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April 15, 2021 8:38 am

Indaba Issues Letter to the Board of Directors of Benefitfocus Regarding its Unwillingness to Agree to a Good Faith Settlement

Believes Lead Independent Director A. Lanham Napier Wants to Retain Outsized Influence Over the Company’s Insular Board Rather Than Add One of Indaba’s Independent Candidates

Calls on the Company to Finally Commit to Making the Board De-Classification Proposal the First Agenda Item at the 2021 Annual Meeting, Especially Given its Willingness to Privately Concede on This Point to Indaba

Makes Clear That Indaba is Committed to Taking the Necessary Steps Over the Long-Term to Improve the Company’s Broken Governance and Help Enhance Shareholder Value

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Indaba Capital Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates, “Indaba” or “we”), which collectively with the other participants in its solicitation beneficially owns approximately 9.5% of the outstanding common shares of Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT) (“Benefitfocus” or the “Company”), today issued the below open letter to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). As a reminder, Indaba recently nominated two highly-qualified and independent candidates – Ronald P. Mitchell and Nicholas K. Pianim – for election to the Company’s Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2021 Annual Meeting”).

***

Dear Lead Independent Director A. Lanham Napier and Members of the Board,

We are writing to you today to express our profound disappointment with the manner in which Benefitfocus has responded to our most recent attempt to achieve a settlement that supports further Board refreshment. It is confounding that the Company once again demonstrated an unwillingness to compromise with us and commit to promptly improving its insular Board. Given our status as one of the Company’s largest shareholders, allowing us to have input into just one of seven directors on the go-forward Board seems like something Benefitfocus should embrace rather than resist. We cannot understand the Board’s unwillingness to agree to our latest proposal, which provided for Indaba withdrawing its nominations and accepting customary settlement terms in exchange for the Board adding Ronald P. Mitchell and committing to basic governance improvements.

It is important to stress that Indaba has made a significant effort to compromise with the Board in recent weeks. Despite the many issues plaguing Benefitfocus, we have not asked the Company to appoint both of our nominees or immediately establish a committee to review strategic alternatives. We proposed a consensual resolution based on the appointment of one director.

Unfortunately, our discussions this week with Mr. Napier and Chief Executive Officer Stephen M. Swad have led us to conclude that Benefitfocus continues to lack the necessary respect for effective governance practices and honest shareholder engagement. In fact, there was a point in which both individuals were rejecting Indaba’s input into the settlement framework without even reviewing our comments and proposed changes. This became apparent when they failed to realize that we had actually agreed to the Company’s request to have Mr. Mitchell stand for election at the 2021 Annual Meeting – even if he was appointed at this point in the year.

In light of this seemingly disingenuous engagement and the onerous, off-market settlement terms demanded by the Company, we suspect that the Board never wanted to reach a resolution with Indaba. Quite frankly, we question whether any engaged shareholder or director candidate at the Company would ever agree to your “best and final” terms, which include:

Requiring us to agree to allow the Company to expand the Board by three additional directors, despite Mr. Napier having the ability to already designate two directors as a preferred shareholder and vote with common shareholders on the remaining board seats.
- Shareholders are not blind to the fact that Mr. Napier, through his company BuildGroup LLC, obtained a curious, sweetheart deal last year that gave him approximately 13% of the Company and the ability to vote with common shareholders for the remaining directors, when the Company did not appear to need financing.

Requiring Mr. Mitchell, an independent nominee, to sign a letter agreement that we suspect no other independent director on the Board has ever been asked to sign before, despite Mr. Mitchell being completely independent of Indaba.

Forcing Mr. Mitchell to resign before the end of his one-year term when the settlement agreement terminates, which would effectively occur 90 days before the 2022 Annual Meeting.

Demanding that the Company’s obligations and Indaba’s rights terminate in the event that the Company alleges a breach of the Agreement – one that is not judicially concluded.

Demanding we release the Company and its Board from all claims relating to our investment, whether known or unknown as of the date of the settlement agreement.

Requiring us to agree to allow the Company to delay the 2021 Annual Meeting until August 31, 2021 and next year’s meeting until October 31, 2022, thereby delaying shareholders’ ability to hold the Board accountable.

We believe all shareholders should closely scrutinize the Company’s unreasonable demands in exchange for adding a diverse, highly-qualified and independent candidate to this Board. We are forced to ask: What is the Board hiding and why is it apparently so afraid of allowing an independent individual to enter the boardroom?

While we continue to believe that the Board would be enhanced by the addition of Mr. Mitchell, we would rather forgo a punitive settlement and remain free to speak publicly in order to hold Mr. Napier and the rest of the Company’s directors accountable. It seems our public advocacy has previously compelled the Board to take steps that include allowing shareholders to vote to de-stagger the Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting, causing long-tenured leader Mason Holland Jr. to step down as Executive Chairman and from the Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting, and terminating certain problematic provisions under the Company’s advisory agreement with Mr. Holland. With this context in mind, it is troubling that Mr. Holland will not step down until the 2021 Annual Meeting – a meeting it appears the Company is now prepared to delay until August 31, 2021. This type of feet-dragging seems to only benefit Mr. Holland at the expense of shareholders, who have suffered greatly during much of his tenure.

