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Power REIT Acquires 556,146 Square Foot Cannabis Greenhouse Cultivation and Processing Facility for $18.4 Million in Highly Accretive Transaction

The Greenhouse will be the Largest Cannabis Cultivation Facility in Michigan and one of the Largest in the United States

Old Bethpage, New York, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Power REIT (NYSE-AMEX: PW and PW.PRA) (“Power REIT” or the “Trust”) today announced that it has closed on its previously announced greenhouse cultivation facility acquisition in Marengo Township, Michigan (the “Property”) through a wholly owned subsidiary (“PropCo”). The Property is comprised of approximately 556,000 square feet and is located in the “Marijuana Overlay District” of Marengo County which allows for unlimited cannabis cultivation licenses. The 61-acre property has existing plans in place to add 330,236 square feet and has additional land available for further expansion.


Property Details

The state-of-the-art “Dutch Venlo Style” greenhouse is 26 feet tall which helps control the growing environment. The diffused glass roof is beneficial to plant growth and allows greater plant density. The greenhouse features advanced cultivation controls and a best-in-class irrigation/fertigation system. There are also two large, multi-functional boilers that heat and help dehumidify the greenhouse and also provide the crop with enhanced CO2 levels to improve plant yields. There is a 1-million-gallon hot water storage tank that allows the boilers to run during the day to provide enhanced CO2 to the plants for photosynthesis, but then use the stored heat at night or as otherwise needed. The greenhouse also includes an exceptional irrigation system with 500,000 gallons of feed tanks that can water the entire greenhouse in under 20 minutes. The irrigation system is configured with 12 different feed zones. This allows for precision crop feeding targeting each zone based on the plant growth stage and cultivar. This facility is labor-efficient with an under-bench radiant heating system that acts as a dual-purpose rail system for carts and other equipment to enhance labor efficiency.


Capital Improvements

As part of the transaction, Power REIT has agreed to fund capital improvements for the Property to position it for cannabis cultivation. Power REIT’s current capital commitment for the initial phase of improvements is approximately $3 million which includes costs related to permitting and licensing, fire suppression, security and site work. Power REIT is working with its tenant to finalize the budget for additional property improvements that Power REIT will fund and amend the lease accordingly. These improvements are expected to include a light deprivation system which is important to maximize plant yields, dry and cure space, a state-of-the-art propagation room, as well as an early-stage plant nursery at the facility as well as upgrades to facilities to support the needs of employees such as bathrooms and lockers.


David Lesser, Power REIT’s Chairman and CEO, commented,
 “This is a very exciting transaction for Power REIT – it is our largest acquisition to-date and one of our more complex transactions. Due to our flexible balance sheet and focused investment strategy on greenhouses, we were able to opportunistically acquire this property through a receivership process. The property is believed to be one of the largest cannabis greenhouse cultivation facilities in the United States. This property was previously used for cultivating red-bell peppers and demonstrates Power REIT’s ability strategically re-purpose existing greenhouse structures for cannabis cultivation.”


Lease Structure

Concurrent with the acquisition, PropCo entered a 20-year “triple-net” lease (the “Lease”) with Marengo Cannabis LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Millennium Cannabis LLC (“Millennium Cannabis”), allowing use of the Property as a cannabis cultivation and processing facility. The Lease requires Millennium Cannabis to pay all property related expenses including maintenance, insurance, and taxes. After the initial 20-year term, the Lease provides two, five-year renewal options and has a guarantee from Millennium Cannabis LLC. As mandated by the Lease, Millennium Cannabis will maintain a medical marijuana license and will operate in accordance with all Michigan and municipal regulations. The Lease also prohibits the retail sale of cannabis at the Property.

After an initial deferred rent period to allow for renovations, the Lease stipulates rental payments that provide PropCo with a full return of its invested capital over the next three years, and thereafter, provides an approximately 14.7% yield increasing thereafter at a rate of 3% per annum. The Lease, as structured, provides straight-line annual rent of approximately $4.3 million, representing an unleveraged Core FFO yield of approximately 20% on the invested capital.


Millennium Cannabis

Millennium Cannabis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Millennium Investment & Acquisition Co. Inc. (Ticker: “MILC”). David H. Lesser, MILC’s Chairman and CEO is also Chairman and CEO of Power REIT. Millennium Cannabis operates three cannabis cultivation greenhouse facilities located in Oklahoma, Colorado and Michigan. All three properties are leased from Power REIT, which Power REIT believes represents an attractive strategic alliance. With the Michigan transaction, Millennium Cannabis now boasts one of the largest multi-state cannabis cultivation footprints in the United States.

Millennium Cannabis is led by Jared Schrader, who has built a team of more than 50 seasoned cannabis cultivators and operators. Millennium Cannabis engages agriculture experts from outside of the cannabis industry to incorporate proven growing methods from traditional crops into successful cannabis cultivation operations in low-energy greenhouse environments. Millennium Cannabis shares Power REIT’s thesis that greenhouses represent the sustainable solution for cultivating cannabis at a low cost and with a significantly reduced carbon footprint when compared to the expensive indoor warehouse cultivation facilities that are more typical across the cannabis industry.

Millennium Cannabis strategically deploys this wide range of expertise to empower strong local operating partners to apply Millennium Cannabis proven growing protocols and best-in-class production methods to meet the evolving needs of consumers within their local markets. Its partners in Michigan include the long-time Facility Director of the greenhouse’s prior use, a leading women-owned and minority-owned operations advisory group with more than a decade of experience creating and leading state-legal cannabis operations, and a locally-based women-owned licensing partner who most recently oversaw regulatory and compliance affairs for two of the largest greenhouse operators in the country.

Commenting on Power REIT’s alliance with Millennium Cannabis, David Lesser stated, “We believe Power REIT’s most viable approach at this juncture was to work with Millennium Cannabis as the tenant/operator. Together, we have jointly developed an operating platform that focuses on greenhouse cultivation technology and will marry that with the necessary cannabis growing expertise.”


Jared Schrader, Millennium Cannabis’ President, commented,
 “Millennium Cannabis is excited to commence operations at this truly state-of-the-art greenhouse cultivation facility. We believe this property can be a large-scale, low-cost producer that is well positioned to compete favorably in the Michigan cannabis market. The nascent Michigan market is experiencing dramatic growth and has current pricing that far exceeds the national averages. In the near-term this represents an opportunity to generate significant cash flow. Given our focus on using greenhouse technology to lower the cost of cultivation, we are confident we can compete favorably even as the prices inevitably compress in this market. As such, the Power REIT rent structure is well suited for a long-term sustainable venture.”


The Michigan Cannabis Market

In 2008, Michigan passed the Michigan Marihuana Act and became the 10th state to legalize medical cannabis. During 2020, its first full year of recreational sales, the Michigan market generated $1 billion in total legal medical and adult-use revenue. Revenue for 2021 is projected to reach $1.8 billion, an increase of 80% YoY. This would make Michigan the second largest cannabis market in the country, second only to California.


NON-DILUTIVE CAPITAL PLAN AND FORWARD CORE FFO PER SHARE GUIDANCE

Power REIT has now deployed all of the capital raised in its recently closed Rights Offering across several transactions. These transactions have been highly accretive to Core FFO. Power REIT intends to focus on non-dilutive capital in order to finance the additional requirements to fund property improvements for the Michigan property as well as additional acquisitions. Power REIT is currently focused on debt as well as the potential to issue additional preferred stock.

Mr. Lesser continued, “Our updated business plan that we put into motion in the second half of 2019 continues to drive substantial growth. Our dynamic growth is a function of the attractive yields we can achieve with our strategic greenhouse investments coupled with our relatively small size which amplifies the impact of these transactions. With a recent stock price of $44.92 and a forward Core FFO run rate of $3.59 per share based on our in-place transactions and without additional growth, Power REIT trades at a 12.5 multiple. We believe we can continue to drive significant additional growth through acquisitions by employing non-dilutive capital as well as re-investing capital from our unique lease structure which has a front-loaded rent that returns Power REIT’s invested capital in the early years of leases. We believe our potential growth rate driven by acquisitions combined with a relatively low forward Core FFO multiple provides a compelling value proposition for investors. We have an active pipeline of acquisitions and hope to announce additional activity in the near future.”


