that it was a concern.
“You’re always worried about a recession,” he said.
To Republican lawmakers and some economists, the drop in GDP hinted at the risk posed by surging inflation. Consumers have grown skittish despite increases in their net worth. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created the risk of oil, natural gas and food shortages. Pandemic-related lockdowns in China indicate that supplies chains troubles will persist.
Following last year’s coronavirus relief package, the government is now trying to calm the economy. There is less fiscal support as the federal deficit will likely be lower this year. At the same time, the Federal Reserve is trying to raise benchmark interest rates to reduce inflation without causing a downturn.
But Thursday’s report gave Republican lawmakers a direct line of attack.
“Under President Biden’s leadership, our economy is actually shrinking,” Texas Rep. Kevin Brady said at the start of a House Ways & Means Committee hearing on Thursday. “The president has missed four of the five quarterly economic projections. So Americans ought to brace for slower job growth and higher prices ahead.”
What the GDP report actually reveals about the months ahead may be more complicated. Some economists see the consumer spending and business investment as signs of a quick rebound, while others fear that consumer spending could weaken because of high prices and the efforts to reduce inflation.
“Underlying demand remains strong, and the labor market is in excellent shape,” said Gus Faucher, chief economist of PNC Financial Services. “Growth will resume in the second quarter.”
But Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the consultancy RSM, said that the strengths observed by others could fade as policymakers tackle inflation because sustained economic growth depends on having stable prices.
“The price of oil and gasoline and food are all increasing faster than your paycheck,” Brusuelas said. “Therefore, we need to slow down the economy and demand with it, and that likely means slower growth and a slightly higher level of unemployment over the next two years. And it will be done with intent and purposefully. The problem is we could cause a recession in the process.”
One senior White House official said the various disruptions of the past two years have hurt the reliability of traditional economic indicators, masking what the administration sees as a solid economy.
The official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the GDP report, said the key to overcoming this challenge will be to get the American people to focus on the bigger picture instead of monthly and quarterly reports.
On Thursday afternoon, Biden tried to pull attention back to that bigger picture by inviting small business owners to the White House. He noted that Americans have emerged from the pandemic as more entrepreneurial with 5.4 million applying last year to start new businesses. That’s 20% higher than any other year on record.
“We have every indication that this trend is going to continue,” Biden said, putting the morning’s GDP report behind him. “The reason for that is because we’re giving people financial security to take a risk and pursue their small business dreams.” | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/drop-in-us-gdp-challenges-bidens-pitch-to-voters/ | 2022-04-29T07:01:39Z |
Disney+ ad-free subscription cost to rise by 38% in December
(AP) - Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday it is raising prices for streaming subscribers in the U.S. who want to watch Disney+ without ads, as more viewers switch to what CEO Bob Chapek described as the “best value in streaming.”
The price increases are tied to a new tiered service Disney will launch in December for U.S. subscribers. The basic Disney+ service today costs $7.99 per month. Starting in December, that basic service will run ads, so a subscriber who wants no ads will have to upgrade to a premium service that starts at $10.99 per month, a 37.5% rise over current prices. An annual plan will cost $109.99.
“We expect the ad tier to be popular and we expect some people to want to stay with ad-free,” Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said on a conference call with analysts.
Netflix’s most popular streaming plan in the U.S. is now $15.50 per month, and its top-of-the-line plan is $20 per month. That follows several rate hikes to help pay for its original programming, which has become even more important since Disney pulled its programming and classic movies from Netflix after licensing agreements between the companies expired.
Disney said it added 14.4 million subscribers to its Disney+ streaming service in the April-June fiscal quarter. In total, subscribers to all Disney streaming services, which include Hulu and ESPN+, amounted to about 221 million, putting the entertainment giant slightly ahead of Netflix in the streaming wars.
Netflix ended June with 220.7 million subscribers after losing nearly 1 million subscribers in the past quarter.
Disney said paid subscriptions for Disney+ grew by 31%, much of that internationally, over the same time last year. But revenue growth was not as strong due to operating losses from “higher programming and production, technology and marketing costs.”
Disney’s growing streaming sales, combined with a recovering theme park business after pandemic-era shutdowns, led the Burbank, California-based entertainment giant to beat Wall Street expectations with quarterly earnings Wednesday.
Disney reported revenue of $21.5 billion in the three months through July 2, up 26% from the same time last year.
Earnings per share came to $1.09 when excluding certain items. Analysts polled by FactSet projected adjusted earnings of 97 cents per share on revenue of $20.99 billion for the quarter, according to FactSet Research.
Disney said sales at its parks, experiences and products segment grew to $7.39 billion, up 70% from $4.34 billion a year earlier. The numbers represented an ongoing comeback from COVID-19 restrictions that temporarily shuttered all of Disney’s parks in 2020, reduced capacity through much of 2021 and have continued to affect some locations such as Shanghai Disneyland, which was open for just three days in the April-June quarter.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/11/disney-ad-free-subscription-cost-rise-by-38-december/ | 2022-08-11T12:48:52Z |
The integration of CDS FIPS settlement-layer Canadian bond data into Overbond AI fixed income trading tools and analytics directly addresses the data challenges facing Canadian asset managers
TORONTO and LONDON, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Overbond, a provider of AI analytics and trade automation solutions for the global fixed income markets, has partnered with TMX Group, an operator of global markets and provider of market data and analytic solutions, to integrate CDS FIPS settlement-layer Canadian bond data into Overbond AI fixed income trading tools and analytics.
This integration directly addresses the data challenges facing Canadian asset managers when they are pricing Canadian bond portfolios, structuring and rebalancing new portfolios, and seeking to construct and use pricing and liquidity time series.
The Overbond-TMX partnership gives both Overbond and CDS FIPS users access to the deepest coverage of Canadian fixed income trade data, provides for enhanced pre-trade and post-trade analytics and enables more accurate best-executable pricing and liquidity discovery for Canadian bonds.
CDS FIPS combines executed trade settlement data with custody activity data from both electronic and voice trades (OTC trades) to provide the only available complete daily volume information on Canadian fixed income trades reported to CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. The service covers more than 40,000 Canadian corporate and government bonds.
Integrating OTC trade volumes into Overbond AI models enhances the precision of bond liquidity scoring and best executable pricing. CDS FIPS enriched data enables more accurate measurement of the traded volume of Canadian dollar denominated OTC trades — data that is otherwise not found in any other electronic venue data feed or composite pricing data feed.
"Adding settlement layer data to Overbond AI models is the next frontier in data aggregation necessary for discovering best-executable pricing and liquidity in the Canadian corporate bond market," said Vuk Magdelinic, CEO of Overbond.
"We expect that TMX and Overbond will enable additional AI-driven data and analytics tools for use by asset managers, buy-side and sell-side traders, analysts, compliance departments and back offices across multiple asset classes," said Michelle Tran, President of TMX Datalinx.
Overbond is a developer of process-redefining, AI-driven data and analytics and trade automation solutions for the global fixed income markets. Overbond performs market surveillance, data aggregation and normalization, and deep AI quantitative observation on more than 100,000 corporate bonds and fixed income ETFs. Applying proprietary artificial intelligence to pricing, curve visualization, market liquidity, issuance propensity, new issuance spreads, default risk and automated reporting, Overbond enables trade automation and enhances trade performance and portfolio returns. Clients of Toronto-based Overbond include global investment banks, broker dealers, institutional investors, corporations and governments across the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.overbond.com.
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SOURCE Overbond Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/overbond-partners-with-tmx-group-increase-coverage-pricing-precision-discovery-best-executable-pricing-liquidity-canadian-dollar-denominated-bonds/ | 2022-09-01T12:11:10Z |
CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trylle SkinHealth. (www.trylleinc.com) —a specialty aesthetics and skin health company dedicated to developing and marketing novel, innovative, and clinically tested physician-dispensed skin care products with proprietary EPP Technology™ to elevate, protect, and perpetuate healthy skin for life—has announced the appointment of James Kone Jr. to the position of Board Member and Chief Industry Advisor effective August 14, 2022.
Mr. Kone Jr. has an excellent history of achievement in launching companies and leading brands to success in medical aesthetics, wound care, pharmaceuticals, and devices. James most recently served as President of North America for Stratpharma Inc. a division of Stratpharm AG Switzerland, where he built business units in medical aesthetics, oncology, women's health, and wound care. He was the Executive Vice President for Glowbiotics skincare. At Globiotics, James took the brand from a start-up in the US physician dispense channel to a global phenomenon. Mr. Kone Jr. also served as the Senior National Sales Direct at SkinMedica, restructuring the aesthetic field sales team, and leading it to record sales and profitability. Prior to that Mr. Kone held senior leadership positions at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and Forest Labs.
"We are thrilled to have James Kone Jr. join as a board member and chief industry advisor, to help steer our launch and commercialization activities as we prepare to scale", said Frank Zeigler, CEO of Trylle SkinHealth. "James' comprehensive experience leading operations, turnarounds, start-ups, and scaling in the medical aesthetics channel, is exactly what Trylle needs as we prepare to disrupt the physician dispensed market."
"I am excited to advise and guide the Trylle organization as the company ramps up to disrupt the physician dispensed market with its proprietary technology," stated Mr. Kone Jr. "Advancements in science, manufacturing, and reductions in production costs, make it possible to create innovative products that are highly differentiated, last longer, and will outperform current medical-grade brands."
Trylle SkinHealth, Inc., is a specialty aesthetics and skin health company developing innovative products using skin cells that produce natural collagens and growth factors as a platform for making medical-grade aesthetic products.
Media contact: info@trylleinc.com
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SOURCE Trylle SkinHealth, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/trylle-skinhealth-inc-announces-appointment-james-kone-jr-board-member-chief-industry-advisor/ | 2022-08-18T18:43:54Z |
NEW YORK, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: August 12, 2021 to March 1, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 16, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in CELH:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/celsius-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form?id=26063&from=4
Celsius Holdings, Inc. NEWS - CELH NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Celsius Holdings, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company had improperly recorded expenses for non-cash share-based compensation for second and third quarters of 2021; (2) as a result, the Company's financial statements for those periods would be restated, including to report a net loss for the third quarter of 2021; (3) there was a material weakness in Celsius's internal controls over financial reporting; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Celsius you have until May 16, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Celsius securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the CELH lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/celsius-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form?id=26063&from=4.
ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/19/celh-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-may-16-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-celsius-holdings-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-04-19T10:41:31Z |
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is inviting media to see a technology that could one day help land humans on Mars after it is inflated for the final time on Earth before its spaceflight demonstration later this year. The event will take place beginning 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 15, at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
The Bernard Kutter Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) is scheduled to launch with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's JPSS-2 polar-orbiting satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Nov. 1. After hitching a ride to space aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, LOFTID will inflate and then descend back to Earth from low-Earth orbit to demonstrate how the inflatable heat shield can slow down a spacecraft to survive re-entry.
Engineers at Langley are completing work to ensure LOFTID is flight-ready before it is shipped to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for final acceptance testing, then to Vandenberg for launch.
NASA and ULA experts will provide a briefing on LOFTID and NASA's Moon to Mars technologies, followed by interview availability and the opportunity to see several additional laboratories developing technologies that will enable NASA's return to the Moon and future Mars exploration.
Participants include:
- Jim Reuter, associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), NASA Headquarters
- Trudy Kortes, director of technology demonstrations for STMD, NASA Headquarters
- Joe Del Corso, LOFTID project manager, NASA Langley
- John Reed, ULA chief rocket scientist
Media wishing to participate in person must request accreditation by 5 p.m. EDT Monday, June 13, from Kristyn Damadeo at: 757-755-0366 or kristyn.damadeo@nasa.gov. Virtual interview opportunities may also be arranged.
NASA is closely monitoring COVID-19 metrics and safety protocols are subject to change. Any updates will be provided as needed.
The LOFTID project is a part of the STMD Technology Demonstration Missions program. The project is managed by Langley with contributions from NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is managing the launch.
For more information on LOFTID, see:
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SOURCE NASA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/nasa-inflate-heat-shield-earth-before-spaceflight-demo/ | 2022-06-07T17:44:56Z |
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CPSC announces today the following recall is posted in cooperation with the firm listed below. Recalls can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov.
Scholastic Recalls Shake Look Touch Books Due to Choking Hazard
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Scholastic-Recalls-Shake-Look-Touch-Books-Due-to-Choking-Hazard
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/new-product-safety-recall/ | 2022-07-07T14:10:27Z |
The family-led jewelry brand enters a new era, focused on creating rich emotional engagement while introducing an evolved brand expression and bold and iconic fine jewelry.
LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing "beautiful realities," as the cornerstone of an evolved brand expression, luxury brand TACORI enters a new era defined by passion, authenticity and originality. TACORI's new documentarian-style photography brings a feeling of warmth and connection to the traditionally cold and impassive luxury jewelry landscape, capturing real emotion and unscripted moments of love and affection, delight and intrigue.
"We are proud to introduce an even bolder, brighter TACORI," says CEO Paul Tacorian. "This chapter of our brand story is all about being moved, with storytelling guided by emotion and uplifting imagery that reflects a wider range of beautiful realities."
TACORI is unique in its category— a sophisticated, luxury brand that maintains the soul of a passionate and independent family business. The Tacorian family has long been committed to innovation and originality, and TACORI's iconic designs have continuously redefined the bridal category.
Today, TACORI translates four decades of unmatched bridal expertise to a bold and unique point of view in fine jewelry. The brand will debut new collections at the 2022 Couture jewelry show in Las Vegas, including the new Crescent Eclipse fine jewelry collection, aptly named, as the eclipse signifies new beginnings. The Crescent Eclipse collection showcases a diamond-intense take on the signature TACORI crescent. A showstopper in the collection, the long chain-link necklace demonstrates TACORI's unmatched artisanry and craftsmanship, featuring nearly 1000 meticulously hand-set diamonds in an innovative single-cast, no solder chain.
"The eclipse is such a beautiful, astrological phenomena," says Nadine Tacorian Arzerounian, COO and Head of Design. "The symbolism feels especially relevant today, as we all find new traditions to embrace and new reasons to celebrate." For TACORI, the collection's theme of new beginnings is well-timed to usher in a new bolder, brighter era for the brand.
TACORI is an iconic fine jewelry brand, known for its signature designs and intricate hidden details. A sophisticated luxury brand with the spirit and intimacy of an independent family business, TACORI occupies a unique space in the market. After more than 40 years, it remains family-led with artisans sitting center stage in TACORI's California Design Studios, making the world's most meticulously crafted jewelry, including their highly coveted engagement rings.
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SOURCE TACORI | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/tacori-embraces-beautiful-realities-amp-new-beginnings/ | 2022-06-21T21:01:29Z |
Gerson Fuentes, 27, is charged with two counts of felony rape, according to an indictment handed down by a jury in Franklin County, Ohio. CNN has previously reported that the girl was 10 years old when she sought an abortion, and the indictment says she was 9 years old when the rapes took place, allegedly by Fuentes.
Fuentes was arrested July 12 after he spoke to police and confessed to raping the child at least twice, Det. Jeffrey Huhn testified during an arraignment last week. The girl had identified Fuentes as her assaulter six days before his arrest, according to an affidavit.
The case drew global attention as details emerged that the child had to travel to Indiana to get an abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After the court's decision, abortion became illegal in Ohio as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
The rapes allegedly took place between January 1 and May 12, 2022, according to the indictment.
Authorities became aware of the girl's pregnancy in late June through a referral by a local children's services department that was made by the child's mother, Huhn testified. Columbus police were alerted on June 22 and began their investigation the same day.
On June 30, the girl underwent a medical abortion in Indianapolis, Hunh testified. Indianapolis-based OB-GYN Dr. Caitlin Bernard confirmed to CNN earlier this month that she recently helped a 10-year-old girl have an abortion in Indiana after a child abuse doctor in Ohio reached out to her. The young girl was six weeks and three days into the pregnancy, Bernard told CNN.
Police obtained DNA from the clinic where the child underwent the abortion and it was being tested against samples from Fuentes and the child's siblings, Hunh said last week.
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SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — Defending champion the Netherlands needed a late surge to beat Switzerland 4-1 and guarantee a place in the European Championship quarterfinals on Sunday, while Sweden qualified with ease in a 5-0 win over Portugal.
Still missing star forward Vivianne Miedema, who tested positive for the coronavirus, the Dutch team was held at 1-1 until the 84th minute when Romée Leuchter sent a looping header high over onrushing goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalman, who had made a string of impressive saves up to that point.
Victoria Pelova made it 3-1 in the 89th minute — but only after a long VAR check for offside — and Leuchter got her second and the team’s fourth in added time.
Needing a draw to qualify, the Dutch performance was less convincing than the eventual three-goal margin suggested. It wasn’t enough to secure first place in Group C — which went to Sweden — so the Netherlands must next face France in the quarterfinals.
For most of the game it resembled a repeat of the tight 3-2 win over Portugal on Wednesday, when the Dutch struggled to keep control of a game they were clear favorites to win.
After a goalless first half notable mostly for video review overturning a penalty for the Netherlands, the Dutch team took the lead in the 49th minute when Swiss midfielder Ana-Maria Crnogorčević tried to head the ball off the line but instead deflected it into her own net. The Swiss response was almost immediate, Géraldine Reuteler scoring off a pass from Ramona Bachmann.
The Swiss could have qualified with an upset win and nearly took the lead soon after Reuteler’s goal, but Coumba Sow fired one shot at the goalkeeper and then a second attempt against the post.
Sweden qualified top of the group after two goals just before halftime took the fight out of Portugal.
Filippa Angeldal opened the scoring in the 21st and made it 2-0 in the 45th before an own-goal for the third as the ball deflected in off Carole Costa’s head at a corner.
