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PALO ALTO, Calif. and LONDON, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Babylon Holdings Limited (“Babylon“), a world leading company reengineering how people engage with their health at every step of the care continuum, today announced its financial and operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Ali Parsa, CEO and Founder of Babylon said: “Babylon again passed many milestones in the first half of 2021, growing revenue by 472% year on year. We continued to execute, putting us amongst the fastest growing companies worldwide, including in the US, where since our initial launch last year, we gained millions of covered members and, as of today, over 100,000 value-based lives.”

“But I believe we have not even really begun. We are on the verge of a fundamental overhaul in the global system of delivery of healthcare, with finally everything that is solid melting into air as it did years ago with other sectors like retail, finance and information. Out of this the healthcare sector will also emerge some of the world’s most valuable and impactful companies by creating a more scalable, accessible and affordable value proposition worldwide.”

“We have the determination and the confidence to focus on this long-term goal, and not be distracted by short term glory. Babylon has one of the largest and most diverse collections of scientists, engineers and clinicians working together across the world, led by an accomplished management team with a proven track record, addressing affordability and accessibility of healthcare. We will continue to invest to create a powerful and unique combination of our digital-first, AI-enabled, comprehensive clinical services that will in time transform every touch point of the care continuum. I couldn’t be more proud of our Babylonian team and we look at these results that were delivered by every Babylonian as just a confirmation that we are on the right path,” said Parsa.

Financial Results and Operating Metrics Summary

Improvement in the following financial and operational metrics for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020:

• Revenue totaled $128.8 million compared to $22.5 million, an increase of 472% year over year
• Net loss improved to $75.7 million compared to a net loss of $90.8 million
• Adjusted EBITDA loss improved to $54.2 million compared to a loss of $76.2 million
• VBC member count in the U.S. was zero on June 30, 2020 versus ~84,000 on June 30, 2021
• Coverage of residents under UK Babylon GP at Hand grew to over 102,000 on June 30, 2021, now largest GP practice in UK
• In Rwanda, appointment volumes tripled from ~44,000 in June 2020 to ~132,000 in June 2021
• Users² increased 55% year-over-year to 8.2 million on June 30, 2021

H1 2021 and Recent Highlights

• On June 3, 2021, Babylon entered into a definitive merger agreement with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: KURI), a special purpose acquisition company; this combination is further supported by a $230 million PIPE – funded over 85% from new, institutional investors
• In January 2021, TELUS acquired Babylon’s Canadian venture and concurrently signed a long-term licensing deal to continue offering Babylon’s innovative AI-driven digital health tools to TELUS’ customers. This is Babylon’s first long-term license of its digital platform including its telehealth capabilities and AI-tools together.
• In June 2021, Babylon entered into an agreement to make its Babylon 360 solution available to ~15,000 members across New York state commencing on July 1, 2021, and combined with more members in Missouri and California, total VBC Members in the U.S. grew to over 100,000
• Publication of peer-reviewed research in July 2021 affirmed that Babylon’s digital-first model in the UK delivered 15% – 35% lower hospital care costs than the regional average³ – confirming Babylon’s proprietary model of care can produce meaningful cost savings
• In August 2021, Babylon announced that it was extending its partnership with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to introduce an integrated and accessible digital-first healthcare experience to be made available to ~55,000 Wolverhampton residents in October 2021
• Babylon completed preparation for participation commencing January 2022 in one of the innovative VBC programs sponsored by CMS⁴ and CMMI⁵ and is awaiting finalization of CMS processes and approvals
• Babylon accelerated its rate of product revisions and releases 4-fold, putting it in a category with other world-class technology companies

¹ Including GP at Hand members
² Number of members who have joined our digital platform and complete all mandatory fields on the digital platform
³ Commissioned by Babylon Holdings and published in Journal of Medical Internet Research. Study compared spending per patient for Babylon GP at Hand to the regional average spending over a two-year period from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 in North West London
⁴ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
⁵ Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation

Leadership Development

Babylon has made substantial investment in its leadership team over the past year. These additions include:

• Paul-Henri Ferrand, former President at Google Cloud and Dell, North America as the company’s Chief Business Officer (CBO);
• Steven Davis, former SVP and GM of AI and data at Expedia as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO);
• Stacy Saal, former GM/COO of Prime Air at Amazon as the Chief Operating Officer (COO);
• Yon Nuta, former Chief Product Officer at Gaia, Inc as the Chief Product Officer (CPO);
• Samira Lowman, former VP, Organization and Talent Acquisition & Development at General Electric as Chief People Officer (CPO); and
• Darshak Sanghavi, former Chief Medical Officer at United Healthcare and Optum as Global Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $42.4 million.

In August 2021, Babylon completed a debt offering of $50 million which is due to be repaid at the completion of the transaction with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp.

Financial Outlook

“We’re pleased with our first half results and strong execution of our growth plan, and we remain on track to deliver our 2021 revenue and adjusted EBITDA expectations,” said Charlie Steel, Chief Financial Officer of Babylon. “Our business and operational momentum continue to accelerate as we enter the second half, and our world class team has us well positioned to further our track record of robust growth to achieve our revenue growth and objectives for 2022 and beyond.”