Updated Investment Presentation

Power REIT has posted an updated investor presentation which is available using the following link: https://www.pwreit.com/investors


Statement on Sustainability

Power REIT owns real estate related to infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture facilities with a focus on greenhouses, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

CEA facilities in the form of greenhouses, provide an extremely environmentally friendly solution, which consume approximately 70% less energy than indoor growing operations that do not benefit from “free” sunlight. greenhouses use 90% less water than field grown plants, and all of Power REIT’s greenhouse properties operate without the use of pesticides and avoid agricultural runoff of fertilizers and pesticides. These facilities cultivate medical Cannabis, which has been recommended to help manage a myriad of medical symptoms, including seizures and spasms, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Renewable Energy assets are comprised of land and infrastructure associated with utility scale solar farms. These projects produce power without the use of fossil fuels thereby lowering carbon emissions. The solar farms produce approximately 50,000,000 kWh of electricity annually which is enough to power approximately 4,600 homes on a carbon free basis.

Transportation assets are comprised of land associated with a railroad, an environmentally friendly mode of bulk transportation.


About Power REIT

Power REIT, with a focus on the “Triple Bottom Line” and a commitment to Profit, Planet and People is a specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its real estate portfolio related to Controlled Environment Agriculture in the form of greenhouses for the cultivation of food and cannabis.

Additional information about Power REIT can be found on its website: www.pwreit.com


About Millennium Investment & Acquisition Co. Inc.

Millennium Investment and Acquisition Co. Inc. (ticker: MILC) is an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company. During 2020, MILC announced that it was seeking to de-register as an Investment Company that is regulated under Investment Company Act of 1940. MILC is currently seeking an Order from the SEC declaring that it has ceased to be an Investment Company as it no longer meets the definition of holding itself out as investing in securities but rather has pivoted to focus on direct investments in operating businesses.

MILC is currently focusing on opportunities in sustainable cannabis cultivation and sustainable production of activated carbon.

Additional information about MILC can be found on its website: www.millinvestment.com


Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “assume”, “seek” or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained in this document regarding our future strategy, future operations, future prospects, the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by pursuing management’s current or future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this document. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences may be significant and materially adverse to our security holders.

Contact:

David H. Lesser, Chairman & CEO Mary Jensen, Investor Relations
[email protected] [email protected]
212-750-0371 310-526-1707
   
301 Winding Road
Old Bethpage, NY 11804		  
www.pwreit.com  



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Millennium Investment & Acquisition Co. Inc. Expands Footprint to include Michigan’s Largest Cannabis Cultivation Facility

Old Bethpage, New York, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Millennium Investment & Acquisition Co. Inc. (Ticker: MILC) (“MILC” or the “Company”) today announced that it is expanding its sustainable cannabis cultivation activities by establishing operations in the second largest cannabis market in the country: Michigan. A subsidiary of MILC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Millennium Cannabis LLC, (“Millennium Cannabis”), has executed a long-term lease (the “Lease”) for a 556,146 square foot state-of-the-art greenhouse cultivation facility located in Marengo Township, Michigan (the “Property”). The Lease was entered into simultaneously with the acquisition of the Property by Power REIT (Ticker: PW and PW.PRA). David H. Lesser, MILC’s Chairman and CEO is also Chairman and CEO of Power REIT.


Property Details

The state-of-the-art “Dutch Venlo Style” greenhouse is 26-foot high which helps control the growing environment. The diffused glass roof is beneficial to plant growth and allows greater plant density. The greenhouse features advanced cultivation controls and a best-in-class irrigation/fertigation system. There are also two large, multi-functional boilers that heat and help dehumidify the greenhouse as well as provide the crop with enhanced CO2 levels to improve plant yields. There is a 1-million-gallon hot water storage tank that allows the boilers to run during the day to provide enhanced CO2 to the plants for photosynthesis but then uses the stored heat at night and as otherwise needed. The greenhouse also includes an exceptional irrigation system with 500,000 gallons of feed tanks that can water the entire greenhouse in under 20 minutes. The irrigation system is configured with 12 different feed zones. This allows for precision crop feeding targeting each zone based on the plant growth stage and cultivar. This facility is labor-efficient with an under-bench radiant heating system that acts as a dual-purpose rail system for carts and other equipment to enhance labor efficiency.


Capital Improvements

As part of the transaction, Power REIT has agreed to fund capital improvements for the Property to position it for cannabis cultivation. Power REIT’s current capital commitment for the initial phase of improvements is approximately $3 million which includes costs related to permitting and licensing, fire suppression, security and site work. Power REIT is working with its tenant to finalize the budget for additional property improvements that Power REIT will fund and amend the lease accordingly. These improvements are expected to include a light deprivation system which is important to maximize plant yields, dry and cure space, a state-of-the-art propagation room, as well as an early-stage plant nursery at the facility as well as upgrades to facilities to support the needs of employees such as bathrooms and lockers.


The Michigan Cannabis Market

In 2008, Michigan passed the Michigan Marijuana Act and became the 10th state to legalize medical cannabis. During 2020, its first full year of recreational sales, the Michigan market generated $1 billion in total legal medical and adult-use revenue. Revenue for 2021 is projected to reach $1.8 billion, an increase of 80% YoY. This would make Michigan the second largest cannabis market in the country, second only to California. Michigan cannabis sales are expected to grow to $4 Billion over the next 3 – 5 years.


David Lesser, MILC’s Chairman and CEO, commented,
 “In May of this year, MILC announced sustainable greenhouse cultivation of cannabis as a new area of focus and commenced operations in Colorado. This was followed by the entry into the Oklahoma market in June. We are pleased with the progress we have made at both of these facilities including implementing property improvements, commencing significant initial crops and building a strong team. Michigan represents a significant next step in the growth of Millennium Cannabis. This facility will be the largest cannabis cultivation facility in Michigan and one of the largest cannabis greenhouse cultivation facilities in the United States. Property improvements will begin immediately, and Millennium Cannabis is working with the state and local jurisdictions on the final steps for licensing which will allow us to start growing plants. We hope to begin generating revenue by mid-2022 and have the greenhouse full of plants by the end of next year.”

Millennium Cannabis is led by Jared Schrader, who has built a team of more than 50 seasoned cannabis cultivators and operators. With the Michigan transaction, Millennium Cannabis now boasts one of the largest multi-state cannabis cultivation footprints in the United States. Millennium Cannabis engages agriculture experts from outside of the cannabis industry to incorporate proven growing methods from traditional crops into successful cannabis cultivation operations in low-energy greenhouse environments. Millennium Cannabis shares Power REIT’s thesis that greenhouses represent the sustainable solution for cultivating cannabis at a low cost and with a significantly reduced carbon footprint when compared to the expensive indoor warehouse cultivation facilities that are more typical across the cannabis industry.

Millennium Cannabis strategically deploys this wide range of expertise to empower strong local operating partners to apply Millennium Cannabis’s proven growing protocols and best-in-class production methods to meet the evolving needs of consumers within their local markets. Its partners in Michigan include the long-time Facility Director who operated the greenhouse during its prior use who will immediately transition his years of experience growing acres of red peppers at the facility to now supporting cannabis cultivation and production at the property. He is joined by an industry-leading women and minority-owned operations advisory group with more than a decade of experience creating and leading cannabis operations across the US and abroad. Rounding out the local team is a locally based women-owned licensing partner who most recently oversaw regulatory and compliance affairs for two of the largest cannabis greenhouse operators in the country.


Jared Schrader, Millennium Cannabis’ President, commented,
 “Millennium Cannabis is excited to commence operations at this truly state-of-the-art greenhouse cultivation facility to create a large-scale, low-energy, and low-cost production operation that is well positioned to compete favorably in the Michigan cannabis market for years to come. The nascent Michigan market is experiencing dramatic growth and has current pricing that far exceeds the national averages based on a supply/demand imbalance. We currently see prices of $3,500 – $4,000 per pound in Michigan. In the near-term this represents an opportunity to generate significant cash flow. Given our focus on using greenhouse technology to lower the cost of cultivation, we are confident we can compete favorably even as the prices inevitably compress in this market. With over 500,000 square feet of greenhouse cultivation space, we are initially targeting approximately 90,000 plants. Conservatively assuming 3 harvests per year this could produce more than 40,500 pounds of cannabis flower annually. Once we ramp up operations, we believe the existing square footage can also accommodate a much greater plant density which provides the potential for built in revenue growth.”


