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Zebra Technologies and Discount Tire Unveil First Tire Inspection Mobile Computing Solution

Combination of mobile computer and tread depth reader accessory enables Discount Tire technicians to perform more accurate and efficient tire checks for driver safety

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced that Discount Tire, the world’s largest independent retailer of tires and wheels, has deployed the industry’s first tire tread depth reading mobile computing solution across its nearly 1,100 stores nationwide. PartnerConnect Premier Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Anyline and Premier Solutions Partner Accucode co-developed the solution featuring Zebra’s Android™-based TC75x mobile computer, a new laser-based tire tread depth reader accessory, and Anyline’s Tire DOT Scanner software enabling Discount Tire technicians to more efficiently and safely perform tire checks.

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“We pride ourselves on delivering customers the highest quality tire service and products to help keep them safe on the road,” said Tom Williams, Chief Experience Officer, Discount Tire. “Our new tire inspection solution is a game-changer for our people and will help further our assurance to our customers that we are taking care of their safety by providing the best possible service and most accurate tire readings.”

Discount Tire’s new tire inspection solution helps improve worker productivity and increase the efficiency of capturing tire tread depth and Department of Transportation (DOT) information. Previously, technicians manually measured as many as 12 different spots for tread depth and used a pen and paper to record each DOT code. With the new mobile handheld solution, Discount Tire technicians can complete an assessment typically in under five seconds per tire. Technicians simply swipe each tire to check for tread depth and scan the DOT code with the tool’s camera in real-time, enabling them to assist more customers, reduce wait times, and provide a more positive customer experience. Discount Tire offers all its customers the option of a touchless experience, where drivers can remain in their vehicles while their tire safety service is performed.

Using the TC75x’s large display, Discount Tire technicians can also visually show customers the status of their tire tread depth. A color-coded chart clearly indicates the safety levels of the tire tread depth to indicate when new tires are needed. This information and the guidance of Discount Tire’s experts can help customers confidently make the safest decisions for their vehicles. The mobile solution also integrates with Discount Tire’s technology system to help eliminate other paper-based processes, such as automating the creation of customer profiles.

“Discount Tire is raising the bar with its commitment to customer safety through the use of innovative mobile computing solutions,” said Joe White, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobile Computing, Zebra Technologies. “By using this new solution, Discount Tire is providing a performance edge to its technicians, enabling them to deliver better, faster service with visibility and actionable insights to their customers to help provide the safest driving experience.”

Using Anyline’s Tire DOT Scan software on the TC75x mobile computer, Discount Tire technicians can instantly capture the DOT tire identification number (TIN) on the sidewall of any tire to determine age and manufacture location. Discount Tire intends to leverage Anyline’s scan software to read other aspects of a vehicle, such as vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate and other tire-related information.

“Starting today, the most powerful tool in a Discount Tire technician’s toolbox is this smart device,” said Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and Co-Founder of Anyline. “With this industry-first solution, Discount Tire is setting a new gold-standard for tire inspections, empowering their workforce to make smarter, data-driven decisions that ensure the highest level of driver safety, and an unrivaled customer experience.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Zebra, Anyline and Accucode are introducing the industry’s first mobile tire tread depth reader and DOT scanning solution, which will be deployed across all of Discount Tire’s nearly 1,100 stores.
• The co-developed solution features Zebra’s TC75x mobile computer and new tire tread depth reader accessory that enables Discount Tire technicians to provide customers with quality information to make the safest decisions for their vehicles. Anyline’s Tire DOT Scan software can quickly read DOT TIN numbers, expediting communications to customers when they are due for a replacement.
• Discount Tire’s new tire inspection solution is helping improve worker productivity and increase the efficiency of capturing a tire’s tread depth and DOT information, enabling them to assist more customers, reduce wait times, and provide a more positive customer experience.

