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Tattle Blazes into the Cannabis Space with Alpine IQ Integration

Denver-Based Native Roots is the First Cannabis Dispensary to Take Advantage of the Integration Across its 20 Locations

NEW YORK, April 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tattle, the innovator in the customer experience improvement (CXI) category, and Alpine IQ, a leader in digital transformation for cannabis retailers, today announced an integration that enables mutually partnered cannabis dispensaries to elevate the on- and off-premises guest experience. Native Roots, with 20 cannabis dispensaries, is the first to take advantage of the partnership.

The integration combines Tattle’s ability to track customer feedback across all ordering channels, with Alpine IQ’s robust suite of tools to protect, segment, promote and sync the consumer experience in-store and online. The result is an unmatched guest experience, with actionable insights provided to a cannabis dispensaries’ leadership team, driving guest satisfaction and in turn, sales.

“Partnering with Tattle and Alpine IQ has been tremendous. For Native Roots, we have been able to streamline the guest experience, and gather significant feedback that has allowed us to be actionable towards not only our in-store service but also understand our guest’s expectations and requests for our stores off-premise, as well,” said Alex Bitz, Native Root’s Senior Director of IT. “Combined, Tattle’s dashboard and Alpine IQ’s suite of technology make it incredibly easy to obtain and capture the information we need, understand the metrics we are tracking, and interact with our guests.”

“The cannabis dispensary industry is extremely unique in its ability to generate high customer check averages in ways that other retail verticals envy. Oftentimes, customers spend roughly $100 per dispensary visit,” said Alex Beltrani, Tattle Founder and CEO. “Unlike traditional surveys, Tattle provides actionable data at the location-level to drive high-impact improvement in operational areas where guests crave overperformance. For dispensary businesses, elevating the guest experience to avoid customer incidents, or recovering dissatisfied customers through our incident management system, can result in much more meaningful revenue recovery in the hundreds of thousands relative to other retail businesses.”

Tattle is a customer feedback technology platform built with an open-API in order to collect guest feedback and measure satisfaction across all-digital ordering channels, such as dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru for omni-channel visibility. Using AI, Tattle recommends the most high-impact operational area for improvement across restaurant locations to drive the greatest increase in guest satisfaction.

The core benefits of the integration include:

  • Automated post-transaction survey distribution to guests for optimal engagement,
  • Pre-populated survey with transaction data to ensure 90%+ survey completion rate of 50-questions
  • Statistically significant guest feedback volume for reliable identification of high-impact areas for improvement,
  • More opportunity for guest recovery methods in order to extend hospitality beyond restaurants walls.
  • Automatic marketing outreach for customers with specific customer experience scores
  • View improvement opportunities your managers can understand/ implement directly within Alpine IQ reports

“With more and more dispensaries gearing up to handle the high volume of customers during the month of April because of 420, it’s imperative that businesses focus on transforming negative customer experiences into loyalty opportunities. If a Cannabis consumer has a bad experience, our partnership with Tattle will give dispensary owners a chance to mend that relationship with a delightful survey experience, while giving dispensary teams a chance to uncover key opportunities at a glance to create better customer experiences,” said Nicholas Paschal, Chief Executive Officer, at Alpine IQ. 

About Tattle

Tattle is the only Customer Experience Improvement (CXI) platform built for hospitality that helps restaurants collect actionable feedback data by interacting with their customers where they make transactions. Using existing third party tools and API integrations, we connect brands with their guests at every touch point of the customer journey. Through our AI, we recommend the most opportunistic operational area for improvement at each of our partners’ locations to drive the greatest increase in guest satisfaction. Tattle powers the operational improvement strategy for industry leaders, such as MOD Pizza, Bareburger, Farmer Boys, Blaze Pizza, The Halal Guys and many more.

About Alpine IQ 

Alpine IQ empowers the legal Cannabis industry by providing customer-focused technology to help businesses of all sizes resolve growth challenges and generate revenue. The company provides customers with the industry’s most extensive suite of tools to protect investments and scale growth. 