Updated Investor Deck

MILC has posted an updated investor deck which is available on our website: http://www.millinvestment.com/


Deregistration as a 1940 Act Company

On October 14, 2020, shareholders approved a proposal to change the nature of the Company’s business from a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and to a holding company that focuses primarily on owning and operating businesses that produce activated carbon and acquiring other private businesses (collectively, the “Deregistration Proposal”). The Company is in the process of implementing the Deregistration Proposal so that it is no longer an “investment company” under the 1940 Act and has applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for an order under the 1940 Act declaring that the Company has ceased to be an investment company (the “Deregistration Order”).

While the Company is committed to fully implementing the Deregistration Proposal, it is still contingent upon regulatory approval and the ability to reconfigure the Company’s portfolio to deregister as an investment company. The time required to reconfigure the Company’s portfolio could be impacted by, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic and related market volatility, determinations to preserve capital, the Company’s ability to identify and execute on desirable acquisition opportunities, and applicable regulatory, lender and governance requirements. The conversion process could take up to 24 months; and there can be no assurance that the Deregistration Proposal, even if fully implemented, will improve the Company’s performance. Further, the SEC may determine not to grant the Company’s request for the Deregistration Order, which would materially change the Company’s plans for its business.

As previously announced, MILC has now completed the liquidation of its sole investment in securities – its investment in SMC and plans to invest the proceeds in operating businesses.

ABOUT MILLENNIUM INVESTMENT & ACQUISITION COMPANY INC.

Millennium Investment and Acquisition Co. Inc. (ticker: MILC) is an internally managed, non-diversified, closed-end investment company. During 2020, MILC announced that it was seeking to de-register as an Investment Company that is regulated under Investment Company Act of 1940. MILC is currently seeking an Order from the SEC declaring that it has ceased to be an Investment Company as it no longer meets the definition of holding itself out as investing in securities but rather has pivoted to focus on direct investments in operating businesses.

MILC is currently focusing on opportunities in sustainable cannabis cultivation and sustainable production of activated carbon.

Additional information about MILC can be found on its website: www.millinvestment.com

ABOUT POWER REIT

Power REIT (ticker: PW and PW.PRA), with a focus on the “Triple Bottom Line” and a commitment to Profit, Planet and People is a specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation. Power REIT is actively seeking to expand its real estate portfolio related to Controlled Environment Agriculture for the cultivation of food and cannabis.

Additional information about Power REIT can be found on its website: www.pwreit.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “assume”, “seek” or other similar expressions, or negatives of those expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements contained in this document regarding our future strategy, future operations, future prospects, the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by pursuing management’s current or future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this document. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences may be significant and materially adverse to our security holders.

CONACT:

David H. Lesser, Chairman & CEO
[email protected]
212-750-0371
 
301 Winding Road
Old Bethpage, NY 11804

www.millinvestment.com



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Amazon to Pay Full College Tuition for Its Front-Line Employees as Part of $1.2 Billion Investment in Education and Skills Training for U.S. Workforce

Amazon to Pay Full College Tuition for Its Front-Line Employees as Part of $1.2 Billion Investment in Education and Skills Training for U.S. Workforce

Amazon’s more than 750,000 operations employees in the U.S. are eligible for fully funded college tuition, including cost of classes, books, and fees

Company adds three new skills training programs for employees to help them transition into jobs as data center technology technicians, IT engineers, and user experience designers—Amazon employees now have access to nine education and skills training programs, all 100% funded by the company

The Amazon-Gallup American Upskilling Study finds that 70% of American workers would switch to a new job if offered free skills training opportunities

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced plans to expand the education and skills training benefits it offers to its U.S. employees with a total investment of $1.2 billion by 2025. Through its popular Career Choice program, the company will fund full college tuition, as well as high school diplomas, GEDs, and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency certifications for its front-line employees—including those who have been at the company for just three months. Amazon is also adding three new education programs to provide employees with the opportunity to learn skills within data center maintenance and technology, IT, and user experience and research design.

“Amazon is now the largest job creator in the U.S., and we know that investing in free skills training for our teams can have a huge impact for hundreds of thousands of families across the country. We launched Career Choice almost ten years ago to help remove the biggest barriers to continuing education—time and money—and we are now expanding it even further to pay full tuition and add several new fields of study,” said Dave Clark, CEO of Worldwide Consumer at Amazon. “This new investment builds on years of experience supporting employees in growing their careers, including some unique initiatives like building more than 110 on-site classrooms for our employees in Amazon fulfillment centers across 37 states. Today, over 50,000 Amazon employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice and we’ve seen first-hand how it can transform their lives.”

Starting in January, Amazon front-line employees will have access to even more education benefits through Career Choice:

  • Funding for College Tuition. More than 750,000 operations employees across the U.S. will be eligible to have their full college tuition paid for at hundreds of education partners across the country. In addition to funding associate and bachelor’s degrees, Amazon’s Career Choice will also fund high school completion, GEDs, and ESL proficiency certifications.
  • Pre-Paid Fees. Amazon will pay employees’ tuition and fees in advance rather than offering reimbursement after coursework completion, ensuring employees don’t need existing funds to start accessing the education options they want.
  • Limitless Learning. Amazon front-line employees will have access to annual funds for education as long as they remain at the company, with no limit to the number of years they can benefit.
  • Fast Starts. All 750,000 U.S. hourly employees are eligible to participate in Career Choice 90 days after starting at Amazon. This makes all 400,000 employees who joined the company since the start of the pandemic eligible to access Amazon-funded education opportunities.

“I worked in a warehouse setting for years but knew I wanted to help people and had been curious about healthcare. In just nine months, I became a certified clinical medical assistant while working at Amazon in Tracy, California, thanks to Career Choice,” said former Amazon operations employee and Career Choice graduate Patricia Soto. “A career in healthcare would have been difficult to obtain without tuition support from Amazon and an internship opportunity to apply my new skills.”

Additional New Skills Training Programs

In addition to the expanded Career Choice benefits, Amazon is also launching three new upskilling programs—all tuition-free for participants—to provide even more career-advancement opportunities for its employees:

  • AWS Grow Our Own Talent offers on-the-job training and job placement opportunities to Amazon employees and entry-level candidates with nontraditional backgrounds. The training will help them pursue roles to innovate within Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers and safely deliver high-quality cloud computing services to customers. Participating employees are hired into roles like data center technicians and operations technicians, and complete in-person, on-the-job training for up to six months.
  • Surge2IT is designed to help entry-level IT employees across Amazon’s operations network pursue careers in higher-paying technical roles through self-paced learning resources. The course helps employees develop the skills necessary to advance their career in the information technology field, such as supporting the Amazon Robotics picking and stowing technology. Participants who complete the course and move up at Amazon can make an additional $10,000 a year.
  • The User Experience Design and Research Apprenticeship programcombines instructor-led training and real-world experience in a one-year program that offers employees the opportunity to learn and develop skills in research and design on teams across Amazon, including Prime Video, Alexa, AWS, and Amazon Fashion. Graduates are ready for jobs that help improve the experience of Amazon customers, from making payments easier on Amazon sites to designing features that make devices more accessible.

“Today, there are not enough workers to fill every open job in the United States, which means that businesses are struggling to hire—especially for roles that require specific or technical skill sets,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Senior Vice President Cheryl Oldham. “When large employers like Amazon commit to investing in their people through upskilling programs, especially in technical fields, it helps to ensure that the business community has access to a workforce pipeline that meets their needs today and in the future. At the Chamber Foundation, we work with employers across the country to pursue solutions that ensure American workers have the right skills to best support and grow our economy and we applaud Amazon for the investment they’re making in the workforce.”

Upskilling 2025

Two years ago, Amazon announced Upskilling 2025, a $700 million commitment to train 100,000 U.S. employees by 2025 to help them transition into in-demand, higher-paying jobs. Since the launch of Upskilling 2025 in 2019, more than 70,000 employees have participated in one of Amazon’s nine upskilling programs. With today’s additional investment and expanded education benefits for employees, the company is more than tripling its original pledge – with plans to invest $1.2 billion in these programs and provide free skills training to 300,000 employees over the next four years, the equivalent of more than 30% of the company’s current workforce in the U.S.

