Meridian Launches Two New Air-Dryable qPCR Mixes Enabling Direct Detection of DNA or RNA from Stool Samples

CINCINNATI, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meridian Bioscience, Inc., a leading global provider of diagnostic testing solutions and life science raw materials, announced today the addition of two new Air-Dryable™ Master Mixes with the launch of its Air-Dryable™ Direct DNA qPCR Stool and Air-Dryable™ Direct RNA/DNA qPCR Stool Mixes. These innovative master mixes are designed to develop room-temperature stable molecular diagnostic assays that directly target nucleic acid sequences from crude stool material.

Many gastrointestinal diagnostic tests use stool samples, including inflammatory bowel disease, gastric or colon cancer, and screening for harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses. In recent years, molecular diagnostic assays have gained in popularity due to their increased speed and sensitivity; however, using stool samples can be highly complex, as stool includes many inhibitors (e.g., bile salts, polysaccharides, and catabolic substances) that can dramatically reduce assay sensitivity and efficiency. Consequently, expensive and time-consuming extraction steps are often needed.

Meridian’s new Air-Dryable™ Direct DNA qPCR Stool and Air-Dryable™ Direct RNA/DNA qPCR Stool Mixes remove the need for time-consuming RNA or DNA purification or complex component optimization. They produce faster and more sensitive assays directly from crudely processed stool material. Setting up the assay can be as simple as adding primers and probes. The assay can then be used in a liquid format or dried down in a convection oven to create ambient-temperature stable assays without the need for lyophilization.

Florent Chang-Pi-Hin, Ph.D., Vice President Research & Development – Life Science, commented, “The use of Air-Dryable™ Direct qPCR Stool mixes for both DNA and RNA in the development of point-of-care assays offers easy sample analysis and reduces turnaround time. This increased efficiency can be essential in many applications, for example, bacterial food poisoning, where early detection and treatment can be lifesaving. Air-dryable technology also has the benefit of allowing oven-drying on site, saving manufacturers’ time and cost. It also allows manufacturers to control their entire manufacturing workflow.”

Meridian is committed to supplying innovative solutions to the diagnostic industry to simplify and accelerate the development of superior diagnostic assays. For more information on leveraging Air-Dryable™ technology for your assay development, please visit https://meridianlifescience.com/air-dryable-mixes or email [email protected].

About Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic products. We are dedicated to developing and delivering better solutions that give answers with speed, accuracy, and simplicity that are redefining the possibilities of life from discovery to diagnosis. Through discovery and development, we provide critical life science raw materials used in immunological and molecular tests for human, animal, plant, and environmental applications. Through diagnosis, we provide diagnostic solutions in areas including gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections and blood lead level testing. We build relationships and provide solutions to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers, and biotech companies in more than 70 countries around the world.

Meridian’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian’s website address is www.meridianbioscience.com.

Contact:

Charlie Wood
Vice President – Investor Relations
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Phone: +1 513.271.3700
Email: [email protected]



Kraft Heinz Global Government Affairs’ Abby Blunt Appointed Strategic Advisor; Bill Behrens Joining as Global Head of Government Affairs

Kraft Heinz Global Government Affairs’ Abby Blunt Appointed Strategic Advisor; Bill Behrens Joining as Global Head of Government Affairs

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC) today announced that Abby Blunt, who has led the company’s Washington, D.C.-based Global Government Affairs team since 2012, has been appointed Strategic Advisor for Government & ESG Affairs and Advisor to the Board. After a distinguished 20-year career with Kraft Heinz, Abby will transition to this new role in a part-time capacity, allowing her to focus on the two corporate boards she has recently been asked to join, while still supporting Kraft Heinz initiatives. Her new role is effective Oct. 4.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210909005684/en/

Abby Blunt, who has led Kraft Heinz's Washington, D.C.-based Global Government Affairs team since 2012, has been appointed Strategic Advisor for Government & ESG Affairs and Advisor to the Board. After a distinguished 20-year career with the company, Abby will transition to this new role in a part-time capacity. (Photo: Business Wire)

Abby Blunt, who has led Kraft Heinz’s Washington, D.C.-based Global Government Affairs team since 2012, has been appointed Strategic Advisor for Government & ESG Affairs and Advisor to the Board. After a distinguished 20-year career with the company, Abby will transition to this new role in a part-time capacity. (Photo: Business Wire)

Since 2012, Abby has led the organization through significant milestones, including the drafting and implementation of new labeling laws in the United States related to the disclosure of GMOs, advocating for the most significant changes to the U.S. tax code in more than a decade, driving the tariff exemption process in support of Kraft Heinz products, ingredients and packaging, and providing valuable Government Affairs support to the company’s factories around the world. Abby also spearheaded the company’s first Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event in Washington, D.C., where senior Kraft Heinz leaders and members of the U.S. Congress and diplomats representing communities where Kraft Heinz does business teamed up to pack meals for people in need around the world. This event supported the Kraft Heinz Company Foundation mission to fight global hunger, with the ambition of providing 1.5 billion nutritious meals to people in need by 2025.