We also believe our advocacy helped drive Mr. Napier’s BuildGroup LLC to terminate its voting agreement with Mr. Holland, which would have assured the continued reelection of Mr. Napier, Mr. Holland or their designees to the Board. However, Mr. Napier does not deserve an accommodation for terminating what we deem an alarming agreement. Indaba contends that Mr. Napier is actually picking up the mantle for Mr. Holland by fostering an anti-shareholder culture at Benefitfocus and sustaining many questionable governance practices. We believe his recent dealings with us support this conclusion.

In closing, we envision these aforementioned moves being the start – not the end – of a number of necessary boardroom enhancements at Benefitfocus. Notably, the Company needs to publicly commit to making the Board de-classification proposal the first agenda item at the 2021 Annual Meeting, especially in light of its willingness to finally concede on this point in private negotiations with us this week. Shareholders can trust that Indaba will remain a vocal advocate for additional changes and a new strategic direction at Benefitfocus. If the current Board believes Indaba can be dismissed or deterred, it is sorely mistaken.

Sincerely,

Derek Schrier

Managing Partner

Indaba Capital Management, L.P.

Alex Lerner

Partner

Indaba Capital Management, L.P.

About Indaba Capital

Indaba was founded in 2010 to invest opportunistically in corporate equity and debt. Based in San Francisco, Indaba currently has more than $1.5 billion in assets under management. Learn more at www.indabacapital.com.

Certain Information Concerning the Participants

Indaba Capital Management, L.P. (“Indaba Capital”) together with the other participants named herein (collectively, “Indaba”), intends to file a preliminary proxy statement and an accompanying proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of director nominees at the upcoming 2021 annual general meeting of shareholders of Benefitfocus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

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

The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be Indaba Capital, Indaba Capital Fund, L.P. (“Indaba Fund”), Indaba Partners, LLC (“Indaba Partners”), IC GP, LLC (“IC GP”), Derek C. Schrier, Ronald P. Mitchell And Nicholas K. Pianim.

As of the date hereof, Indaba Fund held 3,097,800 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), but by virtue of a certain Investment Management Agreement, Indaba Fund and Indaba Partners have delegated all voting and investment power over the securities of the Company directly held by Indaba Fund to Indaba Capital. Accordingly, Indaba Fund and Indaba Partners, as the general partner of Indaba Fund, do not beneficially own any securities of the Company. Each of Indaba Capital, IC GP, as the general partner of Indaba Capital, and Mr. Schrier, as the managing member of IC GP, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,097,800 shares of Common Stock held directly by Indaba Fund. In addition, as of the date hereof, Indaba Fund holds $50,681,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due December 15, 2023.

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Greg Marose / Charlotte Kiaie, 347-343-2999

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April 15, 2021 8:36 am

Thinking about buying stock in Dell Technologies, American Eagle Outfitters, Wrap Technologies, PPD Inc, or GlaxoSmithKline?

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for DELL, AEO, WRAP, PPD, and GSK.

To see how InvestorsObserver’s proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver’s PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.

(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)

InvestorsObserver’s PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock’s overall suitability for investment.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thinking-about-buying-stock-in-dell-technologies-american-eagle-outfitters-wrap-technologies-ppd-inc-or-glaxosmithkline-301269819.html

SOURCE InvestorsObserver

April 15, 2021 8:35 am

Allstate Announces March and First Quarter 2021 Catastrophe Losses

Allstate Announces March and First Quarter 2021 Catastrophe Losses

NORTHBROOK, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today announced estimated pre-tax catastrophe losses for the month of March of $252 million, $54 million after-tax and anticipated reinsurance recoveries.

Catastrophe losses in March comprised six events at an estimated cost of $208 million, plus increased prior period reserve estimates of $44 million. One large wind/hail event accounted for approximately 55% of March estimated catastrophe losses. The nationwide aggregate reinsurance cover will offset $184 million of losses.

Losses before reinsurance, subrogation recoveries and taxes for the first quarter 2021 totaled $1.67 billion, and were partially offset by $1.08 billion in anticipated reinsurance and subrogation recoveries. As a result, 2021 first quarter catastrophe losses are estimated to be $466 million, after-tax.

For additional details related to our catastrophe reinsurance program, please see our Reinsurance Update posted on the Quarterly Results page of www.allstateinvestors.com.

Financial information, including material announcements about The Allstate Corporation, is routinely posted on www.allstateinvestors.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” that anticipate results based on our estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “seeks,” “expects,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “believes,” “likely,” “targets” and other words with similar meanings. We believe these statements are based on reasonable estimates, assumptions and plans. However, if the estimates, assumptions or plans underlying the forward-looking statements prove inaccurate or if other risks or uncertainties arise, actual results could differ materially from those communicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements may be found in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210415005589/en/

Greg Burns

Media Relations

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(847) 402-2800

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April 15, 2021 8:34 am

BioMarin Announces New and Updated Data at 2021 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Demonstrating Commitment to Understanding Achondroplasia and Potential Treatment Choice

Normal Progression of Bone Age with Chronological Age Over 60 Months with Vosoritide for Children with Achondroplasia

Vosoritide Well-Tolerated, Safety Profile Unchanged

Data on Quality of Life, Natural History, and Caregiver Experience Provide Additional Insights into Lifetime Impact of Achondroplasia

PR Newswire

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) presented new and updated data at the 2021 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting that demonstrates the Company’s ongoing commitment to understanding the lifetime impact of achondroplasia and the potential of an investigational treatment choice to address the root cause of achondroplasia.