Amazon has seen a surge in applications to participate in education programs since the start of the pandemic, reflecting increased interest from employees to fortify their skillsets. Amazon Technical Academy, an upskilling program that helps Amazon employees from all backgrounds become software engineers in nine months, received thousands of applications, with interest increasing 460% over the past 18 months. To accommodate a surge in demand, Amazon scaled all of its upskilling programs, adapting to work-from-home schedules, and welcoming more participants by pivoting from in-person to virtual training. In addition to the new and expanded programs outlined above, Amazon employees have free access to the following skills training programs:

  • Amazon Technical Academy trains employees from across the company to become Amazon software engineers. The nine-month-long internal training program does not require a computer science background or a degree. Amazon Technical Academy has placed 98% of its graduates into software development engineer roles within Amazon, with their salary and compensation packages increasing an average of 93% as a result. This year more than 40% of Amazon Technical Academy graduates came from Amazon’s operations network.
  • The Amazon Technical Apprenticeship program creates paths to technical jobs, primarily for veterans and military spouses looking to transition into technical professions. Amazon currently employs over 40,000 U.S. veterans and military spouses across multiple businesses and recently announced plans to hire 100,000 U.S. veterans and military spouses by 2024.
  • AWS Training and Certifications offers Amazon employees access to more than 500 free digital courses to build cloud computing knowledge. As part of this program, AWS Tech U offers an accelerated 48-week career-development program that blends project-based learning and on-the-job training to help early-career employees in technical fields advance their skills.
  • Machine Learning University is a state-of-the-art training program curated and delivered by Amazon employees. It helps employees with a background in technology and coding gain graduate-level skills in machine learning and AI to solve customer problems.
  • Mechatronics and Robotics Apprenticeship program participants learn the skills and technical knowledge needed to pursue a technical maintenance role supporting Amazon’s robotics technology. Hundreds of Amazon apprentices have earned nearly 3,000 certifications to date. Upon completion of their apprenticeship, participants could make an additional $16,000 on average each year in their new roles at Amazon.

To explore Amazon’s full roster of education and skills training programs, visit: http://aboutamazon.com/upskilling2025.

The American Upskilling Study

Amazon’s new investment in free access to education programs for employees comes as the first-ever Amazon-Gallup American Upskilling Study shows how access to skills training can help companies recruit more workers and help workers build skills for rewarding careers. The analysis found that U.S. workers who completed upskilling programs over the past year have seen an average salary increase of 8.6%—the equivalent of an additional $8,000 in their annual earnings.

The expectation of this salary boost, along with new skills that will help employees move into more technical and resilient industries, have made access to upskilling opportunities one of the most sought-after employee benefits by American workers right now. Currently, 70% of workers interested in upskilling say they would switch to a new job if offered free skills training. For young adults entering the labor market, employer-funded upskilling is more important than paid vacation time.

To access the full findings of the new Amazon-Gallup study, click here.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Amazon.com, Inc.

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GreenPower Motor Company to Present at RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference and H.C. Wainwright 23rd Annual Global Investment Conference

PR Newswire

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) (“GreenPower”), a leading manufacturer and distributor of zero emission electric powered vehicles serving the cargo and delivery, shuttle, transit and school bus markets, today announced that CEO Fraser Atkinson, CFO Michael Sieffert and President Brendan Riley will participate in a virtual Fireside Chat at the RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference on Friday, September 10. GreenPower will also present at the H.C. Wainwright 23rd Annual Global Investment Conference which runs September 13-15, 2021.


RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Virtual Conference
 
Friday, September 10, 2021
8:40 a.m. ET 
GreenPower’s executive team will participate in a virtual fireside chat discussion and provide a company update along with a Q&A session.

A live webcast and audio replay will be available in the Investor Relations section on GreenPower’s website.


H.C. Wainwright 23


rd


 Annual Global Investment Conference
  
Monday, September 13, 2021
7:00 a.m. ET

GreenPower’s executive team will provide an overview of the company’s business and will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors during the conference.


About GreenPower Motor Company Inc.

GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, a cargo van and a double decker. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric buses that are purpose built to be battery powered with zero emissions. GreenPower integrates global suppliers for key components, such as Siemens or TM4 for the drive motors, Knorr for the brakes, ZF for the axles and Parker for the dash and control systems. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. For further information go to www.greenpowerbus.com.

Neither the 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. All amounts in U.S. dollars. ©2021 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All rights reserved.

Media and Investor Contacts:

Allie Potter, Skyya PR
[email protected] 

Mike Cole, Investor Relations
[email protected] 
(949) 444-1341

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SOURCE GreenPower Motor Company

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Southwest Airlines Cargo Adds New Online Booking Platform For Award-Winning Cargo Service

Southwest Airlines Teams Up with Hangar A to Deliver a Robust Customer Experience Enhancement for Southwest Cargo Customers

PR Newswire

DALLAS, Sept. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced Southwest® Cargo, the airline’s Cargo division, is now taking online bookings through a new booking portal accessed via swacargo.com. The new booking experience allows Customers to easily search for available space and book select Next Flight Guarantee (NFG) shipments up to 10 days in advance.

“Our new online booking capability answers the call from Customers desiring an easier, quicker, and more Customer-friendly booking experience to move their products from coast-to-coast,” said Wally Devereaux, Managing Director of Southwest Cargo and Charters. “Shippers can now secure space on thousands of daily domestic flights in advance providing peace of mind, and also an improved and expedited experience in our Cargo facilities.”

The online booking platform is available through a commercial collaboration between Southwest and Hangar A, LLC a leading supplier of digital air logistics solutions.

“In collaboration with the Southwest Cargo Team, Hangar A designed and implemented a state-of-the-art online cargo booking platform that enhances the Southwest Cargo shipping experience,” said Kevin Kerns, CEO of Hangar A, LLC. “We’re thrilled to bring this best-in-class platform to Southwest Cargo and its Customers.”

Qualified Customers booking NFG shipments up to 100 pounds and within the continental United States are eligible to use the online booking portal. In 2020, Southwest Cargo developed and implemented new tracking functionality, providing Customers confirmed onboard status of shipments through planeside scanning automation. To learn more about Southwest Cargo and its services, visit swacargo.com.


ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CARGO

Southwest Airlines’ Relentlessly Reliable Employees offer Southwest Cargo Customers award-winning expedited air cargo service to destinations across the map, including interline destinations, and complimentary Road Feeder Service at certain locations. With its extensive domestic network, along with select international destinations, Southwest Cargo has the flights you need to meet your shipping requirements. Learn more about how Southwest Cargo can help you with your shipping needs by visiting swacargo.com.


ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
 
In its 51st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 54,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O’Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton both on Feb. 14; Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs both on March 11; Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. both on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; Myrtle Beach, S.C. on May 23; Bozeman, Mont. on May 27; Jackson, Miss. on June 6; and Eugene, Ore. on Aug. 29; and will begin service to Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 7; and Syracuse on Nov. 14.  

The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.     

Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.   

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.   

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA®.   


ABOUT HANGAR A, LLC

Hangar A LLC, a leading US-based digital logistics technology provider, offers one of the most advanced digital air cargo marketplace solutions available today. Built to serve the dynamically changing needs of global shippers in the new digital economy, the Hangar A SaaS-based digital supply chain solution is designed as an open shipper-to-carrier marketplace – connecting shippers with multiple airline carriers and logistics service providers to deliver same day and expedited door-to-door air cargo shipments. This marketplace solution provides shippers an unparalleled level of transparency and visibility – featuring dynamic online capabilities to confirm cargo availability, e-book capacity, publish and manage contract and spot rates, and deliver real-time visibility and analytics on the complete lifecycle of every air cargo shipment. Hangar A is the only digital air cargo solution that offers a state-of-the-art first/last mile marketplace that enables shippers to access, build, and/or manage their own door-to-door delivery network.

The Hangar A platform is made available in a variety of out-of-the-box marketplace configurations created specifically for the airline carrier, logistics service provider (LSP), and enterprise shipper. For more information, visit www.hangara.com.

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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

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IMFINZI and tremelimumab with chemotherapy improved progression-free survival by 28% and overall survival by 23% in 1st-line Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer vs. chemotherapy

IMFINZI and tremelimumab with chemotherapy improved progression-free survival by 28% and overall survival by 23% in 1st-line Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer vs. chemotherapy

POSEIDON Phase III trial showed the addition of a short course of tremelimumab to IMFINZI plus chemotherapy improved patient outcomes without an increase in treatment discontinuation

WILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Positive results from the POSEIDON Phase III trial showed AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI® (durvalumab), and tremelimumab, when added to platinum-based chemotherapy, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone in the 1st-line treatment of patients with Stage IV (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

These results were presented today during a Presidential Symposium at the 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (abstract PL02.01).