ABOUT DISCOUNT TIRE/AMERICA’S TIRE

Discount Tire, based in Scottsdale, is the world’s largest independent retailer of tires and wheels. Founded in 1960 by Bruce Halle, they serve customers at more than 1,070 stores in 36 states. The company does business under the trade name Discount Tire in most of the U.S., America’s Tire in parts of California, and Discount Tire Direct in markets outside the reach of retail stores. Their latest tool to help get you taken care of, Treadwell, is a proprietary online tire-buying guide that uses decades of data and individual driving habits to recommend the right tires. Discount Tire is a primary sponsor of the No. 2 Ford Mustang driven by Brad Keselowski in the NASCAR Cup Series. For more information, visit www.discounttire.com.

ABOUT ZEBRATECHNOLOGIES

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) empowers the front line in retail/ecommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, public sector and other industries to achieve a performance edge. With more than 10,000 partners across 100 countries, Zebra delivers industry-tailored, end-to-end solutions to enable every asset and worker to be visible, connected and fully optimized. The company’s market-leading solutions elevate the shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care. In 2020, Zebra made Forbes Global 2000 list for the second consecutive year and was listed among Fast Company’s Best Companies for Innovators. For more information, visit www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Participate in Zebra’s Your Edge blog, follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and check out our Story Hub: Zebra Perspectives.

ABOUT ANYLINE

Founded in Vienna in 2013, Anyline has established itself as a market leader in mobile data capture. Using the newest and most innovative artificial intelligence approaches, Anyline enables any mobile device to process written characters and barcodes in real time, even when offline. Anyline mobile data capture technology is CCPA/GDPR compliant, processing all data collected securely on the users’ device, and removing any chance of data interference. It’s not only more accurate than manual data entry, but also works 20 times faster. These scanning solutions are trusted by household brands such as PepsiCo, Canon and Red Bull, as well as national governments and the United Nations. For more information, visit www.anyline.com.

ABOUT ACCUCODE

Founded in 1996, Accucode is a software and technology integrator specializing in fulfilment and installation services for mobile computing, wireless infrastructure, and automated data collection technologies. Accucode provides large scale deployment services including kitting and device configuration, along with device repair and spare pool management. www.accucode.com

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Media Contacts: 

Bill Abelson

Zebra Technologies

+1-631-738-4751

[email protected]

Katie Wilkinson

Discount Tire

[email protected]

Industry Analyst Contact:

Kasia Fahmy

Zebra Technologies

+1-224-306-8654

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Illinois

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Consumer Electronics Automotive General Automotive Technology Mobile/Wireless Software Hardware

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Zebra Technologies and Discount Tire Unveil First Tire Inspection Mobile Computing Solution (Photo: Business Wire)

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10 Tech Companies Selected for 11^th Annual FinTech Innovation Lab New York, run by Accenture and Partnership Fund for New York City

Fintech solutions leverage artificial intelligence and data analytics to address key industry challenges including sustainability

Fintechs will receive advice from senior executives at the world’s leading financial institutions

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Ten emerging technology companies have been selected to participate in the 2021 FinTech Innovation Lab New York, a 12-week program founded by Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and the Partnership Fund for New York City that helps early- and growth-stage enterprise tech companies accelerate product and business development through in-depth engagement with top financial services and venture capital executives.

This year’s participants, selected from more than 200 applications across the globe, are helping financial institutions address key societal challenges, including managing climate risk, operating more sustainably, and developing improved digital products for customers. Their solutions use technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and advanced data analytics.

The 2021 FinTech Innovation Lab New York participants are:

