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Voya offers first-of-its-kind nonqualified deferred compensation distribution portfolios for workplace clients

New portfolios offer unique models for nonqualified plan participants seeking to align investments with planned distribution dates

WINDSOR, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today the launch of new distribution portfolios for its nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans. The first-of-their-kind investment models were developed with Voya Investment Management’s Multi-Asset Strategies and Solutions team and are specifically designed for individuals looking to closely align their NQDC distribution dates with the investments in their plan.

Voya’s NQDC distribution portfolios provide four professionally managed asset allocation options providing flexibility for individuals to elect scheduled distributions using one or more investment time horizons with distribution windows of three, five, eight or 10 years.

“Providing the tools, resources and knowledge to support individuals throughout their nonqualified deferred compensation plan experience is critical in helping them achieve their financial goals,” said Kirk Penland, SVP, Nonqualified Markets at Voya Financial. “We know target-date funds (TDF) are one of the most popular investment choices when it comes to one’s 401(k) plan, so we wanted to structure a solution with similar benefits of a TDF but tailored to the needs of NQDC participants. Rather than providing a distribution that is tied to a retirement date as you would see in a TDF, the distributions are aligned to dates that one has selected to receive their nonqualified plan savings. This offers several advantages for those looking to tie distributions to certain life stages beyond retirement, such as saving for a child’s education, a new house, or any short-, medium-, or long-term goals.”

Distinct from a 401(k) or other qualified defined contribution plan, distributions from NQDC plans require an employee participant to select when and how they will receive the compensation they have deferred. Many plans allow for scheduling distributions during the course of one’s career, not just at retirement, providing the ability to defer compensation to cover shorter-term goals. As a result, distributions can be structured in various ways — from payments over a specific period of time to a one-time lump-sum payment. And since most deferred compensation plans also allow individuals to choose investment options for their deferred compensation balances, in some cases, each year’s deferred compensation balance can be invested differently.

Through Voya’s new distribution portfolios, individuals are provided greater flexibility to coordinate the lump-sum distribution election and the investments — ideally, reducing possible account volatility as one gets closer to each distribution.

“Flexibility is incredibly important when it comes to the benefits that a deferred compensation plan can provide,” added Penland. “It’s also becoming increasingly important to provide support not just for the tracking of contributions and distributions, but also in providing a platform that allows participants to manage and integrate their distributions with their broader savings plans and assets.”

Voya’s models come at a time when many working Americans are seeking guidance and support when it comes to making fund or investment selections within their workplace retirement plan. According to new research from Voya, only 35% of Americans currently enrolled and actively contributing to a workplace retirement plan are very confident about making fund or investment selections within their plan.¹ The good news for employers is the same research also found a significant amount (82%) agree or strongly agree that they want a personalized-advice or guidance service that constructs their retirement investment portfolio based on risk tolerance levels — providing a clear opportunity for employer support in this area.²

The models were developed by Voya Investment Management’s Multi-Asset Strategies and Solutions (MASS) team, which oversees $33 billion in assets under management and consists of more than 25 investment professionals who design customized and packaged multi-asset-class solutions, including $19 billion in target-date strategies, as of Dec. 31, 2020.

Voya first announced its offering of nonqualified deferred compensation benefit plans nearly three years ago, providing nonqualified services across all of Voya’s 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plan markets and offered as an integrated solution when Voya is administering an employer’s core defined contribution retirement plan. The services are also available when an employer is looking for nonqualified plan support on a stand-alone basis. With the addition of these features, Voya has been able to advance its innovative, nonqualified compensation benefits along with its leading qualified plan administration services through an integrated experience that helps to ultimately advance greater financial security.

As an industry leader focused on the delivery of health, wealth and investment solutions to and through the workplace, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its mission to make a secure financial future possible for all Americans — one person, one family, one institution at a time.

1.& 2. Based on results of a Voya Financial survey conducted through AYTM – Ask Your Target Market online research platform between Jan. 18–26, 2021, among n=750 Americans ages 18+ who are full-time employees and actively contributing to their employer-sponsored retirement plan, balanced by age and gender to reflect the U.S. population.

About Voya Financial^®

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), provides health, wealth and investment solutions that enable its approximately 14.8 million individual, workplace and institutional clients to achieve their financial wellness goals with confidence. With a vision to be America’s Retirement Company^®, Voya’s products, solutions and digital capabilities help create a better financial future for all. Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $7.6 billion in revenue in 2020 and $700 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Dec. 31, 2020. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work^® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies^® by the Ethisphere Institute; as the No. 1-ranked financial services firm among Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for three consecutive years; as a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index; and as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.