Melissa Johnson, MD, Director of the Lung Cancer Research program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and medical oncologist with Tennessee Oncology, PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee, said: “New combinations are increasingly important in addressing the remaining unmet needs that impact patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer – especially combinations that have the potential to improve efficacy in patients with lower PD-L1 expression and deliver the long-term survival benefits that have been observed with CTLA-4 inhibition. The results of POSEIDON confirm that tremelimumab added to IMFINZI and chemotherapy is an effective, well-tolerated treatment in this setting.”

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, said: “The POSEIDON data offer patients further benefit from IMFINZI and are an important validation of our development strategy to explore novel combinations. Adding a short course of tremelimumab to IMFINZIfor those patients already receiving chemotherapy, reduced the risk of cancer progressing or death by 28% compared to chemotherapy alone. The results also showed the significant survival improvement did not compromise tolerability in the 1st-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. We look forward to discussing these data with regulatory authorities.”

Patients treated with a short course of five cycles of tremelimumab, an anti-CTLA4 antibody, over 16 weeks in addition to IMFINZI and chemotherapy experienced a 23% reduction in the risk of death versus a range of chemotherapy options (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.77; 95% CI 0.65-0.92; p=0.00304). Median OS was 14.0 months versus 11.7 months for chemotherapy. An estimated 33% of patients were alive at two years versus 22% for chemotherapy. This treatment combinationalso reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 28% compared to chemotherapy alone (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.60-0.86; p=0.00031) with a median PFS of 6.2 months versus 4.8 months, respectively. The combination delivered a broadly similar safety profile to the IMFINZI and chemotherapy combination and did not lead to an increased discontinuation of treatment.

POSEIDON also tested the combination of IMFINZI plus chemotherapy, which demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS (HR=0.74; 95% CI 0.62-0.89; p=0.00093) versus chemotherapy alone. A positive OS trend observed for IMFINZIplus chemotherapy did not achieve statistical significance.

Summary of OS and PFS1

 

IMFINZI + tremelimumab + chemotherapy

(n=338)

Chemotherapy

(n=337)

OS2

Number of patients with event (%)3

251 (74.3)

285 (84.6)

Median OS (95% CI) (in months)

14.0 (11.7, 16.1)

11.7 (10.5, 13.1)

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

0.77 (0.65-0.92)

p-value

0.00304

OS rate at 24 months (95% CI) (%)

32.9 (27.9, 37.9)

22.1 (17.8, 26.8)

PFS4

Number of patients with event (%)5

238 (70.4)

258 (76.6)

Median PFS (95% CI) (in months)

6.2 (5.0, 6.5)

4.8 (4.6, 5.8)

Hazard ratio (95% CI)

0.72 (0.60-0.86)

p-value

0.00031

PFS rate at 12 months (%)

26.6 (21.7, 31.7)

13.1 (9.3, 17.6)

1 Investigator-assessed. OS data cut-off date was 12 March 2021; PFS data cut-off date was 24 July 2019

2 Median follow-up in censored patients at DCO: 34.9 months (range 0–44.5)

3 Analysis was done at 79% maturity

4 Median follow-up in censored patients at DCO: 10.3 months (range 0–23.1)

5 Analysis was done at 73% maturity

The safety profile of eachIMFINZI combination was consistent with the known profiles of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were experienced by 51.8% of patients treated with IMFINZI, tremelimumab and chemotherapy and by 44.6% of patients treated with IMFINZI plus chemotherapy, versus 44.4% for chemotherapy. Treatment-related adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 15.5% of patients treated with IMFINZI, tremelimumab and chemotherapy and 14.1% of patients treated with IMFINZI plus chemotherapy, versus 9.9% for chemotherapy.

IMFINZI is the only approved immunotherapy in the curative-intent setting of unresectable, Stage III NSCLC after chemoradiation therapy and is the global standard of care based on the PACIFIC Phase III trial. IMFINZI is also approved in the US, the EU, Japan and many countries around the world for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) based on the CASPIAN Phase III trial.

IMFINZI is being further assessed across all stages of lung cancer as part of an extensive development program across NSCLC and SCLC, as well as in other tumor types. The combination of IMFINZI and tremelimumab is being tested in lung cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer settings.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

There are no contraindications for IMFINZI® (durvalumab).

Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions

Important immune-mediated adverse reactions listed under Warnings and Precautions may not include all possible severe and fatal immune-mediated reactions. Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue. Immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur at any time after starting treatment or after discontinuation. Monitor patients closely for symptoms and signs that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Evaluate liver enzymes, creatinine, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate. Withhold or permanently discontinue IMFINZI depending on severity. See Dosing and Administration for specific details. In general, if IMFINZI requires interruption or discontinuation, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 mg to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy.

Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis

IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. The incidence of pneumonitis is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation. In patients who did not receive recent prior radiation, the incidence of immune-mediated pneumonitis was 2.4% (34/1414), including fatal (<0.1%), and Grade 3-4 (0.4%) adverse reactions. In patients who received recent prior radiation, the incidence of pneumonitis (including radiation pneumonitis) in patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC following definitive chemoradiation within 42 days prior to initiation of IMFINZI in PACIFIC was 18.3% (87/475) in patients receiving IMFINZI and 12.8% (30/234) in patients receiving placebo. Of the patients who received IMFINZI (475), 1.1% were fatal and 2.7% were Grade 3 adverse reactions. The frequency and severity of immune-mediated pneumonitis in patients who did not receive definitive chemoradiation prior to IMFINZI were similar in patients who received IMFINZI as a single agent or with ES-SCLC when in combination with chemotherapy.

Immune-Mediated Colitis

IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated colitis that is frequently associated with diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 2% (37/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 4 (<0.1%) and Grade 3 (0.4%) adverse reactions.

Immune-Mediated Hepatitis

IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated hepatitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 2.8% (52/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including fatal (0.2%), Grade 4 (0.3%) and Grade 3 (1.4%) adverse reactions.

Immune-Mediated Endocrinopathies

  • Adrenal Insufficiency:IMFINZI can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency. For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Immune-mediated adrenal insufficiency occurred in 0.5% (9/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) adverse reactions.
  • Hypophysitis:IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated hypophysitis. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field cuts. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism. Initiate symptomatic treatment including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Grade 3 hypophysitis/hypopituitarism occurred in <0.1% (1/1889) of patients who received IMFINZI.
  • Thyroid Disorders:IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated thyroid disorders. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism. Initiate hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism or institute medical management of hyperthyroidism as clinically indicated.
  • Thyroiditis: Immune-mediated thyroiditis occurred in 0.5% (9/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) adverse reactions.
  • Hyperthyroidism: Immune-mediated hyperthyroidism occurred in 2.1% (39/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI.
  • Hypothyroidism:Immune-mediated hypothyroidism occurred in 8.3% (156/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) adverse reactions.
  • Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, which can present with diabetic ketoacidosis: Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated. Grade 3 immune-mediated type 1 diabetes mellitus occurred in <0.1% (1/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI.

Immune-Mediated Nephritis with Renal Dysfunction

IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated nephritis. Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in 0.5% (10/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) adverse reactions.

Immune-Mediated Dermatology Reactions

IMFINZI can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have occurred with PD-1/L-1 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non-exfoliative rashes. Immune-mediated rash or dermatitis occurred in 1.8% (34/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (0.4%) adverse reactions.

Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions

The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of less than 1% each in patients who received IMFINZI or were reported with the use of other PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies.

  • Cardiac/vascular: Myocarditis, pericarditis, vasculitis.
  • Nervous system: Meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and demyelination, myasthenic syndrome/myasthenia gravis (including exacerbation), Guillain-Barré syndrome, nerve paresis, autoimmune neuropathy.
  • Ocular: Uveitis, iritis, and other ocular inflammatory toxicities can occur. Some cases can be associated with retinal detachment. Various grades of visual impairment to include blindness can occur. If uveitis occurs in combination with other immune-mediated adverse reactions, consider a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, as this may require treatment with systemic steroids to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
  • Gastrointestinal: Pancreatitis including increases in serum amylase and lipase levels, gastritis, duodenitis.
  • Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Myositis/polymyositis, rhabdomyolysis and associated sequelae including renal failure, arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic.
  • Endocrine: Hypoparathyroidism
  • Other (hematologic/immune): Hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi lymphadenitis), sarcoidosis, immune thrombocytopenia, solid organ transplant rejection.