• Cinchy (Toronto, Canada) – whose Data Fabric platform is used by a growing number of the world’s most complex financial institutions to eliminate integration and data silos.
• CoverGo (Hong Kong / Singapore) – which offers a configurable, modular, no-code insurance platform powered by 500+ insurance application programming interfaces (APIs) to automate processes and enable digital transformation at record speed.
• Delio (Cardiff, U.K.) – whose white-labeled technology and infrastructure enables the creation of connected distribution platforms and marketplaces for transforming private markets – integrating deal origination, distribution, transaction and reporting into structured and highly configurable workflows.
• Quarrio (Berkeley, Calif.) – whose conversational analytics enables sales teams to ask questions about enterprise data and receive answers within seconds.
• RightFoot (San Francisco) – whose APIs enable developers to quickly and easily add student debt repayment (and soon, any type of debt repayment) capabilities into any app.
• Safekeep (New York) – whose award-winning AI-driven claims solution increases recovery potential and reduces effort by as much as 90%.
• SPIN Analytics (London / New York) – whose explainable AI platform, RISKROBOT™, offers 10x acceleration, automated data preparation and management, model development, regulatory documentation, validation and monitoring for credit risk management in banks.
• The Climate Service (Durham, N.C.) – whose Climanomics® software as a service platform enables investors and corporations to incorporate climate risks into their strategic planning, risk management, and climate risk disclosure processes.
• Util (London) – which autonomously gathers and quantifies sustainability data about companies, products, services and portfolios at scale.
• Vesttoo (Tel Aviv) – which offers data-driven risk modeling for the L&P and P&C insurance markets, providing insurers and pension funds with affordable, strategic risk transfer to the capital markets, while investors benefit from uncorrelated, high-yield investments with remote loss possibilities.

Selected by senior technology executives from the Lab’s 44 participating financial institutions, the 10 fintech companies will spend the next 12 weeks receiving intensive product and business-development advice, as well as mentoring, from senior executives in the financial, technology and venture capital sectors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lab will again be conducted virtually this year. The Lab has helped position New York City as a hub for fintechs and financial innovation, and as the city looks to recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, many of the fintechs’ solutions can help it emerge stronger.

“We’re excited about the innovation this competitive class of fintech companies is bringing to New York City,” said Maria Gotsch, president and CEO of the Partnership Fund for New York City, and co-founder of the FinTech Innovation Lab. “The Lab has spurred fintech’s growth in New York over the past 11 years, turning the city into a hub for talent and innovation, and now the industry is poised to play a major role in its recovery.”

David Treat, a managing director in Accenture’s Financial Services group and co-chair of the FinTech Innovation Lab New York, said, “We welcome this year’s class to the New York Lab and look forward to providing our mentorship and guidance as the companies refine their solutions. Digital innovation within financial services skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fintechs have truly led the way. Their ability to apply technology innovation in a focused, creative and unencumbered manner can help power new business models for financial services and address key societal issues, including climate change and the future of work.”

Rick Barto, a managing director in Accenture’s Insurance industry group, said, “We continue to see disruption and disintermediation across the insurance value chain, and the insurtechs in this year’s program continue to push the boundaries with their technology solutions. We look forward to seeing their progress when the program concludes.”

The 10 companies in this year’s FinTech Innovation Lab New York will highlight the progress they have made with the financial institution partners in a virtual presentation on June 24 to executives across the banking, insurance, capital markets and venture capital sectors.

Executives from the following participating financial institutions provide mentorship and assistance to the Lab: AIG; AllianceBernstein; Ally Financial; American Express; Aon; AQR Capital Management; AXA XL; Bank of America; Barclays; BlackRock; BNP Paribas; BNY Mellon; Capital One; Chubb; CIT; Citi; Credit Suisse; Deutsche Bank; Fidelity Investments; Global Atlantic; Goldman Sachs; Guardian Life; JPMorgan Chase; KeyBank; Marsh McLennan; Mastercard; Morgan Stanley; New York Life; NFP; Prudential Financial; Rabobank; RBC Capital Markets; Société Générale; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Synchrony; The D. E. Shaw group; The Hartford; The Travelers Companies, Inc.; TIAA; U.S. Bank; UBS; USAA; Wells Fargo; and Zurich North America.

Supporting venture-capital firms include: Anthemis; Bain Capital Ventures; Canaan; Canapi Ventures; Contour Venture Partners; FinTech Collective; Nyca Partners; Oak HC/FT; Rho Ventures; RRE Ventures; and Warburg Pincus.