FY 2021 Financial Guidance

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company reiterates its previously provided outlook and continues to expect:

• Revenue of ~$321 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of ~ ($140) million

These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Please refer to the Forward-Looking Statements disclaimer below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Upon the closing of the definitive merger agreement with Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp., which is expected in October 2021, subject to receipt of Alkuri stockholder approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the new company will become Babylon Holdings Limited and will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BBLN. The transaction reflects an initial pro forma equity value of approximately $4.2 billion and is expected to deliver up to $575 million of gross proceeds to fund Babylon’s pro forma balance sheet, including the contribution of up to $345 million of cash held in Alkuri Global’s trust account assuming no redemptions. The combination is further supported by a $230 million PIPE – funded over 85% from new, institutional investors.

A reconciliation of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and non-IFRS results has been provided in the accompanying tables. An explanation of these measures is included in the supplemental tables to this press release.

Accompanying supplemental information will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Babylon’s web site at https://www.babylonhealth.com/us/investor-relations.

About Babylon
 

Babylon is a world leading, digital-first, value-based care company whose mission is to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone on Earth.

Babylon is re-engineering healthcare, shifting the focus from sick care to preventative healthcare so that patients experience better health, and reduced costs. This is achieved by leveraging a highly scalable, digital-first platform combined with high quality, virtual clinical operations to provide integrated, personalized healthcare. We endeavor to support patients’ health needs, all from their devices, with the aim to promote longer and healthier lives. When sick, Babylon provides assistance to navigate the health system, connecting patients digitally to the right clinician 24/7, at no additional cost.

Founded in 2013, we have since delivered millions of clinical consultations and AI interactions, with c.2m clinical consultations and c.3.9m AI interactions in 2020 alone. We work with governments, health providers and insurers across the globe, and support healthcare facilities from small local practices to large hospitals. For more information, please visit www.babylonhealth.com/us.

EBITDA is defined as profit (loss), adjusted for depreciation, amortization, net finance income (costs), and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit (loss), adjusted for depreciation, amortization, net finance income (costs), income taxes, share-based compensation, impairment expenses, foreign exchange gains or losses and gains or losses on sale of subsidiaries.

We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful metrics for investors to understand and evaluate our operating results and ongoing profitability because it permits investors to evaluate our recurring profitability from our ongoing operating activities.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have certain limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations as reported under IFRS. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definition of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers, because some issuers calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently or not at all, limiting their usefulness as direct comparative measures. 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination between Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp. (“Alkuri Global”) and Babylon Holdings Limited (“Babylon“) and the other parties to the Merger Agreement dated June 3, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), Babylon filed a registration statement on Form F-4 dated July 2, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to Babylon’s securities to be issued in connection with the proposed business combination (File No. 333-257694), and Alkuri Global intends to file a preliminary proxy statement in connection with Alkuri Global’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by Alkuri Global’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the proxy statement, as well as the preliminary prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Alkuri Global’s stockholders in connection with the completion of the business combination. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, Alkuri Global shall mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination. Alkuri Global’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/consent solicitation/prospectus, in connection with Alkuri Global’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination (the “Special Meeting”), because these documents will contain important information about Alkuri Global, Babylon and the proposed business combination.

Alkuri Global’s stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, or definitive proxy statement/prospectus once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination and other documents filed with the SEC by Alkuri Global, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp., 4235 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37215, Attention: Secretary, (615) 632-0303.

Participants in Solicitation

Alkuri Global, Babylon, and their respective directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Alkuri Global stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Alkuri Global stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and officers of Alkuri Global in Alkuri Global’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-251832), which was declared effective by the SEC on February 4, 2021. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Alkuri Global stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters to be voted upon at its Special Meeting will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus for the proposed business combination when available. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed business combination will be included in the Registration Statement that Babylon intends to file with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains, and certain oral statements made by representatives of Babylon and Alkuri Global and their respective affiliates, from time to time may contain, a number of “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. When used in this communication, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning Babylon’s or Alkuri Global’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, debt levels, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, Babylon’s and Alkuri Global’s expectations with respect to the future performance of the combined company, including whether this proposed business combination will generate returns for stockholder, the anticipated addressable market for the combined company, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the business combination, and the timing of the transaction.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Babylon’s or Alkuri Global’s management’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors include, but are not limited to: (a) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement and the proposed business combination contemplated thereby; (b) the inability to complete the proposed business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Alkuri Global or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (c) the ability to meet Nasdaq’s listing standards following the consummation of the proposed business combination; (d) the failure of investors in the PIPE to fund their commitments upon the closing of the proposed business combination; (e) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Babylon or its subsidiaries as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; (f) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (g) costs related to the proposed business combination; (h) changes in applicable laws or regulations, including legal or regulatory developments (such as the SEC’s recently released statement on accounting and reporting considerations for warrants in SPACs) which could result in the need for Alkuri Global to restate its historical financial statements and cause unforeseen delays in the timing of the business combination and negatively impact the trading price of Alkuri Global’s securities and the attractiveness of the business combination to investors; (i) the possibility that Babylon may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; and (j) other risks and uncertainties to be identified in the registration/proxy statement relating to the business combination, when available, and in other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Alkuri Global and Babylon and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Babylon and Alkuri Global caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, neither Alkuri Global nor Babylon undertakes any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

No Offer or Solicitations

This communication is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to the proposed business combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

No Assurances

There can be no assurance that the proposed business combination will be completed, nor can there be any assurance, if the proposed business combination is completed, that the potential benefits of combining the companies will be realized.