Infusion-Related Reactions

IMFINZI can cause severe or life-threatening infusion-related reactions. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions. Interrupt, slow the rate of, or permanently discontinue IMFINZI based on the severity. See Dosing and Administration for specific details. For Grade 1 or 2 infusion-related reactions, consider using pre-medications with subsequent doses. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.2% (42/1889) of patients receiving IMFINZI, including Grade 3 (0.3%) adverse reactions.

Complications of Allogeneic HSCT after IMFINZI

Fatal and other serious complications can occur in patients who receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) before or after being treated with a PD-1/L-1 blocking antibody. Transplant-related complications include hyperacute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after reduced intensity conditioning, and steroid-requiring febrile syndrome (without an identified infectious cause). These complications may occur despite intervening therapy between PD-1/L-1 blockade and allogeneic HSCT. Follow patients closely for evidence of transplant-related complications and intervene promptly. Consider the benefit versus risks of treatment with a PD-1/L-1 blocking antibody prior to or after an allogeneic HSCT.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on its mechanism of action and data from animal studies, IMFINZI can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with IMFINZI and for at least 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI.

Lactation

There is no information regarding the presence of IMFINZI in human milk; however, because of the potential for adverse reactions in breastfed infants from IMFINZI, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose.

Adverse Reactions

  • In patients with Stage III NSCLC in the PACIFIC study receiving IMFINZI (n=475), the most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were cough (40%), fatigue (34%), pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis (34%), upper respiratory tract infections (26%), dyspnea (25%), and rash (23%). The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (≥3%) were pneumonitis/radiation pneumonitis (3.4%) and pneumonia (7%)
  • In patients with Stage III NSCLC in the PACIFIC study receiving IMFINZI (n=475), discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred in 15% of patients in the IMFINZI arm. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 29% of patients receiving IMFINZI. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (≥2%) were pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis (7%) and pneumonia (6%). Fatal pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis and fatal pneumonia occurred in <2% of patients and were similar across arms
  • In patients with extensive-stage SCLC in the CASPIAN study receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy (n=265), the most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were nausea (34%), fatigue/asthenia (32%), and alopecia (31%). The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction (≥3%) was fatigue/asthenia (3.4%)
  • In patients with extensive-stage SCLC in the CASPIAN study receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy (n=265), IMFINZI was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 7% of the patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 31% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 1% of patients were febrile neutropenia (4.5%), pneumonia (2.3%), anemia (1.9%), pancytopenia (1.5%), pneumonitis (1.1%), and COPD (1.1%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.9% of patients receiving IMFINZI plus chemotherapy

The safety and effectiveness of IMFINZI have not been established in pediatric patients.

Indications:

IMFINZI is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

IMFINZI, in combination with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Please see complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

Notes to Editors

About Stage IV NSCLC

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women and accounts for about one-quarter of all cancer deaths in the United States: more than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined.1 Patients are commonly diagnosed at Stage IV, when the tumor has spread outside of the lung.2

Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and SCLC, with 80-85% classified as NSCLC.2,3 Within NSCLC, patients are classified as squamous, representing 25-30% of patients, or non-squamous, the most common type representing approximately 70-75% of NSCLC patients.2 Stage IV is the most advanced form of lung cancer and is often referred to as metastatic disease.4

About POSEIDON

The POSEIDON trial was a randomized, open-label, multi-center, global, Phase III trial of IMFINZI plus platinum-based chemotherapy or IMFINZI,tremelimumab and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the 1st-line treatment of 1,013 patients with metastatic NSCLC. The trial population included patients with either non-squamous or squamous disease and the full range of PD-L1 expression levels. POSEIDON excluded patients with certain epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusions.

In the experimental arms, patients were treated with a flat dose of 1,500mg of IMFINZI with up to four cycles of chemotherapy once every three weeks or IMFINZI and 75mg of tremelimumab with chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with IMFINZI, or IMFINZI and one dose of tremelimumab on a once-every-four-weeks dosing schedule. In comparison, the control arm allowed up to six cycles of chemotherapy. Pemetrexed maintenance treatment was allowed in all arms in patients with non-squamous disease if given during the induction phase. Nearly all patients with non-squamous disease (95.5%) had pemetrexed and platinum, while the majority of patients with squamous disease receiving chemotherapy (88.3%) received gemcitabine and platinum.

Primary endpoints included PFS and OS for the IMFINZI plus chemotherapy arm. Key secondary endpoints included PFS and OS in the IMFINZI plus tremelimumab and chemotherapy arm. As both PFS endpoints were met for IMFINZI plus chemotherapy and IMFINZI, tremelimumab and chemotherapy, the prespecified statistical analysis plan allowed for testing OS in the IMFINZI plus tremelimumab and chemotherapy arm. The trial was conducted in more than 150 centers across 18 countries, including the US, Europe, South America, Asia and South Africa.

About IMFINZI® (durvalumab)

IMFINZI is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80, countering the tumor’s immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses.

In addition to approvals in the unresectable Stage III NSCLC setting, IMFINZI is approved for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) based on the CASPIAN Phase III trial in the EU, US, Japan and many other countries around the world. IMFINZI is also approved for previously treated patients with advanced bladder cancer in several countries. Since the first approval in May 2017, more than 100,000 patients have been treated with IMFINZI.

As part of a broad development program, IMFINZI is being tested as a single treatment and in combinations with other anti-cancer treatments for patients with NSCLC, SCLC, bladder cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary tract cancer (a form of liver cancer), esophageal cancer, gastric and gastroesophageal cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and other solid tumors.

About tremelimumab

Tremelimumab is a human monoclonal antibody and potential new medicine that targets the activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). Tremelimumab blocks the activity of CTLA-4, contributing to T-cell activation, priming the immune response to cancer and fostering cancer cell death. Tremelimumab is being tested in a clinical trial program in combination with IMFINZI in NSCLC, SCLC, bladder cancer and liver cancer.

About AstraZeneca Support Programs

AstraZeneca strives to ensure that appropriate patients and their oncologists have access to IMFINZI and relevant support resources. These include educational resources, an Oncology Nurse Educator program and affordability and reimbursement programs, such as Access 360™.

Additionally, AstraZeneca has launched Lighthouse, a program that provides support to patients during any immune-mediated adverse events they may encounter during treatment, through medically trained Lighthouse Advocates. The program aims to make patients’ treatment experience as comfortable as possible. Find out more about Lighthouse at LighthouseProgram.com or call 1-855-LHOUSE1(1-855-546-8731).

About AstraZeneca in lung cancer

AstraZeneca is working to bring patients with lung cancer closer to cure through the detection and treatment of early-stage disease, while also pushing the boundaries of science to improve outcomes in resistant and advanced settings. By defining new therapeutic targets and investigating innovative approaches, the Company aims to match medicines to the patients who can benefit most.

The Company’s comprehensive portfolio includes leading lung cancer medicines and the next wave of innovations including osimertinib; durvalumab and tremelimumab; trastuzumab deruxtecan and datopotamab deruxtecan in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo; savolitinib in collaboration with HUTCHMED; as well as a pipeline of potential new medicines and combinations across diverse mechanisms of action.

AstraZeneca is a founding member of the Lung Ambition Alliance, a global coalition working to accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful improvements for people with lung cancer, including and beyond treatment.

About AstraZeneca in immunotherapy

Immunotherapy (IO) is a therapeutic approach designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to attack tumors. The Company’s IO portfolio is anchored in immunotherapies that have been designed to overcome anti-tumor immune suppression. AstraZeneca is invested in using IO approaches that deliver long-term survival for new groups of patients across tumor types.

AstraZeneca is pursuing a comprehensive clinical-trial program that includes IMFINZI as a single treatment and in combination with tremelimumab and other novel antibodies in multiple tumor types, stages of disease and lines of therapy, and where relevant using the PD-L1 biomarker as a decision-making tool to define the best potential treatment path for a patient. In addition, the ability to combine the IO portfolio with radiation, chemotherapy, and small, targeted molecules from across AstraZeneca’s Oncology pipeline and from research partners, may provide new treatment options across a broad range of tumors.

AstraZeneca in oncology

AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The Company’s focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyze changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience.

AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZenecaUS.