About the FinTech Innovation Lab

The FinTech Innovation Lab is a 12-week accelerator program to provide early- and growth-stage fintech companies with access to the world’s leading financial institutions. Founded in 2010 by the Partnership Fund for New York City and Accenture, the Lab partners with 44 leading financial services firms to offer fintechs unparalleled mentorship and feedback. The Lab has helped establish New York as a fintech leader while growing technology jobs in the New York area. The Lab’s 79 alumni companies have raised $1.4 billion and created more than 1,200 jobs after participating in the program, and 18 of those companies have since been acquired.

About the Partnership Fund for New York City

The Partnership Fund for New York City is the $170 million investment arm of the Partnership for New York City, New York’s leading business organization. The Fund’s mission is to engage the City’s business leaders to identify and support promising entrepreneurs — in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors – to create jobs, spur new business and expand opportunities for New Yorkers to participate in the City’s economy. As an “evergreen” fund, realized gains are continuously reinvested. The Partnership Fund Board is led by co-chairs Tarek Sherif and Sanjay Swani. Maria Gotsch, president and CEO, leads the team. More information about the Fund can be found at www.partnershipfundnyc.org/.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Copyright © 2021 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are registered trademarks of Accenture

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Michael McGinn

Accenture

+1 917 452 9458

[email protected]

Melissa Volin

Accenture

+1 267 216 1815

[email protected]

Natasha Avanessians

Partnership for New York City

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: New York United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Insurance Networks Finance Banking Data Management Professional Services Technology

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Posted on April 7, 2021 8:02 am

MSCI Schedules Earnings Call to Review First Quarter 2021 Results

MSCI Schedules Earnings Call to Review First Quarter 2021 Results

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, announced today it will release its results for the first quarter 2021 on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. A copy of the earnings release, as well as an earnings presentation and a quarterly update, will be made available on MSCI’s Investor Relations homepage.

MSCI’s senior management will review the first quarter 2021 results on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. To listen to the live event, visit the events and presentations section of MSCI’s Investor Relations homepage, https://ir.msci.com/events-and-presentations, or dial 1-877-376-9931 conference ID: 3064178 within the United States. International callers may dial 1-720-405-2251 conference ID: 3064178. The teleconference will also be webcast with an accompanying slide presentation which can be accessed through MSCI’s Investor Relations website.

An archived replay of the webcast also will be available shortly after the live event on MSCI’s Investor Relations website, https://ir.msci.com/events-and-presentations.

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com. MSCI#IR

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MSCI Inc.

Investor Inquiries

[email protected]

Salli Schwartz +1 212 804 5306

Media Inquiries

[email protected]

Sam Wang +1 212 804 5244

Melanie Blanco +1 212 981 1049

Rachel Lai +852 2844 9315

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Professional Services Data Management Finance

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Posted on April 7, 2021 8:02 am

Accenture and SAP Co-Develop Intelligent Asset Management Solutions to Maximize Equipment Performance and Output

Accenture and SAP Co-Develop Intelligent Asset Management Solutions to Maximize Equipment Performance and Output

Cloud-based solutions and services use AI and analytics to give clients an integrated real-time view of their assets

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is collaborating with SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) on a unique joint initiative to design, develop and deliver new cloud-based capabilities that strengthen existing SAP^® Intelligent Asset Management solutions. Accenture is bringing its industry-specific assets and knowledge to extend asset management solution functionality, helping companies in industries such as energy, life sciences and natural resources improve performance by shifting maintenance strategies from reactive to proactive. This will help enable companies to improve operational safety, minimize environmental impact and reduce maintenance costs.

“Global asset-intensive companies must rely on intelligent supply chains, combined with manufacturing and operations insights that optimize the productivity and maintenance of their assets, ultimately increasing quality and reducing costs and down-time,” said Caspar Borggreve, global lead for the Accenture SAP Business Group. “Accenture is extending our alliance with SAP to bring together plant operations and maintenance data in one solution that allows companies to use industry-leading practices to maximize performance of their assets from strategy to execution.”