More recently, Abby has showcased her leadership over the past 18 months as a member of the Kraft Heinz COVID-19 Global Task Force. In this capacity, Abby has played a critical role working with U.S., state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and Kraft Heinz industry peers to secure testing, COVID-19 vaccines, and other critical government assistance during the pandemic.

With Abby’s transition, Bill Behrens joins Kraft Heinz as Vice President, Global Head of Government Affairs, effective Sept. 13. Based in Washington, D.C., he will oversee the company’s Global Government Affairs team. In this role, he will lead the company’s efforts to advocate on critical issues with key policymakers and regulators in the United States and across the globe. Bill spent the last 10 years at General Electric (GE) – most recently as GE’s Head of Federal Government Affairs & Policy.

Throughout his time at GE, he developed and implemented federal government affairs advocacy strategies for all GE businesses. He also designed and successfully launched a corporate-wide initiative to add an extensive grassroots capacity to the company’s advocacy toolkit. “GE Voices” expanded the company’s reach to employees, suppliers, retirees and external stakeholders, and was successfully deployed during the U.S. export credit and tax debates in 2016 and 2017. Before joining GE, Bill worked as a Special Assistant to the President at the White House and a Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Department.

ABOUT THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY

We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC), inspired by our Purpose, Let’s Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2020 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of six consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we’re dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Kathy Krenger (media)

[email protected]

Christopher Jakubik, CFA (investors)

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Illinois Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Restaurant/Bar Other Retail Finance Supermarket Banking Professional Services Food/Beverage Retail

MEDIA:

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Bill Behrens joins Kraft Heinz as Vice President, Global Head of Government Affairs, effective Sept. 13. Based in Washington, D.C., he will oversee the company’s Global Government Affairs team. (Photo: Business Wire)
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Abby Blunt, who has led Kraft Heinz’s Washington, D.C.-based Global Government Affairs team since 2012, has been appointed Strategic Advisor for Government & ESG Affairs and Advisor to the Board. After a distinguished 20-year career with the company, Abby will transition to this new role in a part-time capacity. (Photo: Business Wire)

AXIS Insurance Expands US Renewables Team With New Hires

AXIS Insurance Expands US Renewables Team With New Hires

PEMBROKE, Bermuda–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
AXIS Insurance, the specialty insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital”) (NYSE:AXS), today announced three appointments within its US Renewables team, effective immediately. Becky Nace-Grover joins AXIS as a Senior Underwriter, Kamran Hameed joins as a Cross-Class Underwriter, and German Torres joins as an Underwriter. Their responsibilities will include strengthening new and existing broker and partner relationships, as well as developing new business opportunities to continue delivering high-level customer service.

“Given the continued growth of wind, solar and battery energy storage projects in the United States, we are expanding the size of our underwriting team to meet the needs of our insureds and broker partners alike. With their combined industry knowledge and expertise, Becky, Kamran and German will play a vital role in helping us meet the demands of the growing renewable energy market. I am delighted to welcome them to the team,” said Sam Walsh, Head of US Renewable Energy.

Ms. Nace-Grover was previously President of Niche Underwriting at ProSight Specialty Insurance where she oversaw various specialty portfolios, including the Solar Contractor program. Prior to that, she spent six years at GCube Insurance Services as an Underwriter focusing on Wind and Solar clients. She will be based in New York and report to Mr. Walsh.

Mr. Hameed was most recently a Senior Underwriter at Alta Risk LLC, where he worked with an array of renewable energy contractors. Prior to that, he was an Underwriter at AIG for six years. In his new role, Mr. Hameed will be based in Kansas City and report to Mr. Walsh.

Mr. Torres is transferring internally from the AXIS Property and Energy team, where he has underwritten property, political risk and renewable energy business based in Latin America. Prior to joining AXIS in 2019, Mr. Torres was a Property Underwriter at Hannover Re for five years. He is based in San Francisco and also reports to Mr. Walsh.

About AXIS Capital

AXIS Capital, through its operating subsidiaries, is a global provider of specialty lines insurance and treaty reinsurance with shareholders’ equity of $5.4 billion at June 30, 2021, and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore and Canada. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of “A+” (“Strong”) by Standard & Poor’s and “A” (“Excellent”) by A.M. Best. For more information about AXIS Capital, visit our website at www.axiscapital.com.