Contacts:

Media

Adam Davison


[email protected]

Investors

Kathy Kress


[email protected]

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SOURCE Babylon

CHANGZHOU, China
, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — EZGO Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: EZGO) (“EZGO” or “we”, “our“, or “the Company“), a manufacturer of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles in China, today announced it entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with China Railway Construction Property Management Co., Ltd. (“CRCPM”), whereby EZGO and CRCPM plan to jointly develop and promote all-round intelligent property management services aiming to increase safety and security measures for residents of densely populated high-rise buildings and neighborhoods.

On June 21, 2021, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China issued the Regulations on Fire Safety Management of High-Rise Civil Buildings (the “Regulations”), effective on August 1, 2021. The Regulations prohibit parking or charging of electric bicycles in public halls, evacuation walkways, stairwells, and safety exits of high-rise civil buildings. The Regulations also encourage the establishment of centralized storage and charging areas for electric bicycles in high-rise residential communities.

Pursuant to the Regulations and the industry’s overall efforts to improve general safety, EZGO and CRCPM have entered into this strategic cooperation agreement to leverage the technology advantages of EZGO and the management resources of CRCPM, with a goal of developing a comprehensive offering of intelligent property management service solutions. EZGO will provide products and related services such as unmanned patrol vehicles and smart charging piles , based on the needs of the specific communities under CRCPM management. The term of the cooperation agreement is five years, and the two parties plan to sign landing contracts based on specific cooperation for different business lines.

CRCPM is a mid- to high-end property management company serving clients across China. It has first-level qualifications for national property management and primarily engages in the management of mid- to high-end residential and commercial properties. CRCPM is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Railway Real Estate Group, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, a state-owned enterprise of China .

Management Commentary

Mr. Jianhui Ye, Chief Executive Officer of EZGO, stated, “We are excited to partner with CRCPM, which lays the foundation for our participation in large-scale intelligent property management services. We believe this cooperation with a major state-owned company is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation and will open up opportunities for additional applications and scenarios of the Company’s existing product offerings, providing a powerful boost to our strategy of developing diversified, intelligent services. Together with CRCPM, we anticipate approaching the joint development of these intelligent community property management service offerings with the utmost attention to superior quality and look forward to helping drive progress in safety and security standards in our communities.”

About EZGO Technologies Ltd.

Leveraging an Internet of Things (IoT) product and service platform and two E-bicycle brands, “Dilang” and “Cenbird”, EZGO has established a business model centered on the manufacturing and sale of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles, complemented by the E-bicycle charging pile business. For additional information, please visit EZGO’s website at www.ezgotech.com.cn. Investors can visit the “Investor Relations” section of EZGO’s website at www.ezgotech.com.cn/Investor.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the growth of the short-distance transportation solutions market in China and the other international markets the Company plans to serve; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

For more information, please contact:

At the Company: 
Shawn Wen 
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+86) 13502829216 

Investor Relations:
Carolyne Sohn
The Equity Group Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (415) 568-2255

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SOURCE EZGO Technologies Ltd.

SEATTLE, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RealNetworks^® (NASDAQ: RNWK) is proud to introduce MaskCheck™ Kiosk, a complete hardware and software solution to keep businesses and offices safer by automatically monitoring and encouraging mask usage. MaskCheck Kiosk is now available for purchase at https://getmaskcheck.com for the promotional price of $995.

With the rise of the Delta Variant, wearing a mask in public spaces is again one of the most effective tools in preventing transmission of COVID-19. Indeed, many municipalities, including the states of Washington and Oregon, are now requiring individuals in public places to wear face masks. The reinstatement of these mask mandates typically places the responsibility on individual businesses and/or office employees to enforce mask policies.

MaskCheck Kiosks can be installed in minutes and replace most human involvement to encourage and assess face mask usage. The custom kiosks are powered by the MaskCheck platform from RealNetworks to help communities stay open and operate safely.

“After launching our free MaskCheck app last December, we had many requests for a strong, reliable, and durable integrated MaskCheck solution,” said Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc. “MaskCheck Kiosk is that solution. It’s rugged and durable, battery powered so it can be used in any location a customer wants for a full day, and pre-configured with our easy-to-use MaskCheck app so that it’s truly plug and play. And with the rise of the Delta Variant, mask usage, especially in public indoor spaces, is extremely important and will likely continue to be for months to come.”

Key Features

• Provides a safer environment for employees and customers to continue to get back to normal faster.
• Displays instant notifications of mask detection to encourage indoor mask usage.
• Gives visual and audio prompts: “Please put on a mask.” “Please adjust mask.” “Good to go.”
• Enables workplaces to implement mask mandates and company health policies in a clear, authoritative way.
• Stays private and does not perform any facial recognition or share data outside your business.
• Works fully autonomously when connected to WIFI and placed in a high-traffic indoor location to monitor mask usage.
• Features in app reporting allows you to view mask wearing data at each kiosk location; optionally contribute and view nation-wide compliance data in the MaskCheck Map.
• Designed as durable kiosk after extensive testing and set up in landscape mode to scan a greater number of people.
• Fully assembled and ready to use in 5 minutes: Just screw on the base, set-up your account and you’re ready to go!
• Fully-functional iPad included. Once it’s time to put away or temporarily store your MaskCheck Kiosk, take out the fully-functioning iPad and use it for other purposes.
• Made in
  the U.S.A.Designed and manufactured in the Pacific Northwest.
• 30 day return, one year warranty.