The new capabilities are planned to be built with the SAP^® Intelligent Asset Management solutions and SAP S/4HANA^®,^{with SAP Business Technology Platform as the foundation. Backed by the agility and scalability of cloud, these solutions will collect and blend real-time operational and condition data from multiple sources, including IoT and sensor-enabled devices, to help provide a comprehensive view of assets. Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities help turn assets and operational data into insights for responsive and predictive actions. This can help companies optimize the scope of work and effort required for inspection, planned repairs, and emergency maintenance. With improved maintenance tracking and better visibility into work planning, companies can run in a more “lean and clean” style, producing and distributing goods and services in a more sustainable way.}

“Companies in asset-intensive industries strive to maximize asset productivity while managing safety, environmental risk, and reducing cost” said Dieter Haesslein, Global Head, SAP S/4HANA Asset and Service Management. “I am excited to extend our partnership with Accenture to help our customers close the loop of intelligent asset performance management with maintenance execution.”

Additionally, Accenture and SAP plan to create a co-innovation group with clients across various industries to obtain feedback and new ideas on industry market standards for Intelligent Asset Management. Accenture has been co-developing industry solutions on SAP S/4HANA with SAP for over five years, collaborating on more than 80 new SAP products in various industries. Accenture has over 70,000 SAP practitioners around the world, and an alliance with SAP that spans more than 40 years.

To help accelerate and simplify delivery of these new industry solutions and services, clients can also look to Accenture’s myConcerto®, an insight-driven platform with intelligent capabilities and pre-configured solutions for industry and business functions. These out-of-the-box capabilities help companies harmonize SAP technologies, applications and capabilities in a single platform to amplify business results.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties described in SAP’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC), including its most recent annual report on Form 20-F, that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. SAP cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which SAP has no obligation to update and which speak only as of their dates.

Copyright © 2021 Accenture. All rights reserved.

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Julie Bennink

Accenture

+1 312 693 7301

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Data Management Security Technology Mobile/Wireless Software Networks

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Posted on April 7, 2021 8:01 am

Titan International, Inc. Call for Redemption of its Senior Secured Notes due 2023

PR Newswire

QUINCY, Ill., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI) (“Titan” or the “Company”) Titan announced today that, in accordance with the redemption provisions of the indenture governing its 6.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”), it has called for redemption all of the 2023 Notes.

The call is conditional upon the closing of a new secured notes offering.  The 2023 Notes will be redeemed on May 7, 2021, assuming satisfaction of the conditions set forth above. Pursuant to the indenture, the notes will be redeemed at 103.25% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

This press release is for information purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of the 2023 Notes. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any new secured notes. Any offers of new secured notes will be made only by means of a private offering circular.

Safe harbor statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s intention to redeem its 2023 Notes and a new secured notes offering. These forward-looking statements are covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “may,” “will,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. Although we believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, these assumptions are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond Titan International, Inc.’s control. As a result, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect, and actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation of such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results and trends to differ materially from those made, projected, or implied in or by the forward-looking statements depending on a variety of uncertainties or other factors including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to refinance its 2023 Notes on favorable terms to it or at all due to prevailing market conditions or otherwise; the continued effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial performance; changes in the Company’s end-user markets into which the Company sells its products as a result of domestic and world economic or regulatory influences or otherwise; changes in the marketplace, including new products and pricing changes by the Company’s competitors; the Company’s ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations; unfavorable outcomes of legal proceedings; the Company’s ability to comply with current or future regulations applicable to the Company’s business and the industry in which it competes or any actions taken or orders issued by regulatory authorities; availability and price of raw materials; levels of operating efficiencies; the effects of the Company’s indebtedness and its compliance with the terms thereof; changes in the interest rate environment and their effects on the Company’s outstanding indebtedness; unfavorable product liability and warranty claims; actions of domestic and foreign governments, including the imposition of additional tariffs; geopolitical and economic uncertainties relating to the countries in which the Company operates or does business; risks associated with acquisitions, including difficulty in integrating operations and personnel, disruption of ongoing business, and increased expenses; results of investments; the effects of potential processes to explore various strategic transactions, including potential dispositions; fluctuations in currency translations; risks associated with environmental laws and regulations; risks relating to our manufacturing facilities, including that any of our material facilities may become inoperable; risks relating to financial reporting, internal controls, tax accounting, and information systems; and the other risks and factors detailed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the disclosures under “Risk Factors” in those reports. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements included in this press release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events, or for any other reason, except as required by law.