Tattle Media Contact:        
[email protected]

Alpine IQ Media Contact:

Brittany Aamodt
Director of Marketing
817.287.9125
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4dbf8c3-4b1f-4dcf-865f-840b0dec4607



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Verint Announces All-Star Keynote Lineup of Barbara Corcoran, Charlene Li and Jay Shetty for Industry Leading Customer Engagement Event

Verint Announces All-Star Keynote Lineup of Barbara Corcoran, Charlene Li and Jay Shetty for Industry Leading Customer Engagement Event

Engage21, a Three-Day Virtual Event to Feature Inspirational Keynote Speakers Along with Prominent Industry Analysts and Verint Executive Insights

MELVILLE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Verint®(NASDAQ: VRNT), The Customer Engagement Company™, today announced the lineup for its Engage21 virtual conference May 19-21 featuring inspirational speakers including Barbara Corcoran, Charlene Li and Jay Shetty. This premier event will feature in-depth content geared toward customer engagement and customer experience professionals with more than 60 sessions led by Verint experts, customers and partners over three days.

Consumer behaviors and expectations have shifted dramatically since the global pandemic. Increased call volumes, complex questions and changing work dynamics have introduced a whole new set of challenges for contact centers and organizations. Eighty-two percent of business leaders surveyed believe the challenges of managing customer engagement and experience will grow in 2021. Engage21 attendees will learn how customer engagement solutions connect work, data and experiences across the enterprise by drawing on the latest advancements in AI-powered automation, engagement science and connected data to meet ever-increasing, ever-shifting consumer interactions and demands.

The Engage21 keynote speaker lineup features:

  • Barbara Corcoran is an expert at building businesses, growing teams, and surviving tough times. In this fireside chat, Barbara will share her inspirational personal story as well as her practical advice on how professionals can help drive innovation and take their companies to the next level.
  • Visionary thought leader Charlene Li helps leaders thrive with disruption and she’ll discuss how leaders can incorporate disruption into their daily agenda. For the past two decades, Li has helped people see the future. She’s a best-selling author and an expert on digital transformation, leadership, customer experience and the future of work.
  • Jay Shetty, British author, award-winning storyteller, former monk and purpose coach is on a mission to make wisdom go viral. In his keynote, Shetty will discuss boundless possibilities that come from living for a purpose. His videos have been viewed more than eight billion times, and he has more than 40 million followers across social media.
  • Executive insights from Dan Bodner, CEO and chairman of the board, Celia Fleischaker, chief marketing officer, and Elan Moriah, president of Verint will open the conference.

Sessions will highlight how companies are using AI and analytics to drive improvements in customer engagement. Additionally, the conference will feature more than 20 sessions led by industry professionals, peers and experts highlighting best practices in boundless customer engagement – and how they’re closing the engagement capacity gap to deliver smarter, faster, and more human customer experiences.

Throughout the conference, prominent industry analysts and consultants will share their insights, expertise and best practices covering topics such as the future of work, self-service, knowledge management, experience management and more. Featured analysts include:

  • Paul Greenberg, The 56 Group
  • Omer Minkara, Aberdeen
  • Kate Leggett, Forrester
  • Art Schoeller, Forrester
  • Sheila McGee-Smith, McGee-Smith Analytics
  • Dan Miller, Opus Research
  • Derek Top, Opus Research
  • Paul Stockford, Saddletree Research
  • Philip Graves, Shift Consultancy
  • Keith Dawson, Ventana Research

Join Verint customers, partners and customer engagement professionals from around the globe for valuable breakout and educational sessions, an interactive exhibit hall, a customer awards celebration and more. Register now for Engage21.

About Verint

Verint® (Nasdaq: VRNT) helps the world’s most iconic brands – including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies – build enduring customer relationships by connecting work, data and experiences across the enterprise. The Verint Customer Engagement portfolio draws on the latest advancements in AI and analytics, an open cloud architecture, and The Science of Customer Engagement™ to help customers close the engagement capacity gap.

Verint. The Customer Engagement Company™. Learn more at Verint.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including statements regarding expectations, predictions, views, opportunities, plans, strategies, beliefs, and statements of similar effect relating to Verint Systems Inc. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and they are based on management’s expectations that involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of these risk factors, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, and other filings we make with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, Verint assumes no obligation to update or revise them or to provide reasons why actual results may differ.

VERINT, THE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT COMPANY, BOUNDLESS CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT, THE ENGAGEMENT CAPACITY GAP and THE SCIENCE OF CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT are trademarks of Verint Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries. Verint and other parties may also have trademark rights in other terms used herein.