Captain Kosovare Asllani scored a 54th-minute penalty and Stina Blackstenius further extended Sweden’s lead in stoppage time.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/netherlands-sweden-win-to-reach-quarterfinals-at-euro-2022/ | 2022-07-18T18:25:33Z |
NEWARK, Calif., April 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Socket Mobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), a leading provider of data capture and delivery solutions for enhanced productivity, today announced that it will release its 2022 first quarter financial results at the close of the market on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Management will also host a conference call to discuss these results that will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. Pacific Time).
About Socket Mobile:
Socket Mobile is a leading provider of data capture and delivery solutions for enhanced productivity in workforce mobilization. Socket Mobile's revenue is primarily driven by the deployment of third-party barcode enabled mobile applications that integrate Socket Mobile's cordless barcode scanners and contactless reader/writers. Mobile Applications servicing the specialty retailer, field service, transportation, and manufacturing markets are the primary revenue drivers. Socket Mobile has a network of thousands of developers who use its software developer tools to add sophisticated data capture to their mobile applications. Socket Mobile is headquartered in Newark, Calif. and can be reached at +1-510-933-3000 or www.socketmobile.com. Follow Socket Mobile on Facebook, Twitter @socketmobile and on our sockettalk blog.
Socket is a registered trademark of Socket Mobile. All other trademarks and trade names contained herein may be those of their respective owners.
© 2022, Socket Mobile, Inc. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE Socket Mobile, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/20/socket-mobile-announces-2022-first-quarter-results-release-date-conference-call/ | 2022-04-21T08:32:05Z |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anónima, a corporation (sociedad anónima) incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Argentina ("IRSA"), today announced it has commenced, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the exchange offer memorandum dated May 16, 2022 (the "Exchange Offer Memorandum" and, together with the Eligibility Letter, as defined below, the "Exchange Offer Documents") an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to Eligible Holders (as defined below) to exchange any and all of its US$360,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding 8.750% Notes due 2023 Series No. 2 originally issued by IRSA Propiedades Comerciales S.A. ("IRSA CP") (the "Existing Notes") for 8.750% Senior Notes due 2028 (the "New Notes") to be issued by IRSA and the cash consideration described below.
The following table sets forth certain material terms of the Exchange Offer:
The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on June 16, 2022 (such date and time, as the same may be extended in the sole discretion of IRSA, the "Expiration Date"). Existing Notes tendered for exchange may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on June 2, 2022 (such date and time, as the same may be extended in the sole discretion of IRSA, the "Withdrawal Date"), but not thereafter. To be eligible to receive the Early A Consideration or the Early B Consideration, as applicable, Eligible Holders must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Existing Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on June 2, 2022 (such date and time, as the same may be extended in the sole discretion of IRSA, the "Early Participation Date"). The deadlines set by any intermediary or relevant clearing system may be earlier than these deadlines.
Exchange Consideration
Eligible Holders of Existing Notes may choose between two, mutually exclusive, consideration options, detailed in the table above, in the columns under the headings "Option A" and "Option B."
Tenders of Existing Notes under Option A
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer Documents, Eligible Holders who validly tender Existing Notes under Option A, and whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange by IRSA, will receive: (i) New Notes in a principal amount equal to 1.015 times the difference between US$1,000 and the Pro-Rata A Cash Consideration received by each such Eligible Holder for each US$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered on or before the Early Participation Date and accepted for exchange (the "Early A Consideration"), or (ii) New Notes in a principal amount equal to the difference between US$1,000 and the Pro-Rata A Cash Consideration received by each such Eligible Holder for each US$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered after the Early Participation Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for exchange (the "Late A Consideration" and, together with the Early A Consideration, the "A Consideration"). See "The Exchange Offer" in the Exchange Offer Memorandum.
The A Cash Consideration is an aggregate amount equivalent to the lesser of (x) 30% of the aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes that are validly tendered and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer (the "Total Cash Consideration"), and (y) the principal amount of the Existing Notes accepted for exchange under Option A (the "A Cash Consideration"). The Pro-Rata A Cash Consideration that will be payable to Eligible Holders whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange under Option A will be equivalent to the A Cash Consideration divided by the principal amount of Existing Notes accepted under Option A times 1,000. We have filed and obtained approval from the Central Bank to make the payment of the Total Cash Consideration.
Tenders of Existing Notes under Option B
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer Documents, Eligible Holders who validly tender Existing Notes under Option B, and whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange by IRSA, will receive: (i) US$1,030 principal amount of New Notes for each US$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered on or before the Early Participation Date and accepted for exchange (the "Early B Consideration"), or (ii) or US$1,000 principal amount of New Notes for each US$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes validly tendered after the Early Participation Date but on or before the Expiration Date and accepted for exchange (the "Late B Consideration" and, together with the Early B Consideration, the "B Consideration");
The Condition
Upon the terms and subject to the Minimum Exchange Condition (as defined in the Exchange Offer Memorandum) and the other conditions of the Exchange Offer described in the Exchange Offer Memorandum, which are for the sole benefit of IRSA and may be waived by IRSA, in full or in part, in its absolute discretion, IRSA will accept for exchange as soon as reasonably practicable after the Expiration Date, all Existing Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Date and not validly withdrawn as of the Withdrawal Date in the Exchange Offer.
IRSA expects, on June 22, 2022, which is the fourth business day after the Expiration Date (as may be extended by IRSA in its sole discretion, the "Settlement Date"), to issue and deliver the applicable principal amount of New Notes and deliver the applicable Exchange Consideration in exchange for any Existing Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for exchange, in the amount and manner described in the Exchange Offer Memorandum. IRSA will not be obligated to issue or deliver New Notes or pay any cash amount with respect to the Exchange Offer unless the Exchange Offer is consummated. Eligible Holders of the Existing Notes who are Argentine Entity Offerees (as defined in the Exchange Offer Memorandum) or Non-Cooperating Jurisdiction Offerees (as defined in the Exchange Offer Memorandum) may be subject to certain tax withholdings resulting from the exchange of their Existing Notes. See "Taxation—Certain Argentine Tax Considerations" in the Exchange Offer Memorandum.
Holders of Existing Notes validly tendered for exchange and not validly withdrawn and accepted by IRSA pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid interest paid in cash with respect to the Existing Notes accepted for exchange which consists of a cash payment equal to all accrued and unpaid interest (rounded to the nearest cent US$0.01) on their Existing Notes accepted for exchange from the interest payment date on March 23, 2022 to, but not including, the Settlement Date, which interest shall be payable in cash on the Settlement Date (subject to any tax withholdings applicable to Argentine Entity Offerees or Non-Cooperating Jurisdiction Offerees). Under no circumstances will any additional interest be payable because of any delay in the transmission of funds to Eligible Holders by DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream or any other clearing system.
The New Notes are being offered for exchange only (1) to holders of Existing Notes that are "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under U.S. Securities Act, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in a private transaction in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof and (2) outside the United States, to holders of Existing Notes other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, "U.S. Persons") and who are not acquiring New Notes for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person, in offshore transactions in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. Only holders who have submitted a duly completed and returned electronic Eligibility Letter certifying that they are within one of the categories described in the immediately preceding sentence are authorized to receive and review the Exchange Offer Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offer (such holders, "Eligible Holders").
The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions as described in the Exchange Offer Memorandum (including, without limitation, the Minimum Exchange Condition) which are for the sole benefit of IRSA and may be waived by IRSA, in full or in part, in its absolute discretion. Although IRSA has no present intention to do so, it expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate, at any time, the Exchange Offer and to not accept for exchange any Existing Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange. IRSA will give notice of any amendments or termination if required by applicable law.
If you do not exchange your Existing Notes or if you tender Existing Notes that are not accepted for exchange, they will remain outstanding. If IRSA consummates the Exchange Offer, the trading market for your outstanding Existing Notes may be significantly more limited. For a discussion of this and other risks, see "Risk Factors" in the Exchange Offer Memorandum.
This press release is qualified in its entirety by the Exchange Offer Documents.
None of IRSA, its board of directors, the Dealer Managers (as defined herein), the Information and Exchange Agent (as defined herein) or the New Notes Trustee (as defined in the Exchange Offer Memorandum) with respect to the Existing Notes or any of their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether Eligible Holders should exchange their Existing Notes in the Exchange Offer. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to participate in the Exchange Offer, and, if so, the principal amount of Existing Notes to exchange.
Neither the delivery of this announcement, the Exchange Offer Documents nor any purchase pursuant to the Exchange Offer shall under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained in this announcement or the Exchange Offer Documents is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof or thereof or that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or therein or in IRSA's affairs since the date hereof or thereof.
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or an invitation to participate in the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to the Exchange Offer Documents (and, to the extent applicable, the local offering documents in Argentina), copies of which will be delivered to holders of the Existing Notes, and which set forth the complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer. Eligible Holders are urged to read the Exchange Offer Documents carefully before making any decision with respect to their Existing Notes. The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will IRSA accept exchanges of Existing Notes from holders in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such an offer.
Morrow Sodali International LLC is acting as the exchange agent and as the information agent (the "Information and Exchange Agent") for the Exchange Offer. BCP Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. and Santander Investment Securities Inc. are acting as Dealer Managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Exchange Offer.
For further information about the Exchange Offer, please log into the website https://bonds.morrowsodali.com/IRSAEligibility. Alternatively, please contact the Information and Exchange Agent by email at IRSA@investor.morrowsodali.com. Requests for documentation should be directed to the Information and Exchange Agent.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to IRSA's expectations regarding the performance of its business, financial results, liquidity and capital resources, contingencies and other non-historical statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in the Exchange Offer Documents. IRSA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Media Contact:
Michael Truscelli
irsa@investor.morrowsodali.com
+1 203 609 4910 IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anónima
Carlos M. Della Paolera 261, 9th Floor (C1001ADA)
City of Buenos Aires
Argentina
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SOURCE IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anónima | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/irsa-announces-commencement-exchange-offer-any-all-its-8750-notes-due-2023-originally-issued-by-irsa-cp/ | 2022-05-17T05:52:46Z |
Leading healthcare HR software expands its reach with myCNAjobs caregiver & CNA network
NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Apploi, the leading hiring platform for healthcare employers, announced a new partnership with myCNAjobs, one of the largest direct care worker career networks in the nation, representing 70%+ of the direct care workforce.
Apploi works with healthcare employers nationwide to source, screen, hire, and onboard new workers. Through its partnership with myCNAjobs, Apploi is expected to expand its reach among direct care workers such as certified nursing assistants and caregivers—two of the most highly demanded and fastest-growing clinical roles in healthcare.
This new integration allows Apploi users to automatically distribute job posts to myCNAjobs. Once jobs are published, applicants are auto-synced with Apploi, streamlining the process. Additionally, Apploi users can access the myCNAjobs resume marketplace and promote hiring events with automatic candidate syncing, as well as send automated texts and emails, without switching platforms.
"These direct care roles are exactly where our customers are hurting," said Apploi founder and CEO Adam Lewis. "It's our job to help healthcare businesses find qualified workers and protect their communities. To do that, we have to start with a hiring process that is simple and engaging, both for those seeking jobs and those doing the recruiting. It's a privilege to partner with an organization already so closely aligned with Apploi's mission to bring healthcare to the most vulnerable."
"In such a competitive labor market, it's critical to streamline the hiring process to recruit the best talent," says Brandi Kurtyka, CEO of myCNAjobs. "Through this integration, employers are able to automate processes and also gain more visibility into return-on-investment and channel performance."
Apploi has become a prominent force in the healthcare hiring space, and was recently honored on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row (distinguishing the business as one of the fastest-growing and most successful tech companies in America). Just this year, Apploi has raised $25 million in a Series B fundraising round, earned SOC 2 certification, and was named a multi-category leader by GetApp, a Gartner company.
Apploi is the leading human capital management platform specializing in high-volume hiring for healthcare. Apploi streamlines the hiring process from candidate acquisition to hired. Working with 7,000+ healthcare organizations across the US today, Apploi simplifies the hiring process to reduce days-to-hire and get more healthcare workers into roles faster. To learn more about Apploi, visit: www.apploi.com.
myCNAjobs is the nation's largest career network for caregivers, certified nursing assistants, and home health aides, representing 70% of America's direct care workforce. For companies, myCNAjobs offers a suite of recruitment tools to more efficiently hire and onboard. To learn more, visit: www.mycnajobs.com/hire/.
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SOURCE Apploi | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/apploi-streamlines-direct-care-hiring-with-mycnajobs-partnership/ | 2022-09-06T20:33:19Z |
DALLAS, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN) today said it will raise its quarterly cash dividend 8%, from $1.15 per share to $1.24, or $4.96 annualized. The higher dividend will be payable November 15, 2022, to stockholders of record on October 31, 2022, contingent upon formal declaration by the board of directors at its regular meeting in October.
The board of directors also authorized the company to repurchase an additional $15 billion of its common stock over time. This is in addition to approximately $8.2 billion of previously authorized repurchases that remained at the end of June 2022.
Dividend increases and share repurchases are integral pieces of TI's disciplined approach to capital management and reflect the company's continued strength in free cash flow generation and its commitment to return all free cash flow to its owners over time.
TI has a proven track record of returning cash to its owners. Today's announcement marks 19 consecutive years of dividend increases. In addition, as of second quarter 2022, the company has reduced its outstanding shares by 47% through its share repurchases since the end of 2004.
This release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as TI or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe TI's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
We urge you to carefully consider the following important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of TI or our management:
- The duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, government and other third-party responses to it and the consequences for the global economy, including to our business and the businesses of our suppliers, customers and distributors;
- Economic, social and political conditions, and natural events in the countries in which we, our customers or our suppliers operate, including global trade policies;
- Market demand for semiconductors, particularly in the industrial and automotive markets, and customer demand that differs from forecasts;
- Our ability to compete in products and prices in an intensely competitive industry;
- Evolving cybersecurity and other threats relating to our information technology systems or those of our customers, vendors and other third parties;
- Our ability to successfully implement and realize opportunities from strategic, business and organizational changes, or our ability to realize our expectations regarding the amount and timing of associated restructuring charges and cost savings;
- Our ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a rapidly changing technological environment, our timely implementation of new manufacturing technologies and installation of manufacturing equipment, and our ability to realize expected returns on significant investments in manufacturing capacity;
- Availability and cost of raw materials, utilities, manufacturing equipment, third-party manufacturing services and manufacturing technology;
- Product liability, warranty or other claims relating to our products, software, manufacturing, delivery, services, design or communications, or recalls by our customers for a product containing one of our parts;
- Compliance with or changes in the complex laws, rules and regulations to which we are or may become subject, or actions of enforcement authorities, that restrict our ability to operate our business or subject us to fines, penalties or other legal liability;
- Changes in tax law and accounting standards that impact the tax rate applicable to us, the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed, adverse resolution of tax audits, increases in tariff rates, and the ability to realize deferred tax assets;
- Financial difficulties of our distributors or semiconductor distributors' promotion of competing product lines to our detriment; or disputes with current or former distributors;
- Losses or curtailments of purchases from key customers or the timing and amount of customer inventory adjustments;
- Our ability to maintain or improve profit margins, including our ability to utilize our manufacturing facilities at sufficient levels to cover our fixed operating costs, in an intensely competitive and cyclical industry and changing regulatory environment;
- Our ability to maintain and enforce a strong intellectual property portfolio and maintain freedom of operation in all jurisdictions where we conduct business; or our exposure to infringement claims;
- Instability in the global credit and financial markets;
- Our ability to recruit and retain skilled personnel, and effectively manage key employee succession; and
- Impairments of our non-financial assets.
For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the Risk factors discussion in Item 1A of TI's most recent Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. If we do update any forward-looking statement, you should not infer that we will make additional updates with respect to that statement or any other forward-looking statement.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, tests and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment and enterprise systems. Our passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors is alive today, as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology smaller, more efficient, more reliable and more affordable – making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. We think of this as Engineering Progress. It's what we do and have been doing for decades. Learn more at TI.com.
TXN-G
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SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/ti-return-more-cash-owners-with-8-dividend-increase-authorization-additional-15-billion-share-repurchases/ | 2022-09-15T21:28:53Z |
Three arrested in connection to a 2017 quadruple murder in Washington state
KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. (KING) - After five years, a family in Washington state finally has some answers after three people were arrested in connection to a quadruple murder in 2017.
“It’s been rough, it’s been extremely rough. It’s been tough,” family member Terry Schapp said.
In January 2017, Christale Careaga, Jonathon Higgins and Hunter Schapp were all killed and their bodies were found inside their burned-out home. Two days later, Christale Careaga’s husband, John Careaga was found shot to death inside his burned Ford F-150 truck.
Lt. Ken Dickinson of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office says investigators have been working to find the perpetrators ever since.
“Our detectives have never given up. If our community suffers a loss like this one, we’re gonna run down every lead, go to every end that we can possibly go to, to hold people that need to be held accountable, accountable,” Dickinson said.
That work finally led to three arrests this week.
Two of the men were arrested in Bremerton, Washington. The third was arrested in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Each suspect was booked for 16 different charges each. Their bail was set at $20 million.
“In my 28 years, I’ve never seen an arrest that had that many criminal charges, to be booked into jail. I’ve never seen one where the judge set bail at $20 million, so this is new territory for us. This is unprecedented,” Dickinson said.
The Careaga family continues to mourn, but they hope for a silver lining that the ones responsible may still face justice.
“I know it’s far from over, but I’m happy that today’s here,” Schapp said.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned Tuesday.
Copyright 2022 KING via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/07/three-arrested-connection-2017-quadruple-murder-washington-state/ | 2022-06-07T13:56:04Z |
PHOENIX (AP) — They shared laughs, smiles, memories. There also were tears, fears, unease.
Through the range of emotions, one common thread bonded them together: Brittney Griner.
Wearing “BG” shirts and holding signs, several hundred fans gathered for a public rally in support of Griner on Wednesday, hoping their sentiments would reach the WNBA player 6,000 miles away in a Russian jail cell.