VOYA-RET

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005137/en/

Media:

Laura Maulucci

Voya Financial

Office: (860) 580-1278

Cell: (508) 353-6913

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Finance

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U.S. Bancorp Announces Redemption of Medium-Term Notes

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
U.S. Bancorp today announced the redemption on April 23, 2021, of all its outstanding 4.125% Medium-Term Notes, Series T (Senior), due May 24, 2021 (CUSIP No. 91159HHA1). The redemption price for the Medium-Term Notes will be equal to $1,000 per $1,000 original principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of April 23, 2021.

Payment of the redemption price for the Medium-Term Notes will be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

About U.S. Bank

U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $554 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with digital tools that allow customers to bank when, where and how they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial, corporate, and investment customers across the country and around the world as a trusted and responsible financial partner. This commitment continues to earn a spot on the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list and puts U.S. Bank in the top 5% of global companies assessed on the CDP A List for climate change action. Visit usbank.com for more.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005121/en/

Investor contact: Jennifer Thompson, U.S. Bancorp Investor Relations

[email protected], 612.303.0778, @usbank_news

Media contact: Jeff Shelman, U.S. Bancorp Public Affairs and Communications

[email protected], 612.422.1423, @usbank_news

KEYWORDS: Minnesota United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services Finance

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MACOM to Report Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results on April 29, 2021

LOWELL, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. (“MACOM”) (NASDAQ: MTSI) plans to announce financial results for its second quarter fiscal year 2021 ended April 2, 2021 before market open on Thursday, April 29, 2021. In conjunction with the release, MACOM will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 29, 2021, hosted by Mr. Stephen G. Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. John F. Kober, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Conference Call Information:

Call Date and Time: Thursday, April 29, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

Conference Call Number: 1-877-837-3908

International Call Number: +1-973-872-3000

Pass Code: 3058817

The conference call replay will be available for at least five business days, beginning two hours after the call. The replay dial-in number is 1-855-859-2056, and the pass code is 3058817. International callers should dial +1-404-537-3406 and enter the same pass code at the prompt. Additionally, the conference call will broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties for approximately 90 days in the Investor Relations section of MACOM’s website at http://ir.macom.com.

About MACOM

MACOM designs and manufactures semiconductor products for Data Center, Telecommunication and Industrial and Defense applications. Headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, MACOM has design centers and sales offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. MACOM is certified to the ISO9001 international quality standard and ISO14001 environmental management standard.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005480/en/

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.

Stephen Ferranti, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Investor Relations

P: 978-656-2977

E: [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Semiconductor Data Management Technology Telecommunications Software Hardware

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Posted on April 13, 2021 9:03 am

Roku Introduces Powerful Roku Express 4K+ and Rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro

Roku Introduces Powerful Roku Express 4K+ and Rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro

Roku Express 4K+ Delivers Easy, Reliable Streaming in Brilliant HD, 4K & HDR Picture;

Roku Voice Remote Pro is Rechargeable with a Lost Remote Finder and Hands-Free Voice Controls

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Roku, Inc.(NASDAQ: ROKU) today unveiled the all-new Roku Express 4K+ (MSRP $39.99), which offers powerful 4K streaming at an incredible value and the Roku Voice Remote Pro (MSRP $29.99), which features a rechargeable battery, lost remote finder and hands-free voice controls for users looking to upgrade their streaming experience. The Roku Express 4K+ features Roku^® OS 10 which Roku unveiled in another announcement today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005474/en/

Roku Express 4K+ (Photo: Business Wire)

“We are dedicated to providing users the simplest way to stream entertainment to their TV at an affordable price,” said Mark Ely, Vice President, Retail Product Strategy at Roku. “The new Roku Express 4K+ is a huge value in 4K streaming as 4K has become a benchmark in technology and entertainment. The Roku Voice Remote Pro is delivering on major consumer pain points with rechargeability and the voice activated lost remote finder. We believe consumers are going to be impressed with the quality they can get from Roku at these price points.”

Roku Express 4K+

Roku Express 4K+ is the easiest way to start streaming in brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color. Enjoy a smooth streaming experience with a more powerful quad-core processor, dual-band wireless performance and additional storage for quicker channel start times. The Roku OS features a massive selection of free and live TV, a customizable home screen and regular free software updates with new features. The Roku Express 4K+ will be available for $39.99 in the U.S. Additional features include:

• Brilliant picture quality: Optimized with stunning detail and clarity with sharp resolution and vivid color in HD, 4K, HDR, HDR10 and HDR10+.
• Smooth streaming: Dual-Band Wi-Fi^® and microUSB Ethernet compatibility for wired internet connectivity.
• Voice remote with TV controls: Use one remote to power on the TV, adjust the volume, mute and use Roku Voice to launch channels, search for content and control the streaming experience.
• Setup is a cinch: Everything is included in the box including a Premium High-Speed HDMI^® Cable. Just plug it in and connect to the internet.
• Ecosystem compatibility: Control Roku Express 4K+ by using voice with Alexa or Google Assistant enabled devices. With Apple AirPlay 2, effortlessly stream, control and share content directly from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Roku Express 4K+ also supports HomeKit, which allows users to easily and securely control Roku devices using Siri or the Home app on their Apple devices.