Follow AXIS Capital on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Investors

Matt Rohrmann

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited

[email protected]

(212) 940-3339

Media

Anna Kukowski

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited

[email protected]

(212) 715-3574

KEYWORDS: Europe Caribbean United Kingdom Bermuda

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Environment Insurance Alternative Energy Energy Finance

MEDIA:

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OptumHealth Education Launches LGBTQ+ Education Program for Providers

OptumHealth Education Launches LGBTQ+ Education Program for Providers

Developed in partnership with OutCare Health, the no-cost, on-demand accredited series and related resource guide teaches health care professionals about the unique needs and health disparities facing the LGBTQ+ community

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OptumHealth Education, in partnership with OutCare Health, has launched an accredited, no-cost, and publicly available education program to teach health care professionals about the unique health care needs and disparities experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. The series is designed to promote a more equitable, affirming and supportive health care environment for LGBTQ+ people through increased provider education and understanding.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LGBTQ+ people experience health disparities linked to social stigma and discrimination1. Studies have found that an estimated 8% of lesbian, gay and bisexual patients, and almost 27% of transgender patients, have reported being denied health care services2.

The program is an on-demand, publicly available webcast on OptumHealthEducation.com at no cost, and is eligible for continuing education credits. The series identifies the negative effects that implicit bias, stigma and discrimination can have on the mental and physical health of those in the LGBTQ+ community; discusses the appropriate pronouns and terminology to use in respectful communication with members of the LGBTQ+ community; covers the specific and unique health-related risks and disparities that are experienced by the LGBTQ+ community; and identifies how to create a health care environment in which members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel validated, welcome and safe to discuss health issues.

Future modules starting in fall 2021 will offer more in-depth provider-focused education around the unique health care needs of specific populations within the LGBTQ+ community, such as caring for transgender patients.

In conjunction with the education, Optum created PRIDE365+, a website that provides resources to educate and support LGBTQ+ community members and allies in creating open, safe and respectful working and living environments. PRIDE365+ includes a resource guide, an LGBTQ+ terminology and pronoun guide, a transgender support guide, and a “How to be an Ally” guide, along with informational content from Optum partner Trans Lifeline, a grassroots nonprofit 501(c)(3) offering emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis.

“LGBTQ+ people face a number of unique challenges and barriers when it comes to their health and well-being. Many of these barriers are rooted in discrimination, stigma and a simple lack of awareness and knowledge,” said Dr. Amy Nguyen Howell, Optum senior national medical director, Office for Provider Advancement. “We launched this educational series as part of our commitment to advancing health equity and improving the health care experience for everyone we serve.”

Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community: An Introduction, was developed in partnership with OutCare Health, a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) LGBTQ+ health equity organization, which offers directories of providers and public resources, mentorship, webinars, blogs, research and cultural competency trainings.

“We’re proud to launch this educational series with OptumHealth Education and Optum, and to address these disparities head-on,” said OutCare Health Founder and President Dr. Dustin Nowaskie. “Working with one of the leading health care services companies in the United States to design this training means we can reach more providers and make a meaningful impact on the barriers LGBTQ+ people experience within the health care system.”

Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community: An Introduction, is offered by OptumHealth Education, an organization dedicated to providing interprofessional continuing education that improves patient outcomes and positively affects the delivery of health care. OptumHealth Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

For more information or to sign up for the educational series, please visit OptumHealthEducation.com.

About OptumHealth Education

OptumHealth Education is dedicated to providing interprofessional continuing education that improves patient outcomes and positively impacts the delivery of health care. It works diligently to foster the professional development of engaged, lifelong learners who seek to advance the skills, strategy and/or performance relevant to their clinical practice and/or their role within the health care team. For more information, visit www.optumhealtheducation.com.


1https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health

2https://www.lambdalegal.org/publications/when-health-care-isnt-caring

Brad Lotterman

[email protected]

714-445-0453

KEYWORDS: Minnesota United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Health Continuing Radiology Practice Management Pharmaceutical Education Managed Care General Health Women Hospitals Teens Men LGBTQ+ Nursing Consumer Health

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ESS Inc. to Present at Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference

WILSONVILLE, Ore., Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS Inc.”, “ESS” or the “Company”), a manufacturer of long-duration iron flow batteries for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications, announces that Eric Dresselhuys, chief executive officer, will present as part of a long-duration energy storage panel at the Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference on Friday, September 10 at 9:45 am ET. The conference will be held virtually.