The Company provided an update on its investigational treatment, vosoritide, an analog of C-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) in children with achondroplasia, the most common form of disproportionate short stature in humans. An ongoing, open-label, Phase 2 extension study of vosoritide for achondroplasia showed that improvement in growth velocity is sustained over 5 years of treatment and does not reduce the total duration of the growth period. Bone age progressed normally and posterior-anterior (PA) X-rays of the hand annually showed no significant changes in bone mineral content or bone mineral density.

The mean (±SD) increase in AGV observed over 60 months of treatment was 1.35 (±1.07) cm/year. There was an overall mean (±SD) increase in height Z-score (which measures the height deficit in standard deviations relative to the mean for age and gender-matched average stature children) at 60 months of 0.78 (±0.70) using the CDC standards for average stature children. Vosoritide was well tolerated at the doses of 15 and 30 µg/kg/day, and the safety profile remained unchanged with no new types of adverse events (AEs) developing over time, and no serious AEs were related to therapy.

“We are encouraged by the new data emerging from this extension study indicating that after five years of treatment, bone age is not accelerated and the total duration of the growth period is not shortened,” said Paul Harmatz, M.D., Professor in Pediatrics with a focus on skeletal dyplasias at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California and clinical investigator in the vosoritide clinical program. “While still early, we’re seeing that proportionality is not worsening. We look forward to further follow up over time in the extension study for additional insights on proportionality.”

“It is important to understand the impact of achondroplasia on those affected and their caregivers in order to develop a therapeutic choice for families that has the potential to alter the course of achondroplasia in a way that is considered meaningful by families and treating physicians,” said Hank Fuchs, M.D., President Worldwide Research and Development. “We are committed to understanding the potential lifetime impact of achondroplasia and providing information to support those interested in potential therapeutic options. We are grateful to the families and study investigators whose involvement is essential to exchanging scientific and clinical information to advance the standard of care in achondroplasia.”

“We believe it is critical for families with achondroplasia to be supported and have access to the resources they need for their children. We applaud BioMarin for its efforts to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge to understand the lifetime impact of achondroplasia and the potential ways to address unmet needs that may result,” said Mary Andrews, Chief Executive Officer of The Magic Foundation. “We are supportive of BioMarin’s research efforts to address the scientific gaps on the impact of achondroplasia, as well as its robust clinical program for a potential treatment option for any family that seeks it.”

In addition to the Phase 2 extension study, BioMarin also presented an oral presentation and a poster on its multinational observational study, Lifetime Impact of Achondroplasia in Europe (LIASE), the first multinational, observational, and retrospective natural history study of achondroplasia conducted across Europe, with a cross-sectional patient reported outcome (PRO) component collected at enrollment across several quality of life (QoL) domains using standardized tools. This study collected retrospective medical data for at least five years prior to enrollment with the goal of quantifying the impact of achondroplasia across the age spectrum by measuring the clinical burden, healthcare resource use, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of affected individuals. The study results showed that people with achondroplasia experience an increase in medical conditions and comorbidities, surgical burden, and hospital visits across the age spectrum with the most notable impact in the youngest and oldest age groups. Additionally, an exploratory analysis showed correlations between height and height Z-score, and comorbidities, such as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues, and spinal cord compression/stenosis. The poster presented from this study further highlights that across several questionnaires, HRQoL scores were lower than the general population, especially in physical and psychosocial domains, and describes a correlation between height, height Z-score, and HRQoL. These findings underscore the need for people with achondroplasia to be assessed clinically throughout their lifetime and a need for developing consensus-based management guidelines.

Additional studies presented at the medical meeting include the following:

Achondroplasia Caregiver Survey- A global perspective on diagnostic pathways, healthcare management and personal impact from the caregivers of children with achondroplasia

This global study surveyed 660 caregivers of children with achondroplasia in seven countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Spain, Italy, and Japan ) and the results suggest that achondroplasia management can be complex, requiring coordination among numerous healthcare specialties, and that there is substantial healthcare resource use among children with achondroplasia.

Experience of individuals with achondroplasia and their caregivers: interim results from qualitative studies

This poster presentation describes the results from two qualitative studies. One study examined the impact of achondroplasia on the lives of affected individuals and caregivers in the US and Spain and found that many individuals with achondroplasia and their caregivers experience daily challenges requiring adaptations related to achondroplasia. Individuals and caregivers also reported some positive aspects of living with achondroplasia. Another study explores perceptions of meaningful outcomes in achondroplasia in light of emerging precision therapies. The interim findings suggest that treatment goals include the reduction of medical complications, and improvements in daily function and psychosocial well-being.

Description of Phase 2 Dose Finding Study

The primary objectives of the open-label, sequential cohort, dose-finding study were to evaluate the safety and tolerability of daily subcutaneous vosoritide and to determine the dose to carry forward to Phase 3. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the effects of vosoritide on change from pre-treatment baseline in annualized growth velocity (cm/year), height Z-scores, and body segment proportionality, the vosoritide pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and biomarkers of vosoritide activity, and endochondral ossification.