Media Relations

Amy Curry

[email protected]

Analyst Relations

Ryan Zuk

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Matthew Frankel

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Networks Data Management Other Technology Technology Software

MEDIA:

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Steel Partners Holdings L.P. Announces Jason Wong Named As Chief Financial Officer

Steel Partners Holdings L.P. Announces Jason Wong Named As Chief Financial Officer

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (NYSE: SPLP) today announced Jason Wong’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Doug Woodworth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210419005468/en/

Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)

Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)

Wong was most recently with Tiffany & Co. where he was Vice President – Treasurer & Investor Relations. Prior to Tiffany & Co., Wong was with Newell Brands Inc./Jarden Corp. as the Chief Administrative Officer for Europe. He holds an MBA from Columbia University, a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Bases of Behavior, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Wong will report directly to Warren Lichtenstein, Executive Chairman of Steel Partners.

“We are pleased to welcome Jason to the leadership team at Steel Partners,” said Lichtenstein. “Jason has extensive experience in all facets of finance and accounting, and we are confident that his depth of expertise will help us to drive our long-term goals and strategy.

“I know that I speak for everyone at Steel Partners in thanking Doug for his leadership and dedication to the company,” said Lichtenstein. “We wish him the best of luck as he steps down to pursue other initiatives.”

About Steel Partners Holdings L.P.

Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (www.steelpartners.com) is a diversified global holding company that owns and operates businesses and has significant interests in various companies, including diversified industrial products, energy, banking, defense, direct marketing, supply chain management and logistics, and youth sports.

Investor Contact

Jennifer Golembeske

212-520-2300

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: New York United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Manufacturing Finance Transport Professional Services Manufacturing Logistics/Supply Chain Management Retail Supply Chain Management Other Professional Services

MEDIA:

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Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)
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Steel Connect Announces Jason Wong Named as Chief Financial Officer

Steel Connect Announces Jason Wong Named as Chief Financial Officer

SMYRNA, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Steel Connect Inc. (NASDAQ: STCN) today announced Jason Wong’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Doug Woodworth.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210419005466/en/

Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)

Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)

Wong was most recently with Tiffany & Co. where he was Vice President – Treasurer & Investor Relations. Prior to Tiffany & Co., Wong was with Newell Brands Inc./Jarden Corp. as the Chief Administrative Officer for Europe. He holds an MBA from Columbia University, a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Bases of Behavior, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Wong will report directly to Warren Lichtenstein, Interim CEO & Executive Chair of Steel Connect.

“We are pleased to welcome Jason to the leadership team at Steel Connect,” said Lichtenstein. “Jason has extensive experience in all facets of finance and accounting, and we are confident that his depth of expertise will help us to drive our long-term goals and strategy.”

“I know that I speak for everyone at Steel Connect in thanking Doug for his leadership and dedication to the company,” said Lichtenstein. “We wish him the best of luck as he steps down to pursue other initiatives.”

About Steel Connect, Inc.

Steel Connect, Inc. is a diversified holding company with two wholly-owned subsidiaries, IWCO Direct Holdings, Inc. and ModusLink Corporation, that have market-leading positions in direct marketing and supply chain management, respectively.

Investor Relations

Jennifer Golembeske

914-461-1276

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Tennessee United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Marketing Supply Chain Management Retail Communications

MEDIA:

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Jason Wong named CFO (Photo: Business Wire)
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Ancora Issues Letter to Fellow Stockholders Recapping the Case for Meaningful Change Atop Blucora

Ancora Issues Letter to Fellow Stockholders Recapping the Case for Meaningful Change Atop Blucora

Recaps the Data Points and Facts That Underscore the Need for Boardroom Change 

Urges Stockholders to Recognize that Ancora’s Four-Member Slate is the Right Remedy at the Right Time

CLEVELAND–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Ancora Holdings, Inc. (together with its affiliates, “Ancora” or “we”), which collectively with the other participants in its solicitation beneficially owns approximately 3.4% of the outstanding common stock of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR) (“Blucora” or the “Company”), today issued the below open letter to stockholders.

As a reminder, Ancora is seeking to elect Frederick D. DiSanto, Cindy Schulze Flynn, Robert D. MacKinlay and Kimberly Smith Spacek to Blucora’s ten-member Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) on April 21, 2021. Ancora urges Blucora’s stockholders to visit www.ABetterBlucora.com to obtain important information, including instructions for how to vote on the WHITE Proxy Card.