This video shows how MaskCheck works: https://bit.ly/AboutMaskCheck

Availability and Product Details

MaskCheck Kiosk is immediately available for purchase at https://getmaskcheck.com

• Promotional Launch Price:
  $995 (Regular price: $1195).
• MaskCheck Kiosk components: iPad 8 pre-installed with MaskCheck app; External battery with power display; Lightning cord to connect iPad to battery; Power cord and charger to plug in battery; Autonomous, heavy-weight metal stand with lock loop at base to secure with your own cable; Allen wrench kit to lock iPad and battery into place; Set-up Guide.
• WIFI is required. The MaskCheck Kiosk must be connected to WIFI to work.
• Dimensions: Kiosk is 49″ high. Tablet case is 12″ wide. Depth: 5″. Base diameter is 13″. Weight: 27 lbs.
• One-year Warranty & 30-day Return Policy
• Post-COVID value: MaskCheck Kiosk is designed with post-COVID value once the pandemic is over. It can be repurposed as a customer kiosk with other apps; brought back out and placed in position to monitor masks during cold and flu season; and/or its fully-functioning iPad can be removed and used separately.
• NOTE: North America only: MaskCheck Kiosk is only available for purchase and use in the US and Canada at this time.

About RealNetworks  
Building on a legacy of digital media expertise and innovation, RealNetworks has created a new generation of products that employ best-in-class artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance and secure our daily lives. SAFR^® (safr.com) is the world’s premier facial recognition platform for live video. Leading in real-world performance and accuracy as evidenced in testing by NIST, SAFR enables new applications for security, convenience, analytics, and powers MaskCheck™ (getmaskcheck.com), as well as StarSearch™ by Real^® and RealPlayer^® 20/20 (real.com). For more information, visit: www.realnetworks.com.  

Media Contact: 

Lisa Amore, Amore PR for RealNetworks. Mobile: 206-954-8006. [email protected] 

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SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Demonstrating its commitment to exceeding Customer expectations, AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer today announced the opening of AutoNation USADenver 104, the second of 5 additional pre-owned vehicle stores that the company will open this year. AutoNation is projecting to have over 130 AutoNation USA stores in operation from coast-to-coast by the end of 2026. The AutoNation USA stores will continue to leverage the AutoNation brand, scale, and proven Customer-centric processes to capture a larger share of the used vehicle market.

“We are incredibly excited about the opening of AutoNation USADenver 104. We look forward to providing a peerless Customer experience and connecting with our community through our Drive Pink initiative, which has raised and donated over $28 million for cancer research and treatment,” said Jeff Thorpe, AutoNation Market President.

AutoNation USA offers a 1Price Pre-Owned model that features low, haggle-free pricing and a Customer-centric process that makes buying a pre-owned vehicle easy and allows Customers to enjoy a peerless Customer experience. Additionally, AutoNation offers “We’ll Buy Your Car,” which enables Customers to sell their vehicles directly to AutoNation, with no purchase necessary.

AutoNation USADenver 104 is the first of two AutoNation stores in Denver, that the company will open this year. The store is located at 759 W 104^th Avenue, Northglenn, CO 80234. AutoNation USADenver 104 is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 9pm. The store can be reached at (720) 703-7900 or online at www.AutoNationUSA.com.

About AutoNation, Inc.
 

AutoNation, America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of June 30, 2021, AutoNation owned and operated over 300 locations from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold over 13 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through Customer-focused sales and service processes. Since 2013, AutoNation has raised over $28 million to drive out cancer, create awareness, and support critical research through its DRIVE PINK initiative, which was officially branded in 2015.

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson , and www.twitter.com/AutoNation , where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com , AutoNation’s automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goals,” “targets,” “projects,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “could,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our strategic initiatives, partnerships, or investments (including the planned expansion of our AutoNation USA pre-owned vehicle stores); pending acquisitions; and our investments in digital and online capabilities and other brand extension strategies; as well as statements regarding our expectations for the future performance of our business (including with respect to new and pre-owned vehicle sales targets), and the automotive retail industry, and other statements that describe our objectives, goals, or plans, are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: economic conditions, including changes in consumer demand, unemployment rates, interest rates, fuel prices, and tariffs; our ability to implement successfully our strategic initiatives, partnerships, and investments, including the planned expansion of our AutoNation USA stores; our ability to identify, acquire, and build out suitable locations in a timely manner; our ability to acquire and integrate successfully new franchises; restrictions imposed by vehicle manufacturers and our ability to obtain manufacturer approval for acquisitions; our ability to develop successfully our digital and online capabilities and other brand extension strategies; supply chain disruptions and inventory availability; our ability to maintain and enhance our retail brands and reputation and to attract consumers to our own digital channels; our ability to attain planned sales volumes within our expected time frames; new and used vehicle margins; our ability to successfully implement and maintain expense controls; the success and financial viability and the incentive and marketing programs of vehicle manufacturers and distributors with which we hold franchises; the response by federal, state, and local governments and other third parties to, and the economic impacts of, the COVID-19 pandemic; natural disasters and other adverse weather events; the resolution of legal and administrative proceedings; regulatory factors affecting our business, including fuel economy requirements; the announcement of safety recalls; factors affecting our goodwill and other intangible asset impairment testing; and other factors described in our news releases and filings made under the securities laws, including, among others, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — OneNeck is excited to announce its achievement of Nutanix Champion Reseller status in the Nutanix Elevate Partner Program.