The event will be available to participants attending the conference.


About ESS Inc.

ESS Inc. designs, builds and deploys environmentally sustainable, low-cost, iron flow batteries for long-duration commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications requiring from 4 to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity. The Energy Warehouse™ and Energy Center™ use earth-abundant iron, salt, and water for the electrolyte, resulting in an environmentally benign, long-life energy storage solution for the world’s renewable energy infrastructure. Established in 2011, ESS Inc. enables project developers, utilities, and commercial and industrial facility owners to make the transition to more flexible non-lithium-ion storage that is better suited for the grid and the environment. For more information visit www.essinc.com.

ESS recently announced it would become a public company through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: STWO). Closing of the merger is subject to approval by the shareholders of both ESS and ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions.


Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving ESS and ACON S2 Acquisition Corp. (“ACON S2”). A full description of the terms of the transaction is provided in the registration statement on Form S4 (File No. 333-257232) filed with the SEC by ACON S2 that includes a prospectus with respect to the combined company’s securities to be issued in connection with the business combination and a proxy statement with respect to the shareholder meeting of ACON S2 to vote on the business combination. ACON S2 urges its investors, shareholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus as well as other documents filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about ACON S2, ESS and the transaction. After the registration statement is declared effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement will be mailed to shareholders of ACON S2 as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Once available, shareholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the S4, including the proxy statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: ACON S2, 1133 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).


Participants in the Solicitation

ACON S2 and ESS and their respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from ACON S2’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about ACON S2’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of ACON S2’s securities is set forth in ACON S2’s filings with the SEC. To the extent that holdings of ACON S2’s securities have changed since the amounts printed in ACON S2’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/consent solicitation statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.


No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of ACON S2, ESS or the combined company, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.


Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding ACON S2’s, ESS’ or their management teams’ expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “should”, “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on ACON S2’s and ESS’ current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on ACON S2, ESS or any successor entity of the proposed transactions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this presentation, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transactions may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of ACON S2’s securities, (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transactions, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination, (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transactions on ESS’ business relationships, operating results and business generally, (v) risks that the proposed transactions disrupt current plans and operations of ESS, (vi) changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which ESS plans to operate, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting ESS’ business and changes in the combined capital structure and (vii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transactions, and identify and realize additional opportunities. There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting ACON S2, ESS or any successor entity of the proposed transactions will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond ACON S2’s or ESS’ control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of ACON S2’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-248515), the registration statement on Form S4 (File No. 333-257232) filed in connection with the business combination, and other documents filed by ACON S2 from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, ACON S2 and ESS are not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither ACON S2 nor ESS gives any assurance that either the ACON S2 or ESS, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations.


Contacts

Investors:
Erik Bylin
[email protected]

Media:
Gene Hunt
Trevi Communications, Inc.
978.750.0333 x.101
[email protected]



ironSource Launches New User Growth Tools for iOS ToolKit

ironSource Launches New User Growth Tools for iOS ToolKit

Two key user-growth products: comprehensive analysis for Universal SkAdNetwork Reporting, and campaign optimization through ad revenue Conversion Value Manager

TEL AVIV, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
ironSource, a leading business platform for the App Economy, announced today the launch of two key products that support app developers in the new iOS era: Universal SKAN Reporting (SKAdNetwork) and CV Manager (Conversion Value). Universal SKAN Reporting provides developers with all their postbacks in real time directly from Apple, allowing them to view and analyze the data and get insights on user acquisition (UA) performance from all networks. The CV Manager enables developers who are using ironSource’s mediation platform to map the conversion values of new users according to the ad revenue generated during the first 24 hours since install. This allows developers to better understand user value and users’ predicted LTV, helping them optimize UA campaigns.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210909005140/en/

ironSource Launches New User Growth Tools for iOS ToolKit (Photo: Business Wire)

ironSource Launches New User Growth Tools for iOS ToolKit (Photo: Business Wire)

“Our goal is to enable app developers to unlock a flywheel of continuous growth by utilizing our platform, and these solutions are another step in that direction,” explains Nimrod Zuta, VP Product, Sonic, at ironSource. “We have a deep understanding of the needs of ad-based apps and the products in the iOS Toolkit provide developers with unique insights on how to optimize their monetization and UA – both of which are heavily connected – in an iOS 14 and 15 era. This information will help developers better understand their users and subsequently gain an edge on their growth activity in this new reality.”