***

April 19, 2021

Fellow Stockholders,

We recognize that you have heard a great deal from Ancora and Blucora over the past two months. This is why we are reaching out today to concisely answer this election contest’s most important question: Which director candidates are better equipped to help stabilize the Avantax wealth management business and unlock the value of the TaxAct business? At the end of the day, this is all that should matter – not the diversions and sideshows that have ensued in recent weeks.

When assessing this key question, it is important to take into account that the synergy-focused strategy championed by the directors we are seeking to remove – Steve Aldrich, Georganne Proctor, John MacIlwaine and Mary Zappone – has failed to deliver meaningful value for stockholders:

  • Since Blucora embarked on this strategy in October 2015, its stock has appreciated only 7.43% while the Russell 2000 is up 72.10% and S&P Composite 1500 Financials is up 73.72%.1
  • Since Blucora reaffirmed its commitment to this strategy in October 2017, its stock is down 34.66%.2
  • Since Blucora conducted a purported strategy session in late 2019 that included Mr. Aldrich, Ms. Proctor, Mr. MacIlwaine and Ms. Zappone, its stock is down 32.41%.3

We believe this long-term underperformance is a clear consequence of maintaining a Board that lacks accountability, meaningful ownership perspectives and sufficient expertise in critical areas, including the wealth management industry’s mass market and middle market. We contend this Board has also presided over poor succession planning, troubling compensation decisions and a fraying culture at Avantax. More recently, it has also begun miscasting our nominees in unprecedented ways.

To put a fine point on it, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. recently stated the following in its report about this contest: “[t]he merits of the issues raised by the dissident lead to a conclusion that change is warranted, specifically in the form of direct shareholder representation in the boardroom.”4

We believe a thorough and objective review of each our director candidates will lead you to conclude that they represent the superior choices at this year’s Annual Meeting. Collectively, our nominees possess the exact mix of wealth management and tax advisory skills that the Board needs. They are also willing to completely align themselves with stockholders by taking 100% of their compensation in equity. The Ancora slate includes:

  • Mr. DiSanto brings a deep understanding of the wealth management industry’s various client markets. He also possesses important stockholder perspectives and valuable corporate governance insight, including with respect to appropriate incentive compensation for executives and Avantax financial professionals. We firmly believe his practical wealth industry experience and very strong alignment with other stockholders will make him an ideal addition to the Board.
  • Ms. Flynn has held c-level marketing and communications roles at New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) and Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG). At each institution, she was responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies for wealth management services, including tax planning and tax-efficient investment strategies. We firmly believe her background in marketing, internal communications and culture-building will add strong value to the Board, especially as it assesses issues at Avantax.
  • Mr. MacKinlay knows tax services and wealth management extremely well based on his two decades of experience at Cohen & Company, where he was National Managing Partner and drove hundreds of millions of dollars in client assets to SEQUOIA Financial Group through a wealth management joint venture. He also advised many public companies while at KPMG. We firmly believe his knowledge of the tax industry, coupled with his understanding of how it relates to wealth management, would be extremely additive to the Board.
  • Ms. Spacek is a long-time member of the leadership team at global investment management firm Owl Creek Asset Management, where she runs business development and investor relations and oversees relationships with institutional, high-net worth and individual clients. She also provided wealth management services to retail and private bank clients during her two-and-a-half years at ABN AMRO Bank. We believe her knowledge of business development, investor relations, the advisor mindset and fee structures will help the Board in many ways.

While Blucora has gone to great lengths to spotlight our nominees’ lack of corporate director experience, several of the Company’s own current Board members had not served on another public company board of directors prior to joining. We urge stockholders to see through this smokescreen and objectively assess the sum of the parts of our slate.

We also recognize that Blucora has been making baseless claims that Mr. DiSanto would be a “conflicted” or “disruptive” member of the Board. First, the investment advisory businesses of Ancora and Blucora offer different products to different clientele through different marketing channels – there is no antitrust issue here. Second, Mr. DiSanto (like the rest of our slate) is committed to bringing a spirit of collaboration and partnership to the boardroom.

As evidenced by the settlements Ancora recently reached at Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ: FWRD) and Kohl’s, Inc. (NYSE: KSS), we have a track record of compromising with companies and putting additive individuals on boards of directors. Companies with much larger market caps and much more financial success than Blucora have seen the value of our engagement. We hope this gives Blucora stockholders even more confidence to trust our case for change and vote for our nominees.

In closing, thank you for your engagement and support throughout this contest. We hope you determine that the best way to protect the value of your investment at the 2021 Annual Meeting is to vote on the WHITE Proxy Card for the full Ancora slate.