“It’s really painful and hard to watch, and it’s really taken a toll on a lot of us,” said Kelly Gedney of Surprise, Arizona. “We can feel the fear that she has. It’s scary to me that she’s in a cage when she is traveling to her court cases. She’s been wrongfully detained and we’re going to do everything we can to get her home.”
Griner has spent the past four months in a Russian prison and is currently on trial. She’s accused of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil when she arrived at the Moscow airport while returning to play for her Russian team, facing a prison term of up to 10 years if convicted.
The WNBA and U.S. officials have worked to free Griner, without success. Griner was able to send a handwritten letter to President Joe Biden, saying she feared spending the rest of her life in prison while pushing the administration to not forget about other American detainees.
President Biden called Griner’s wife, Cherelle, on Wednesday to tell her that he is working to free her as soon as possible.
“One hundred thirty-nine days have passed since my wife has been able to speak to me, to our family and our friends,” Cherelle Griner said during the rally, stopping to compose herself several times. “I’m frustrated my wife is not going to get justice. I know you all are frustrated, too. That’s why you’re here.”
The rally at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Mercury and Suns, was part celebration of Griner’s accomplishments on and off the court with a call to action.
The rally featured videos of Griner giving back to the community, dancers and a dramatic poem reading as many of Mercury teammates sat together in chairs on the right side of the court.
Phoenix Suns player Torey Craig spoke, as did Mercury player Brianna Turner.
“To know BG is to know such a kind spirit, a nice person, such a giver — I can go on and on about the type of person she is,” said Turner, who also was able to exchange letters with Griner. “We need to get her back home. She deserves to be home. She needs to be back with her family and friends. We are BG.”
Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, the former Phoenix mayor, also was on hand after pushing a resolution calling for Griner’s immediate release passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week.
“Today was important, a show of unity, speaking in one voice that we expect our president, our administration to do what it takes to bring our fellow American back home,” Stanton said.
___
To see more AP stories on Griner: https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/mercury-hold-public-rally-in-support-of-brittney-griner/ | 2022-07-07T17:36:18Z |
Kansas court wrestles with barring political gerrymandering
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Kansas government attorney argued Monday that congressional redistricting is naturally political and that the Kansas Supreme Court shouldn’t try to decide when partisanship goes too far, only to be chastised by one of the justices for making a “boys will be boys” argument.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling that represented the first time that a Kansas court declared that partisan gerrymandering violates the state constitution. The lower court ruling struck down a Republican congressional redistricting law that would make it harder for the only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation to win reelection this year. The GOP-controlled Legislature enacted it over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.
Federal judges — not the Kansas courts — have typically reviewed congressional boundaries, but the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 2019 that complaints about partisan gerrymandering are political issues and not for the federal courts to resolve.
Kansas Solicitor General Brant Laue argued that Kansas’ top court should take the same position. The Kansas Constitution mentions only legislative redistricting and does not contain any specific provisions prohibiting gerrymandering.
“Congressional redistricting is political by design,” Laue said. “The Legislature, and not the state judiciary, is designed and equipped to make the political determinations that cannot be avoided.”
The Supreme Court did not say when it would rule, though both sides are hoping it will be within days. Also, the Legislature is set to reconvene next week for a day or two of work if the justices reject the new congressional map or new boundaries for legislative districts that the court also reviewed Monday. The Kansas secretary of state’s office on Monday delayed the filing deadline for congressional and legislative candidates to June 10 from June 1.
During Monday’s hearing, the seven-member court wrestled with how to determine when improper political gerrymandering has occurred. Justice Caleb Stegall questioned whether the term can be clearly defined.
“I need to know what my standards are,” added Justice Evelyn Wilson.
Lawsuits over new congressional-district lines have proliferated across the U.S., with Republicans looking to recapture a U.S. House majority in this year’s midterm elections. State courts have issued decisions favoring Democrats in North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a new GOP map in Florida has been invalidated by a state court judge. New York’s highest court recently declared that that state’s new districts were gerrymandered to favor Democrats.
In Kansas, 20 Democratic voters and a voting-rights group, Loud Light, filed three lawsuits against the new congressional map. District Judge Bill Klapper in Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area agreed with them that the new lines were too partisan and diluted minority voters’ political clout. He ordered lawmakers to draw a new map.
Justice Dan Biles told Laue that he is asking the state Supreme Court to accept that “boys will be boys” when legislators target specific colleagues.
“How is partisan gerrymandering ever a legitimate government interest?” Biles asked.
Laue told Biles that politics is part of the process of drawing new maps and, “It can’t be distilled from the process.”
Republican legislative leaders argued that based on 2020 results, Davids still can win her new district. They said their map was a fair way to rebalance the population in each of the state’s congressional districts to make them as equal as possible after 10 years of demographic shifts. Republicans rejected the argument that they improperly diluted minority voters’ clout.
The new Kansas map moved the northern part of Kansas City, Kansas, out of the 3rd District represented by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids and into the larger 2nd District of eastern Kansas represented by Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner. Kansas City, Kansas, is among the few Democratic strongholds in the GOP-leaning state. Davids lost territory where she performs well, while the new map added several rural, heavily Republican counties to her district.
The map also moved the liberal northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence — another Democratic stronghold and home to the main University of Kansas campus — out of the 2nd District. The city of 95,000 is now in the already sprawling 1st District of central and western Kansas with small conservative communities, some six hours away by car.
Klapper relied heavily on the testimony of a University of Michigan political scientist who used a computer algorithm to produce 1,000 alternative redistricting plans to conclude that the new districts “are extreme pro-Republican partisan outliers.”
“Each individual should not have their votes relegated to not matter simply because of who they vote for,” said Sharon Brett, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/17/kansas-court-wrestles-with-barring-political-gerrymandering/ | 2022-05-17T14:12:44Z |
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger’s second child has arrived
By Toyin Owoseje, CNN
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger have announced the birth of their second child.
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor and his author wife took to their respective Instagram accounts on Sunday night to share that they had welcomed a baby girl named Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt on Saturday.
“We are so excited to announce the birth of our second daughter, Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt. Mama and baby are doing well,” the caption read.
“We feel beyond blessed and grateful. Love, Katherine and Chris.”
The couple, who married in 2019, are already parents to daughter Lyla Schwarzenegger Pratt, who was born in August 2020. Pratt also shares a 9-year-old son, Jack, with ex-wife Anna Faris.
Schwarzenegger, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, previously opened up about navigating the challenges and triumphs of motherhood with the help of her other half.
“My husband has always been super-supportive and also very vocal,” she told British model and fellow new mother Iskra Lawrence on a Mother’s Day edition of her Instagram video series “BDA (Before, During, & After) Baby” last year.
“He’ll look at our daughter (Lyla) and be like, ‘Can you believe you’re able to feed, your body is able to feed your baby?'”
After seemingly cracking the daddy code, Pratt hinted in July last year that he wanted a big family with his wife.
Speaking on the E! News Daily Pop show, the “Jurassic World” star teased that he “would love to have more, as many as the man upstairs will provide.”
He added: “We’ll do it. I’ll probably have to talk to Katherine about that but my plan is, let’s go.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/23/chris-pratt-and-katherine-schwarzeneggers-second-child-has-arrived/ | 2022-05-23T13:21:06Z |
Rice-A-Roni Trolley Tour to Feature Microwaveable Pasta Roni Heat & Eat Starting in July
CHICAGO, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of Rice-A-Roni and Pasta Roni, the family-favorite 'San Francisco Treat,' are back with another new convenient pasta that takes some of the prep out of mealtime, Pasta Roni Heat & Eat. Versatile, tasty and easy to prepare, Pasta Roni Heat & Eat will debut in two delicious flavors – Penne Alfredo and Rotini Marinara. This pasta dish microwaves in 60 seconds and can complement any lunch or dinner or be enjoyed as a snack on its own.
New Pasta Roni Heat & Eat
Pasta Roni's first Heat & Eat pasta sides make creating great-tasting meals easier than ever with no extra ingredients needed to enjoy. It joins the broader Rice-A-Roni Heat & Eat line that comes in five delicious flavors – Chicken, Beef, Herb & Butter, Garlic & Olive Oil and Spicy Spanish.
"We know the most irreplaceable asset for families is time, which is why we keep innovating to help make meal prep less chaotic," said Michelle McAlister, Senior Director of Marketing for the Meals portfolio at Quaker Foods North America. "With its familiar and dependable flavors similar to the other Heat & Eat varieties, Pasta Roni Heat & Eat will help make meal prep a breeze for busy families in search of delicious and convenient dinner options with less hassle."
This month, Pasta Roni Heat & Eat will be available at retailers nationwide starting at a suggested retail price of $2.39.
Rice-A-Roni Trolley Tour
As it hits shelves, Rice-A-Roni lovers in select cities can be among the first to taste the new Pasta Roni Heat & Eat side dishes during the Rice-A-Roni Trolley Tour. At upcoming tour stops fans will have the opportunity to check out and take a picture with the trolley, taste the new Rice-A-Roni Heat & Eat Chicken and Beef flavors, as well as the new Pasta Roni Heat & Eat in Penne Alfredo and Rotini Marinara flavors, while supplies last and possibly receive limited product coupons and branded items.
The multi-city tour kicked off in Chicago (May 21-25) with a second stop in Philadelphia (June 24-26), and upcoming stops including Charlotte (July 8-10), Dallas (July 22-24), Phoenix (August 5-7) and concluding in our hometown of San Francisco (August 19-21).
For more information about the tour, please visit www.cookwithricearoni.com, and for additional information about Pasta Roni, where to buy the Pasta Roni Heat & Eat and delicious recipes for the entire family, visit www.ricearoni.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
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SOURCE PepsiCo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/pasta-roni-introduces-new-heat-amp-eat-offerings-help-ease-mealtime-chaos/ | 2022-07-05T13:35:06Z |
WINDERMERE, Fla., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeships Program is proud to announce The Launch of its New "$30 million Apprenticeship Expansion Endowment Fund" and its signature cryptocurrency, Bee2Bee Coin, (BEE) which will support innovative Corporate Initiatives for its Information Technology based Registered Apprenticeship Program. An alternate "Apprentice Coin" will also be co-branded as an NFT with client and employer partners.
Approved and endorsed by the Florida Department of Education and The U.S. Department of Labor, The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeships Program is creating and expanding Registered Apprenticeships and Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP) across high-demand fields including Cyber Security, Information Technology, Telehealth/Healthcare, E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, Real Estate, Retail, Fashion, Entertainment, Tourism and FinTech. Current apprentice participants include students from high schools, colleges, and universities across 67 counties in Florida and 9 states and growing from New College of Florida to iconic HBCUs such as Howard University and Alabama A&M University.
The program is also composed of a national and international consortium of businesses, higher education institutions, local workforce development boards, apprenticeship programs and industry partners which are paving the way for Americans from all backgrounds gain IT and IT related skills to qualify for the myriad of vacant high-earning opportunities in the current US workforce. In a new strategic approach, one of the goals of the Network is to strengthen apprenticeship understanding and build capacity by working closely to support local workforce boards to efficiently facilitate The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which supports related training for apprentices.
The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeships Endowment Fund and The Bee2Bee Coin will generate a permanent stream of capital to support the national expansion of The Bee2Bee Network Registered Apprenticeships Program. McCoy Federal Credit Union has been selected to manage the new fund which will help employers build a skilled technical workforce while assisting apprentices gain important financial literacy skills. Apprentices earn as they learn new technology skills, certifications, soft skills in addition to the financial opportunity to purchase and/or earn the Bee2Bee Coin cryptocurrency during their apprenticeship which will serve as a tangible and growing investment vehicle for their future. More importantly, the Bee2Bee Coin may also be utilized to purchase goods and services including real estate via the LifeStyles In 360 E-Commerce Virtual Shopping NFT Platform which the Apprentices are working on.
Since 2011, The Bee2Bee Network Internship/Apprenticeship program has independently financed and provided experiential learning opportunities in STEM/STEAM areas such as Software Design, Development and Emerging Technologies. The Bee2Bee Coin is not only a sustainable and green cryptocurrency investment vehicle for social good, but it also aims to incentivize apprenticeships as a viable career option for the positive personal, professional and financial mobility for its apprentices. For example, as a bonus, every Apprentice is given a Bee2Bee Coin, upon the successful completion of the apprenticeship program and are also prepared for an alternate opportunity to start their own entrepreneurial ventures.
According to Joshua Wilkins, veteran, "This has been one of the greatest experiences that I have ever been a part of. The company has really helped me as a veteran coming out of the military to start my own business. I was very thankful to take the courses for Salesforce certification and earn a salary while I obtained on-the-job training and valuable industry certifications."
In addition, to partnering with industry giants such as Salesforce and Google, The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeships Program also partners with employers to design, develop and facilitate customized apprenticeship programs which will ultimately ensure that apprentices are paid to learn new skills on-the-job while adding immediate improved performance value for employers. This apprenticeship model is mutually sustainable for both employers and apprentices because it does not require either party to make excessive reinvestments in upskilling and updating industry certifications via traditional education models including wasted travel time away from the job for apprentices. The apprenticeship program model is 100% virtual, provides affordable housing options and offers employers the opportunity to find qualified candidates from all backgrounds. More importantly, the program ensures diversity, equity and inclusion within the technology industry and beyond by supporting high school, college and university students, through graduation including youth, veterans, foster youth, justice involved individuals, and traditionally underserved groups such as women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ youth and rural communities by directly addressing local area technology training and employment needs.
"As thought leaders in the software development and IT/emerging technologies apprenticeship space, our business model is based on creating an innovative and a sustainable ecosystem of highly skilled talent, fair access to new and emerging technologies, direct access to key industry employers and sustainable funding opportunities.
Software development and IT touches every single industry, and as a software company, we are building talent first and software second. Today marks a new day for technology-based apprenticeships and we must pivot and embrace what the market is telling us." said Yasmine P. Clarke, CEO. "The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeships Program is what the market needs right now, and we are laser focused and uniquely qualified to identify and upskill new talent from all backgrounds.
We started this program in Florida back in 2011 with the grassroots support of local companies. Today, we are a state-wide registered apprenticeship program in 67 counties across Florida, and we have recently scaled to 9 different states and growing. At no time in history has the "Pursuit of Happiness" for All been more attainable than today for our apprentices! Our unique Apprentice Program serves to teach, empower and positively transform the lives of our apprentices including their standard of living. said its Founder, Ms. Yasmine Clarke.
According to recent estimates from the U.S. Department of Labor, job openings are currently at an all-time high—11 million—with only 5.5 million available workers as of May 2022. The "Great Resignation" continues with over 4 million workers quitting their jobs. For employers, the challenge is connecting future workers to career opportunities and closing the "training gap" between the skills being taught and those needed by employers.
The expansion of registered apprenticeships can open the doors to individuals who are eager to enter the workforce and provide a way to tap into underutilized human capital. These programs can also bridge the gap between entry level positions that require aptitude, ambition, on-the-job training and a talented workforce who can also earn as they learn.
Registered apprenticeships also have the potential to create greater diversity among a company's workforce and the ability to put workers who have been displaced by changes in the economy at greater job security and increased career opportunities. – (https://www.businessroundtable.org/.)
The current economy and the high number of high-earning unfilled jobs and lack of skilled workers is impacting employers across the nation and especially in Florida. For example, Workforce Region 12 in Orange County, Florida is home to The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeship Program and technology firms such as Disney, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Deloitte, KPMG, and Universal. The area is projected to have 24,000 new job openings in the software industry through 2029. Overall, this is a 25.5% growth increase with an expected increase of 31.8% new software development opportunities. These economic conditions provide an excellent opportunity for The Bee2Bee Network Apprenticeship Program which has traditionally utilized the learn and earn model to help employers "build' their next generation of workers.
New College of Florida Howard University Independence University Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Indiana University Bloomington, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Clark University, Full Sail University Valencia College, Rollins College, Borough of Manhattan Community College
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SOURCE The Bee2Bee Network Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/bee2bee-network-apprenticeships-program-announces-launch-its-new-30-million-apprenticeship-expansion-endowment-fund-amp-new-cryptocurrency-bee2bee-coin-bee/ | 2022-08-08T18:40:28Z |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Electromedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: EMED) ("Electromedical" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the development and production of advanced bioelectronic devices that offer a drug free way to relieve chronic, intractable, and acute pain by using frequencies and electro-modulation, is excited to announce the addition of Lee Benson, CEO of ETW (Execute to Win) (etw.com), to the Company's Board of Directors.
"Lee will add tremendous value to the Board and the company, given his track record as a leader in a field driven by engineering expertise, his business acumen, his extraordinary deal-making experience, and his proven management insights and proven strategies, we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Electromedical team," remarked Matthew Wolfson, founder and CEO of Electromedical. "We are on the precipice of perhaps our most important period of scaling the business, and it gives me great confidence to know that we will be able to tap Lee's insights and guidance as a very accomplished businessman and high level entrepreneur during this key period. A company can only be as good as the people who are involved. Lee can help us reach higher levels of growth, culture and execution."
Lee Benson started his career as the first employee in a small company providing specialty electroplating services to repair aircraft components. Benson purchased the company 1993 after a sudden sharp decline in business. He then went on to turn things completely around. He founded Able Engineering & Component Services in 1995 and Able Aerospace in 1999, subsequently expanding from 3 to 500+ employees and driving 15 straight years of 20 percent compounded average annual growth.
Benson sold Able Aerospace to global powerhouse Textron Aviation in a Nine-figure deal. Textron (TNT Nasdaq) itself includes the Beechcraft, Hawker, Bell and Cessna brands.
After he secured the deal, Lee founded ETW to help other businesses achieve maximum success and profit from his experience and expertise. To this day, Lee's unique management system forms the foundation of ETW and was praised by legendary business leader, former CEO of GE Jack Welch, as the best management system Welch had ever seen. This management system is what Electromedical has implemented and uses on a daily basis.