References

  1. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed September 2021.
  2. Abernethy AP, et al. Real-world first-line treatment and overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer without known EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements in US community oncology setting. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(6):e0178420.
  3. Cheema PK, et al. Perspectives on treatment advances for stage III locally advanced unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer. Curr Oncol. 2019;26(1):37-42.
  4. Cancer.Net. Lung Cancer – Non-Small Cell: Stages. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer-non-small-cell/stages. Accessed September 2021.

US-57378 Last Updated 9/21

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Holly Campbell +1 302 885 2677

Brendan McEvoy +1 302 885 2677

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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Oncology Health Other Health General Health Clinical Trials Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

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Alliant Energy donates $4 million to help customers pay energy bills

Hometown Care Energy Fund assists financially disadvantaged customers in Iowa and Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisc. and CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A $4 million donation by Alliant Energy to its Hometown Care Energy Fund will help customers pay their energy bills. Customers who need financial assistance are encouraged to use the funds to avoid falling behind on their bills. Of the $4 million contribution, $2 million is available to customers in Iowa and $2 million is available to customers in Wisconsin.

“We understand many customers still need help paying their utility bill, even as the economy recovers from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to double our contribution to the fund to help our customers recover and get back on track,” said Linda Mattes, vice president of customer operations at Alliant Energy. “If customers are struggling financially, we do want them to know help is available.”

In Iowa, Alliant Energy partners with nonprofit organizations to distribute the funds. Customers in Iowa can review income eligibility requirements and apply for funding by contacting their local Community Action Agency.

In Wisconsin, Alliant Energy, in partnership with nonprofit organizations, will identify income-eligible customers and disperse funds to those customers.

The Hometown Care Energy Fund is supported annually with funds from Alliant Energy shareowners, as well as voluntary contributions from employees, retirees and customers. Shareowner contributions are not included in the rates charged to customers. For more information, including how to donate to the fund, visit alliantenergy.com/hometowncare.

“Providing support to those who need it the most is critical given the economic impacts of the pandemic,” said Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, the nonprofit advocate for Alliant Energy’s residential and small business customers in Wisconsin. “CUB appreciates the boost to the Hometown Care Energy Fund and Alliant Energy’s commitment both to help customers who have fallen behind on their energy bills and collaborate with us on innovative ideas to help folks in dire straits.”

“The addition to the Hometown Care Energy Fund will certainly help households that are struggling to make ends meet”, said Christine Taylor, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Energy Assistance at the Iowa Department of Human Rights. “We welcome the support of Alliant Energy to help Iowa families and individuals in need.”

In addition to the Hometown Care Energy Fund, Alliant Energy offers several options to help customers manage their bills. The company’s My Account site allows customers to set up a flexible payment arrangement based on their ability to pay, track their energy use and make fee-free credit card payments. Customers may also request a payment extension or set up weekly or monthly automatic payments.

Alliant Energy also assists financially disadvantaged customers in Wisconsin through an Arrears Management Program. This program reduces customers’ past-due balances each time they pay their current monthly bill on time.

To find other resources available for customers who need assistance, visit alliantenergy.com/energyassistance or call 211.

Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 975,000 electric and 420,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy’s mission is to deliver the energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company are Alliant Energy’s two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of the Nasdaq CRD Sustainability Index, Bloomberg’s 2020 Gender-Equality Index, and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Media contact: Morgan Hawk (319) 786-4040

Investor Relations: Zac Fields (319) 786-8146



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UPS Reimagines Approach To Holidays, Aims To Hire Over 100,000 Essential Seasonal Workers

Logistics leader offers ‘30 minutes or less’ from application to hire for qualified candidates

ATLANTA, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UPS (NYSE: UPS) announced today that it expects to hire more than 100,000 essential seasonal employees to support the anticipated annual increase in package volume that will begin in October 2021 and continue through January 2022.

“We’re preparing for another safe, record peak holiday season. With COVID-19 continuing to impact Americans, our services are more important than ever,” said Nando Cesarone, President, U.S. Operations. “We plan to hire more than 100,000 people for seasonal jobs, many of whom will have an offer in hand within 30 minutes of applying. Our seasonal hires will help us provide the most reliable service in the industry, just like we did last year.”

The company is filling full- and part-time seasonal positions – primarily package handlers, drivers, driver helpers and personal vehicle drivers – by offering competitive wages across multiple shifts in hundreds of locations across the country.

UPS has a track record of turning seasonal jobs into careers. Over the last three years, about one-third of people hired by UPS for seasonal package handler jobs were later hired in a permanent position when the holidays were over, and about 138,000 current UPS employees – nearly a third of the company’s U.S. workforce – started in seasonal positions.

That opportunity for a permanent job is important to many. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of seasonal hires want their job to turn into a long-term position, according to a recent survey of Americans who hold, held or would consider a seasonal job.

UPS encourages all candidates applying for a seasonal job to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The company has followed all World Health Organization guidelines for essential workers since the pandemic began.

Through the company’s Earn and Learn program, eligible seasonal employees who are students can earn up to $1,300 towards college expenses, in addition to their hourly pay, for three months of continuous employment.

Interested applicants should apply at www.upsjobs.com.

Video b-roll can be found at: 2021 UPS Jobs b-roll.

* TRUE Global Intelligence, the in-house research practice of FleishmanHillard, conducted an online survey of 1,000 past, present and potential American seasonal workers on behalf of UPS.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest package delivery companies with 2020 revenue of $84.6 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 220 countries and territories. The company’s more than 540,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed: Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world. UPS also takes a strong and unwavering stance in support of diversity, equality, and inclusion. The company can be found on the Internet at www.ups.com, with more information at www.about.ups.com and www.investors.ups.com.



UPS Media Relations
[email protected]

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Kanen Nominates Five Highly-Qualified Candidates for Election to the 1847 Goedeker Inc. Board at 2021 Annual Meeting

NEW YORK, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kanen Wealth Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, “Kanen”), a stockholder of 1847 Goedeker Inc. (NYSE: GOED) (“Goedeker” or the “Company”), with an ownership interest of approximately 5.5% of the Company’s outstanding common shares, today announced its nomination of five (5) highly-qualified and independent candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) scheduled for November 10, 2021.

David Kanen, the managing member of Kanen Wealth Management, stated, “We were pleased with the Company’s announcement on September 3, 2021, naming Albert Fouerti Chief Executive Officer and Ellery Roberts Executive Chairman of the Board. While this marks a positive step for the Company, we believe that Messrs. Fouerti and Roberts will require an enhanced Board with deeply relevant skillsets to support them in their pursuits of growth and value creation at the Company. The Company, itself, seems to acknowledge the need to strengthen the Board. We have nominated a slate of five highly-qualified independent directors. To be clear, we are not looking to replace either Messrs. Fouerti or Roberts. Rather, our objective in nominating this highly-qualified slate of director candidates is to ensure that a fully aligned, shareholder-minded Board is in place with directors who have directly relevant skillsets to help oversee the next phase of the Company’s transformation.   We appreciate the dialogue we have had to date with management and the Board of Goedeker and remain open to continuing an open and constructive dialogue regarding a reconstitution of the Board.”

Biographies of Kanen’s Nominees (in alphabetical order):

David L. Kanen (age 55)

  • Has served as the Managing Member of Kanen Wealth Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor and as President and Portfolio Manager of Philotimo Fund, LP, a hedge fund focused on small-cap value and activist, each since 2016.
  • Mr. Kanen served as an independent advisor at Aegis Capital, Inc., a full service securities broker-dealer, from 2012 to 2016.
  • Mr. Kanen served as a retail and institutional financial advisor at A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., a full service securities broker-dealer, from 1992 to 2004.
  • Mr. Kanen has served on the Board of Build a Bear Workshop Inc., a global retail company, since July 2019. Previously, Mr. Kanen served on the Boards of other public companies, including BBQ Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Famous Dave’s of America, including as Chairman of the Board from February 2019 to May 2021, and CarParts.com, Inc. (f/k/a U.S. Autoparts Network, Inc.), from January 2019 to June 2020.
  • Mr. Kanen received a B.S. in Marketing from Jacksonville University.