Vosoritide Safety

Vosoritide, administered in approximately 38,000 injections, was generally well tolerated at all doses. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were mild and no serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported as study drug related. Across all doses, injection site reactions and hypotension were the most common drug-related AEs. All injection site reaction events were transient. AEs of hypotension were mild, transient and resolved without medical intervention, and the majority were asymptomatic and reported in context of routine blood pressure measurements. No new safety findings were observed. There were no AEs related to disproportionate bone growth or bone pathology. There has been no evidence of accelerated bone age (as assessed by radiologists blinded to the age of the subjects) or negative changes in bone mineral density.

Regulatory Status

In 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted and validated the marketing authorization application for vosoritide for achondroplasia. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinion is expected in Europe in June of 2021. The U.S. New Drug Application (NDA) for vosoritide is under review by the FDA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of August 20, 2021. In the United States, the Company has chosen to provide the two-year outcomes from the Phase 3 extension study to the FDA as additional data to convey the vosoritide treatment effect and long-term durability. The Company believes that supplying this additional data could result in a major amendment, resetting the current PDUFA target action date out three months to November.

In January 2021, the Company received notice from the FDA that the NDA for vosoritide had been granted Priority Review Designation based on the serious pediatric indication it addresses, and the lack of treatment options currently available. Consistent with FDA’s policy on changes to review classification for an ongoing application review, the PDUFA action date is not affected by this designation. If approved, the vosoritide NDA may qualify for a Priority Review Voucher (PRV). A PRV confers priority review to a subsequent drug application that would not otherwise qualify for that designation. The rare pediatric disease review voucher program is designed to encourage development of new drugs and biologics for the prevention or treatment of rare pediatric diseases.

Upon the acceptance of the regulatory submission for vosoritide, the Agency reiterated a position raised during the Pediatric Advisory Committee (PAC) and Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee (EMDAC) held on May 11, 2018 recommending two-year controlled trials in different age groups. BioMarin believes the highly persuasive outcomes from the one-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, coupled with data from the Phase 2 program with up to five years of long-term follow-up that has been compared to robust natural history data on growth and the updated two-year data from the Phase 3 study, offers a rigorous and reliable method to assess whether vosoritide has a durable impact on the rate of endochondral bone growth that ultimately increases final adult height.

Vosoritide has also received orphan drug designation from the FDA and EMA for the treatment of children with achondroplasia. The Orphan Drug Designation program is intended to advance the evaluation and development of products that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions.

Listing of BioMarin Presentations on Achondroplasia

Title

Author(s)

Author Affiliation

Platform Presentation: Lifetime impact
of achondroplasia in Europe (LIAISE):
findings from a multinational
observational study

Mohamad Maghnie, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Instituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy

Poster: Vosoritide for Children with
Achondroplasia: A 60-month Update
from an Ongoing Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Julie Hoover-Fong¹,Melita Irving², Carlos Bacino³,
Joel Charrow⁴, Valerie Cormier-Daire⁵, Lynda
Polgreen⁶, Patricia Dickson⁷, Paul Harmatz⁸,
Kevin Larimore⁹, Kala Jayaram⁹, Alice Huntsman
Labed⁹, Elena Fisheleva⁹, George Jeha⁹, Jonathan
Day⁹, John Phillips¹⁰, Ravi Savarirayan¹¹

¹Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

²Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK

³Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

⁴Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL,

⁵Institut Imagine, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Necker – Enfants Malades, Paris, France

⁶The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA

⁷Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

⁸UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA

⁹BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA

¹⁰Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

¹¹Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital Victoria, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Poster: Lifetime impact of
achondroplasia in Europe (LIAISE):
findings from a multinational
observational study

Mohamad Maghnie¹, Oliver Semler², Encarna Guillen-
Navarro³, Awi Wiesel⁴, Anna Elsa Maria Allegri¹,
Angelo Selicorni⁵, Antonio Gonzalez-Meneses⁶, Karen
Heath⁷, Giuseppe Zampino⁸, Gabriele Haeusler⁹, Lars
Hagenäs¹⁰, Antonio Leiva-Gea¹¹, Vanesa López
González¹², Adalbert Raimann⁹, Fernando Santos
Simarro⁷, Silvia Tajè¹³, Diana-Alexandra Ertl⁹, Pernille
Axél Gregersen¹⁴, Jeanne Pimenta¹⁵, Shelda Cohen¹⁵,
James Jarrett¹⁵, Richard Rowell¹⁶, Renée Shediac¹⁶,
Swati Mukherjee¹⁵, Klaus Mohnike¹⁷

¹Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy

²University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, Cologne, Germany

³ Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca. Universidad de Murcia: El Palmar, Murcia, Spain

^4,UNIVERSITÄTSMEDIZIN der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

⁵ UOC Pediatria, Como, Italy

⁶Unidad de Dismorfología y metabolism Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla Spain

^7,Hospital Universitario La Paz

⁸
IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli – Rome

⁹Universitätsklinik für Kinder und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria

¹⁰Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

^11,Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain

¹²Sección de Genética Médica – Servicio de Pediatría Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

¹³Società Italiana Malattie Genetiche Pediatriche e Disabilità (SIMGePed), Milan, Italy

¹⁴Klinisk Genetisk Afdeling, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aarhus N, Denmark