"Electromedical has a fantastic product and incredible potential to scale. I look forward to working with Matthew and his terrific team at Electromedical as the Company prepares to level up its business growth in the months and quarters ahead, this is a critical time for the Company – an exciting time. And I see explosive potential waiting to be unlocked." stated Benson.
About Electromedical Technologies
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Electromedical Technologies, Inc. is a commercial stage, FDA cleared, bioelectronic medical device manufacturing company initially focused on the treatment of various chronic, acute, intractable, and post-operative pain conditions. Through University collaboration agreements, the Company is working to develop a comprehensive research program in defining the effects of electro-modulation on the human body. By studying the impacts of electrical fields in cell signaling and effects on virus assembly and immune responses, the Company's goal is to reduce pain and improve overall human wellbeing. The Company's current FDA cleared product indications are for chronic acute post traumatic and post-operative, intractable pain relief.
For more information, please visit www.electromedtech.com.
Note: Nonhuman preliminary studies that we are planning to start in the near future and their applications are not related to our current product in any way and are currently not cleared in the US.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance or guarantee that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to: adverse economic conditions, competition, adverse federal, state and local government regulation, international governmental regulation, inadequate capital, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives and other specific risks. To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.
Corporate Contact:
Electromedical Technologies, Inc.
Tel: 1.888.880.7888
Email: ir@electromedtech.com
https://electromedtech.com
Public Relations:
EDM Media, LLC
https://edm.media
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SOURCE Electromedical Technologies, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/electromedical-technologies-adds-former-aerospace-ceo-current-management-expert-lee-benson-board-directors/ | 2022-06-14T14:48:59Z |
Looking to have dinner, drinks on the patio? Try one of these six Stark County patios
When the weather is nice in Ohio, you need to take advantage of it. So when the sun is shining and the temps feel great, you better make your way to a local patio to enjoy the sunshine and some delicious food and drinks. Stark County has plenty of patios to hop around to this summer depending on what food or vibe you’re in the mood for.
Gervasi Vineyard
Arguably the most popular outdoor dining experience is at Gervasi Vineyard at 1700 55th Street NE in Canton. With beautiful views of lush grounds and a stunning lake, plus outdoor games and comfortable patio chairs you can pull up to the water, it’s an experience that feels out of the norm. Order at The Piazza and enjoy a meal on the patio. Finish the night with some wine right in front of the water.
Popular Stark County restaurants:Feast Awards: Highlighting 17 of Stark County's Best Restaurants
Table Six Kitchen + Bar
Table Six Kitchen + Bar, at 6113 Whipple Avenue NW in North Canton, has been known for its patio for a long time. The covered patio is the perfect spot for an outdoor lunch hidden from the harmful rays of the sun while still getting to enjoy the warm weather. Or come for dinner or drinks and soak up the nighttime vibe with the cozy string lights hanging above the tables. Enjoy live music on Thursdays on the patio.
Royal Docks Brewing Co. (both locations: Taproom + Foeder House)
Take your pick of patios where you can enjoy Royal Docks grub and brews. The taproom, at 7162 Fulton Drive NW in Jackson Township, expanded its patio in 2020 to seat more people. The patio is complete with tables of varying size, a large fire pit and string lights. The newest addition to Royal Docks, the Foeder House + Kitchen at Oakwood Square at 2668 Easton St NE in Plain Township, offers the same vibe as the original location. Check Royal Docks Brewing Co.’s social media pages for live music and other special events.
More:Royal Docks Brewing expands reach by inking distribution deal with Superior Beverage
Canton Brewing Co.
Right beside Centennial Plaza at 120 Third Street NW in downtown Canton sits Canton Brewing Co. and its patio. Enjoy the views of the city and the beautiful plaza while sipping some of Canton’s finest brews. The patio isn’t covered, but there are trees to shade you while you dine.
Jerzee’s Cafe
Another patio with gorgeous views of Centennial Plaza is at Jerzee’s Cafe in downtown Canton at 330 Court Avenue NW. Situated inside the plaza, the patio is essentially open, but the plaza’s structure offers some shade on particularly sunny days. Check Centennial Plaza’s programming for special events.
Food review:Best-case-scenario loaded fries, delicious dip, juicy wings at Jerzee’s Sports Grille
Shale Brewing Co.
Enjoy dinner and some craft beer on the patio at Shale Brewing Co., at 7253 Whipple Avenue NW in North Canton. Complete with tables and a fireplace in a fenced in area, this patio feels a bit secluded from the hustle and bustle of daily life. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/entertainment/2022/04/27/want-dinner-drinks-patio-try-one-these-six-stark-patios/7309224001/ | 2022-04-27T11:49:43Z |
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia on Tuesday opened a long-awaited bridge connecting two parts of the country’s Adriatic Sea coastline while bypassing a small sliver of Bosnia’s territory.
Braving summer heat, many Croats rushed early on Tuesday to be among the first to cross the Peljesac bridge on foot as it opened for pedestrians ahead of the formal opening ceremony planned in the evening. It was to open to road traffic after the ceremony.
Co-funded by the European Union and built by a Chinese company, the elegant, cable-stayed bridge with six pylons is a rare venture of its kind amid concerns in Europe over China’s bid to boost its economic influence through investment in infrastructure.
The 2.4 kilometer (1.5-mile) bridge spans the Adriatic Sea to link Croatia’s mainland to the Peljesac peninsula in the south, thus also allowing easier access to the country’s most important tourism destination — the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik.
State HRT television on Tuesday described the bridge opening as a “historic day that generations awaited.”
“This is big day for Croatia,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. “Let’s enjoy it today!”
The Yugoslav federation had no internal borders between its six republics, including Croatia and Bosnia. But when it broke up in the early 1990s, the two parts of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline were split by a narrow strip of Bosnia.
Both residents and tourists had to pass border checks, which slowed down traffic and left the inhabitants of the southern area feeling isolated from the rest of the country.
That area includes Dubrovnik, a stunning medieval town that has been on UNESCO’s protected heritage list and is Croatia’s biggest tourist attraction.
The bridge finally became a reality in 2017 when the EU allocated 357 million euros ($365m), which covered much of the 526 million-euro ($533) cost. The China Road and Bridge Corporation in 2018 won an international tender to construct the bridge.
The project, however, had faced criticism from Bosnia, whose officials complained of unresolved border issues and said the bridge would hamper access to its part of the coastline.
Known for its stunning nature and hundreds of Adriatic Sea islands, Croatia is a major tourism destination, attracting millions from Europe and all over the world every summer. Tourism also is key for Croatia’s economy, which remains among the weakest in the EU. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/croatia-opens-adriatic-coast-bridge-linking-divided-region/ | 2022-07-26T17:58:35Z |
Did you lose money on investments in Teladoc Health? If so, please visit Teladoc Health, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Teladoc Health, Inc. ("Teladoc" or the "Company") (NYSE: TDOC) between October 28, 2021 and April 27, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Teladoc provides virtual healthcare services in the U.S. and internationally through Business-to-Business ("B2B") and Direct-to-Consumer ("D2C") distribution channels. The Company offers its customers various virtual products and services addressing, among other medical issues, mental health through its BetterHelp D2C product, and chronic conditions.
Teladoc touts itself as "the first and only company to provide a comprehensive and integrated whole person virtual healthcare solution that both provides and enables care for a full spectrum of clinical conditions[.]" Despite recent market concerns over new entrants to the telehealth field, such Amazon.com, Inc. ("Amazon") and Walmart Inc. ("Walmart"), the Company has continued to assure investors of the Company's dominant market position in the industry.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made materially false and misleading statements throughout the Class Period. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) increased competition, among other factors, was negatively impacting Teladoc's BetterHelp and chronic care businesses; (ii) the growth of those businesses was less sustainable than Defendants had led investors to believe; (iii) as a result, Teladoc's revenue and adjusted EBITDA projections for FY 2022 were unrealistic; and (iv) as a result of all the foregoing, Teladoc would be forced to recognize a significant non-cash goodwill impairment charge.
On April 27, 2022, Teladoc announced its first quarter ("Q1") 2022 financial results, including revenue of $565.4 million, which missed consensus estimates by $3.23 million, and "[n]et loss per share of $41.58, primarily driven by [a] non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $6.6 billion or $41.11 per share[.]" Additionally, the Company revised its FY 2022 revenue guidance to $2.4 - $2.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $240 - $265 million "to reflect dynamics we are currently experiencing in the [D2C] mental health and chronic condition markets." On a conference call with investors and analysts that day to discuss Teladoc's Q1 2022 results, Defendants largely attributed the Company's poor performance, revised FY 2022 guidance, and $6.6 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge to increased competition in its BetterHelp and chronic care businesses.
On this news, the Company's stock price fell over 40% to close at $33.51 per share on April 28, 2022.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 5, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.
If you purchased TDOC securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Teladoc Health, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2022 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Peter Allocco
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
pallocco@bernlieb.com
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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/teladoc-health-inc-nyse-tdoc-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-reminds-investors-deadline-file-lead-plaintiff-motion-securities-class-action-lawsuit-against-teladoc-health-inc-nyse-tdoc/ | 2022-06-29T22:46:49Z |
Topeka man jailed after covered license plate leads to meth discovery
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A Topeka man is behind bars after a covered license plate led to the discovery of meth in his possession.
The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office says Bertrand A. Wheaton, 39, of Topeka, is in custody and could face multiple charges that include possession of methamphetamine after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning near mile marker 357 on SW I-70.
Just before 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, deputies said they stopped a gray 2015 Nissan Altima with a covered license plate in the area. During the investigation, they found the registration was expired and the registration sticker did not belong to the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Wheaton, also had a revoked driver’s license.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that a K9 Unit was sent to help the search and illegal drugs were found as a result.
Wheaton was booked into the Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections on possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended, no vehicle liability insurance, operating a motor vehicle with an expired tag and having a covered license plate.
Wheaton remains confined to the jail with no bond listed.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/31/topeka-man-jailed-after-covered-license-plate-leads-meth-discovery/ | 2022-08-31T14:04:58Z |
SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China , July 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announced that the first patient with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis has been successfully dosed in a Phase 2 clinical study (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05377580) of its innovative recombinant anti-interleukin 23p19 subunit antibody injection (R & D code: IBI112) in China.
The study is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of IBI112 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of IBI112 induction and maintenance therapy in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis. This is also the first Phase 2 clinical study of domestic innovative drugs targeting IL-23p19 for UC patients in China, which marks a significant milestone. Innovent will continue to leverage its fast execution capabilities in the clinical development and research and strive to provide better treatment options for UC patients.
Professor Minhu Chen from The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat Sen University, the principal investigator of the study, stated, "The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis is complex, which is related to genetic, immune, environmental and other factors. Currently, the quality of life and mental health of patients with ulcerative colitis in China, especially those with refractory ulcerative colitis, are greatly affected, and new treatments are urgently needed. IBI112, a novel anti-IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody developed by innovative Chinese biopharmaceutical company, belongs to National Class 1 New Drug Category and has shown favorable safety and tolerability in Phase 1 clinical studys. We hope that IBI112 will be successful in the Phase 2 clinical study, and provide an alternative treatment option for Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis."
Dr. Qian Lei, Vice President of Clinical Development of Innovent, stated: "Ulcerative colitis is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent and recurrent diarrhea, mucus pus and bloody stool, abdominal pain, and severe internal emergency. The number of patients has increased rapidly in the past 20 years. With the increase in incidence rate, ulcerative colitis has become a common digestive system disease in China. As a chronic inflammatory disease, in addition to the damage to physical health, it also seriously interferes with patients' daily life and has a huge negative impact on patients' psychological health. In recent years, a new generation of drugs targeting IL-23 has attracted special interests due to its excellent efficacy and favorable safety profile. IL-23 plays a key role in T cell-mediated response and is regarded as a pivotal initiator of immune-mediated diseases. IBI112 plays an anti-inflammatory role by blocking IL-23-mediated signaling pathway and has the potential to treat autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and psoriasis. Currently, there is no self-developed IL-23p19 inhibitors on the market in China. Results from the first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study of IBI112 has confirmed its favorable safety and tolerability profiles, and has preliminarily demonstrated its potential to serve a longer dosing interval and more patient-friendly treatment regimen. We are greatly encouraged that it can provide strong foundation for the subsequent clinical development. Based on this, we are confident in collaborating with our study sites to advance the clinical development of IBI112 in moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis as well as other indications to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality innovative biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people."
About IBI112
IBI112 is a monoclonal antibody independently developed by Innovent, with proprietary intellectual property rights. This product specifically binds to IL-23p19 subunit, thereby preventing IL-23 from binding to cell surface receptors, resulting in the inhibition of IL-23 receptor-mediated signaling pathway. Preclinical data of IBI112 demonstrated that it has a clear target and well-elucidated mechanism of action, and significant anti-inflammatory effect. It has been verified to be safe and well tolerated in phase 1 clinical study. IBI112 may provide a more effective treatment option for patients with inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and other autoimmune diseases.
About Ulcerative Colitis Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by mucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum, with typical symptoms such as recurrent diarrhea, mucus, pus and blood stool with abdominal pain, and urgency. UC is a serious threat to physical health and has an impact on daily life and mental health for patients. UC is common in Europe and North America. And in China, the prevalence rate has been increasing gradually in the past 20 years with a prevalence rate of 11.6/100000. UC is more common diagnosed in young and middle-aged people. The clinical treatment of UC is mainly medication and surgical treatment. Thiopurine is the most traditional immunosuppressant, however the incidence of adverse reactions is high. In terms of biologics, anti-TNF-α Monoclonal antibodies have problems such as loss of response caused by immunogenicity. In recent years, drugs targeting IL12 and IL 23 have shown advantages in efficacy and safety in the treatment of UC. At present, there is no self-developed IL-23p19 inhibitors for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in China, and there is still a huge unmet clinical need.
About Innovent
Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK.
Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 32 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major therapeutic areas, with 7 products approved for marketing in China – TYVYT® (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection) , Pemazyre® (pemigatinib oral inhibitor) and olverembatinib (BCR-ABL TKI) and Cyramza® (ramucirumab) , 3 asset under NMPA NDA review, 3 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and an additional 19 molecules in clinical studies.
Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly and Company, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hanmi and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives. For more information, please visit: www.innoventbio.com. and www.linkedin.com/company/innovent-biologics/.
Note:
Sintilimab is not an approved product in the United States.
BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection), and SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States.
TYVYT® (sintilimab injection, Innovent)
BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)
HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent)
SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)
Pemazyre® (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre® was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Cyramza® (ramucirumab), 1 asset under NMPA NDA review, 5 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and an additional 19 molecules in clinical studies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.
These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.
Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.
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SOURCE Innovent Biologics | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/04/innovent-announces-first-patient-dosed-phase-2-clinical-study-ibi112-il-23p19-monoclonal-antibody-patients-with-moderate-to-severe-active-ulcerative-colitis/ | 2022-07-04T00:50:38Z |
BOSTON, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SVB Securities, a leading investment bank serving the innovation economy, announced today the addition of Sterling Auty, CFA, as Senior Managing Director of the firm's Technology Equity Research team. He will cover software within the TMT research vertical, continuing to build out the team led by Michael Nathanson and Craig Moffett following last year's acquisition of technology equity research firm MoffettNathanson LLC.
"We are excited to continue to expand our Technology Equity Research team and further strengthen our research coverage in the TMT Software sector," said Jim Kelly, Senior Managing Director and Director of Equity Research. "SVB Securities and our clients will benefit from Sterling's extensive knowledge and expertise of the software industry as he continues his long-established career in technology equity research with us."
Auty joins from J.P. Morgan, where he was most recently a Managing Director of Equity Research. During his 25 years there, he focused on the software industry. In 2021, he ranked first in Institutional Investors' Small and Mid-Cap Software Analysts category and was runner-up in the Large-Cap Software Analysts category.
"After spending two decades covering the software industry, I am energized to join SVB Securities to continue to build out its software capabilities," said Auty. "The firm is quickly becoming a leading force in the technology sector, and I am excited to partner with such an accomplished team."
SVB Securities has expanded its equity research to be a market-leading product in the technology and healthcare spaces to assist clients in achieving their strategic objectives. In December of 2021, SVB acquired MoffettNathanson, which has been known as the standard-bearer for technology equity research since its founding in 2013.
To learn more, visit: https://www.svbsecurities.com/
As a leading investment bank serving the innovation economy, SVB Securities helps its clients move healthcare and technology forward. With differentiated sector knowledge, deep expertise, and an extensive suite of capital market and advisory solutions, the firm is the innovation economy's partner of choice. SVB Securities is one of SVB Financial Group's (Nasdaq: SIVB) core businesses, along with Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Private, and SVB Capital. Learn more at svb.com. [SIVB-L]
SVB Securities
Contact: Diane Vieira
(617) 918-4097
Prosek Partners for SVB Securities
Contact: Amalia Lytle
(646) 818-9271
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SOURCE SVB Securities | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/svb-securities-hires-sterling-auty-growing-technology-equity-research-team/ | 2022-07-11T11:37:38Z |
Puppy rescued by fire department fostered by firefighter and pit bull advocate
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KOVR) – A puppy in California is ready to play after a pretty rough day.
Sacramento fire crews rescued the little guy, covered in burned plastic and with his fur singed, during a debris fire Tuesday.
The captain on the scene knew the puppy needed a good friend, so he called Mike Thawley at Station 19.
“He said ‘Do you want him?’ and I said ‘Yes,’” Thawley said.
Thawley is fostering the pup while Front Street Animal Shelter finds him a forever home. The puppy is already making himself comfortable.
“He perked up pretty good when we gave him water, a bath, some food, started picking off some of the plastic and then yesterday personality started coming out, tail wagging, following us around chewing,” Thawley said.
This isn’t the first time Thawley has fostered a dog the fire crews had rescued. Five years ago, he took in Chunk, an abandoned pit bull found chained to a fence.