Nanxi Liu (age 31)

  • Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Enplug, Inc., a digital signage software company, since 2012.
  • Ms. Liu has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder of Nanoly Bioscience, Inc., a biotechnology company, since 2011 and she has served as a Partner at Xfactor Ventures, LP, a venture capital fund, since September, 2018.
  • Independent Director of CarParts.com, Inc. (f/k/a U.S. Autoparts Network, Inc.), since July 2020.
  • Ms. Liu has served as a member of the California New Motor Vehicle Board, Department of Motor Vehicles, a judicial body overseeing motor vehicle industry related disputes in the State of California, and as a Member of the Board of Advisors of Covington Capital Management, an investment advisor.
  • Ms. Liu served on the Board of Kindred Biosciences, Inc., a veterinary biopharmaceutical company, from February 2021 to August 2021.
  • Ms. Liu received her B.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley.

David Meniane (age 38)

  • Chief Operating and Financial Officer at CarParts.com, Inc. (f/k/a U.S. Autoparts Network, Inc.), since March 2019.
  • Mr. Meniane served as Executive Vice President of L.A. Libations, LLC, a start-up accelerator for consumer packaged goods companies in North America, from August 2016 to March 2019.
  • Chief Executive Officer of Victoria’s Kitchen, LLC, a specialty beverage company, from October 2011 through its acquisition by Hispanica International, Inc. in October 2017.
  • Served as Chief Financial Officer of Aflalo & Harkham Investments, a commercial real estate investment partnership, from 2012 to 2013.
  • Mr. Meniane holds a B.S. in Accounting and a M.B.T. from the University of Southern California and is a certified C.P.A.

Mehran Nia (age 56)

  • Senior Consultant for CarParts.com, Inc. (f/k/a U.S. Autoparts Network, Inc.), an e-commerce car parts company that he Co-Founded, since April 2021.
  • Prior to that, Mr. Nia served as CarParts.com, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and President from 1995 to 2007. In addition, Mr. Nia served on the Board of CarParts.com, Inc. from 1995 to 2007, and from May 2018 to April 2021.
  • Mr. Nia also served on the Board of Mylife.com, Inc., an e-commerce company, from 2014 to 2018.
  • Mr. Via studied biology at San Diego State University.

L. William Varner, Jr. (age 70)

  • Chief Executive Officer and on the Board at Select Interior Concepts, Inc., a distributor of interior building products, since June 2020.
  • Served as Chief Executive Officer of United Subcontractors, Inc., an installed building materials company, from July 2012 to May 2018.
  • Previously, Mr. Varner served as President and Chief Executive Officer and served on the Board of Aquilex Corporation, a specialty service provider to the energy sector, from 2004 to 2012.
  • Mr. Varner has served on the Board of Acousti Engineering Company of Florida, an Ardian portfolio company.
  • Mr. Varner has served as President for several global businesses in various equipment/component manufacturing and service industries. Previously, Mr. Varner served on the Board of Bartlett Holdings, Inc. (n/k/a BHI Energy), an industrial maintenance solutions company, from January 2011 to July 2017. Also, Mr. Varner served on the Board of The Identity Group Holdings Corporation, a signage solutions company, from March 2012 to June 2014.
  • Mr. Varner received his B.A. from The Citadel.

About Kanen Wealth Management, LLC

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC is a Florida-based investment adviser with a focused and differentiated fundamental approach to investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies. Kanen invests in deeply undervalued companies and actively engages with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all stockholders.

Investor contacts:
David L. Kanen, (631) 863-3100
www.kanenadvisory.com


Certain Information Concerning the Participants

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

Kanen Wealth Management, LLC, together with the other participants named herein (collectively, “Kanen”), intends to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompany WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders of 1847 Goedeker Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

KANEN STRONGLY ADVISES ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS’ PROXY SOLICITOR.

The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be Philotimo Fund, LP (“Philotimo”), Philotimo Focused Growth and Income Fund, a series of World Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (“PHLOX”), Kanen Wealth Management, LLC (“KWM”), David L. Kanen, Nanxi Liu, David Meniane, Mehran Nia and L. William Varner, Jr. As of the date hereof, Philotimo directly owns 3,061,870 shares of common stock par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). As of the date hereof, PHLOX directly owns 500,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, KWM may be deemed to beneficially own 5,663,736 shares of Common Stock, consisting of (i) 3,061,870 shares of Common Stock directly held by Philotimo, (ii) 500,000 shares of Common Stock directly held by PHLOX and (iii) 2,101,866 shares of Common Stock directly held by KWM. As of the date hereof, Mr. Kanen may be deemed to beneficially own 5,873,123 shares of Common Stock, consisting of (i) the 5,663,736 shares of Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Kanen Wealth Management, LLC (“KWM”) and (ii) 209,387 shares of Common Stock directly held by Mr. Kanen. KWM, as the general partner of Philotimo, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock directly held by Philotimo and as the investment manager of PHLOX, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock directly held by PHLOX. Mr. Kanen, as the managing member of KWM, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock directly held by KWM, Philotimo and PHLOX. As of the date hereof, Mr. Meniane directly owns 10,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Nia directly owns 664,072¹ shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, none of Ms. Liu or Mr. Varner owns any shares of Common Stock.

__________________________________________
¹ Includes 34,072 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain warrants owned by Mr. Nia.



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State’s Grid Operator Asks Californians to Conserve Energy Today Due to High Energy Demand and Tight Supplies Across the West

State’s Grid Operator Asks Californians to Conserve Energy Today Due to High Energy Demand and Tight Supplies Across the West

Operator’s Flex Alert Requests a Second Day of Voluntary Conservation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Everyone Can Take Simple Actions to Save Energy and Protect Grid Reliability

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
With hot temperatures and high energy demand across the western region, the state’s power grid operator is asking residents statewide to voluntarily conserve electricity this afternoon and evening when the grid is most stressed due to higher demand and energy supplies are tighter.

The Flex Alert, called by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), will be in effect today from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use.

The grid operator is asking all Californians to reduce electricity use during a Flex Alert to prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.

Saving Energy at Home

Here are ways Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers can cut their power use and help keep the lights (and air conditioning) on for everyone:

  • Pre-cool your home or workspace: Lower your thermostat in the morning. As the temperature rises outside, raise your thermostat and circulate the pre-cooled air with a fan.
  • Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting: Every degree you lower the thermostat means your air conditioner must work even harder to keep your home cool.
  • When it’s cooler outside, bring the cool air in: If the outside air is cool in the night or early morning, open windows and doors and use fans to cool your home.
  • Close your shades: Sunlight passing through windows heats your home and makes your air conditioner work harder. Block this heat by keeping blinds or drapes closed on the sunny side of your home.
  • Cool down with a fan: Fans keep air circulating, allowing you to raise the thermostat a few degrees and stay just as comfortable while reducing your air-conditioning costs.
  • Charge your EVs outside peak hours: Along with using large appliances, remember to charge your electric vehicle in the morning or after 9 p.m.
  • Clear the area around your AC unit: Your air-conditioning unit will operate more efficiently if it has plenty of room to breathe. The air conditioner’s outdoor unit, the condenser, needs to be able to circulate air without any interruption or obstruction. Also, dirty air filters make your air conditioner work harder to circulate air. By cleaning or replacing your filters monthly, you can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Saving Energy at Your Office or Business

If you’re working in an office setting, CAISO recommends the following:

  • Turn off any office equipment that is not currently in use. Alternately, look for sleep or power-saving modes in between uses during the day.
  • Enable power management settings on all computers so that they go to sleep and turn off screens when not in use.
  • Plug electronics such as coffeemakers and microwaves into power strips and switch them off when the day is done.
  • As you leave the office, get in the habit of checking to make sure computers, printers/copiers, and other office equipment is fully shut down. If possible, switch them off at the power strip to ensure they are no longer draining energy.

PG&E’s Demand Response programs offer incentives for business owners and residential customers who curtail their energy use during times of peak demand. PG&E has several of these programs, totaling about 245,000 enrolled PG&E customers.

PG&E’s website includes detailed information on these programs, which allow residential customers and business customers to save energy and money.

PG&E is prepared for the heat and, based on forecasts, doesn’t anticipate issues meeting increased demand for power.

Also, at this time, the grid operator has not indicated that it plans to call for rotating outages. PG&E does not project a need for a Public Safety Power Shutoff due to this weather, but the company’s meteorology team will continuously monitor conditions.

PG&E also urges customers to stay safe during extreme heat. The company funds cooling centers throughout its service area to help customers escape the heat and cool off. To find a center near you click here or call 1-877-474-3266.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Energy Other Energy Oil/Gas

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