About Titan

Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI) is a leading global manufacturer of off-highway wheels, tires, assemblies, and undercarriage products. Headquartered in Illinois, the Company globally produces a broad range of products to meet the specifications of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket customers in the agricultural, earthmoving/construction, and consumer markets. For more information, visit www.titan-intl.com.

 

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SOURCE Titan International, Inc.

Posted on April 7, 2021 7:59 am

ING Research: Climate Action Accelerated by COVID-19 but Companies, Investors, and Governments Must Move Faster

ESG Disclosures are Starting to Align with Investor Demands as Companies Become More Accountable and Ambitious in Setting Targets

– Majority of corporates (57 percent) accelerate green transformation plans as a result of the pandemic

– Less than one in 10 companies currently link executive compensation to ESG targets; 62 percent of companies will do so for environmental targets in 2021

– 72 percent of investors say they are increasing ESG outcome ambitions in their portfolios

– Social bond momentum to continue with half of corporates likely to issue a social bond in the next 12 months

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, LONDON and SINGAPORE, April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — A new global survey of companies and institutional investors commissioned by ING shows the COVID-19 pandemic as a ‘white swan’ moment, which has accelerated the majority of companies’ green transformation plans. At the same time, investors are demanding more hard environmental targets be put in place by companies. Despite this, companies, investors, and governments must move faster and further in making environmental, social and governance (ESG) progress as the pandemic raises the bar for ambition.

According to the new report, ‘Now or never: A new bar for sustainability‘, 57 percent of companies say they are accelerating green transformation plans, and 62 percent will likely tie executive compensation to environmental targets in 2021. Currently, less than one in 10 companies in the survey have linked executive compensation to ESG targets. From the investors surveyed, 74 percent have increased commitments for portfolio alignments to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and 72 percent are adopting more ambitious targets for sustainability outcomes of ESG investment.

“The pandemic has demonstrated that individuals, companies, investors, and governments can make rapid environmental and social changes for the good, but closer alignment is necessary to rapidly accelerate progress in addressing the climate crisis,” said Gerald Walker, Chief Executive Officer for ING Americas. “Our actions are under the microscope like never before and as the report shows, coordinated action and convergence on areas such as ESG standards and policy are essential for accountability and meeting ambitious targets.”

The ING report surveyed executive and senior management respondents about their organization’s ESG priorities, how they are embedding accountability for progress and performance, and the evolving influence of capital markets on sustainable transition. The findings include:

Companies elevate the ‘S’ in ESG, with 50 percent expecting to issue a social bond in the next 12 months

Employee health and wellbeing (33 percent) will take precedence for corporates over the next year, even ahead of emissions reduction (30 percent). Investors cite this as a top ESG priority too, behind only climate and sustainable supply chains. Furthermore, over 80 percent of companies across each region expect new government sustainability policies to intensify action on improving access to healthcare, significantly more than any other area, including renewable energy projects. Momentum behind social bond issuance and subscription rates is set to continue over the next 12 months with, 50 percent of corporates likely to issue a social bond in this time frame.

Asia-Pacific (53 percent) and North American (51 percent) respondents are more likely to issue a social bond in the next 12 months than European (44 percent) respondents. Despite short-term momentum on social issues, only 17 percent of investors would like to see companies making more externally focussed social targets a top priority; investors see more ambitious environmental targets as a bigger priority (38 percent).

62 percent of companies have effectively integrated ESG information within corporate reporting, but better alignment with investor demands is needed

73 percent of those that had issued sustainable finance instruments in the past say the process improved their ability to put robust metrics in place and 62 percent say ESG information is strongly integrated within corporate reporting. However, when it comes to disclosure, there are still misalignments between information being reported by companies and information investors believe is most material. The top challenges for companies trying to improve ESG accountability are the lack of common industry standards and integrating ESG issues with financial targets.