¹⁵BioMarin Europe, London, UK

¹⁶BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA

¹⁷ Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Universitätskinderklinik Madgdeburg, Germany Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Universitätskinderklinik Madgdeburg, Germany

Poster: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in achondroplasia: findings from a multinational, observational study

Mohamad Maghnie¹, Oliver Semler², Encarna Guillen-
Navarro³, Awi Wiesel⁴, Anna Elsa Maria Allegri¹, Angelo
Selicorni⁵, Antonio Gonzalez-Meneses⁶, Karen Heath⁷,
Giuseppe Zampino⁸, Gabriele Haeusler⁹, Lars Hagenäs¹⁰,
Antonio Leiva-Gea¹¹, Vanesa López González¹²,
Adalbert Raimann⁹, Fernando Santos Simarro⁷, Silvia Tajè¹³,
Diana-Alexandra Ertl⁹, Pernille Axél Gregersen¹⁴, Erik
Landfeldt¹⁵, Luiz Causin¹⁶, James Jarrett¹⁶, Jennifer Quinn¹⁶,
Renée Shediac¹⁷, Swati Mukherjee¹⁶, Klaus Mohnike¹⁸

¹Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy

²University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, Cologne, Germany

³ Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca. Universidad de Murcia: El Palmar, Murcia, Spain

⁴ UNIVERSITÄTSMEDIZIN der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

⁵UOC Pediatria, Como, Italy

⁶Unidad de Dismorfología y metabolism Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla Spain

⁷Hospital Universitario La Paz

⁸
IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli – Rome

⁹Universitätsklinik für Kinder und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria

¹⁰Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

¹¹Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain

¹²Sección de Genética Médica – Servicio de Pediatría Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

¹³Società Italiana Malattie Genetiche Pediatriche e Disabilità (SIMGePed), Milan, Italy

¹⁴Klinisk Genetisk Afdeling, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aarhus N, Denmark

¹⁵ICON plc, Stockholm, Sweden

¹⁶BioMarin Europe, London, UK

¹⁷BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA

¹⁸ Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Universitätskinderklinik Madgdeburg, Germany Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Universitätskinderklinik Madgdeburg, Germany

Poster: Experiences of individuals with achondroplasia and their caregivers: interim results from qualitative studies

Renée Shediac, PhD¹, Olga Moshkovich, MPH², Hannah
Lewis, PhD², Rachel Ballinger, PhD², Sarah McGraw, PhD⁴
Jeffrey C. Henne, MA⁴ Jennifer Quinn⁵, Er Chen¹, Adelpha
Abrahamson Larkin¹, Dominique Kelly¹

¹BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA

²ICON, Patient Centred Outcomes, San Francisco, CA USA

³ICON, Patient Centred Outcomes, London, UK

⁴The Henne Group, San Francisco, CA ⁵BioMarin Europe, London, UK

¹BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Novato, CA, USA

Poster: Achondroplasia Caregiver Survey – A global perspective on diagnostic pathways, healthcare management and personal impact from carers of children with Achondroplasia

Wagner Baratela¹, Inês Alves², Wayne Pan³, Jeanne M
Pimenta³, Charlotte Roberts³, Marco Sessa⁴, Susana
Noval Iruretagoyena⁵, Nakamura A⁶, Niiyama N⁷

¹Hospital Sirio-Libanes, Sao Paolo, Brazil; ²ANDO Portugal / ERN BOND, Evora, Portugal;

³BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc

⁴AISAC, Milan, Italy;

⁵ALPE, Gijón, Spain

⁶Tsukushinbo, Kita, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

⁷Tsukushinokai, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

About Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia, the most common form of skeletal dysplasia leading to disproportionate short stature in humans, is characterized by slowing of endochondral ossification, which results in disproportionate short stature and disordered architecture in the long bones, spine, face and base of the skull. This condition is caused by a change in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3), a negative regulator of bone growth. Beyond disproportionate short stature, people with achondroplasia can experience serious health complications, including foramen magnum compression, sleep apnea, bowed legs, mid-face hypoplasia, permanent sway of the lower back, spinal stenosis and recurrent ear infections. Some of these complications can result in the need for invasive surgeries such as spinal cord decompression and straightening of bowed legs. In addition, studies show increased mortality at every age.

More than 80% of children with achondroplasia have parents of average stature and have the condition as the result of a spontaneous gene mutation. The worldwide incidence rate of achondroplasia is about one in 25,000 live births. Vosoritide is being tested in children whose growth plates are still “open”, typically those under 18 years of age. This is approximately 25% of people with achondroplasia. In the U.S., Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and most of Asia Pacific, there are currently no licensed medicines for achondroplasia.