The iOS privacy changes have necessitated a new approach in the way UA managers understand user value and therefore how they optimize advertising strategies to drive user growth. Whereas with iOS 14 postbacks were only sent to each individual network, with the iOS 15 changes expected this month, app advertisers will be able to get a copy of all of their SkAdNetwork postbacks. Advertisers can then use ironSource’s advanced Universal SKAN Reporting product to analyse all of their postback data in real time, and make timely, data-driven decisions on how to best optimize their UA strategy across all networks. Developers can access advanced reporting tools that enrich their data and help save time on validating and analysing the data themselves. All UA managers need to do is add the ironSource URL to the Info.plist file and they will receive all of the data, which can then be transferred to any MMP or other party of the advertiser’s choice. Or, they can pass the postbacks to ironSource from any other server and then access the advanced reports.

ironSource’s CV Manager is tailor-made for developers who rely heavily on in-app ads, and who require a dedicated solution that is focused on their monetization needs. Once a developer has mapped their conversion value buckets, ironSource updates the conversion values for each new user based on the ad revenue they generated in the first 24 hours from the app being launched. Developers can then see a breakdown of how many users fall into each conversion value bucket, together with ARPU D0, giving them an understanding of user quality, enabling them to optimize user acquisition.

The data can further be leveraged when the ironSource CV Manager is used together with the ironSource Universal SKAN Reporting, as a developer can immediately receive the estimated value of each conversion value, uncovering the actual return for campaigns across all networks.

About ironSource

ironSource is a leading business platform for the App Economy. App developers use ironSource’s platform to turn their apps into successful, scalable businesses, leveraging a comprehensive set of software solutions which help them grow and engage users, monetize content, and analyze and optimize business performance to drive more overall growth. The ironSource platform also empowers telecom operators to create a richer device experience, incorporating relevant app and service recommendations to engage users throughout the lifecycle of the device. By providing a comprehensive business platform for the core constituents of the app economy, ironSource allows customers to focus on what they do best, creating great apps and user experiences, while we enable their business expansion in the App Economy. For more information please visit www.is.com

Media Contact:

Michal Chafets

[email protected]

+972548300831

Olivia Sanford

[email protected]

+1(917) 439-4202

KEYWORDS: United States North America Israel Middle East

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Telecommunications Software Internet Marketing Advertising Communications Technology Mobile/Wireless

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ironSource Launches New User Growth Tools for iOS ToolKit (Photo: Business Wire)

Cities, Counties and Public Sector Organizations in the State of Florida Implement GTY Technology Solutions to Provide Better Experience for Citizens and Government Personnel

Cities, Counties and Public Sector Organizations in the State of Florida Implement GTY Technology Solutions to Provide Better Experience for Citizens and Government Personnel

Growing number of Public Sector Organizations in Florida are implementing cloud-based solutions to improve constituent experience

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GTY Technology Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: GTYH) (“GTY”), a leading provider of cloud solutions for the public sector, announced today that its subsidiaries, Bonfire,CityBase, eCivis, OpenCounter and Questica, are working with 95 government entities and public sector organizations throughout Florida to enhance digital services and transform the constituent experience.

Bonfire, a leader in strategic sourcing and eProcurement software for the public sector, now supports 18 public sector clients throughout the state of Florida including 7 K-12 and higher education institutions, 4 municipalities, 2 healthcare institutions and 5 special districts including 3 transit authorities. Its scalable cloud-based solutions help procurement and finance departments better manage supplier contracts and digitize the procurement process to support strategic spending of public funds throughout the state.

CityBase, a leading provider of government and utility payment technology, is helping four city and county governments in Florida provide a better payment experience for their constituents. The City of Edgewater, Hillsborough County, St. Lucie County, and Volusia County have elected to modernize their payments process with self-service kiosks that accept cash, check, and cards. This 24/7 payment option especially provides residents who prefer to pay their bills in cash, or those who need to make payments outside of business hours, with a secure and convenient alternative to taking time off work during business hours or using costly third-party services. The integrated, cloud-based kiosk technology digitizes the in-person payment experience to significantly reduce person-to-person contact during the pandemic, and will reduce workloads for city staff by eliminating historically manual reconciliation processes.

eCivis, the most widely used SaaS-based grants management solution for state, local and tribal governments, is working with 23 cities, 10 counties, 1 college and 2 special districts in the State of Florida. Recently, eCivis has broadened its grants management support throughout the state by collaborating with the Florida League of Cities (FLC) to launch The FLC Grants Assistance Program. Through this initiative, eCivis is providing each of FLC’s 411 incorporated cities, towns, and villages access to the nation’s largest professionally curated database of grants and the tools to help them successfully identify, apply for and manage the application process. The organization has seen a very high level of early engagement, with more than 100 cities signed up in the first three months.