Sincerely,

Ancora Holdings, Inc.

***

About Ancora

Ancora Holdings, Inc. is an employee owned, Cleveland, Ohio based holding company which wholly owns four separate and distinct SEC Registered Investment Advisers and a broker dealer. Ancora Advisors LLC specializes in customized portfolio management for individual investors, high net worth investors, investment companies (mutual funds), and institutions such as pension/profit sharing plans, corporations, charitable & “Not-for Profit” organizations, and unions. Ancora Family Wealth Advisors, LLC is a leading, regional investment and wealth advisor managing assets on behalf of families and high net-worth individuals. Ancora Alternatives LLC specializes in pooled investments (hedge funds/investment limited partnerships). Ancora Retirement Plan Advisors, Inc. specializes in providing non-discretionary investment guidance for small and midsize employer sponsored retirement plans. Inverness Securities, LLC is a FINRA registered Broker Dealer.

1 Return metrics are calculated based on the closing trading prices on October 13, 2015 (the day before Blucora announced the HD Vest acquisition) and the closing trading prices on December 31, 2020.

2 Return metric is calculated based on the closing trading price on October 26, 2017 (the day of the stated commitment via a press release) and the closing trading price on December 31, 2020.

3 Return metric is calculated based on the closing trading price on November 29, 2019 (the last trading day of the month) and the closing trading price on December 31, 2020.

4 Permission to quote was neither sought nor obtained. Emphases added by Ancora.

For Investors:

Ancora Alternatives

James Chadwick

(216) 593-5048

[email protected]

Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC

John Ferguson / Joe Mills, 212-257-1311

[email protected]/ [email protected]

For Media:

Profile

Greg Marose / Bela Kirpalani, 347-343-2999

[email protected] / [email protected]

KEYWORDS: Ohio United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services Finance

MEDIA:

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CURE Pharmaceutical to Present at the 2021 Sequire Cannabis Conference on Tuesday, April 20, at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT

CURE Pharmaceutical to Present at the 2021 Sequire Cannabis Conference on Tuesday, April 20, at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT

OXNARD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CURE Pharmaceutical Holding Corp. (OTC: CURR), a vertically integrated drug delivery and product development company, announced today that Rob Davidson, CURE’s Chief Executive Officer, and Nancy Duitch, CEO of subsidiary Sera Labs and Chief Strategic Officer of CURE, will be presenting virtually at a cannabis investing conference, the 2021 Sequire Cannabis Conference, on Tuesday, April 20, at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT.

Davidson and Duitch will discuss a variety of topics including CURE’s patented drug delivery technology, how this technology has been used to deliver cannabinoids and other pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients, and how Sera Labs’ oral and topical products serve as proof of concept and commercialization for the technology. They will also discuss Nicole Kidman becoming a recent addition to the team as Sera Labs Strategic Partner and Global Brand Ambassador and how she will help further the company’s success.

“We witnessed significant growth in 2020 due to our scientific advances and our acquisition of Sera Labs,” said Davidson. “This conference provides us with a great opportunity to offer stakeholders an in-depth explanation of what our technology is, how it is marketable in many different uses, including cannabis, and why they should be investing in our promising future.”

The Sequire Cannabis Conference is a one-day event that brings together a select group of U.S. investors and leading industry participants in the cannabis space. The event will feature video presentations from more than 15 companies, organized in five tracks for attendees.

For those who cannot attend the live presentation, a video webcast of the presentation will be available. To learn more about the 2021 Squire Cannabis Conference and register to participate, visit https://cannabis-conference.mysequire.com.

About CURE Pharmaceutical Holding Corp.

CURE Pharmaceutical® is the pioneering developer of CUREform™, a patented drug delivery platform that offers a number of unique immediate- and controlled-release drug delivery vehicles designed to improve drug efficacy, safety, and patient experience for a wide range of active ingredients.

As a vertically integrated company, CURE’s 25,000 square foot, FDA-registered, NSF® cGMP-certified manufacturing facility enables it to partner with pharmaceutical and wellness companies worldwide for private and white-labeled production. CURE has partnerships in the U.S., China, Mexico, Canada, Israel, and other markets in Europe.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements CURE makes in this press release may include statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), which are usually identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions. CURE intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and is making this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions.