Thawley is an advocate for pit bulls. He said knew right away the dog was home. And that’s where she’s been ever since. He had documented her journey on social media.
“We had well over 30 million people following Chunk,” Thawley said. “Donations into Front Street, donations to the bully rescues, Chunk had a two-page article in Women’s World magazine and an award from PETA.”
Thawley said its a doggone shame someone would leave a puppy in such bad conditions. But he said he hopes the rescue tells a tale of how people can help other rescue and shelter animals.
Copyright 2022 KOVR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/14/puppy-rescued-by-fire-department-fostered-by-firefighter-pit-bull-advocate/ | 2022-04-14T18:46:23Z |
STOCKHOLM, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska signed a contract amendment with Oregon Health & Science University for its Hospital Expansion Project in Portland, Oregon, USA. The contract amendment is worth USD 63M, about SEK 620M, which will be included in the US order bookings for the third quarter 2022.
The contract includes early site and foundation work and long lead equipment procurement. Construction is underway and completion for work under the amendment is scheduled for the end of June 2023. Work on the OHSU Hospital Expansion Project began in April 2022, and substantial completion is scheduled for 2026.
For further information please contact:
Daniela Arellano, Communications Director, Skanska USA, tel +1 (213) 317 4977
Jacob Birkeland, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10 449 19 57
Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99
This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Skanska | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/skanska-signs-additional-contract-expand-hospital-portland-oregon-usa-usd-63m-about-sek-620m/ | 2022-09-12T06:06:30Z |
Which HP Monitor is best?
Whether for gaming, working, streaming or a little bit of everything, a home computer setup is not complete without a fitting monitor. One of the leading electronics companies in HP offers a range of options intended to supplement a variety of users so you can have a comfortable, efficient experience at home or in the office.
HP’s Omen X27 is a top gaming monitor for dedicated competitors but only one of a variety of options that vary by features, size and purpose, all of which will determine what the best HP monitor for you is.
What to know before you buy an HP monitor
Usage
HP generally divides their monitors into three different categories: gaming, work and general use. Gaming monitors are designed for optimal performance, eliminating lag while providing an impressive display to cater to lush, ever-changing virtual landscapes.
Work models champion efficiency, connectivity, security and comfort. General use monitors may function in a few different roles and are ideal for those who want a home setup for a laptop that will be used for browsing, streaming and some casual gaming.
For more information on uses and series, check out the HP monitor buying guide at BestReviews.
Screen size
The size of the monitor screen is measured in inches from one corner diagonally to the other. Most popular options are between 24 and 30 inches. This offers a sizable space for a single user, significantly more than any laptop.
Some gaming laptops come in a larger size, with select models in the 30-inch to 40-inch range as well as a single, expensive, luxury gaming monitor that comes in at a staggering 65 inches. Assess the space available at home, including where you’ll be seated and how you’ll be connecting devices to the monitor.
Positioning
Keep in mind that while HP monitors are fairly thin, they do require space. Most options utilize a stand with a wide, bulky base that will take up room on a desk. For those that game, this might not necessarily be an issue. However, those who need a monitor for work, in which a laptop, keyboard and mouse may need to be accessible on a desk as well, seek out a mountable monitor that can affix to a wall to save space and increase efficiency.
What to look for in a quality HP monitor
Resolution
Most HP monitors feature Full HD resolution, which will suffice for work and casual usage. However, while some gamers enjoy Full HD resolution, others may want to opt for a gaming monitor that boasts Quad HD resolution, which offers more detail but doesn’t take up as much power as a 4K monitor.
HP does offer a 4K monitor at this time; gamers who opt for this will want to make sure they have a strong Wi-Fi connection and powerful, compatible accessories to reduce any blur or lag that can occur.
Connectivity
Consider what devices you’ll want to connect to your monitor and how you’ll do it. Most HP monitors allow for an HDMI connection, which offers the transmission of high-speed audio and video. DisplayPort is another rapid option that users will want to seek out if they forgo an HDMI connection. Some options may have an audio port as well as a USB input as well.
Control panel
While all HP monitors offer basic control panels that allow the user to toggle brightness and picture settings, some options, particularly higher-end business models, allow for user profiles and presets. This is ideal if a home or workstation is used by different people or for different endeavors, like browsing, gaming and work.
How much you can expect to spend on an HP monitor
Most work and casual use monitors cost $200-$400, but high-end gaming options can run up to and over $500.
HP monitor FAQ
Are curved monitors worth it?
A. HP offers a handful of curved monitors, although these tend to be mainly reserved for gamers or those into creative professions or activities. A curved monitor offers a more immersive experience, but it also has its limits. The monitor can’t easily be turned or tilted and may be a struggle to mount. What’s more, additional monitors can’t be hooked up either. Curved monitors and TVs have been around for a while, but they’ve struggled to become more than a niche product.
What specs are important in a gaming monitor?
A. Check response time and refresh rate when choosing a gaming monitor. Response time, measured in milliseconds, details how quickly the monitor responds to inputs made on the computer; 5ms is the base standard for casual play, but most gamers prefer at least 3ms response time up to 1ms. Meanwhile, refresh rate is the number of times the screen refreshes in a second, measured in hertz. 60Hz is a base standard, though most games prefer at least 120Hz.
What’s the best HP monitor to buy?
Top HP monitor
What you need to know: This high-quality gaming monitor provides an impressive display with a quick response time for serious players.
What you’ll love: With Quad HD resolution, 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, this gaming monitor gives players an edge in the virtual world. Features an HDMI and DisplayPort inputs; it can also be mounted.
What you should consider: It is fairly pricey and best serves the newest, biggest video games.
Where to buy: Sold by HP
Top HP monitor for the money
What you need to know: This budget-friendly gaming monitor is ideal for casual gamers seeking versatility and efficiency.
What you’ll love: Two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort and a 25-inch screen allow for varied usage and plenty of connectivity. Offers impressive 1ms response time; 144Hz refresh rate will satisfy most gamers.
What you should consider: This monitor can’t be mounted.
Where to buy: Sold by HP and Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: For those seeking a quality monitor for a variety of uses, this 4K option is sizable, bright and offers plenty of conveniences.
What you’ll love: This wireless 4K monitor can double as a small entertainment hub with its detail, brightness and pair of high-speed inputs. Thin bezels and quality speakers offer an intimate and immersive experience.
What you should consider: This monitor requires a strong Wi-Fi connection to avoid lag. It can’t be mounted.
Where to buy: Sold by HP
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Anthony Marcusa writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-monitors-br/best-hp-monitor/ | 2022-06-28T08:29:34Z |
(The Hill) – A producer of “Rust” says the film will likely still be completed in the wake of last year’s fatal shooting on set.
Anjul Nigam, a producer on the Western film along with actor Alec Baldwin, told The Hollywood Reporter they are expecting an investigation by the Santa Fe Country Sheriff’s Department into the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins to conclude soon.
“‘Rust’ is obviously a horrific tragedy,” Nigam told the Reporter. “The investigation will hopefully be resolved soon and will unveil what happened. Obviously, there will be people out there who will have negative perspectives, but we’re confident about continuing to make quality movies.”
Once the investigation is over, they plan to finish making “Rust,” he added.
“We’re confident we’ll be able to complete the movie,” he said.
Nigam’s comments come after New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau recently released a summary of their investigation into the incident.
“Rust” production “demonstrated plain indifference to the hazards associated with firearms by routinely failing to practice their own safety protocols, failing to enforce adherence to safety protocols, and failing to ensure that the handling of deadly weapons was afforded the time and effort needed to keep the cast and crew safe,” the report read.
Baldwin, who was also starring in the film in addition to producing it, is facing several lawsuits for allegedly accidentally shooting Hutchins last October with a prop gun that contained a suspected live round.
He has denied responsibility for the incident, claiming the lawsuits against him were motivated by money.
“I feel that someone is responsible for what happened, and I can’t say who that is, but I know it’s not me,” he told ABC in December. | https://cw33.com/news/national/nexstar-media-wire/rust-producer-confident-they-will-complete-film-after-accidental-death-on-set/ | 2022-05-17T03:15:54Z |
Ukraine’s president accuses Russia of waging ‘total war’
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of waging “total war,” seeking to inflict as much death and destruction as possible as in three months of conflict, as fighting raged Tuesday in the eastern Donbas region.
Russian forces have intensified efforts to encircle and capture Sievierodonetsk and neighboring cities, the only part of the Donbas’ Luhansk region that remains under Ukrainian government control, British military authorities said.
That battle is only one part of the Russian campaign to take the Donbas, which is now the Kremlin’s focus after its forces failed to overrun Kyiv in the early weeks of the war and were forced to withdraw and pursue more a limited objective. But its troops have become bogged down again in the eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories.
Russian forces have achieved “some localized successes” despite strong Ukrainian resistance along dug-in positions, the U.K. Defense Ministry said, but the fall of Sievierodonetsk and the area around it may cause logistical problems for the Russians.
“If the Donbas front line moves further west, this will extend Russian lines of communication and likely see its forces face further logistic resupply difficulties,” the ministry said.
On the eve of the three-month anniversary of the start of the war, Zelensky told Ukrainians that Russia is waging “total war, when the enemy tries to destroy as many people and infrastructure as possible.”
“Indeed, there has not been such a war on the European continent for 77 years,” he said in his address Thursday night.
He pointed to a missile attack that killed 87 people last week in the town of Desna, 55 kilometers (35 miles) north of Kyiv, one of the deadliest single strikes in the war.
“And it was only four missiles,” he said, noting the many hundreds of such strikes since the beginning of the war on Feb. 24.
In its effort to secure a victory in the Donbas, Moscow has withdrawn some forces from around Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv.
There, residents lined up for rations of tea, sugar, pasta and cereal, holding out plastic bags to receive cups of flour and other supplies.
Meanwhile, a Russian-installed official in Ukraine’s Kherson region said the pro-Kremlin administration will ask Moscow to set up a military base there.
“It is vitally important and will become a security guarantee for the region and its residents,” said Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the administration.
Ukrainian officials have speculated Russia plans to stage a referendum in the region to declare its independence, similar to ones held years ago in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Donbas. Moscow recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics two days before invading Ukraine, using that as a pretext to send troops to its ex-Soviet neighbor.
Instead, Stremousov said the region would ask the Kremlin to make it part of Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said it is up to the people of Kherson to decide how and where they want to live.
Meeting in Tokyo with fellow leaders in the Indo-Pacific security coalition known as the Quad, President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Russia’s war in Ukraine had brought a “dark hour in our shared history.”
Global defense leaders on Monday agreed to send more advanced weapons to Ukraine, including a Harpoon launcher and missiles to protect its coast, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters.
___
Becatoros reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Danica Kirka in London and other AP staffers around the world contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/24/russia-steps-up-shelling-seeking-gains-ukraines-donbas/ | 2022-05-24T10:16:36Z |
Eight individual 24 cm PET gantries that comprise the two-meter total body digital PET uEXPLORER® system have landed on Grand Rapids' "Miracle Mile" for installation last week.
HOUSTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Imaging, a global leader in advanced medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment, announced that the uEXPLORER, the company's state-of-the-art digital two-meter total-body PET/CT, has arrived and is being installed at the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building in Grand Rapids. This site on "Medical Mile" is where innovator Bold Advanced Medical Future (BAMF) Health chose to locate the the country's first theranostics clinic to install a total body PET; this center and the uEXPLORER system will be focused on how molecular imaging and theranostics are used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Key leaders were on hand on May 9th to witness the gantries roll into the cutting-edge facility. BAMF Health broke ground on their clinic, radiopharmacy, and North American headquarters at Michigan State University's Grand Rapids Innovation Park in August 2021, where it expects to treat thousands of cancer patients from around the country.
"This is a milestone and a win for patients above all else," asserted Jeffrey Bundy, Ph.D, CEO of United Imaging Healthcare Solutions. "BAMF Health is absolutely revolutionizing cancer and disease treatment here in the U.S., and the way they have intentionally designed their facility and brought our technology into play to focus on the idea of getting from diagnosis to treatment in the same day is game changing. That's why they are ideal partners to use our medical imaging equipment: they believe as we do that the unique capabilities of our technology serve a higher purpose and can help them take patient outcomes to a different level."
United Imaging's uEXPLORER is the world's first and only medical imaging 3D scanner capable of capturing the entire human body in a single bed position. As part of United Imaging's all- digital PET/CT portfolio, uEXPLORER accomplishes total-body (two-meter) imaging in one acquisition in as little as 30 to 240 seconds, while allowing for fast and continuous tracking of tracer distribution in blood, organs, and tissues throughout the body. The uEXPLORER offers unparalleled support for pharmacokinetic studies and radiation dose evaluation and has a wide range of applications, from improving diagnostics to tracking disease progression to enabling research of new therapies. For example, uEXPLORER can be used to better visualize both the primary cancer mass and metastis dynamically at the same time.
A uPMR 790 will also be installed this summer. The uPMR 790 PET/MR has at its core the innovative uEXPLORER technology. It integrates the strengths of next-generation SiPM-based HD TOF (time of flight) with a 32 cm axial FOV (field of view) and 3T MRI with the United Compressed Sensing (uCS) platform. These technologies taken together redefine clinical PET/MR imaging.
"The clinical combination of the PET/MR and PET/CT technology is unmatched in this country," Dr. Anthony Chang, the founder and CEO of BAMF Health said. "To be able to bring that sophisticated care to the patients of our local community and from around the U.S. is very gratifying, and the emphasis BAMF Health and United Imaging both place on our missions (Enabling Patients To Become People Again and Equal Healthcare for All, respectively) tells the story of why we're doing what we do. And we've only just begun."
ABOUT UNITED IMAGING
At United Imaging, we develop and produce advanced medical products, digital healthcare solutions, and intelligent solutions that cover the entire process of imaging diagnosis and treatment. Founded in 2011, our company has subsidiaries and R&D centers across the world. Our North American headquarters in Houston includes our corporate offices, factory, product showroom, service training center, and service parts distribution center. With a cutting-edge digital portfolio and a mission of broader access to healthcare for all, we help drive industry progress and bold change. To learn more, visit united-imaging.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @UnitedImagingHC.
ABOUT BAMF HEALTH
BAMF Health is achieving Intelligence-Based Precision Medicine through Artificial Intelligence enabled Molecular Imaging and Molecular Targeted Radiation Therapy. The company's flagship location in Grand Rapids, Michigan will include the world's most advanced cyclotron-equipped Radiopharmacy, imaging clinic, and Theranostic clinic, and will open inside of the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building in Summer 2022. To learn more, visit bamfhealth.com or follow us on LinkedIn
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SOURCE United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/first-us-total-body-pet-clinic-focused-theranostics-celebrated-by-bamf-health-united-imaging/ | 2022-05-19T07:49:22Z |
SHELBYVILLE, Ind., April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Knauf Insulation, Inc. has expanded upon its sustainability commitments over the past 12 months by supporting recycling initiatives and incorporating circular economy principles across its six U.S. manufacturing facilities.
As a company that uses 500 million pounds of recycled glass in its manufacturing process per year, Knauf is deeply invested in improving glass recycling rates through efforts such as:
- An employee recycling program launched on Earth Day 2021 has collected 42,000 pounds of glass which will go back into its manufacturing process.
- Support of "Just Glass," a glass recycling pick-up service run by Justice Industries, a nonprofit in Nashville, TN, that creates job opportunities for individuals with barriers to traditional employment (homelessness, addiction, domestic violence).
- Partnerships with education and advocacy groups Glass Recycling Foundation, Circular Indiana, and others to be announced later this year. Knauf sponsored and hosted an event with Circular Indiana in the fall of 2021 that convened Indiana state legislators, manufacturers, economic development organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss supply chain issues involving recycled materials.
- A new program with the Shelby County Recycling District in which glass collected at the Shelby County Transfer Station is used in the manufacturing process at Knauf Insulation.
- Introduction of the "Knauf Krusher" – a fun, hands on way to turn bottles into glass cullet and educate the community on the importance of glass recycling.
- An expansion of its Albion, Michigan plant will utilize an additional 64 million pounds of recycled glass per year, recovered in part through the State of Michigan's Bottle Deposit Law.
Raising the awareness about glass recycling is very important to Knauf Insulation. Not only does the company divert 50 tons of recyclable glass from the landfill every hour, but the use of recycled glass has additional environmental benefits including lowering the amount of energy necessary for manufacturing and decreasing the amount of raw minerals that need to be mined.
"As we look to the future it will be necessary for every organization and individual to assess the environmental impact they have and take action to reduce the overall impact," said Chris Mahin, Vice President of HSE and Sustainability at Knauf Insulation. "Knauf Insulation believes that sustainability is an ongoing process that must be improved. We are committed to continually pursuing alternatives for energy, raw materials, and packaging."
Globally, Knauf Insulation and its sister companies has committed to the following objectives by 2025:
- Reduce embodied carbon of its products by 15 percent compared to 2019
- Reduce its carbon footprint by at least 25 percent
- Collect 25 percent of fiberglass waste generated by customers on job sites and recycle it back into its manufacturing process
- Reduce virgin plastic film packaging by more than 25 percent
For more information visit https://www.knaufnorthamerica.com/en-us/sustainability.
About Knauf Insulation
Knauf Insulation North American is part of the Knauf Group AG, a family-owned global manufacturer of building materials based in Iphofen, Germany. Knauf leverages the expertise of over 35,000 employees across 250 production facilities in 86 countries to generate annual revenue of more than $12 Billion. In North America, Knauf Insulation is a leading manufacturer of thermal and acoustical fiberglass insulation for residential, commercial, industrial, OEM and metal building applications. Knauf's mission is to challenge conventional thinking and create innovative solutions that shape the way we live and build in the future, with care for the people who make them, the people who use them and the world we all depend on.