The Nutanix Elevate Partner Program for the reseller community differs from traditional partner programs by providing a unique emphasis on partner capabilities and competencies to sell and support the Nutanix portfolio, rather than revenue targets.

Nutanix recognized OneNeck for demonstrating the highest level of Nutanix partner sales, technical and services expertise. Together, OneNeck and Nutanix deliver customer value with an industry-leading software platform that provides the benefits of private cloud with dedicated compute hosted in OneNeck data centers.

“We’re thrilled with OneNeck’s continued success with our customers,” said Christian Alvarez, SVP of Worldwide Channel Sales, Nutanix. “OneNeck’s ReliaCloud, built on Nutanix web-scale architecture, provides customers with an easy-to-consume package that delivers high-value services. Additionally, our partnership expands OneNeck’s solutions portfolio to their customers seeking the benefits of on-premises cloud.”

A Nutanix Champion Reseller partner is the highest competency level in the Elevate Partner Program and is achieved by partners who have invested into Nutanix experts with deep sales, technical and services delivery competencies who consistently sell the full Nutanix portfolio.

With this program Nutanix focuses on investments and tools that help enable partners to grow their business as they support customers in adopting hybrid multi-cloud solutions.

“OneNeck partnered with Nutanix to power our ReliaCloud EDGE, a hosted private cloud, because Nutanix technologies provided the scalability to meet our customer’s IT needs with the reliability, security and high performance that their business demands,” said Ted Wiessing, SVP Technology, OneNeck and Chief Security & Privacy Officer, TDS. “As we continue to expand our partnership with new services powered by Nutanix, the option to join the Nutanix Elevate Service Provider Program offers us additional benefits that will help us expand our customers’ ability to consume our data center services.”

As the demand for cloud services continues to grow, partnerships like OneNeck’s with Nutanix will only elevate the level of services available to customers seeking greater agility and diversified services that are required to succeed in an always-on, digital economy.

Additional Resources:

More details on the Nutanix Elevate Partner Program can be found at nutanix.com/partners/resellers.

About OneNeck

OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., employs nearly 450 people throughout the U.S. The company offers multi-cloud solutions, combined with managed services, professional IT services, hardware and local connectivity via top-tier data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Wisconsin. OneNeck’s team of technology professionals deliver secure, modern platforms and applications for organizations embracing data-driven transformation and secure end-to-end solutions. Visit oneneck.com

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services. TDS has approximately six million connections nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and TDS Broadband Service. Recently, TDS has been named to three Forbes lists: America’s Best Employers for Diversity, Best Large Employers, and Best Employers for Women. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employs 9,400 people. Visit tdsinc.com 

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SOURCE OneNeck IT Solutions

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BNY Mellon and Citi have collaborated with Verizon to be the first company to send request-for-payment messages to consumers who bank with Citi. When using BNY Mellon’s new Real-Time E-Bills and Payments functionality, Verizon customers with Citibank accounts can pay their bills immediately, at any time of day, 365 days a year, and enjoy greater control over their finances to help avoid overdraft fees.

Additionally, Verizon customers who bank at Citi can use Citibank Online to schedule the payment to be made at a specified date and time in the future, such as on their next recurring payday or as an on-demand payout from a platform supporting a supplementary income stream, such as a ride-hailing or food delivery app.

“While setting up automatic bill payments is convenient for many customers, living with weekly budgets or irregular income streams can be a challenge,” said Kate Luft, Head of Retail U.S. Segments and Products at Citi. “Real-Time Bill Pay gives people greater control to pay the bills they want to pay precisely when they want to pay them. We look forward to expanding this program.”

Verizon’s use of BNY Mellon’s Real-Time E-Bills and Payments functionality presents a major enhancement over setting up standing payment instructions across the ACH network, since automated payments can encounter insufficient fund balances, generating overdraft fees and other expenses, adding undue frustration to consumers and creating exception scenarios for billers.

Unlike an ACH transaction or a paper check, Real-Time E-Bills and Payments are immediate and fully controlled by the consumer, who can authorize and schedule each payment to who they want to pay, when they want. The secure payment also provides the consumer with full transparency, including the ability to receive an instant acknowledgment confirming that a monthly obligation has been satisfied. This eliminates uncertainty around when funds will be debited from a consumer’s account and avoids the interchange fees charged for credit and debit card payments.

While real-time payments were previously available for bank-to-bank transactions for large organizations, this is the first at-scale use of the technology in production with retail customers. This innovative functionality revolutionizes the bill pay experience for both the biller and the customer, connecting BNY Mellon as the billing bank, Verizon as the biller and Citi as the customer’s bank, with the transaction transmitting in real time over The Clearing House’s RTP^® network.