These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the ability to successfully market the partnered products, the difficulty in predicting the timing or outcome of related research and development efforts, partnered product characteristics and indications, marketing approvals and launches of other products, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the acceptance and demand of new pharmaceutical products, the impact of patents and other proprietary rights held by competitors and other third parties and the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect CURE’s judgment as of the date of this press release. CURE disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of our 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

Licensing Contact:

Jonathan Berlent

Chief Business Officer

CURE Pharmaceutical

[email protected]

516.660.9148

Investment Contact:

[email protected]

Gary Zwetchkenbaum

Plum Tree Consulting LLC

[email protected]

516.455.7662

Media Contact:

Kathryn Brown

CMW Media

[email protected]

858.264.6600

KEYWORDS: California United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Alternative Medicine Health Medical Devices Other Health General Health Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

MEDIA:

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Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants Commencing April 19, 2021

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants Commencing April 19, 2021

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II (the “Company”) announced that, commencing April 19, 2021, holders of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering of 138,000,000 units completed on March 2, 2021 may elect to separately trade the Class A ordinary shares and warrants included in the units. Class A ordinary shares and warrants that are separated will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “ASZ” and “ASZ WS,” respectively. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASZ.U.” No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

The Sponsor of the Company is Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP II, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, led by William P. Foley, II.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of these 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus may be obtained for free from the offices of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, telephone: (800) 221-1037 or by emailing: [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by emailing: prospectus- [email protected]; or BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001 or by emailing: [email protected].

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation II is a newly incorporated blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, please visit https://investor.austerlitz2.com/.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All of these statements are based on management’s expectations as well as estimates and assumptions prepared by management that, although they believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of Company’s control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities or actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Shannon Devine, SVP, Solebury Trout, 203-428-3228, [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services Finance

MEDIA:

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Zymeworks Announces Succession Plan for Chief Medical Officer

Zymeworks Announces Succession Plan for Chief Medical Officer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Zymeworks Inc. (NYSE: ZYME), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multifunctional biotherapeutics, today announced that Diana Hausman, M.D., will be transitioning out of her role as Zymeworks’ Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and assuming an executive advisory role until November 15th, 2021. Neil Josephson, M.D., who currently oversees Zymeworks’ global clinical studies in his role as Senior Vice President, Clinical Research, will assume the role of interim CMO.

“I am extremely grateful for Diana’s contribution to our clinical programs, as a member of the executive team, and to Zymeworks as a whole,” said Ali Tehrani, Ph.D., Zymeworks’ President and CEO. “I look forward to working with Diana through the transition as she continues to help us advance zanidatamab and ZW49 to the next set of clinical and commercial inflection points.”

“For the past two years, alongside Diana, Neil has been one of the key architects and contributors to our clinical strategy, accomplishments and growth,” Dr. Tehrani added. “Under Neil’s leadership, I am confident that we are in good hands as we proceed toward the commercialization of zanidatamab.”

“It has been an honor to lead the talented clinical team at Zymeworks during the last five years,” said Dr. Hausman. “I feel extremely proud in having been able to help advance our lead candidate, zanidatamab, from preclinical studies to our first pivotal trial in biliary tract cancer last year and our recent IND submission to the FDA for Zymeworks’ first randomized phase 3 study in 1st line HER2-positive gastric cancer.”

Dr. Hausman added, “I look forward to continuing to work with Neil over the next few months as we launch the phase 3 trial in gastric cancer and I’m confident in his leadership and the strength of our experienced clinical team as we enter this next phase of clinical development through to commercialization.”

Dr. Hausman has had a rewarding 20-year career in clinical drug development at several biopharmaceutical companies including Oncothyreon Inc., ZymoGenetics, Inc., Berlex, Inc., Immunex Corporation, and as Zymeworks’ first CMO, since 2016. During her tenure, Dr. Hausman built the clinical research division at Zymeworks from two to over 120 people and oversaw the clinical development of ZW49 and zanidatamab, the latter currently in five phase 2 clinical trials including a pivotal trial in relapsed or refractory HER2‑amplified biliary tract cancer (HERIZON-BTC-01).

Assuming the role of interim CMO is Dr. Neil Josephson, who joined Zymeworks in 2019 as Vice President, Clinical Research and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Clinical Research last year. Prior to joining Zymeworks, Dr. Josephson spent nearly six years at Seagen Inc., most recently as Vice President of Clinical Development, where he worked on multiple early and late-stage programs, including leading the approval of ADCETRIS® for the 1st line treatment of advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Before joining Seagen, he was an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at University of Washington. He received an M.D. degree from Columbia University and an A.B. from Dartmouth College.