Media Contact:
Amanda Pollard
312-914-4417
apollard@tellyourstoryinc.com
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SOURCE Knauf Insulation, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/knauf-insulation-celebrates-recycling-amp-sustainability-achievements-this-earth-day/ | 2022-04-22T17:13:47Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Amazon.com, Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of AMZN during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased or otherwise acquired shares of Amazon common stock between July 30, 2021, and April 28, 2022, inclusive.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 1) defendants knew or recklessly disregarded that the Company's infrastructure and fulfillment network investments substantially outpaced demand; 2) those investments were a massive, self-imposed, undue drain on Amazon's financial condition; 3) contrary to defendants' public statements and undisclosed to investors, defendants had already implemented cutbacks to Amazon's fulfillment capacity by July 2021; and 4) as a result of defendants' misrepresentations and omissions, Amazon's common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the class period.
DEADLINE: September 6, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/amazon-com-inc-loss-submission-form-2/?id=31089&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of AMZN during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is September 6, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-amazoncom-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022-nasdaq-amzn/ | 2022-08-24T17:16:29Z |
SINGAPORE, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The PROJECT202 (P202) token will soon be listed on XT.com as the P202 and Tether (USDT) trading pair. The go-live schedule of the P202/USDT trading will occur mainly on July 15, 2022, at 10:00 (UTC). Soon, crypto traders will have additional crypto investment options to invest in the P202 token.
P202 is the actual native currency of PROJECT202. The token's function is empowered by the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) algorithm-based blockchain 3.0 system. Similar to the cryptos that have been listed on the exchange, the P202 token can also be used to facilitate transactions. The token's use cases go beyond traders' imagination, allowing users to trade, stake, mine, and farm with it.
On the other hand, whilst expanding more crypto trading options for its community, the P202 listing moves in line with XT.com's goal to become the only dedicated platform enabling users to access the most secure cryptocurrencies as it opens its doors to onboard new tokens.
As the world's first social infused digital assets trading platform, XT.com has made it hassle-free for everyone to start depositing their crypto holdings in preparation for trading from today forward. In regards to the deposit, it is significant to note that there is no one-time deposit option. Instead, crypto traders and investors can save time and effort by making deposits now and after the token gets listed.
Furthermore, users can not only deposit, but they can also withdraw at any time starting from July 16, 2022, at 07: 00 (UTC). Everyone is encouraged to anticipate P202/USDT trading, as the listing marks the first time that PROJECT202 is being onboarded on XT.com.
Jonathan Shih, the Country Manager of XT.com, expressed his delight over the listing, "On behalf of XT.com, I'm excited to welcome the PROJECT202 (P202) token listing on our platform. With the new listing, we intend to accelerate PROJECT202's goal of becoming the foundation for launching large-scale global projects that will work in the future."
About PROJECT202
PROJECT202 is a new generation of blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure that utilizes Proof-of-Stake (PoS) algorithm-based blockchain 3.0 system. The goal of the company is to become the foundation for launching large-scale and global projects that will work tomorrow and in the future, with its own decentralized data centers located in several different countries. Its Spare equipment capacity which is not being used for serving the cryptocurrency infrastructure can be rented for use on its P202 Servers platform with payments rendered through its native token. Transaction processing and the work of the entire PROJECT202 infrastructure relies on server equipment that scales the transaction speed ability to 100,000 transactions per second.
Website: https://p202.io/
About XT.com
By consistently expanding its ecosystem, XT.com is dedicated to providing users with the most secure, trusted, and hassle-free digital asset trading services. Our exchange is built from a desire to give everyone access to digital assets regardless where you are.
Founded in 2018, XT.com now serves more than 4.5 million registered users, over 500,000+ monthly active users and 30+ million users in the ecosystem. Covering a rich variety of trading categories together with a NFT aggregated marketplace, our platform strives to cater to its large user base by providing a secure, trusted and intuitive trading experience.
As the world's first social infused digital assets trading platform, XT.com also supports social networking platform based transactions to make our crypto services more accessible to users all over the world. Furthermore, to ensure optimal data integrity and security, we see user security as our top priority at XT.com.
Website: https://www.xt.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/XTsupport_EN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XTexchange
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SOURCE XT.com | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/xtcom-lists-project202-p202-with-usdt-trading-pair/ | 2022-07-15T10:29:52Z |
NEW YORK, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. f/k/a Peridot Acquisition Corp. ("Li-Cycle" or the "Company") (NYSE: LICY) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Li-Cycle investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between February 16, 2021 and March 23, 2022. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
LICY investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (1) Li-Cycle's largest customer, Traxys, is not actually a customer, but merely a broker providing working capital financial to the Company while Traxys tries to sell Li-Cycle's product to end customers; (2) the Company engaged in highly questionable related party transactions; (3) the Company's mark-to-model accounting is vulnerable to abuse and gave a false impression of growth; (4) a significant portion of the Company's reported revenues were derived from simply marking up receivables on products that had not been sold; (5) the Company's gross margins have likely been negative since inception; (6) the Company will require an additional $1 billion of funding to support its planned growth (which is a figure greater than the Company raised via the merger); and (7) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Li-Cycle during the relevant time frame, you have until June 20, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/licy-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-li-cycle-holdings-corp-fka-peridot-acquisition-corp-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-05-05T10:24:37Z |
NEW YORK, May 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) between November 15, 2021 and February 28, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 31, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Lucid securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Lucid class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4992 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 31, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business and operations. Specifically, Defendants overstated Lucid's production capabilities while concealing that "extraordinary supply chain and logistics challenges" were already significantly hampering the Company's operations. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Lucid class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=4992 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/15/rosen-nationally-regarded-investor-counsel-encourages-lucid-group-inc-investors-with-losses-excess-100k-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-lcid/ | 2022-05-15T20:15:23Z |
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite overall improvements to care for a heart attack, women are less likely to receive timely treatment, according to a new study in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
"Heart attack treatments have come a long way but timely access to appropriate care is still an issue, especially for female patients," said Juan Carlos Montoy, MD, PhD, assistant professor, University of California San Francisco Department of Emergency Medicine, and lead study author.
This study analyzed more than 450,000 records of patients with one of two types of heart attack, an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), from 2005 to 2015 in California hospitals.
Results showed that in 2005, timely angiography occurred for 50% of male patients and 35.7% of female patients with STEMI, and 45% of males and 33.1% of females with NSTEMI. In 2015, those rates improved to 76.7% of male patients and 66.8% of females with STEMI, and 56.3% of males and 45.9% of females with NSTEMI.
Timely access to angiography is defined for this study as treatment on the day of hospital admission for STEMI patients and within three days of admission for NSTEMI patients. Angiography is a diagnostic process that involves an x-ray of dye injected into blood vessels to assess narrowing or blockage in veins or arteries.
The proportion of patients who received timely treatment increased and mortality decreased over time for men and women. However, while gaps in treatment and outcomes between genders narrowed over time, these disparities persisted over the course of the years analyzed.
It is striking that female patients received timely treatment for NSTEMI in 2015 at rates lower than males measured in 2006, the authors said. Females treated for STEMI in 2015 received timely treatment at lower rates than males did in 2010.
These disparities also exist along racial lines. The authors note that Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients were less likely as white patients to undergo timely angiography, with minimal changes over time.
"Some of the factors influencing this pronounced treatment gap are insurance status, hospital characteristics and geography," said Dr. Montoy. "But there are biases and social issues that challenge access to care and impact the treatment of women and patients of color with heart issues. These gaps should concern clinicians and patients because they can result in delayed care and lower the likelihood that some patients receive potentially lifesaving treatment."
Annals of Emergency Medicine is one of the peer-reviewed scientific journals for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Annals of Emergency Medicine is the largest and most frequently cited circulation peer-reviewed journal in emergency medicine and publishes original research, clinical reports, opinion, and educational information related to the practice, teaching, and research of emergency medicine.
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SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/treatment-heart-attacks-improving-gaps-access-persist-new-study-shows/ | 2022-06-22T17:24:15Z |
Contract modifications provide for T-AO 211, T-AO 212 and ESB 8
SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today that it was awarded $600 million in U.S. Navy contract modifications for long-lead-time material to support construction of the seventh and eighth ships in the John Lewis-class fleet oiler (T-AO) program, as well as the sixth ship in the Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program.
"NASSCO shipbuilders are honored to build T-AO 211, T-AO 212 and ESB 8," said Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. "The NASSCO team is excited to work with our Navy partners to ensure the success of both historic programs which are critical in supporting the Navy's forward presence."
The contract modifications for long-lead-time material provide $500 million for T-AO 211 and 212, and $100 million for ESB 8.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and continue into 2027, providing the opportunity to sustain and grow the workforce along San Diego's working waterfront. NASSCO's unique location in San Diego Bay provides shipbuilders and skilled tradespeople with access to the nation's leading maritime support businesses, and highly trained employees allow NASSCO to build and repair Navy ships in an efficient manner.
In 2011, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first two ships in the newly created Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program, the USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn. The program evolved, adding the USS Lewis B. Puller, USS Hershel "Woody" Williams and the USS Miguel Keith, USNS John L. Canley and the USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), configured and renamed as ESBs. ESBs are highly flexible platforms designed to support multiple maritime-based missions, including Air Mine Counter Measures (AMCM), Special Operations Forces (SOF) and limited crisis response. Acting as a mobile sea base, the 784-foot ship has a 52,000 square-foot flight deck to support MH-53, MH-60, MV-22 tilt-rotor and H1 aircraft operations. Following the delivery of the first five ships to the U.S. Navy, the sixth ship, the USNS John L. Canley, was christened on June 25. The USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), the seventh ship, is currently under construction.
In 2016, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first six ships in the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), previously known as the TAO(X). Designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy carrier strike group ships operating at sea, the 742-feet vessels have a full load displacement of 49,850 tons, with the capacity to carry 157,000 barrels of oil, a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability and up to a speed of 20 knots. The first ship, the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), is scheduled for delivery later this year. The future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the future USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), and the future USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), are currently under construction.
General Dynamics NASSCO specializes in the design and construction of Navy and commercial ships and is a major provider of repair services for the U.S. Navy, with capabilities in San Diego; Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; and Bremerton, Washington. More information about General Dynamics NASSCO is available at www.nassco.com.
General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $38.5 billion in revenue in 2021. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.gd.com.
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SOURCE General Dynamics NASSCO | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/general-dynamics-nassco-awarded-600-million-support-construction-three-us-navy-ships/ | 2022-06-29T19:55:26Z |
NEW YORK, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
If you own shares in any of the companies listed above and
would like to discuss our investigations or have any questions concerning
this notice or your rights or interests, please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
Weiss Law
305 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
stockinfo@weisslawllp.com
PCSB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: PCSB)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of PCSB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: PCSB) in connection with the proposed acquisition of PCSB by Brookline Bancorp, Inc. ("Brookline"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, PCSB shareholders will receive $22.00 cash or 1.3284 shares of Brookline common stock for each share of PCSB common stock owned, subject to a maximum 60% stock/40% cash consideration mix. Using current market prices, however, the implied per-share merger consideration is approximately $19.30 based on Brookline's May 27, 2022 intraday price of $14.53 per share, or total value of approximately $200 million. If you own PCSB shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/pcsb
Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL) in connection with the proposed merger of WLL with Oasis Petroleum Inc. ("Oasis"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, WLL shareholders will receive 0.5774 shares of Oasis plus $6.25 in cash for each share of WLL common stock owned, representing implied per-share merger consideration of approximately $97.97 based upon Oasis's May 27, 2022 closing price of $158.85. If you own WLL shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/wll
ServiceSource International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SREV)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of ServiceSource International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SREV), in connection with the proposed acquisition of SREV by Concentrix Corporation. Under the terms of the merger agreement, SREV shareholders will receive $1.50 in cash for each share of SREV common stock owned. If you own SREV shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/srev
Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HMTV)
Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HMTV), in connection with the proposed acquisition of HMTV by a subsidiary of Gato Investments LP. Under the terms of the merger agreement, HMTV shareholders will receive $7.00 in cash for each share of HMTV common stock owned. If you own HMTV shares and wish to discuss this investigation or your rights, please call us or visit our website: https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/hmtv
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SOURCE Weiss Law | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/shareholder-alert-weiss-law-reminds-pcsb-wll-srev-hmtv/ | 2022-06-01T02:04:09Z |
PITTSBURGH, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "My hearing aids always pull out with the wrap around the ear style of masks," said an inventor from Matawan, N.J., "so I invented the NO SNAG MASK. It will be easier to drop the front down to eat and drink and for people who wear hearing aids or earrings."
Various states are requiring that masks be worn whenever in public locations. This patent-pending invention provides enhanced comfort and ease of positioning or removal and does not snag hearing aids, earrings, and hair when it is removed. It provides added protection, security and peace of mind as it may reduce the spread of various communicable diseases such as COVID-19, measles, meningitis, tuberculosis, flu, etc. and thus may save lives.
The original design was submitted to the New Jersey sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-NJD-2423, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/inventhelp-inventor-develops-an-improved-ppe-face-mask-njd-2423/ | 2022-06-21T14:54:36Z |
The caretaker of a tiger that temporarily went missing in Houston last year was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Fort Bend County on Tuesday in an unrelated murder case.
Victor Hugo Cuevas will receive 504 days credit for time served. His defense attorney, Michael W. Elliott, did not immediately return a message from CNN seeking comment Wednesday.
In May 2021, Cuevas was free on bond in the murder case when a 9-month-old Bengal tiger was seen wandering a west Houston residential neighborhood. As neighbors fled indoors and police responded, Cuevas came out of his house and pleaded with one deputy to not shoot and kill the tiger, known by the name India.
Cuevas said, "That is my tiger," approached the tiger, grabbed it by the collar, kissed it on the forehead, and took it into the house, according to Wes Manion, an off-duty deputy from Waller County who lives in the west Houston neighborhood where the incident happened.
Manion said he watched Cuevas get in a white SUV with the tiger on board. He gave Cuevas numerous commands to stop, but Cuevas drove off.
Cuevas was arrested the next day and posted bond, yet was arrested again later that week for violating bond conditions. A judge revoked Cuevas' original bond, increasing it to $300,000. Cuevas never raised the money for the higher amount and remained behind bars throughout the murder trial.
The Cuevases were the owners of the tiger, Houston Police Cmdr. Ron Borza said. Victor Cuevas' attorney had denied that, saying his client was taking care of the tiger for someone else, whom he declined to identify.
It is illegal to house a tiger in Houston, Borza said.
Stacker looks back at 30 iconic moments in sports that defined the 1960s. These include college basketball dynasties from the state of California, historic home runs that set records and won the World Series, and ingenious high jumpers who changed the way track-and-field sports were performed. Click for more.
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Achievement further propels EPAM in the Snowflake Partner Network, bringing additional technology, industry and business experience for joint customers.
NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For companies to stay competitive, they must change the way they think about and handle data as the need for digital transformation accelerates. For organizations looking to unlock the potential of the cloud, it is imperative to select an experienced partner. EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM), a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, today announced that it has achieved Elite tier partner status from Snowflake, the Data Cloud company.
"We couldn't be more excited or proud of our entire data practice for achieving Elite Services Partner status with Snowflake. A special thanks goes out to our customers who trusted us to successfully lead their data projects and the broader EPAM Snowflake community for supporting our organization to make this happen," said Valentin Tsitlik, Head of Data and Analytics Practice at EPAM. "Our ongoing commitment to broadening the reach of our Snowflake capabilities demonstrates we are a leading global player that helps customers build and drive their businesses forward with data."
Learn More About EPAM's Snowflake Partnership
- Leverage Snowflake's flexibility, performance and ease of use to deliver more meaningful data insights. Trusted and validated experts and services are used around implementation, migration, data architecture and data pipeline design, BI integration, ETL/ELT integration, performance, running POCs, performance optimization and training.
- Improve scalability, flexibility and agility. Portfolio of services including strategy & consulting, readiness assessment & POV, re-platforming & migration, architecture design, data modeling, analytics, performance testing & tuning and deployment & management.
- The Elite tier is reserved for Snowflake partners that excel in referrals, integrations, accreditations and customer success.
"EPAM's commitment to helping customers transform their operations aligns closely with Snowflake's goal to help organizations be data driven," said Katie Ecklund, Senior Director of Partner Sales – Americas, at Snowflake. "EPAM's Elite Services Partner status further validates their expertise within Snowflake's robust partner ecosystem, and we look forward to continuing our work together to help clients unlock their data for business value."
The Snowflake Partner Network unlocks the potential of the Data Cloud with a broad array of tools and partners. Certified partnerships and integrations enable customers to leverage Snowflake's flexibility, performance and ease of use to deliver more meaningful data insights. As a globally recognized Snowflake partner with workload specialization in Cloud Data Warehouse, EPAM has an extensive portfolio of services to help customers leverage unified analytics to make data-driven business decisions, reduce costs and create new revenue streams. The company's Snowflake practice has more than 300 Snowflake-certified professionals, an impressive in-house training program and a resume of more than 20 complex platforms built.
"The EPAM team has been a key partner in helping Cox Automotive evolve our data & analytics platform leveraging Snowflake to provide easier centralized access to enterprise data," said David Mitchell, Senior Director, Enterprise Data Platform at Cox Automotive.
Visit EPAM's Solution Partner Program profile on Snowflake at: www.snowflake.com/partners/solutions-partners.
About EPAM Systems
Since 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM) has leveraged its advanced software engineering heritage to become the foremost global digital transformation services provider – leading the industry in digital and physical product development and digital platform engineering services. Through its innovative strategy; integrated advisory, consulting, and design capabilities; and unique 'Engineering DNA,' EPAM's globally deployed hybrid teams help make the future real for clients and communities around the world by powering better enterprise, education and health platforms that connect people, optimize experiences, and improve people's lives. In 2021, EPAM was added to the S&P 500 and included among the list of Forbes Global 2000 companies.