OpenCounter, a leading provider of public sector permitting technology, supports a number of municipalities in Florida including Orlando, Miami, Deland and Gainesville with its Business, Residential and Special Event portals. Each solution improves the permitting experience for both City Hall and constituents by providing a single source of information for applicants, and significantly reducing the burden on government personnel. OpenCounter’s suite of portals directly promotes economic development by making the process of starting and maintaining a business or event accessible and easy.

GTY Technology’s budgeting units Questica and Sherpa, industry-leading providers of cloud-based budget, performance, and transparency solutions for the public sector, are supporting a growing number of customers in the State of Florida including 20 non-profit organizations, 10 local governments, 2 higher education institutions and 1 aviation authority. Questica’s intuitive, cloud-based budgeting software streamlines the budgeting process and curates information based on historic data to inform data-driven decisions. These advanced capabilities have empowered customers throughout the state, such as Osceola County, Pinellas County, and Daytona Beach, to be more strategic, collaborative, and agile in response to new and evolving stimulus mandates.

“We have seen a significant acceleration in the appetite for digital tools and services in the public sector,” said TJ Parass, CEO of GTY Technology. “Navigating the complexities that accompanied the global health crisis over the past two years has irrevocably changed citizen expectations, and governments are taking significant steps to provide a better, more comprehensive digital experience. Florida is a great example of a state where cities, counties and public sector organizations are looking beyond the pandemic and focusing on how to provide the best service in the long-term.”

For more information about GTY Technology, the GTY family of companies, or investment opportunities, visit www.gtytechnology.com.

About GTY Technology Holdings Inc.

GTY Technology Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: GTYH) (“GTY”) brings leading public sector technology companies together to achieve a new standard in stakeholder engagement and resource management. Through its six business units, GTY offers an intuitive cloud-based suite of solutions for state and local governments, education institutions, and healthcare organizations spanning functions in procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, and permitting: Bonfire provides strategic sourcing and procurement software to enable confident and compliant spending decisions; CityBase provides government payment solutions to connect constituents with utilities and government agencies; eCivis offers a grant management system to maximize grant revenues and track performance; OpenCounter builds permitting and licensing software to streamline interactions between applicants and staff; Questica offers budget preparation and management software to deliver on financial and non-financial strategic objectives; Sherpa provides public sector budgeting software and consulting services.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the company’s expectations with respect to future performance. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other public health crises, on our operations, our customers and the economy; (2) the risk that the ongoing integration of the businesses acquired in our business combination disrupts current plans and operations; (3) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (4) our failure to generate sufficient cash flow from our business to make payments on our debt; (5) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (6) the possibility that the company may be adversely affected by other economic, business or competitive factors; and (7) other risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Media:

Kate Nesbitt

Alloy Communications for GTY Technology

[email protected]

240-630-2653

KEYWORDS: Florida Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Public Policy/Government Software State/Local Finance Public Policy Professional Services Technology Other Technology

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NextNav Launches World’s First Integration of Vertical Location into Mobile Game, Atlas: Earth, Ushering in New Era of Immersive Gaming

Precise vertical location service, Pinnacle, adds next level of location intelligence to mobile games

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNav, a leader in next generation GPS, today announced that its vertical location service, Pinnacle, has been integrated into Atlas: Earth, a soon-to-be-released game developed by Atlas Reality. With the 3D geolocation capabilities of NextNav Pinnacle, Atlas: Earth will deliver a gaming experience built around the real environments of users, especially in densely populated areas and multistory buildings. The integration of vertical location powering in-game functionality marks a first for the gaming industry, which is expected to grow to over a $215 billion market by 2024.

“The integration of Pinnacle into Atlas: Earth represents a milestone moment for the gaming industry,” said Ganesh Pattabiraman, CEO of NextNav. “With precise 3D geolocation, we’re ushering in a new era of immersive gaming experiences that will redefine the way we interact, explore, and live in both the physical and virtual world – bringing us closer to building the Metaverse. We’re excited to work with Atlas Reality to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for consumers.”

Atlas: Earth, which launches on October 18, 2021 and is now available for pre-registrations, will allow users to purchase virtual parcels of real estate that, when owned, operate as digital properties tethered to real locations. Within the game, Pinnacle will deliver precise vertical location intelligence, enabling users to record visits to locations such as the top floor of the Empire State Building or the Skygarden in the San Francisco Federal Building. The game introduces a first-of-its-kind model in which users can earn real income by selling virtual items that can only be purchased when a user is physically on-premise – which is verified by NextNav’s Pinnacle – at locations owned within the game’s universe.