“We are thrilled to be working with Verizon on rolling out our Real-Time E-Bills and Payments capabilities to retail customers for the first time,” said Robin Vince, Vice Chair of BNY Mellon and CEO of Global Market Infrastructure. “Retail customers have grown accustomed to using instant payment apps for small value purchases but have not had access to the same functionality or the enhanced security benefits Real-Time Payments provides for paying their phone, internet and other bills. Today’s announcement fills in this gap in the marketplace, and we look forward to rolling out Real-Time E-Bills and Payments to customers across the U.S.”

“Verizon is always looking to provide our customers with choices that can benefit their lifestyles. Real-Time Bill Pay allows our customers to choose when their payments are made and gives them more control over their personal finances. We are pleased to be the first and only provider to offer this product to its customers,” said Dan Gerola, Head of Order to Cash, SVP of Finance Operations at Verizon.

The commercialization of real-time payments for consumer bill pay expands the benefits of instantaneous payments for billers and retail customers alike and ushers in a new period of information-rich and intelligent transaction banking.   

The launch of the Verizon program underscores the importance of and investment into real-time payments being made by both BNY Mellon and Citi, which were among the first banks to connect into The Clearing House RTP^® network that launched in 2017, and is the first new core infrastructure introduced into U.S. payments since the ACH network launched in 1974.

Real-Time E-Bills and Payments represents just the latest enhancement BNY Mellon has rolled out in its continuing drive to make the global payments system more efficient. The firm was the first institution to originate a payment on the RTP^® network. In May 2021, the firm announced the launch of its Real-Time E-Bills and Payments capability, a functionality with the potential to transform the inefficient and antiquated processes underpinning the estimated 15 billion bills paid in the U.S. annually.

Citi’s retail bank is the first to offer full capabilities via RTP^® to support U.S. billers like Verizon, offering a comprehensive and end-to-end suite of Request for Pay capabilities. Citi now offers instant payments in 27 countries around the world and processes two million real-time-payments transactions daily.

ABOUT BNY MELLON
BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of June 30, 2021, BNY Mellon had $45.0 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $2.3 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

ABOUT CITI
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

Media Contacts:

BNY Mellon:
Peter Madigan: [email protected] +1 917 628 1204 
Tony Sicoli: [email protected] +1 908 578 2867 

Citi: Drew Benson: [email protected] 

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SOURCE BNY Mellon

RESTON, Va., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Comscore (NASDAQ: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting, and evaluating media across platforms, today announced it has invented the next generation of personification methodology created to bring person-level measurement to its video products. This improved methodology aligns with our long-time strategy to leverage data at scale and is paving the way for continued and expanded reporting on person-level behavior based on Comscore’s world-class household-level information. Comscore will be working with its buy-side and sell-side clients to iterate the innovation and build a true partnership with its client base.

This personification methodology is a process that estimates which person or persons in a household are viewing a given unit of content. Comscore’s new approach will take full advantage of its massive and passive viewership behavior, thereby mitigating the small sample size and panel bias that is inherent in the current third-party framework. The result will be consistent reporting of person-level viewership estimates in a superior method at granular levels in multiple contexts.

“I am very proud to announce this measurement innovation, as it represents another major step in Comscore’s independence from third-party legacy solutions that are failing and more directly aligns with our cross-platform vision,” said David Algranati, Chief Product Officer, Comscore. “Our Analytics and Innovation teams have been conducting R&D on potential solutions for a new and improved personification method for several years. Comscore’s personification will be a proprietary blend of data sources that will evolve alongside other methodology components, adhering to our principle of using the best-in-class data assets for each segment of the media landscape.”

Comscore’s personification solution will be developed and deployed over time to complement the advantages of household advanced audiences enhanced impression-level reporting for our products and analyses.

About Comscore
Comscore (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating media across platforms. With a data footprint that combines digital, linear TV, over-the-top and theatrical viewership intelligence with advanced audience insights, Comscore allows media buyers and sellers to quantify their multiscreen behavior and make business decisions with confidence. A proven leader in measuring digital and TV audiences and advertising at scale, Comscore is the industry’s emerging, third-party source for reliable and comprehensive cross-platform measurement. To learn more about Comscore, visit www.comscore.com.

C
autionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal and state securities laws, including, without limitation, our expectations, plans and opinions regarding methodology development, product innovation and enhancement, client needs and evolving industry trends. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially from expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in our business or methodology, changes or delays in product development, client acceptance, external market conditions, evolving privacy and regulatory standards, and our ability to achieve our expected strategic and operational plans. For additional discussion of risk factors, please refer to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings that we make from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. We do not intend or undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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SOURCE Comscore

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world’s digital infrastructure company™, today announced the appointment of Ron Guerrier to the Equinix Board of Directors. His appointment brings the number of directors on the Equinix Board to nine.

With a career in the information technology sector that spans more than a quarter century, Guerrier is the chief information officer (CIO) of HP Inc. and previously served as CIO to Fortune 500 corporations and government, including Toyota Motor Corporation, Express Scripts, Farmers Insurance Group and the State of Illinois. As a veteran CIO, he will bring a unique perspective to the Equinix Board as the company continues to innovate its digital infrastructure offerings for CIOs globally.