Selected by Newsweek as a 2021 Most Loved Workplace, EPAM's global multi-disciplinary teams serve customers in more than 45 countries across five continents. As a recognized leader, EPAM is listed among the top 15 companies in Information Technology Services on the Fortune 1000 and ranked as the top IT services company on Fortune's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list for the last three consecutive years. EPAM is also listed among Ad Age's top 25 World's Largest Agency Companies for three consecutive years, and Consulting Magazine named EPAM Continuum a top 20 Fastest-Growing Firm.
Learn more at www.epam.com and follow EPAM on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes estimates and statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Our estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on our current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect our business and operations. These statements may include words such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. Those future events and trends may relate to, among other things, developments relating to on-going hostilities in Ukraine, political and civil unrest or military action in the geographies where we conduct business and operate, developments relating to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, and the effect that they may have on our revenues, operations, access to capital, profitability and customer demand. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions, the risk factors discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the factors discussed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on or after the date of this press release, particularly under the headings "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. EPAM undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities law.
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SOURCE EPAM Systems, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/epam-achieves-elite-tier-partner-status-with-snowflake/ | 2022-08-02T15:26:19Z |
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A review of California's five big oil refiners' investor reports from the second quarter shows unprecedented, windfall profits that top $1 per gallon.
Consumer Watchdog reported that the state's five big oil refiners, that make 97% of the gasoline in the state, made from three to ten times more in profits per gallon off of West Coast operations from April through June than they did in the same period last year.
Profits per gallon from West Coast operations also registered highest among each refiner's reported regions across the United States and world – proving that it is profits, not California's environmental rules and taxes, that drive up California pump prices. As of 8/8, the Energy Information Administration reports Californians pay $1.26 per gallon more than the national average for gasoline.
"Californians have been an ATM for oil refiners for too long and now it's time for the legislature to push back on these outrageous profits," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.
West Coast profits per gallon for Marathon topped an unprecedented $1 per gallon, as opposed to 34 cents in the second quarter of 2021. Valero, PBF and Phillips reported profits of 83 cents, 82 cents, and 79 cents per gallon (as opposed to 27 cents, 15 cents and 8 cents per gallon in second quarter last year). Chevron does not report quarterly refining margins.
California's five big refiners made $26.6 billion in the second quarter, more than double the profits from 2021's second quarter -- an increase of $14.5 billion. California refiners currently do not report their profits from California, only the Western region on quarterly basis. SB 1322 (Allen) would require monthly disclosure of per gallon California profits. The bill has cleared the Senate and is awaiting action on the Assembly floor.
"The latest reports show that Big Oil took advantage of higher prices to make record profits off of already-squeezed drivers," said Senator Ben Allen. "I'm hopeful that my colleagues will see the wisdom of our bill SB1322 that will shed more light on the oil pricing process. Special thanks go out to Consumer Watchdog for its dogged focus on this important issue."
Consumer Watchdog's president Jamie Court will present the evidence Thursday in Sacramento to the Assembly Select Committee on Gasoline Price and Supply to make the case for SB 1322 and recommend that a windfall profits tax to be applied to refiners. The special committee meets at about noon following the adjournment of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. (A live stream is available at https://www.assembly.ca.gov/todaysevents/)
"These profit reports prove that the only reason Californians are paying so much more for their gasoline than drivers in every other state is because the big five refiners have the market power to charge them as much as they want," said Court. "It's time for Californians to know exactly how much oil refiners have profited from their pain at the pump and for oil refiners to be forced to give back their excessive profits."
In the second quarter, both PBF Energy's profits per gallon and Valero's virtually quadrupled over what the companies reported making for all of 2021 from their California-only West Coast refineries. West Coast refineries belonging to Phillips 66 also saw a quadrupling in quarterly profits. Marathon tripled its West Coast profits per gallon compared to all of 2021.
Chevron does not provide quarterly data for calculating quarterly profits per gallon. But the company said that profits from refining in the second quarter were up by nearly $2.5 billion primarily on higher refining margin.
Companies report refining margins by the barrel - the difference between the cost of a barrel of crude oil going into the refinery and the value of refined products coming out. Profits per gallon are calculated by dividing refinery margins per the number of gallons in a barrel, 42.
On the second quarter investor earnings call, Chevron CEO Pierre Breber indicated that the company would tighten supplies still further, especially in California, by taking refineries offline—which would raise gas prices still further. "Now, looking ahead in the third quarter, we expect turnarounds and downtime to reduce production in a number of locations," Breber said. "In downstream, planned turnarounds are primarily at our California refineries."
All the refiners reported demand for fuel has rebounded while supplies are tight. "We see demand remaining strong even in the face of economic uncertainty," Tom Nimbley, chairman and chief executive at PBF Energy, said in a statement. Valero Energy had net income of $4.7 billion in the quarter, up from $162 million in the quarter a year earlier, while PBF Energy saw profits surge to $1.2 billion from $69.9 million.
On the West Coast, Marathon Petroleum tripled its refining margin to $42.78 per barrel over the second quarter of 2021 and blew past the margin of $13.80 it reported for all of 2021. Margins have been leaping up since 2020. Phillips 66 West Coast margin rocketed up ten times over the second quarter of 2021 to $34.49 per barrel. It blew past the reported margin for all of 2021 by more than four times. PBF's margin rose more than five times over the same quarter last year to $34.49 and almost quadrupled from the margin reported for all of 2021. Valero's margin tripled in the second quarter to $34.93 and more than tripled over the margin for all of 2021.
Across regions of operation, margins per barrel rose the most in the West in the second quarter. PBF's margin was $10 higher per barrel than for the Gulf Coast. Marathon's margin per barrel was more than $7 higher than its margin for the Gulf Coast. Valero's was more than $5 higher. Margins on the Gulf Coast were the lowest reported by all the refiners, followed by the Mid Continent and then East Coast regions with the highest margins reported in the West.
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SOURCE Consumer Watchdog | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/10/cas-big-5-oil-refiner-profits-top-26-billion-1-per-gallon-watchdog-make-case-profits-disclosure-bill-windfall-profits-tax-assembly-gas-pricing-committee/ | 2022-08-10T20:52:58Z |
Which egg poacher pan is best?
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then eggs are arguably the most critical ingredient of that meal. While most people are confident in making scrambled and fried eggs, fewer know how to poach eggs at home. While there is a definite skill set required, the best egg poacher pan makes it easier to produce a perfect egg.
If you want to upgrade from poaching eggs in a simple water bath, the Norpro Stainless Steel Egg Poacher/Skillet Set is the dual-purpose pan for you.
What to know before you buy an egg poacher pan
Capacity
When it comes to egg poacher pans, size matters. If your household is large and loves everything topped with a runny egg, look for a larger capacity pan that holds four or more at a time.
The cup size matters, too. Deep cups can hold larger eggs, while shallow cups poach more quickly. Consider the grade of eggs you usually purchase and select a poacher that fits those.
Nonstick vs. uncoated
Nonstick egg cups make life easy in the bleary-eyed morning when breakfast is overdue and people are hungry. If you are avoiding extra fat in oil or butter, this is a good option for you.
However, some people do not appreciate any additional chemicals in their food. If this sounds like you, select the nonstick version.
Insert vs. stand-alone poaching pan
There are two basic pieces of equipment: an insert and a stand-alone pan.
- Inserts: Inserts fit any pan that can accommodate them. These are usually more affordable and take up less storage space. However, the pan needs to be deep enough and have a lid for proper coaching.
- Stand-alone: If your kitchen has plenty of room, a stand-alone poaching pan is a great choice. These are generally more expensive, but you won’t need to worry about finding a pan that fits.
What to look for in a quality egg poacher pan
Handles
Handles on each egg cup and also in the poaching insert make it easy to lift when breakfast is ready. These should be sturdy and tightly attached.
Two pans in one
Look for a standalone pan that you can use as a regular sauté pan with a lid. Remove the poaching insert and use the pan as you would normally.
Easy to care for
The last thing you want to do after breakfast is scrub the pan. You can often put easy-care egg poaching pans in the dishwasher.
How to poach the perfect egg
There is a learning curve to poaching a perfect egg.
- Bring water to a simmer, not a rolling boil.
- If you want to poach fewer eggs than you have cups, fill the empty cups with water. This avoids burning the cups and creates the perfect steamy environment for poaching.
- A quick spray of oil or a thin coat of butter in every cup ensures the easy release of finished eggs.
- Fresh eggs taste and poach the best. To see if your eggs are fresh, place them in a bowl and cover them in water. If eggs lay on their sides, they are fresh. Are they standing on the end? It’s time to get new eggs.
- The length of time you poach depends on how you prefer your yolks. From very runny yolks with barely set whites to harder yolks and firm whites, set the timer for two to six minutes.
How much you can expect to spend on an egg poacher pan
This will vary depending on whether or not you buy a stand-alone pan or an egg poacher insert, as well as the capacity of both. Expect to spend $10-$50.
Egg poacher pan FAQ
Is there a trick to removing eggs without breaking the yolk?
A. Adding a quick spray of cooking oil or a little bit of butter helps eggs release more easily. You can also use a narrow spatula to help eggs move out of their cups.
Take your time when you are removing eggs from the cups. Patience is key here.
Can young children use a poaching pan?
A. Because poaching uses hot water and steam on the stove, most young children cannot safely use a poaching pan. However, with supervision, teens are perfectly capable of making breakfast using a poaching pan.
What’s the best egg poacher pan to buy?
Top egg poacher pan
Norpro Stainless Steel Egg Poacher/Skillet Set
What you need to know: This durable, beautiful set is designed to last for years of breakfasts.
What you’ll love: These stainless steel cups fit up to jumbo-sized eggs that you can watch poaching through the glass lid. It poaches five eggs at a time and is well designed and executed.
What you should consider: Without proper preparation, eggs may not release from the stainless steel poaching cups.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top egg poacher pan for the money
Modern Innovations Egg Poacher Pan
What you need to know: When storage space is scarce, this poaching pan also doubles as a 10-inch skillet.
What you’ll love: Poach four eggs at once and lift them easily from the pan with small knobs on each cup. The cups are deep and nonstick for easy release. The pan itself is tempered stainless steel, and the lid is glass. It comes with a silicone spatula.
What you should consider: Users report that the handles come off the cups and are not easy to reattach.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Eggssentials Egg Poacher Insert
What you need to know: This poaching insert works in the skillets that you already have.
What you’ll love: You can use this with any pan you already have. Remove eggs individually with the handles attached to each nonstick cup, or lift the entire insert out with a convenient ring in the center of the insert. It’s also available for two or six eggs. The two- and four-egg versions work in an Instant Pot.
What you should consider: You need a pan that is at least 7.5 inches wide and at least 2.5 inches tall inside, and it has to have a lid.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-egg-poacher-pan/ | 2022-05-11T15:40:42Z |
HAVANA (AP) — Rescuers in Cuba’s capital searched Saturday to find survivors of an explosion that killed at least 25 people and devastated a luxury hotel that once hosted dignitaries and celebrities, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
A natural gas leak was the apparent cause of Friday’s blast at Havana’s 96-room Hotel Saratoga. The 19th-century structure in the city’s Old Havana neighborhood did not have any guests at the time because it was undergoing renovations ahead of a planned Tuesday reopening after being closed.
The death toll rose to 25 Saturday, according to Orestes Llánez, coordinator of the Havana city government, according to the official Cubadebate news site. He said 22 had been identified, 18 residents of the capital and four from elsewhere in Cuba.
He said searchers has managed to reach the hotel’s basement in the hunt for possible survivors.
At least one survivor was found early Saturday in the shattered ruins of the hotel, and rescuers using search dogs clambered over huge chunks of concrete looking for more. Relatives of missing people remained at the site overnight. Others gathered at hospitals where the injured were being treated.
“I don’t want to move from here,” Cristina Avellar told The Associated Press near the hotel, whose outer walls were blown away by the explosion, leaving the interiors of many rooms exposed.
Avellar was waiting for news of Odalys Barrera, a 57-year-old cashier who has worked at the hotel for five years. She is the godmother of Barrera’s daughters and considers her like a sister.
Although no tourists were reported injured, the explosion is another blow to the country’s crucial tourism industry.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic kept tourists away from Cuba, the country was struggling with tightened sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and kept in place the Biden administration. Those limited visits by U.S. tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba.
Tourism had started to revive somewhat early this year, but the war in Ukraine deflated a boom of Russian visitors, who accounted for almost a third of the tourists arriving in Cuba last year.
The hotel’s lower floors appeared to have suffered most of the damage from Friday’s blast. The missing walls made it possible to distinguish mattresses, pieces of furniture, hanging glass, tattered curtains and cushions covered in dust.
Dr. Julio Guerra Izquierdo, chief of hospital services at the Ministry of Health, said at least 74 people had been injured. Among them were 14 children, according to a tweet from the office of President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Cuba’s national health minister, José Ángel Portal, told The Associated Press the number of injured could rise as the search continues. Fire Department Lt. Col. Noel Silva said rescue workers were still looking for a large group of people who may be under the rubble.
The shattered hotel remained cordoned off as workers under the glow of emergency lights operated heavy machinery to lift huge pieces of wall and masonry and trucks left the site loaded with debris.
Rescuers declined to answer questions because the authorities had ordered them not to to avoid confusion.
A 300-student school next to the hotel was evacuated. Havana Gov. Reinaldo García Zapata said five of the students suffered minor injuries.
The emblematic hotel had a stunning view of Cuba’s center, including the domed Capitol building about 110 yards (100 meters) away. The Capitol suffered broken glass and damaged masonry from the explosion.
The hotel was renovated in 2005 as part of the Cuban government’s revival of Old Havana and is owned by the Cuban military’s tourism business arm, Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. The company said it was investigating the cause of the blast and did not respond to an email from the AP seeking more details about the hotel and the renovation it was undergoing.
In the past, the Hotel Saratoga has been used by visiting VIPs and political figures, including high-ranking U.S. government delegations. Beyoncé and Jay-Z stayed there in 2013.
García Zapata said structures adjacent to the hotel were being evaluated, including two badly damaged apartment buildings. Díaz-Canel said families in affected buildings had been transferred to safer locations.
Photographer Michel Figueroa said he was walking past the hotel when “the explosion threw me to the ground, and my head still hurts…. Everything was very fast.”
Worried relatives of people who had been working at the hotel showed up at a hospital to look for loved ones. Among them was Beatriz Céspedes Cobas, who was tearfully searching for her sister.
“She had to work today. She is a housekeeper,” she said. “I work two blocks away. I felt the noise, and at first, I didn’t even associate” the explosion with the hotel.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was scheduled to arrive in Havana for a visit late Saturday and Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the visit would still take place. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/rescuers-look-for-victims-at-cuba-hotel-after-blast-kills-22/ | 2022-05-07T13:22:17Z |
Dorothy Donita Kelley
Mar 28, 1939– Aug 20, 2022
Services for Donita Kelley will be Graveside, Holland Cemetery at 10AM, Thursday, August 18th, 2022.
Dorothy Donita Kelley, 83, of Holland, Texas, was called home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
Born March 28, 1939 in Belton, Texas to Joseph Manford and Dixie P. Webster Walker. Donita to all who knew her was a caring individual who touched the lives of all who knew her.
Donita married Frank Kelley on October 24, 1957 in Belton, Texas. Donita graduated valedictorian at Salado High School in 1957. Worked at Texas Gas Company, then taking a Title 1 position at Holland ISD. Later Donita would become the secretary for Holland Elementary having close to 42 years before retiring in 2009. Donita was a member of Prairie Dell Baptist Church where she had played the piano since the age of 7 before the church disbanded in July 2015. Later becoming a member of County Line Baptist Church of Rogers, Texas where she also played the piano. Donita was an avid reader and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and listening to gospel music and playing her piano, organ or her keyboard. Donita also loved to sew and spend time with her beloved sister, Glenda.
Donita was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Manford and Dixie Webster Walker, husband Frank Kelley and son Eddie D. Kelley.
Donita is survived by her sister, Glenda J. Kelley of Salado, Texas, Son Johnie J. Kelley and wife Brenda of Holland, Texas. Daughter Glenda L. Kelley of Holland, Texas. Grandchildren, Ash and Gabrielle Kelley of Portland Oregon, Chris and Delilah Kelley of Tyler Texas, Amber Kelley of Temple, Texas, Eric and Brytney Kelley of Murrieta, California, John and Hailey Kelley of Holland, Texas, Kaitlyn Kelley of Houston, Texas, Chris M. and Angie Kelley of Morgan’s Point; and her 8 great-grandchildren, Savanna, Ava, Liam, Averie, Kash, Tessa, Finneas and Lane, who she all adored. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins .
Paid Obituary | https://www.tdtnews.com/article_c0763b5e-1cd8-11ed-b7ae-87661d2eae95.html | 2022-08-16T10:17:36Z |
- Simulates a complete operation and service touchpoints using helicopters to understand how Chicago Metropolitan area commuters will experience a quiet and sustainable Urban Air Mobility ("UAM") journey
- Flight testing begins in mid-September with morning and afternoon flights on weekdays, with seats available for those who want to experience the future of commuting by Electric Vertical Aircraft ("EVA" or "eVTOL")
MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eve Holding, Inc. ("Eve") (NYSE: EVEX; EVEXW) will conduct its first North American UAM simulation using helicopters powered by Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDE, or "Blade"), as a substitute for an eVTOL. The company aims to study operations, ground services, passenger journeys and eVTOL operator needs, creating more accessible and faster connections to Downtown Chicago. Eve will conduct its Chicago, Ill., UAM simulation over three weeks, starting with ground tests on September 12th and passenger flights on the 14th. Following the simulation, the city of Chicago will gain knowledge about the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to enable the launch and expected long-term growth of UAM in the area.