European (45 percent) companies highlighted the chopping and changing of ESG KPIs as the most significant challenge in improving ESG accountability, in comparison to North America and Asia-Pacific (34 percent each).

66 percent of companies say expansion and innovation in the sustainable finance market improves relevance and accessibility

The industry saw an expansion of different financing instruments, including social bond issuances, with 66 percent of companies saying the expansion of the sustainable finance market makes it more relevant and accessible for them. Companies cite the strongest appetite to issue social bonds over any other sustainability financing instrument, except for European companies where there is a marginally stronger appetite to issue green bonds over social.  First-time issuers view sustainability-linked financing as a way to test the market and learn from the process, value, and data.

European investors (49 percent) have by far strongest appetite for sustainability-linked instruments compared to North America (26 percent) and Asia-Pacific (13 percent). Investor appetite for transition bonds is reversed with stronger appetite in Asia Pacific (47 percent) and North American (40 percent) in comparison to Europe (17 percent). 

“Over the past 12 months we have seen a mentality shift whereby companies were initially taking some steps but are now taking a much more accelerated approach to sustainability. The role of capital markets is pivotal in ensuring this approach continues, providing increased transparency around measurement and ensuring sustainability is embedded with corporate strategy,” said Leonie Schreve, Global Head of Sustainable Finance for ING. “The expansion of the sustainable finance market as evidenced by the growth in sustainability-linked instruments is vital in making sure no company with strong ambitions is excluded from being able to transition to a sustainable business.” 

Methodology

• Longitude, a division of the Financial Times Group, surveyed institutional investors and corporates.
• 450 corporates were surveyed across seven sectors, split evenly across Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific.
• 100 institutional investors were surveyed, including pension funds, insurers, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds, across Europe (35), the US (35), and Asia-Pacific (30).

View the report here: https://new.ingwb.com/en/insights/sustainability/rethinking-sustainability-in-the-post-pandemic-landscape

About ING

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering financial services. The purpose of ING is empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING’s more than 57,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

Sustainability forms an integral part of ING’s strategy, evidenced by ING’s leading position in sector benchmarks by Sustainalytics and MSCI and our ‘A-list’ rating by CDP. ING Group shares are included in major sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) index products of leading providers STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. In January 2021, ING received an ESG evaluation score of 83 (‘strong’) from S&P Global Ratings.

Contact:

Melissa Kanter

ING Financial Services LLC
M +1 (917) 848-3006
E [email protected]

Astrid Overeem

ING Bank
M +31 (0)6 25 14 55 79
E [email protected]

Eileen Lau

ING Bank
M +65 8298 3208
E: [email protected]

 

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ing-research-climate-action-accelerated-by-covid-19-but-companies-investors-and-governments-must-move-faster-301264048.html

SOURCE ING

Posted on April 7, 2021 7:59 am

BIO-key Expands Channel Alliance Partner Program in Africa, Adding Kenya-Based Cyber Security Provider Kristel Communication to Sell its Biometric and Identity and Access Management Solutions in High-Growth East African Markets

NAIROBI, Kenya and WALL, N.J., April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BIO-key International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of identity and access management (IAM) solutions powered by biometrics, today announced it has added Nairobi, Kenya-based Kristel Communication Ltd., a leading provider of cyber security solutions in Africa, to its BIO-key Channel Alliance Partner Program. Kristel Communication will sell BIO-key’s PortalGuard cloud based Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solution and its biometric hardware and software solutions to commercial and government accounts through its reseller network in Kenya and other East African countries.

Kristel Communication is a leading cyber security solutions provider in Kenya and Eastern Africa with a broad reseller network and diverse array of cutting-edge network solutions that complement PortalGuard IDaaS and BIO-key’s biometric offerings. Kristel is the country partner for Bitdefender, which runs on over 500M systems worldwide, and is a distribution partner for Endpoint Protector, a data loss prevention solution for personal information and intellectual property recognized as a premier solution in Gartner’s latest Enterprise DLP Magic Quadrant.