Highlights/Key Facts

• In his current role at HP, Guerrier leads the organization that supports the company’s emerging technology efforts worldwide, managing a world-class IT organization that delivers and enables the highest levels of productivity for employees, contractors and partners globally. He is also responsible for developing and overseeing a comprehensive approach to digitization across HP, with a focus on process automation and continuous process improvement, while ensuring a positive end-user experience.
• As CIO and Secretary of Innovation and Technology for the State of Illinois, Guerrier was instrumental in broadband expansion, modernization of legacy IT systems, STEM education and the sudden transformation of nearly 50,000 employees to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this role, he supported 48 State of Illinois agencies and led efforts in securing a General Assembly appropriation of $420 million to upgrade and expand state-wide broadband.
• Guerrier’s experience at key enterprises as they were undergoing the transition to digital will enable him to provide a strong “voice of the customer” perspective to the Equinix Board. As CIO of Express Scripts, he led a team of more than 6,000 and was responsible for strategic initiatives as well as innovation and process improvements to enhance end-user experience. During his tenure as CIO of Farmers Insurance Group, he reorganized the IT division to enhance delivery.
• Guerrier began his career with Toyota Motor Corporation, where he spent 20 years, most recently as Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Toyota Financial Services. In that role, he led a team of more than 1,000 and drove digital innovations in partnership with Toyota’s CMO.
• Guerrier is a passionate advocate for multiple causes. He is active in a variety of leadership roles with volunteer organizations, including Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, Homeboy Industries and the disaster relief organization SBP. He is a founding advisory board member of the STEM Advantage program, a nonprofit platform focused on supporting underserved communities interested in STEM fields through scholarships, mentoring and internships.
• Throughout his career, Guerrier has earned numerous honors and awards, including the Crain’s Chicago Business Tech 50 Award in 2019 and 2020, HMG Strategy’s Technology Executives to Watch in 2019 and Global Technology Executives Who Matter in 2020, the GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year from StateScoop in 2020, the Orbie Chicago CIO of the Year Awards in 2020, and Black Enterprise’s 2018 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America. He has also led organizations that have been recognized in the CIO 100 awards and the IDG Communications Digital Edge 50 Awards honoring organizations excelling at digital transformation.

Quote

• 
  Peter Van Camp, Executive Chairman, Equinix
  
  “Ron is a seasoned business leader with more than 25 years of experience helping both enterprises and government with the digital infrastructure that underpins their success. He also has a strong track record of advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion within the tech sector. As we advance our role as the trusted advisor to our customers’ digital journeys, Ron’s perspective, especially through the lens of the customer, will be invaluable in shaping the future direction of Equinix.”

About Equinix

Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world’s digital infrastructure company, enabling digital leaders to harness a trusted platform to bring together and interconnect the foundational infrastructure that powers their success. Equinix enables today’s businesses to access all the right places, partners and possibilities they need to accelerate advantage. With Equinix, they can scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix products and solutions, unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenues from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; a failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; risks related to our taxation as a REIT; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent Equinix quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

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SOURCE Equinix, Inc.

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: STLD) today provided third quarter 2021 earnings guidance in the range of $4.78 to $4.82 per diluted share, representing record quarterly performance. Excluding the impact from costs associated with the construction of the company’s Sinton Texas Flat Roll Steel Mill growth investment of approximately $30 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, the company expects third quarter 2021 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $4.88 to $4.92 per diluted share.

Comparatively, the company’s sequential second quarter 2021 earnings were $3.32 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings were $3.40 per diluted share, excluding the impact of construction costs related to the Texas steel mill of $0.08 per diluted share. Prior year third quarter earnings were $0.47 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings were $0.51 per diluted share, also excluding the costs associated with the construction of the company’s Texas steel mill of $0.04 per diluted share.

Third quarter 2021 profitability from the company’s steel operations is expected to be meaningfully higher than second quarter results setting a new quarterly record, driven by strong steel demand and significant metal spread expansion across the entire platform, and most pronounced within the flat roll steel operations. Third quarter 2021 steel shipments are expected to be strong across the company’s steel portfolio. Domestic steel demand remains strong, with the automotive, construction, and industrial sectors continuing to lead the momentum. Order entry continues to be robust as strong demand, coupled with continuing low flat roll steel inventories underpin elevated steel selling values. The company believes this momentum will continue, resulting in even stronger fourth quarter results.      

Third quarter earnings from the company’s metals recycling operations are expected to be aligned with sequential second quarter results, based on higher sequential ferrous metal margin offsetting lower volume.  As many domestic steel mills are taking maintenance outages in the fourth quarter of 2021, the company anticipates ferrous scrap demand to moderate in line with reduced steel production.  

Third quarter 2021 earnings from the company’s steel fabrication operations are expected to be more than two and one-half times higher than sequential strong second quarter results, as higher prices and expected record quarterly shipments more than offset higher steel input costs. The non-residential construction sector remains strong as evidenced by robust and increasing order activity, resulting in another record order backlog and record forward-pricing for the company’s steel fabrication platform. The company anticipates this momentum to continue through the remainder of this year and into 2022 based on these dynamics.

Collectively, the company anticipates consolidated fourth quarter 2021 earnings to be even stronger than third quarter 2021 guidance. Based on continued confidence in cash flow generation, the company also repurchased approximately $280 million, or over two percent, of its common stock during the third quarter 2021 through September 10, 2021.

About Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Steel Dynamics is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States, based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability, with facilities located throughout the United States, and in Mexico. Steel Dynamics produces steel products, including hot roll, cold roll, and coated sheet steel, structural steel beams and shapes, rail, engineered special-bar-quality steel, cold finished steel, merchant bar products, specialty steel sections and steel joists and deck. In addition, the company produces liquid pig iron and processes and sells ferrous and nonferrous scrap.

Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, a non-GAAP financial measure, provides additional meaningful information regarding the company’s performance and financial strength. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share included in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains some predictive statements about future events, including statements related to conditions in domestic or global economies, conditions in steel and recycled metals market places, Steel Dynamics’ revenues, costs of purchased materials, future profitability and earnings, and the operation of new, existing or planned facilities. These statements, which we generally precede or accompany by such typical conditional words as “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe”, “estimate”, “plan”, “seek”, “project”, or “expect”, or by the words “may”, “will”, or “should”, are intended to be made as “forward-looking,” subject to many risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements speak only as of this date and are based upon information and assumptions, which we consider reasonable as of this date, concerning our businesses and the environments in which they operate. Such predictive statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements. Some factors that could cause such forward-looking statements to turn out differently than anticipated include: (1) domestic and global economic factors; (2) global steelmaking overcapacity and steel imports, together with increased scrap prices; (3) pandemics, epidemics, widespread illness or other health issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) the cyclical nature of the steel industry and the industries we serve; (5) volatility and major fluctuations in prices and availability of scrap metal, scrap substitutes, and our potential inability to pass higher costs on to our customers; (6) cost and availability of electricity, natural gas, oil, or other resources are subject to volatile market conditions; (7) compliance with and changes in environmental and remediation requirements; (8) increased regulation associated with the environment, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability; (9) significant price and other forms of competition from other steel producers, scrap processors and alternative materials; (10) availability of an adequate source of supply for our metals recycling operations; (11) cybersecurity threats and risks to the security of our sensitive data and information technology; (12) the implementation of our growth strategy; (13) litigation and legal compliance, (14) unexpected equipment downtime or shutdowns; (15) governmental agencies may refuse to grant or renew some of our licenses and permits; (16) our senior unsecured credit facility contains, and any future financing agreements may contain, restrictive covenants that may limit our flexibility; and (17) the impacts of impairment.

More specifically, refer to Steel Dynamics’ more detailed explanation of these and other factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the headings Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or in other reports which we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are available publicly on the Securities and Exchange Commission website, www.sec.gov, and on the Steel Dynamics website, www.steeldynamics.com under “Investors — SEC Filings”.

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SOURCE Steel Dynamics, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Earnest, a fintech company dedicated to making higher education accessible and affordable for everyone, today announced the acquisition of Going Merry, a one-stop financial aid platform where students match to and apply for scholarships, institutional aid, and government grants through a single free application.

Going Merry’s robust library of financial aid tools will be available alongside Earnest’s existing platform of student loans and student loan refinancing offerings to bring more financial aid opportunities, budgeting insights, and financial aid comparison tools to students and borrowers.

“Going Merry’s mission to give every student equal access to life-changing education aligns perfectly with Earnest’s mission to make higher education more accessible and affordable for everyone,” said Going Merry CEO Charlie Maynard. “Joining forces with Earnest will enable us to expand our services, reach more students, and help them make more informed decisions about their financial futures.”

Going Merry is used by students at over 50% of high schools across the U.S. Since its founding in June 2017, it has helped students secure nearly $100 million in additional financial aid by simplifying the application process. Its free software makes it faster and easier to apply for scholarships and grants, enabling students to submit nine times as many applications as the national average. In addition, 1 in 5 high school counselors use the Going Merry platform today to manage local scholarships and support their students’ financial aid progress.

As well as connecting students with financial aid options, Going Merry provides tools to analyze financial aid offers, compare the true cost of different colleges, budget for various costs associated with a college degree, and learn more about student loans, repayment, refinancing, and more. These tools, combined with Earnest’s industry-leading lending products, will accelerate Earnest’s charge to help students start on the right financial trajectory sooner.

“Navigating the world of higher education and financial aid can be intimidating, and it has only become more complex throughout the course of COVID-19,” said Earnest CEO David Green. “Now more than ever, it’s important that students have the right easy-to-use information at their fingertips. This acquisition represents an important step forward in helping students reduce the total price tag of their education. We are delighted to welcome Going Merry to the Earnest family and look forward to working together to make finding the right financial options even easier and more accessible to every college-bound high school student.”

For more information about Earnest, visit www.earnest.com.

For more information about Going Merry, visit www.goingmerry.com

About Earnest

Earnest is a fintech lender focused on education finance, whose mission is to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone. Founded in 2013 on the belief that financially responsible people deserve better options and access to credit, Earnest’s lending products empower anyone seeking higher education to reduce the total price tag of their education, supercharge their ability to pay down student debt, and get on the right financial track fast. Earnest is a subsidiary of Navient (NASDAQ: NAVI). Learn more at earnest.com.

About Going Merry

Going Merry is a financial aid platform used by students in 50% of US high schools. It gives students one place from which to apply to government grants, private scholarships and institutional aid. Founded in 2017, it has helped students receive close to $100 million in additional financial aid. Its team comes together from different backgrounds and skill sets but shares the same mission: to give every student truly equal access to life-changing education.

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SOURCE Earnest