"Simulating the eVTOL operation in Chicago allows us to study how people will experience this service and understand the entire ecosystem requirements for our product and services, while showcasing the benefit of Urban Air Mobility in one of North America's most prominent and populated cities," said André Stein, co-CEO of Eve. "We are wrapping up preparations to execute these simulations seamlessly and look forward to helping prepare Chicago for a local zero-emission UAM solution that is quiet, efficient, and sustainable."
Eve will perform the ground tests at Vertiport Chicago, an existing downtown heliport facility, simulating services, infrastructure, and equipment requirements for the eVTOL. In the UAM infrastructure, a vertiport is an area of land or a structure used for the landing, take-off, charging and operation of eVTOL vehicles.
"For Eve, it is essential to understand and address through these projects involving partners and the community the key challenges associated with the main pillars of the UAM ecosystem. Our proposal brings together all stakeholders and counts on different views and feedback to structure and deliver the best solutions," said Luiz Mauad, Vice President of Services and Fleet Operations at Eve.
For this simulation, Eve has formed a consortium of partners, including Blade, Republic Airways, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, Village of Tinley Park, Village of Schaumburg, ACCIONA, SkyWest, Inc. and Speedbird Aero. A helicopter replicating Eve's future eVTOL will transport passengers from the Vertiport Chicago facility to two helistops located northwest and southwest of Chicago. The first route will connect Vertiport Chicago to Schaumburg Municipal Helistop, and the second route will connect Vertiport Chicago to Tinley Park Helistop in Illinois. Flights are available through Blade's app and website (www.blade.com).
Image: https://bit.ly/3QKHmuc
Follow Eve on Twitter: @Eveairmobility
About Eve
Eve is dedicated to accelerating the Urban Air Mobility ecosystem. Benefitting from a start-up mindset, backed by Embraer S.A.'s more than 50-year history of aerospace expertise, and with a singular focus, Eve is taking a holistic approach to progressing the UAM ecosystem, with an advanced eVTOL project, comprehensive global services and support network and a unique air traffic management solution. Since May 10, 2022, Eve is listed on the New York Stock Exchange where its shares of common stock and public warrants trade under the tickers "EVEX" and "EVEXW". For more information, please visit www.eveairmobility.com.
About Blade
Blade is a technology-powered, global air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the U.S. and abroad. Today, the Company predominantly uses helicopters and amphibious aircraft for its passenger routes and is also one of the largest air medical transporters of human organs for transplant in the world. Its asset-light model, coupled with its exclusive passenger terminal infrastructure, is designed to facilitate a seamless transition to Electric Vertical Aircraft ("EVA" or "eVTOL"), enabling lower-cost air mobility to the public that is both quiet and emission-free. For more information, visit www.blade.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
Certain statements in this press release include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target", "may", "intend", "predict", "should", "would", "predict", "potential", "seem", "future", "outlook" or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Eve's, Blade's, Republic Airways', Halo Aviation's, Vertiport Chicago's, Village of Tinley Park's, Village of Schaumburg's, ACCIONA's, SkyWest, Inc.'s and Speedbird Aero's current expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements are based on current assumptions about future events that may not prove to be accurate and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Eve, Blade, Republic Airways, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, Village of Tinley Park, Village of Schaumburg, ACCIONA, SkyWest, Inc. and Speedbird Aero.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the announced partnership between Eve, Blade, Republic Airways, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, Village of Tinley Park, Village of Schaumburg, ACCIONA, SkyWest, Inc. and Speedbird Aero; (iii) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Eve; (iv) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Eve; (v) future global, regional or local economic and market conditions, including the growth and development of the urban air mobility market; (vi) the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; (vii) Eve's ability to grow and manage future growth, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its key employees; (viii) Eve's ability to develop new products and solutions, bring them to market in a timely manner, and make enhancements to its platform; (ix) Eve's ability to successfully develop, obtain certification for and commercialize its aircraft, (x) the effects of competition on Eve's future business; (xi) the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and (xiii) those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Eve's Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on July 29, 2022, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Eve does not presently know or that Eve currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Eve's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Eve anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Eve's assessments to change. However, while Eve may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Eve specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Eve's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release and undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
Investor Information
Contacts
investors@eveairmobility.com
media@eveairmobility.com
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SOURCE Eve Holding, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/eve-announces-first-north-american-urban-air-mobility-simulation-chicago/ | 2022-08-23T12:04:16Z |
MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV) (OTCQX: CVALF), an advanced medical technologies company, today announced its second quarter fiscal 2022 results.
Brian Pedlar, Covalon's President and CEO, said, "Revenue from continuing operations for the six months ended March 31, 2022, was $8.2 million, or 19% growth over the same period last year. Our second quarter revenue was $3.3 million, due primarily to major delays in product shipments from our warehouse in Shanghai. These delays were a result of Chinese government imposed COVID restrictions and negatively affected Covalon and worldwide supply chains.
"Covalon is in the fortunate position of being able to withstand this temporary supply chain disruption due to the Company's strong balance sheet with $22 million of cash as of March 31, 2022, no debt, and our loyal customer base.
"During the second quarter we continued to invest in recruiting and building our sales and marketing team and increasing our capacity to manufacture our collagen products in response to increasing market demand.
"As previously announced, two experienced industry veterans joined Covalon: Ron Hebert as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Mark Doolittle as Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales.
"Ron, Mark and I, along with the rest of the management team, are laser-focused on building Covalon into the powerhouse it deserves to be, given its unique life-saving medical technologies.
"Even though our revenue for Q2 was below expectations due to circumstances beyond our control, I'm very encouraged with the growth prospects we are seeing in the second half of fiscal 2022. We are a much stronger company today than a year ago. We strengthened our balance sheet and improved our operations since last year at this time. We also have a stronger, more talented leadership team. These improvements are already positively impacting our growth prospects and Covalon is well positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities in 2022 and 2023," continued Mr. Pedlar.
Covalon's Board of Directors have decided to use our strong cash position to further strengthen the Company by intending to buy back up to 5% of Covalon's shares for cancellation. To this end, the Company has filed its intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") for its common shares with the TSX Venture Exchange, subject to regulatory approval.
A conference call and webcast to discuss Covalon's Q2 fiscal 2022 financial results will be held Monday, May 30th, 2022, at 9:00am EST. To view, listen to, and participate in the live webcast, please follow the link below:
To listen and participate via the conference call, please dial:
North American Toll-Free: 1-888-664-6392
Local (Toronto): 416-764-8659
Confirmation Number: 10020730
Participants will be able to ask questions of Company management during the Q&A portion of the conference call either by asking them on the call or by submitting them using the chat function on the webcast.
A recording of the call will be available by calling 1-888-390-0541 or 416-764-8677 and entering the encore replay enter code 020730# until June 13th, 2022. A recording of the call will also be available on www.covalon.com under News & Events on the Investors tab.
Revenue for the three months ended March 31st, 2022 decreased $1.0 million to $3.3 million, compared to $4.3 million in the prior year. This decrease was a result of government restrictions in Shanghai relating to COVID-19 which adversely reduced the Company's ability to ship product to customers, as well as delays in the finalization of shipping schedules in the Middle East. Gross profit was $1.7 million, compared to $2.0 million in Q2 fiscal 2021. Net loss for continuing operations was $2.5 million or $0.09 per share, compared to net loss from continuing operations of $0.3 million or $0.01 per share in Q2 fiscal 2021. Net loss from discontinued operations was $nil or $nil per share, compared to net income from discontinued operations of $0.7 million or $0.03 per share in Q2 fiscal 2021.
Product revenue for the three months ended March 31st, 2022 decreased 25% to $3.0 million, compared to $4.0 million in the previous year. This decrease was due substantially to government restrictions in Shanghai relating to Covid-19, which adversely reduced the Company's ability to ship product to customers.
Revenue in the Middle East was $0.3 million in Q2 fiscal 2022 compared to $1.1 million in Q2 fiscal 2021 and revenue in other international markets was $1.1 million compared to $1.0 the previous year. Development and consulting services revenue for the three-month period ended March 31st 2022 decreased by 26% to $0.2 million, compared to $0.3 million for the same period of the prior year. During the quarter, we engaged in seven customer development projects of various sizes with approximately three medical product companies that included the various projects underway associated with the previously announced major contract with one of the world's largest medical device companies that licensed Covalon's proprietary medical coating technologies. Licensing revenue and royalty fees was $0.1 million for the quarter ended March 31st 2022, compared to $0.05 million for the prior year.
Gross margin increased to 52.9% for Q2 fiscal 2022, compared to 47.5% for the prior year. The gross margin is significantly influenced by source of revenue and by the relative mix of products sold in any given financial period.
Adjusted gross margin(1), which excludes inventory provisions and depreciation, was 56% for Q2 fiscal 2022, compared to 54% for the prior year. Gross margin is highly influenced by the mix of products and related service revenues generated in the periods. Gross margin fluctuates as a result of the mix of products sold in any given quarter, or year, by product type and geography.
Operating expenses increased $2 million to $4.2 million, compared to $2.2 million for the prior year's comparative period. Excluding the impact of government subsidies of $1.0 million, which were netted against operating expenses in the prior period, operating expenses increased $0.9 million. Approximately $0.4 million related to sales, marketing, operations, and administrative staff previously dedicated to the discontinued AquaGuard business that were re-deployed to continuing operations. Further, recruitment fees were $0.6 million in the quarter, reflecting continued growth predominantly in sales and marketing staff. The remaining increase was due to increased facility and other expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA(1) for Q2 fiscal 2022 was a loss of $2.2 million, compared to a loss of $0.7 million in the prior year's comparative period.
Statement of Operations
The following unaudited table presents Covalon's consolidated statements of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended March 31st, 2022 and 2021.
This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized or defined measures under IFRS, do not have standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional financial information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. The non-IFRS financial measures, adjustments, and reasons for adjustments should be carefully evaluated as these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be used in substitution for an analysis of the Company's results under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures including "Adjusted Gross Margin" and "Adjusted EBITDA" to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation. The following non-IFRS financial measures are presented in this news release, and a description of the calculation for each measure is included below:
- Adjusted Gross Margin is defined as gross profit before operating expenses, plus depreciation and amortization included in cost of sales, plus inventory provision amounts.
- Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss, plus interest expense, plus depreciation and amortization, plus stock-based compensation, less government subsidies, plus inventory provisions, plus accounts receivable write-off expenses.
You should also be aware that the Company may recognize income or incur expenses in the future that are the same as, or similar to some of the adjustments in these non-IFRS financial measures. Because these non-IFRS financial measures may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of these non-IFRS financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.
The table below provides a reconciliation of gross profit before operating expenses under IFRS in the consolidated financial statements to Adjusted Gross Margin for the three and six months ended March 31st 2022 and 2021. Management believes that Adjusted Gross Margin is useful in assessing the performance of the Company's ongoing operations and its ability to generate cash flows from period to period. The adjusting items below are considered to be outside of the Company's core operating results, and these items can distort the trends associated with the Company's ongoing performance, even though some of those expenses may recur.
The table below provides a reconciliation of net loss under IFRS in the consolidated financial statements to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended March 31st 2022 and 2021. Management believes that these non-IFRS measures are useful in assessing the performance of the Company's ongoing operations and its ability to generate cash flows to funds its cash requirements from period to period. The adjusting items below are considered to be outside of the Company's core operating results, and these items can distort the trends associated with the Company's ongoing performance, even though some of those expenses may recur.
Covalon Technologies Ltd. is a researcher, developer, manufacturer, and marketer of patent-protected medical products that improve patient outcomes and save lives in the areas of advanced wound care, infection management and surgical procedures. Covalon leverages its patented medical technology platforms and expertise in two ways: (i) by developing products that are sold under Covalon's name; and (ii) by developing and commercializing medical products for other medical companies under development and license contracts. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, having the symbol COV and trades on the OTQX Market under the symbol CVALF. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at www.covalon.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan, "estimate", "expect", "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including the difficulty in predicting product approvals, acceptance of and demands for new products, the impact of the products and pricing strategies of competitors, delays in developing and launching new products, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results, the impact and timing of COVID-19 on operating activities and market conditions, and other risks, any of which could cause results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many risks are inherent in the industry; others are more specific to the Company. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Covalon Technologies Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/30/covalon-announces-second-quarter-fiscal-2022-results/ | 2022-05-30T11:40:22Z |
- Global study finds 94% of people believe society has not made enough progress on sustainability and social efforts
- 78% of people are frustrated and fed up with the lack of progress made by businesses
- 96% of business leaders believe human bias and emotions hurt corporate sustainability efforts
AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- People around the world are demanding more progress on sustainability and social efforts and are looking to businesses to step up, according to a new study by Oracle and Pamela Rucker, CIO Advisor, Instructor for Harvard Professional Development. The "No Planet B" study surveyed more than 11,000 consumers and business leaders across 15 countries and found that people are fed up with the lack of progress society is making towards sustainability and social initiatives, want businesses to turn talk into action, and believe technology can help businesses succeed where people have failed.
People want businesses to step up sustainability and social efforts
The events of the past two years have put a spotlight on sustainability and social efforts with people worldwide fed up with the lack of progress and calling for businesses to step up.
- 93 percent of people believe sustainability and social factors are more important than ever and 80 percent said the events over the past two years have caused them to change their actions.
- 94 percent believe society has not made enough progress. 42 percent attribute the lack of progress to people being too busy with other priorities, 39 percent believe it is the result of more emphasis on short-term profits over long-term benefits, and 37 percent believe people are too lazy or selfish to help save the planet.
- 45 percent believe businesses can make more meaningful change to sustainability and social factors than individuals or governments alone.
- 78 percent are frustrated and fed up with the lack of progress by businesses to-date and 89 percent believe it's not enough for businesses to say they're prioritizing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), they need to see action and proof.
- 84 percent believe businesses would make more progress towards sustainability and social goals with the help of AI and 61 percent even believe bots will succeed where humans have failed.
Human bias and operational challenges are holding businesses back
Business leaders know sustainability efforts are critical to corporate success and even trust bots over humans alone to drive sustainability and social efforts:
- 92 percent believe sustainability and ESG programs are critical to the success of their organizations. Executives identified the top three benefits as strengthening the brand (40 percent); increasing productivity (39 percent); and attracting new customers (38 percent).
- Almost all business leaders (91 percent) are facing major obstacles when implementing sustainability and ESG initiatives. The biggest challenges include obtaining ESG metrics from partners and third parties (35 percent); a lack of data (33 percent); and time-consuming manual reporting processes (32 percent).
- 96 percent of business leaders admit human bias and emotion often distract from the end goal and 89 percent believe organizations that use technology to help drive sustainable business practices will be the ones to succeed in the long run.
- 93 percent of business leaders would trust a bot over a human to make sustainability and social decisions. They believe bots are better at collecting different types of data without error (43 percent); making rational, unbiased decisions (42 percent); and predicting future outcomes based on metrics/past performance (41 percent).
- Business leaders believe people are still essential to the success of sustainability and social initiatives and believe people are better at implementing changes based on feedback from stakeholders (48 percent); educating others on information needed to make decisions (46 percent); and making context-informed strategic decisions (42 percent).
People will cut ties with businesses that don't take action on sustainability and social initiatives
Businesses need to prioritize sustainability and social issues and rethink how they use technology to make an impact or risk facing major consequences.
- 94 percent of people want to make progress on sustainability and social factors to establish healthier ways of living (50 percent); save the planet for future generations (49 percent); and help create more equality around the world (46 percent).
- 70 percent of people would be willing to cancel their relationship with a brand that does not take sustainability and social initiatives seriously and 69 percent would even leave their current company to work for a brand that places a greater focus on these efforts.
- If organizations can clearly demonstrate the progress they are making on environmental and social issues, people would be more willing to pay a premium for their products and services (87 percent); invest in them (83 percent); and work for them (83 percent).
- Business leaders understand the importance and urgency. 94 percent believe sustainability and societal metrics should be used to inform traditional business metrics and 91 percent want to increase their investment in sustainability.
Supporting Quotes:
"The events of the past two years have put sustainability and social initiatives under the microscope and people are demanding material change. While there are challenges to tackling these issues, businesses have an immense opportunity to change the world for the better," said Pamela Rucker, CIO Advisor and Instructor for Harvard Professional Development. "The results show that people are more likely to do business with and work for organizations that act responsibly toward our society and the environment. This is an opportune moment. While thinking has evolved, technology has as well, and it can play a key role in overcoming many of the obstacles that have held progress back."
"It's never been more critical for businesses to invest in sustainability and ESG initiatives, as people don't just want to hear about it – they're looking for decisive action and are demanding more transparency and tangible results," said Juergen Lindner, senior vice president and CMO, Global Marketing SaaS, Oracle. "Business leaders understand the importance, yet often have the erroneous assumption that they need to prioritize either profits or sustainability. The truth is this is not a zero-sum game. The technology that can eliminate all the obstacles to ESG efforts is now available, and organizations that get this right can not only support their communities and the environment, but also realize significant revenue gains, cost savings, and other benefits that impact the bottom line."
Learn more about this global report here: www.oracle.com/noplanetb
Methodology
Research findings are based on a survey conducted by Savanta, Inc. between February 25 – March 14, 2022 with 11,005 global respondents from 15 countries (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, China, India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Mexico). The survey explored attitudes and behaviors of consumers and business leaders towards sustainability and social efforts along with the role and expectations of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots in environmental, societal and governance (ESG) efforts.
About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.
About Pamela Rucker
Pamela Rucker is a CIO advisor and instructor for Harvard Professional Development. She brings more than 25 years of experience helping executives to understand their business drivers, and to develop solutions that increase their bottom line. She has used her practical experience to provide executive education for numerous Fortune 500 firms and has coached leaders at some of the world's most recognizable brands and leading academic institutions.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.
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SOURCE Oracle | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/20/61-people-believe-bots-will-succeed-where-humans-have-failed-with-corporate-sustainability/ | 2022-04-20T06:30:25Z |
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