About Zymeworks Inc.

Zymeworks is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of next-generation multifunctional biotherapeutics. Zymeworks’ suite of therapeutic platforms and its fully integrated drug development engine enable precise engineering of highly differentiated product candidates. Zymeworks’ lead clinical candidate, zanidatamab (ZW25), is a novel Azymetric™ bispecific antibody which has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA and is currently enrolling in a pivotal clinical trial for refractory HER2-amplified biliary tract cancer (HERIZON-BTC-01) as well as several Phase 2 clinical trials for HER2-expressing gastroesophageal and breast cancers. Zymeworks’ second clinical candidate, ZW49, is a novel bispecific HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate currently in Phase 1 clinical development and combines the unique design and antibody framework of zanidatamab with Zymeworks’ proprietary ZymeLink™ linker and cytotoxin. Zymeworks is also advancing a deep preclinical pipeline in oncology (including immuno-oncology agents) and other therapeutic areas. In addition, its therapeutic platforms are being leveraged through strategic partnerships with nine biopharmaceutical companies. For additional information about Zymeworks, visit www.zymeworks.com and follow @ZymeworksInc on Twitter.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, or collectively, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to Zymeworks’ CMO succession plan, clinical and preclinical development of its product candidates and related clinical trials, commercialization plans, and other information that is not historical information. When used herein, words such as “will”, “continue”, “may”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based upon Zymeworks’ current expectations and various assumptions. Zymeworks believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but they are inherently uncertain. Zymeworks may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, market conditions and the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Zymeworks’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com). Consequently, forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as Zymeworks’ current plans, estimates and beliefs. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Zymeworks cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Zymeworks does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update, republish, or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law.

Investor Inquiries:  

Ryan Dercho, Ph.D.  

(604) 678-1388  

[email protected]  

 

Jack Spinks

(604) 678-1388  

[email protected]  

 

Media Inquiries:  

Mary Klem  

(604) 678-1388  

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: North America Canada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Biotechnology General Health Health Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials

MEDIA:

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Veracyte Announces Data for Pulmonology Portfolio to be Presented at American Thoracic Society 2021 International Conference

Veracyte Announces Data for Pulmonology Portfolio to be Presented at American Thoracic Society 2021 International Conference

– New data support role of Percepta Genomic Atlas in genomic profiling for lung cancer patients –

– Study suggests Envisia classifier can be successfully enabled on nCounter Analysis System –

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Veracyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: VCYT) announced today that new data demonstrating the clinical capability of the Percepta® Genomic Atlas for informing lung cancer treatment decisions, as well as the technical feasibility of enabling the company’s Envisia® Genomic Classifier on the nCounter Analysis System, will be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2021 International Conference. Multiple posters reinforcing the Envisia classifier’s diagnostic performance will also be presented at the meeting, which will be held virtually May 14-19, 2021.

“The data being presented at ATS suggest that the Percepta Genomic Atlas can provide information that will accelerate appropriate treatment for patients following a lung cancer diagnosis and, importantly, that the test provides this information regardless of disease stage,” said Bonnie Anderson, Veracyte’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We’re also very excited about the new data demonstrating that we can successfully enable the Envisia classifier on the nCounter system, maintaining the test’s clinical performance while enabling access for patients globally through local labs.”

The Percepta Genomic Atlas provides comprehensive genomic profiling information on cancerous lung nodules, utilizing small samples from the same biopsy used for diagnosis. Data to be shared at ATS show that the in-development test accurately detects known gene variants in lung cancer using bronchoscopy samples, potentially enabling earlier and more appropriate treatment with currently available and in-development targeted therapies.

The Envisia Genomic Classifier is a genomic test that detects a genomic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) to improve interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnostic and prognostic confidence. The classifier is performed in Veracyte’s U.S.-based CLIA laboratory. In December 2019, Veracyte acquired the exclusive global diagnostics rights to the nCounter Analysis System, a CE-marked and FDA-cleared decentralized molecular testing platform. The company plans to make the Envisia classifier available on the nCounter platform in international markets by the end of this year.