About BioMarin

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for patients with serious and life-threatening rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company’s portfolio consists of six commercialized products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. For additional information, please visit www.biomarin.com. Information on such website is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BioMarin), including, without limitation, statements about: the development of BioMarin’s vosoritide program generally; the potential benefits of vosoritide; the continued clinical development of vosoritide and the timing and conduct of such clinical program; the possible results of such studies; the timing of actions by regulatory authorities including the expectation of the CHMP opinion for vosoritide in Europe in June of 2021; the potential for the vosoritide NDA, if approved, to qualify for a Priority Review Voucher; and the plan to submit the second year of Phase 3 data to the FDA and the potential that this could result in a major amendment, resetting the current PDUFA date out three months to November. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: results and timing of current and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials of vosoritide; our ability to enroll participants into such clinical trials, our ability to successfully manufacture vosoritide; the content and timing of decisions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission and other regulatory authorities concerning vosoritide; and those other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the BioMarin’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, without limitation, BioMarin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and future SEC filings and reports by BioMarin. BioMarin undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

BioMarin® is a registered trademark of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Contacts:
Investors	Media
Traci McCarty	Debra Charlesworth
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.	BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
(415) 455-7558	(415) 455-7451

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SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

April 15, 2021 8:34 am

Global Water Resources Sets First Quarter 2021 Conference Call for Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. ET

PHOENIX, April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: GWRS), (TSX: GWR), a pure-play water resource management company, will hold a conference call on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. The financial results will be issued in a press release prior to the call.

Global Water Resources management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-855-327-6837
International dial-in number: 1-631-891-4304
Conference ID: 10013969

The conference call will be webcast live and available for replay here as well as via a link in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.gwresources.com.

Please call the conference telephone number five minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact CMA at 1-949-432-7566.

A replay of the call will be available after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through May 20, 2021.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 10013969

About Global Water Resources

Global Water Resources, Inc. is a leading water resource management company that owns and operates 16 utilities which provide water, wastewater, and recycled water services. The company’s service areas are located primarily in growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix. Global Water recycles nearly 1 billion gallons of water annually.

The company has been recognized for its highly-effective implementation of Total Water Management (TWM). TWM is an integrated approach to managing the entire water cycle by owning and operating water, wastewater and recycled water utilities within the same geographic area in order to maximize the beneficial use of recycled water. TWM includes additional smart water management programs such as remote metering infrastructure and other advanced technologies, rate designs, and incentives that result in real conservation. TWM helps protect water supplies in water-scarce areas experiencing population growth. To learn more, visit www.gwresources.com.

Company Contact:

Michael Liebman
CFO and SVP
Tel (480) 999-5104
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Ron Both or Grant Stude
CMA Investor Relations
Tel (949) 432-7566
Email contact

April 15, 2021 8:33 am

The Home Depot Opens Three New Florida Distribution Centers

PR Newswire

ATLANTA, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Home Depot announced today that it has opened three new distribution centers across Florida, spanning from West Palm Beach and Miami to Fort Myers. The facilities will provide even faster delivery options to customers in the South Florida region. The company plans to open two additional Miami distribution centers in 2022. Together, these five facilities are expected to create more than 150 new full- and part-time jobs across the region.

“Our customers have varying needs – from DIYers renovating their homes to professional contractors on job sites,” said Kyle Dennis, vice president of supply chain development. “These investments are helping us deliver to our Pro and DIY customers across South Florida when, where and how they want.”

The newly opened facility in Miami is a 332,000-square-foot building that will deliver big and bulky construction materials and other oversized product directly to Pro and DIY customers.

The new delivery locations in West Palm Beach and Fort Myers expand The Home Depot’s appliance delivery to customers in those markets.

The company will open two additional Miami facilities in 2022 to expand delivery of appliances and same-day and next-day parcel delivery to customers across the region.

Hiring is ongoing across the country as the company’s supply chain expansion continues. Interested jobseekers should visit careers.homedepot.com for a quick and easy application – or, text JOBS to 52270 for a link to apply to local positions.

In 2017, the company announced a $1.2 billion investment in its supply chain and is in the process of building out its network with about 150 new facilities nationwide. They include a variety of formats to meet the unique needs of different customers in the dynamically changing world of retail.

About The Home Depot

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer. The Company operates a total of 2,298 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2020, The Home Depot had sales of $132.1 billion and earnings of $12.9 billion. The company employs approximately 500,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

April 15, 2021 8:33 am

NEXE Engages Orca Pacific to Lead Amazon.com Store Strategy

PR Newswire

VANCOUVER, BC, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – NEXE Innovations Inc. (TSXV: NEXE) (“NEXE” or the “Company”), a leader in plant-based materials manufacturing, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Orca Pacific (“Orca”), a full service Amazon agency. Orca will be instrumental in the development and execution of NEXE’s Amazon store sales strategy for its XOMA Superfoods (“XOMA”) product line.

Orca Pacific provides expertise and state-of-the-art technology to craft and carry out cutting-edge Amazon strategies. Amazon.com is the largest online retailer in North America.

“Since launching our XOMA Superfoods online store last week, the product has already sold tremendously well,” said Ash Guglani, President of NEXE. “By incorporating a comprehensive Amazon strategy, we plan to continue to considerably grow our direct-to-consumer, eCommerce sales channels.”

NEXE has received approval to sell its fully-compostable coffee pods in the Grocery & Gourmet Food section of Amazon, which is one of Amazon’s fastest growing and most popular product categories. The Company expects to be selling its pods on Amazon by May 2021 and will continue to deploy resources to increase its online presence and sales traction.