“In 2020, Atlas Reality launched its debut location-based game, Atlas: Empires, which has recorded nearly 500,000 global downloads,” said Sami Khan, Co-Founder and CEO at Atlas Reality. “With the launch of our next game, Atlas: Earth, the integration of Pinnacle will allow us to set a new standard for immersive gaming experiences. We’re proud to be the first game to bring this location-based experience to consumers, and we’re looking forward to continuing to lead the industry in fusing physical surroundings into consumer gaming experiences.”

In late 2020, NextNav released its Pinnacle SDK for the Unity engine, enabling millions of developers to integrate vertical location capabilities into any application built with the Unity engine, including geolocation games, training applications, industrial and manufacturing apps and beyond. More recently, the plug-in became a Unity Verified Solution – which ensures it’s optimized for integration with the latest version of the Unity editor, and provides a seamless experience for Unity developers. Developers who utilize the NextNav Pinnacle SDK can integrate it into any application built with the Unity engine.

In June, NextNav entered into a definitive merger agreement with Spartacus Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: TMTS, TMTSW, and TMTSU) (“Spartacus”) in a transaction that would result in NextNav being listed on the Nasdaq. The transaction is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2021 or early in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.


About NextNav

NextNav provides next generation GPS. NextNav Pinnacle uses highly accurate vertical positioning to transform location services so they reflect the 3D world around us. Our revolutionary TerraPoiNT system keeps critical infrastructure resilient with reliable Position, Navigation and Timing services in the absence of GPS. With carrier-grade dependability and a rapidly expanding nationwide service footprint, NextNav is driving a whole new ecosystem for geolocation applications and services.


Media Contact

Chelsea Hoedl
LaunchSquad for NextNav
[email protected]

A graphic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/652e31cd-24a6-469a-83a2-3e015e30cc3a



VERB to Present at H.C. Wainwright 23rd Annual Global Investment Conference on September 13-15, 2021

The Company will host verbLIT, an interactive showcase of its latest video-based sales technologies, on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at 4 p.m. PT

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. and SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) (“VERB” or the “Company”), the leader in interactive video-based sales enablement applications, including interactive livestream eCommerce and shoppable video, webinar, CRM, and marketing applications for entrepreneurs and enterprises, today announced that CEO Rory J. Cutaia will present at the H.C. Wainwright 23rd Annual Global Investment Conference to be held on September 13-15, 2021. He will also be meeting one-on-one with institutional investors virtually throughout the conference.

To view the presentation webcast on demand beginning on September 13, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. ET, please register using this link.

Mr. Cutaia will discuss the Company’s recent milestone announcements, including the release of verbMAIL for Microsoft Outlook, which provides interactive video email capabilities to enterprise and individual Outlook users, newly added powerful features such as attribution for verbLIVE and artificial intelligence/business intelligence to enhance sales productivity, client wins through partnerships with Market America Worldwide | SHOP.COM and NewAge, Inc., VERB’s upcoming interactive technology symposium verbLIT, and the growth of the livestream online commerce industry.

About VERB
Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), the market leader in interactive video-based sales applications, transforms how businesses attract and engage customers. The Company’s Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, platform is based on its proprietary interactive video technology, and is comprised of a suite of sales enablement business software products offered on a subscription basis. Its software applications are available in over 60 countries and in more than 48 languages to large enterprise and small business sales teams that need affordable, easy-to-use, and quick-to-get-results sales tools. Available in both mobile and desktop versions, VERB’s applications are offered as a fully integrated suite, as well as on a standalone basis, and include verbLIVE (an Interactive Livestream eCommerce and Shoppable Video and Webinar applications), verbCRM (a White-labelled Interactive Video-based Customer Relationship Management application), verbTEAMS (a Self On-boarding version of verbCRM with built-in verbLIVE and Salesforce synchronization for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs), verbLEARN (an Interactive video and gamified Learning Management System application), and verbMAIL (an interactive video mail solution integrated seamlessly into Microsoft Outlook). With 200 employees, the Company maintains offices in Newport Beach, California and American Fork, Utah. 

For more information, please visit: www.verb.tech.