“We are anxious to begin selling BIO-key’s PortalGuard IDaaS solution through our reseller network,” affirmed Ben Obinju, CEO of Kristel Communication. “Our experience with selling cloud-delivered security solutions will be critical as we introduce the PortalGuard platform to our customers. Our customers expect a reduced total cost of ownership by moving to a SaaS model of delivery since the overhead burden of hosting and maintaining the solution is no longer necessary. Many of our customers, such as those in financial services will also take advantage of the integrated biometric solutions that BIO-key offers.”

“We are excited to welcome Kristel Communication to our Channel Alliance Partner Program and expand our footprint in Africa,” said Michael DePasquale, Chairman and CEO of BIO-key International. “Kristel has a demonstrated track record of exceptional customer service, a critical factor for us as we expand into new markets. Our IDaaS solution is a great fit for Kristel and their customers. IAM technology needs to be flexible, available everywhere, and highly reliable, allowing customers to focus on their mission. Integrated biometrics is also extremely important for many of Kristel’s target markets. Kristel has outstanding experience selling cybersecurity solutions in Kenya and other countries in East Africa. They have developed a strong reseller network throughout the region and provide excellent support, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.”

PortalGuard IDaaS’s unmatched security, flexibility, ease of deployment and support for fifteen different authentication factors allows customers across myriad industries to become secure “cloud first” businesses, while maintaining the highest levels of security.

PortalGuard IDaaS includes BIO-key’s NIST-certified device-or-server biometric authentication factors, along with fourteen other factor options for flexible authentication. As the demand for always-on cloud computing rises to all-time highs with the global shift to work-from-anywhere, PortalGuard IDaaS lets customers leverage existing authentication factors, accelerate deployments, cut costs and simplify operations instead of managing a mission-critical IAM solution on premise.

IDaaS is expected to experience strong growth. Gartner anticipates a 35 percent global increase in midsize and larger organizations using identity and access management capabilities delivered via SaaS to fulfill most of their identity needs, a prediction made prior to the COVID-19 driven shift to work-from-anywhere. Gartner also predicts growth for biometric authentication given its lower deployment costs, better phishing resistance and superior user experience. BIO-key’s PortalGuard IDaaS and biometric solutions are an efficient and proven means for customers to be ready for whatever challenges the future brings.

About BIO-key International, Inc. (

www.bio-key.com

)

BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication with biometric centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) solutions, including its PortalGuard IAM solution, that provide convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications, and high-value transactions. BIO-key’s proprietary software and hardware solutions, with industry-leading biometric capabilities, enable large-scale on-premise and Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions, including customized enterprise and cloud solutions.

About Kristel Communications, Limited (KLC) (
www.kristel.co.ke
)

Kristel Communication is a leading cyber security solutions provider in Kenya and has been in the ICT industry offering diverse and leading network solutions. KCL focuses on offering our clients the best and leading solution products, that are current and relevant in managing any network.

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “estimate,” “project,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to raise additional capital; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; security breaches; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to execute and deliver on contracts in Africa; our ability to expand into Asia, Africa and other foreign markets; the duration and severity of the current coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our business operations, sales cycles, personnel, and the geographic markets in which we operate; delays in the development of products and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing as well as other factors set forth under the caption see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additionally, there may be other factors of which the Company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. In particular, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our company in particular have been material, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted.

Engage with BIO-key:
Facebook – Corporate: https://www.facebook.com/BIOkeyInternational/
LinkedIn – Corporate: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bio-key-international
Twitter – Corporate: @BIOkeyIntl
Twitter – Investors: @BIO_keyIR
StockTwits: BIO_keyIR

Media Contact Erin Knapp Matter Communications [email protected] 914-260-3158	Investor Contact William Jones, David Collins Catalyst IR [email protected] 212-924-9800