Following are details of the Percepta Genomic Atlas and Envisia classifier posters accepted for presentation at ATS. These posters will be available to meeting registrants on demand beginning May 14 through July 2, 2021:

Title:

Identification of Driver Mutations in Transbronchial Needle Aspirates of Suspicious Lung Nodules Concurrent with Diagnostic Bronchoscopy, Abstract #A4825

First Author:

Joshua Babiarz, Ph.D., Veracyte

 

 

Title:

Envisia Genomic Classifier Demonstrates Consistent Performance Across Gender, Age Group, and Smoking Status. Abstract #A1839

First Author:

Luca Richeldi, M.D., Ph.D., Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

 

 

Title:

Envisia Genomic Classifier Helps Improve Multidisciplinary Diagnoses of Complex Interstitial Lung Diseases, Abstract #A1877

First Author:

Lisa H. Lancaster, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center

 

 

Title:

Cryobiopsy and Genomic Classifier (Envisia) in the Diagnosis of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia, Abstract #A4236

First Author:

R. Ronaghi, M.D., University of California, Los Angeles

 

 

Title:

Role of the Envisia Genomic Classifier in Establishing a Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Abstract #1837

First Author:

M. Abdalla, M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

 

 

Title:

Bridging the Envisia Genomic Classifier to the nCounter Platform: A Proof-of-Concept Study, Abstract #A4352

First Author:

Huimin Jiang, Ph.D., Veracyte

About Veracyte

Veracyte (Nasdaq: VCYT) is a global genomic diagnostics company that improves patient care by providing answers to clinical questions, informing diagnosis and treatment decisions throughout the patient journey in cancer and other diseases. The company’s growing menu of genomic tests leverage advances in genomic science and technology, enabling patients to avoid risky, costly diagnostic procedures and quicken time to appropriate treatment. The company’s tests in lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, bladder cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are available to patients and its lymphoma subtyping and renal cancer tests are in development. With Veracyte’s exclusive global license to a best-in-class diagnostics instrument platform, the company is positioned to deliver its tests to patients worldwide. Veracyte is based in South San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.veracyte.com and follow the company on Twitter (@veracyte).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our statements related to our plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions with respect to the Percepta Genomic Atlas and our Envisia tests. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “suggest,” “may,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding Veracyte’s belief that its Percepta Genomic Atlas and its Envisia tests provide clinical value that helps physicians diagnose and treat lung cancer and IPF, and the ability of Veracyte to expand the menu of advanced genomic tests on the nCounter Analysis System. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our predictions, and include, but are not limited to: Veracyte’s ability to achieve and maintain Medicare coverage for its tests; the benefits of Veracyte’s tests and the applicability of clinical results to actual outcomes. Additional factors that may impact these forward-looking statements can be found under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 22, 2021 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. A copy of these documents can be found at the Investors section of our website at www.veracyte.com. The risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts Veracyte’s businesses, operations, and financial results, including the duration and magnitude of such effects, will depend on numerous factors, which are unpredictable, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Veracyte specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Veracyte, Afirma, Percepta, Envisia, Prosigna, “Know by Design” and the Veracyte, Afirma, Percepta, Envisia and Prosigna logos are registered trademarks of Veracyte in the U.S. and selected countries.

nCounter is the registered trademark of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in the United States and other countries and used by Veracyte under license.

Investor and Media Contact:

Tracy Morris

Vice President of Corporate Communications

& Investor Relations

[email protected]

650-380-4413

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Oncology Health Genetics Clinical Trials Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

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Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants Commencing April 19, 2021

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants Commencing April 19, 2021

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I (the “Company”) announced that, commencing April 19, 2021, holders of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering of 69,000,000 units completed on March 2, 2021 may elect to separately trade the Class A ordinary shares and warrants included in the units. Class A ordinary shares and warrants that are separated will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “AUS” and “AUS WS,” respectively. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AUS.U.” No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.

The Sponsor of the Company is Austerlitz Acquisition Sponsor, LP I, an affiliate of Trasimene Capital Management, LLC, led by William P. Foley, II.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of these 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus may be obtained for free from the offices of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, telephone: (800) 221-1037 or by emailing: [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by emailing: prospectus- [email protected]; or BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001 or by emailing: [email protected].

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I

Austerlitz Acquisition Corporation I is a newly incorporated blank check company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, please visit https://investor.austerlitz1.com/.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All of these statements are based on management’s expectations as well as estimates and assumptions prepared by management that, although they believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of Company’s control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities or actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Shannon Devine, SVP, Solebury Trout, 203-428-3228, [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services Finance

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