Follow VERB here:

VERB on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo/
VERB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerbTech_Co
VERB on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verb-tech/
VERB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eCb_fwQlwEG3ywHDJ4_KQ
Download verbMAIL here: verbMAIL on Microsoft AppSource Store

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release relate to, among other things, the Company’s projected financial performance and operating results, including SaaS Recurring Revenue, as well as statements regarding the Company’s progress towards achieving its strategic objectives, including the successful integration and future performance of acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures on our business, customers, markets and the worldwide economy; our plans to attract new customers, retain existing customers and increase our annual revenue; the development and delivery of new products, including verbLIVE; our plans and expectations regarding software-as-a-service offerings; our ability to execute on, integrate, and realize the benefits of any acquisitions; fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and other operating measures; increasing competition; general economic, market and business conditions. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Investor Relations:

888.504.9929
[email protected]

Media Contact:

855.250.2300, ext.107
[email protected]



Boehringer Ingelheim and Twist Bioscience Enter Therapeutic Antibody Discovery Collaboration

Boehringer Ingelheim and Twist Bioscience Enter Therapeutic Antibody Discovery Collaboration

– Research collaboration covers multiple antibody research programs –

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & INGELHEIM, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ:TWST), a company enabling customers to succeed through its offering of high-quality synthetic DNA using its silicon platform, today announced a broad-based research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to use Twist’s proprietary antibody libraries to discover therapeutic antibodies against multiple targets provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210909005694/en/

“Boehringer Ingelheim believes Twist’s ability to generate potent, diverse therapeutic antibodies by mining its comprehensive libraries, combined with our extensive capabilities and experience in drug discovery and development, will enable us to deliver breakthrough opportunities to patients,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D., Senior Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We look forward to working with Twist on molecular targets in a broad range of disease areas,” added Wood.

Under the terms of the agreement, Twist Biopharma, a division of Twist, will utilize its “Library of Libraries,” a panel of synthetic antibody phage display libraries derived only from sequences that exist in the human body, to identify potential therapeutic antibody candidates. Twist and Boehringer Ingelheim will work together to validate and optimize any resulting new antibody candidates, which could be researched against a range of therapeutic areas. Boehringer Ingelheim retains exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize any therapeutic antibodies discovered as part of the collaboration.

Twist will receive an upfront payment for each program entry. In addition, Twist has the potential to earn up to a total of $710 million in success-based clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments for the multiple target discovery programs.

“This discovery collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim covering numerous targets truly illustrates the power of our antibody libraries. We have the ability to generate precise antibodies to a diverse range of targets, which together with Boehringer Ingelheim’s strength in drug development capabilities, could mean multiple new more personalized treatments in the future for patients,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist.

About Twist Biopharma

By leveraging our unique ability to manufacture DNA at scale, we can construct proprietary antibody libraries precisely designed to match sequences that occur in the human body. This library of libraries gives our partners an integral and unbiased resource for antibody therapeutic discovery and optimization. This precise and rational approach to library fabrication combined with sophisticated bioinformatics and software expertise expedites antibody discovery by decreasing risk, increasing speed, and lowering the failure rate for antibody therapeutic development.

About Twist Bioscience Corporation

Twist Bioscience is a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology. The core of the platform is a proprietary technology that pioneers a new method of manufacturing synthetic DNA by “writing” DNA on a silicon chip. Twist is leveraging its unique technology to manufacture a broad range of synthetic DNA-based products, including synthetic genes, tools for next-generation sequencing (NGS) preparation, and antibody libraries for drug discovery and development. Twist is also pursuing longer-term opportunities in digital data storage in DNA and biologics drug discovery. Twist makes products for use across many industries including healthcare, industrial chemicals, agriculture and academic research.

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Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein, including without limitation Twist’s ability to discover novel therapeutic antibodies against multiple targets and to achieve any of the clinical, regulatory or commercial milestones, are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that may cause Twist Bioscience’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties of the ability to attract new customers and retain and grow sales from existing customers; risks and uncertainties of rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in synthetic biology could make the products Twist Bioscience is developing obsolete or non-competitive; the retention of employees of acquired companies and the ability of Twist Bioscience to successfully integrate acquired companies and to achieve expected benefits, risks of third party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate Twist Bioscience’s patents or proprietary rights; and the risk that Twist Bioscience’s proprietary rights may be insufficient to protect its technologies. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Twist Bioscience’s business in general, see Twist Bioscience’s risk factors set forth in Twist Bioscience’s Quarterly Report Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2021 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Twist Bioscience specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that improve the lives of humans and animals. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. Around 52,000 employees serve more than 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: www.annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Twist Bioscience

Angela Bitting

SVP, Corporate Affairs

925-202-6211

[email protected]

Boehringer Ingelheim

Dr. Reinhard Malin

Head of Communications Innovation Unit

Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH

Media + PR

P: +49 6132 77-90815

[email protected]

Linda Ruckel

Senior Associate Director, Media and Corporate Reputation

Boehringer Ingelheim U.S.

Media + PR

P: +1 203-791-6672

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: California Germany Europe United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Research Genetics Nanotechnology Biotechnology Health Pharmaceutical Other Science Science

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