“Orca Pacific is thrilled to be partnering with XOMA Superfoods to launch and grow their brand on Amazon. Not only is XOMA jumping into one of the hottest categories on Amazon, they are doing so with sustainability at the core of their business. We look forward to helping XOMA reach more customers and spread their mission on the world’s largest eCommerce platform,” said Andrew Lorence, Senior Business Development Manager of Orca Pacific.

eMarketer reported that U.S. eCommerce sales will reach $794.50 billion this year, up 32.4% from 2020. (source: eMarketer.com October 12, 2020)

“eCommerce is a key component of our go-to-market strategy. NEXE pods were created not only with sustainability in mind – but convenience. The coffee pod creates the ultimate in convenience, with no clean-up, and a delicious cup of coffee ready in seconds,” added Guglani. “By offering our products online, and eventually through a subscription model, we can deliver products right to our customers’ doors, making it as simple as possible to enjoy superfood-enhanced coffee.”

NEXE pods uses plant-based materials and can break down completely in municipal composting facilities. Over 40 billion petroleum-based single-serve coffee pods end up in landfills around the world every year, and NEXE is on a mission to eliminate this source of waste.

Order XOMA in Canada: xoma.ca
Order XOMA in the U.S.: xomasuperfoods.com

About XOMA Superfoods

XOMA Operations Inc. is a subsidiary of NEXE Innovations Inc. XOMA Superfoods produces and distributes high-quality coffee and superfood creamers packaged exclusively in single-serve, fully compostable, plant-based pods.

xoma.ca

instagram.com/xomasuperfoods/

About NEXE Innovations Inc.
NEXE Innovations Inc. is a leader in plant-based compostable technology and advanced materials manufacturing based in British Columbia, Canada. The company has developed one of the only patented, fully compostable, plant-based, single-serve coffee pods for use in leading single-serve coffee machines. The proprietary NEXE pod is designed to reduce the significant environmental impact caused by single-serve pods, >40 billion of which are discarded every year. With over $64M raised to date from equity and government funding and over five years of R&D, NEXE is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products in the single-serve coffee sector and beyond.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Social Media

https://twitter.com/nexeinnovations
https://www.facebook.com/nexeinnovations
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nexeinnovations
https://www.instagram.com/nexeinnovations

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements or information, which include the proposed use of proceeds, commercialization of the NEXE PODs, including the NEXE Nespresso Compatible Pod, increase production capacity, demand and/or sales of its products, create other environmentally friendly compostable packaging opportunities, development of technologies, the potential of the Company’s technology, future plans, regulatory approvals and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as “may”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “believe” and “continue” or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, consumer demand for and sentiment towards the Company’s products, security threats, and dependence on key personnel. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment failures, litigation, increase in operating costs, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company’s ability to operate, competition, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Nexe Innovations Inc.

April 15, 2021 8:33 am

Turtle Beach’s Best-Selling Recon 70 Gaming Headset Now Available In Arctic Camo

The Recon 70 is an Easy Choice for Gamers Looking for the Perfect Value Headset with Multiplatform Compatibility, Powerful Sound, Lightweight Comfort, and a MSRP of $39.95 – Now Available in the Widest Variety of Colors

PR Newswire

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Leading gaming audio and accessory brand Turtle Beach (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the latest colorway for the Company’s best-selling* Recon 70 gaming headset. The all-new Recon 70 Arctic Camo will be available tomorrow, Friday, April 16, 2021 at www.turtlebeach.com and at select retailers in participating territories. The new Arctic Camo is the 10^thRecon 70 color option made available for gamers to choose from, each one delivering the immersive sound and lightweight comfort gamers expect from Turtle Beach. Powerful 40mm over-ear speakers, crystal-clear mic performance, leatherette-wrapped cushions, and multiplatform functionality with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Nintendo Switch™, PC and mobile devices, plus a MSRP of $39.95 make the Recon 70 an easy choice for gamers looking for a new, affordable headset.

“Our Recon 70 series gaming headsets have sat atop or near the top of every monthly sales leaderboard since their launch in April 2019, making them the Company’s best-selling* headsets across multiple platforms. Continuing to add more options to this award-winning product is important for us and our fans,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach. “With the new consoles still on backorder and remote learning in place, the Recon 70 Arctic Camo and its other colorway options are perfect choices for gamers looking for a new high-quality gaming headset for less than $40.”

The Recon 70 series gaming headsets come in the widest variety of colors of any headset on the market. The Xbox and PlayStation models are available in both black or white with green and blue accents, respectively, while the Nintendo Switch version has a black frame with signature red accents. Also available at participating retailers, in addition to the just-announced Recon 70 Arctic Camo, is a unique Recon 70 Midnight Red version for PS5™|PS4™, along with Recon 70 Silver, Recon 70 Blue and Recon 70 Green Camo versions. All the Recon 70 colors are compatible with all game systems, PCs, and mobile devices that accept a standard 3.5mm jack.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Turtle Beach Corporation

Turtle Beach Corporation (https://corp.turtlebeach.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming accessory providers. The Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for pioneering first-to-market features and patented innovations in high-quality, comfort-driven headsets for all levels of gamer, making it a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for the last decade. Turtle Beach’s ROCCAT brand (www.roccat.org) combines detail-loving German innovation with a genuine passion for designing the best PC gaming products. Under the ROCCAT brand, Turtle Beach creates award-winning keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads, and other PC accessories. Turtle Beach’s Neat Microphones brand (www.neatmic.com) creates high-quality USB and analog microphones for gamers, streamers, and professionals that embrace cutting-edge technology and design. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: HEAR.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “target”, “goal”, “project”, “intend” and similar expressions, or the negatives thereof, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief and expectations, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to, the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the integration of any businesses we acquire and the integration of such businesses within our internal control over financial reporting and operations, our indebtedness, the Company’s liquidity, and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic reports. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

*Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service/Video Games/Headset Series/Dollars & Units/NA/Jan-Dec 2020; YTD 2021

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SOURCE Turtle Beach Corporation

April 15, 2021 8:33 am

First National Bank Named One of the World’s Best Banks by Forbes

PR Newswire

PITTSBURGH, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced that its banking subsidiary, First National Bank, has been named to Forbes’ 2021 ranking of the World’s Best Banks based on consumer feedback. FNB is one of only 75 banks in the United States to be recognized on the list, which includes a total of 500 banks from around the globe.

“We are extremely proud to take our place among the World’s Best Banks because the recognition is based on our customers’ experience with FNB and their confidence in our Company,” said Vincent J. Delie Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. “The ranking’s emphasis on digital services ties into the essential role banks have played for customers and communities navigating the challenges of the pandemic, and FNB will continue to leverage both our innovative technology and consultative approach to provide all our stakeholders with tools to succeed and reach their goals.”

To identify the World’s Best Banks, Forbes collaborated with its market research partner, Statista, to survey more than 43,000 consumers in 28 different countries. Survey participants rated banks on overall customer satisfaction, how likely they were to recommend the bank and subdimensions including trust, customer services, digital services, terms and conditions and financial advice.

The World’s Best Banks distinction adds to the extensive third-party recognition FNB has earned for its differentiated culture, which focuses on doing the right thing for the businesses, customers and communities the Company serves. To date in 2021, FNB again has been named one of America’s Best Banks by Forbes and also has earned honors as a Top Workplace USA, a Financial Services Top Workplace and as a national and regional Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards winner. To learn more, visit the Awards & Recognition page in the Newsroom on fnb-online.com.

About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of more than $37 billion and nearly 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB’s wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FNB” and is included in Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

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SOURCE F.N.B. Corporation

April 15, 2021 8:33 am

CLPS Incorporation Announces Latest Business Expansion and Presence in Asia Pacific Region

PR Newswire

HONG KONG, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CLPS Incorporation (Nasdaq: CLPS) (“CLPS” or “the Company”), today provided an update on the latest implementation of its global expansion strategy. Its expansion pipeline includes the establishment of a subsidiary in the Philippines, boosting the business in Southeast Asia, and pursuing overseas merger and acquisition.

For the six months ended December 31, 2020, CLPS reported that its revenue generated outside of Mainland China increased by 53.9% to $6.6 million compared to the prior year period. This only shows the Company’s aggressive efforts in advancing its business presence in the overseas market with focus on Asia Pacific, particularly in the Southeast Asia region.

The fintech industry in Southeast Asia, such as in Singapore, has been rapidly growing. Most banks are heavily invested in digital transformation, including the migration of traditional services to mobile platform. Mr. Srustijeet Mishra, head of CLPS Southeast Asia Region (“CLPS SEA”), said, “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown in Asia, CLPS SEA’s business has continued to be operational. We have been working alongside with our clients in the banking and fintech industries for the IT system implementation and business process optimization. The service coverage includes customized development, testing and support of IT systems in core banking, wealth management, credit card, online lending, and online payment. We also implemented projects for the development and testing of mobile and web application, in addition to IT consulting services.”

The Company’s strategic business locations have provided a solid foundation to lay out its competitive advantage in the IT services industry. “Our strong and unified teams of IT professionals located in China and in India enable us to deliver high quality and industry standard IT services. I believe that this setup is a clear advantage that differentiates CLPS from other IT services players with only local operations in Southeast Asia,” Mr. Mishra added.

Mr. Henry Li, Chief Operating Officer of CLPS, said, “The effectiveness of our global expansion strategy has further pushed us to pursue the overseas market. In fact, we recently started to provide Internet of Things (IoT) services for the development of a vehicle’s intelligent monitoring system in Japan. On top of that, we also continue to expand our global network through mergers and acquisitions in China, Southeast Asia, and in the U.S. Our M&A efforts are focused on financially sound companies with business model similar or complementary to CLPS, which we expect to contribute in our business growth going forward.”

About CLPS Incorporation

Headquartered in Hong Kong, CLPS Incorporation (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CLPS) is a global leading information technology (“IT”) consulting and solutions service provider focusing on the banking, insurance, and financial service sectors. The Company serves as an IT solutions provider to a growing network of clients in the global financial service industry, including large financial institutions in the US, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong SAR, and their PRC-based IT centers. The Company maintains 20 delivery and/or research & development centers to serve different customers in various geographic locations. Mainland China centers are located in Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Tianjin, Baoding, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Hainan. The remaining eight global centers are located in Hong Kong SAR, USA, UK, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and India. For further information regarding the Company, please visit: http://ir.clpsglobal.com/, or follow CLPS on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company’s control, may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. All such statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s expectations of the Company’s future growth, performance and results of operations, the Company’s ability to capitalize on various commercial, M&A, technology and other related opportunities and initiatives, as well as the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s most recently filed SEC reports and filings. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made.

Contact:

CLPS Incorporation
Rhon Galicha
Investor Relations Office
Phone: +86-182-2192-5378
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE CLPS