Roku Voice Remote Pro

The Roku Voice Remote Pro was designed to be an incredible upgrade for Roku device users. It offers a rechargeable battery and hands-free voice for easy actions such as “Hey Roku, find my remote.” The Roku Voice Remote is compatible with all Roku TV models, audio devices, and select streaming players for $29.99. It also features:

• Rechargeable battery: Keep the remote powered for months on a single charge. It works with any standard USB charger
• Lost remote finder: Say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” or use the free Roku mobile app (available for iOS and Android) and listen for a little chime to locate everyone’s favorite TV companion.
• TV controls: Power the TV, adjust volume and mute.
• Personal shortcuts: Save favorite voice commands for one-touch control (press and hold after giving a voice command to save).
• Private listening: Don’t wake the house, just plug headphones (sold separately) into the headphone jack and the TV will mute automatically.
• Hands-free: Forget about reaching for the remote. Just say “Hey Roku” and a command to turn the TV on, adjust the volume, control playback, and more without lifting a finger.
• Push-to-talk: Prefer not to have always on listening devices in the home? Leverage the hardware switch to turn off the hands-free voice feature and use push-to-talk voice controls.

Roku Streambar Pro

The Roku Streambar Pro is an evolution of the Roku Smart Soundbar. It features 2-in-1 4K streaming and cinematic sound and now includes a Roku Voice Remote with personal shortcut buttons and private listening, Roku headphones and the new Virtual Surround feature for $179.99. Virtual Surround is a feature in Roku OS 10 and will be rolling out to both the Roku Streambar Pro and the Roku Smart Soundbar offering a rich and immersive sound experience. This setting creates spacious sound that moves around the room for an enhanced audio experience. The Roku Streambar Pro will be available on Roku.com at the end of May and at major retailers in June.

Availability

The Roku Express 4K+ will be on shelves and available online in mid-May at major retailers across the U.S. The Roku Voice Remote Pro is available at Roku.com today and will be coming to other major retailers in May. Also available on shelf in the U.S. will be the Roku Express, the Roku Streaming Stick+, the Roku Ultra and the Roku Streambar™.

The Roku Express 4K is a Walmart exclusive in the U.S. featuring a basic Roku remote for just $35. This model will also be available in Canada, Mexico and the U.K. in the coming weeks.

Adding Value via a Content Offer

Enjoy a 30-day free trial of AMC+ on The Roku Channel. Premium Subscriptions like AMC+ make The Roku Channel a go-to destination. Manage subscriptions with ease and cancel any time. With one login, one bill, and one place to stream them all, enjoying premium entertainment has never been this easy. During activation, a 30-day free trial offer from AMC+ will become visible to accept with additional instructions. Redeem by 7/2/21.

For more information visit Roku.com.

About Roku, Inc.

Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. We connect users to the streaming content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Roku streaming players and TV-related audio devices are available in the U.S. and in select countries through direct retail sales and licensing arrangements with service operators. Roku TV™ models are available in the U.S. and in select countries through licensing arrangements with TV brands. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. U.S.A.

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us on the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not limited to the benefits, impact, features, pricing and availability of the new Roku streaming lineup, including the Roku Express 4K+ and the Roku Voice Remote Pro, and the features, benefits and reach of the Roku OS and the Roku platform. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are detailed from time to time in the reports Roku, Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on Roku’s website and are available from Roku without charge.

Roku and Streaming Stick are registered trademarks and Roku TV and Streambar are trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005474/en/

Seana Sullivan:

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Entertainment Online Software General Entertainment TV and Radio Internet Hardware Consumer Electronics

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Roku Express 4K+ (Photo: Business Wire)

SKECHERS USA, Inc. to Report First Quarter 2021 Financial Results on Thursday, April 22^nd

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX), a global leader in lifestyle and performance footwear, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2021 financial results after market close on Thursday, April 22, 2021. A conference call will be held the same day at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT. Participating on the call will be David Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer, and John Vandemore, Chief Financial Officer.

The call can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at investors.skechers.com. For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a replay will be available beginning April 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET, through May 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To access the replay, dial 844-512-2921 (U.S.) or 412-317-6671 (International) and use passcode: 13718661.

About SKECHERS USA, Inc.

Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Skechers designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company’s collections are available in the United States and over 170 countries and territories via department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through 3,891 Company and third-party-owned retail stores and e-commerce websites. The Company manages its international business through a network of global distributors, joint venture partners in Asia, Israel and Mexico, and wholly-owned subsidiaries in Canada, Japan, India, Europe and Latin America. For more information, please visit about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005259/en/

Investor Relations:

Addo Investor Relations

Andrew Greenebaum

310-829-5400

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Consumer Department Stores General Sports Sports Specialty Fashion Consumer Retail Online Retail

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Mavenir and Xilinx Collaborate to Bring to Market Open RAN Massive MIMO Portfolio

• Mavenir and Xilinx form collaboration to accelerate the Open RAN ecosystem with leading Open RAN massive MIMO portfolio
• Successfully integrated Massive MIMO end-to-end using Open RAN principles
• The first Massive MIMO 64TRX product expected in late 2021

RICHARDSON, Texas & SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Mavenir, the industry’s only end-to-end cloud-native Network Software Provider and a leader in accelerating software network transformation for communications service providers (CSPs), and Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX), the leader in adaptive computing, announced today the companies are collaborating to bring to market a unified 4G/5G O-RAN massive MIMO (mMIMO) portfolio to enable Open RAN deployments. The first mMIMO 64TRX joint solution is expected to be available in Q4 2021.

Working together, the two companies have successfully completed end-to-end integration of a first-generation mMIMO solution using Open RAN principles. Held at the Mavenir Lab in Bangalore, India, the integration covered multiple deployment scenarios and was evaluated by six CSPs, all leading global operators. Mavenir delivered the Virtualized RAN (vRAN) support for mMIMO, including Core Network, CU and DU, with Xilinx providing the Category B O-RAN Radio Unit.

“This integration demonstrates an efficient Open RAN massive MIMO solution to achieve diversification of the telecommunications supply chain,” says Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO, Mavenir. “This is an important milestone in the delivery of open and interoperable interfaces enabling the deployment of mMIMO in high density, high mobile traffic metro areas.”

“We were early proponents of Open RAN technology along with Mavenir and actively led in standards development in the industry through many field trials around the world,” said Liam Madden, executive vice president and general manager, Wired and Wireless Group at Xilinx. “With the investment we have done on our market-leading wireless radio technology and massive MIMO R&D, we are excited to collaborate with Mavenir to bring our collective technology and radio system expertise together that will accelerate the deployment of market leading 5G O-RAN massive MIMO radio solutions.”

With history of leadership success in various 4G and 5G network deployments worldwide, the companies are jointly developing the next generation of mMIMO products which will bring the world’s first O-RAN compliant 64TRX mMIMO products that support up to 400MHz instantaneous bandwidth in a compact form factor. Mavenir’s vRAN software supports Multi-User MIMO with up to 16 layers, advanced receiver algorithms, full digital beamforming – all running on Mavenir’s open and flexible cloud-native platform, as well as on other cloud platforms.

These products will leverage Xilinx’s technology platform including RFSoC DFE and Versal AI for advanced beamforming, delivering a fully integrated hardware and software O-RAN compliant mMIMO solution.

“5G Open RAN has significant momentum in the market with ABI Research forecasting network vendor spending to reach $10 billion by 2026-27 and then surpass traditional RAN at $30 billion by 2030,” said Dimitris Mavrakis, senior research director of 5G at ABI Research. “As Mavenir and Xilinx continue to work together to accelerate O-RAN-based massive MIMO adoption, their solutions will be well-timed to serve this high-growth market with the higher spectral efficiency, performance, power efficiency and cost needed as 5G demand intensifies.”

About Mavenir:

Mavenir is building the future of networks and pioneering advanced technology, focusing on the vision of a single, software-based automated network that runs on any cloud. As the industry’s only end-to-end, cloud-native network software provider, Mavenir is focused on transforming the way the world connects, accelerating software network transformation for 250+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. www.mavenir.com

About Xilinx:

Xilinx, Inc. develops highly flexible and adaptive processing platforms that enable rapid innovation across a variety of technologies – from the cloud, to the edge, to the endpoint. Xilinx is the inventor of the FPGA and Adaptive SoCs (including our Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform, or ACAP), designed to deliver the most dynamic computing technology in the industry. We collaborate with our customers to create scalable, differentiated and intelligent solutions that enable the adaptable, intelligent and connected world of the future. For more information, visit xilinx.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005187/en/

Maryvonne Tubb

Mavenir

[email protected]

Loren Guertin

MatterNow

[email protected]

Kevin Taylor

GlobalResultsPR

[email protected]

David Szabados

Xilinx

[email protected]

Rajesh Prothi

Absolute Factor

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States India North America Asia Pacific California Texas

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

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Elys Game Technology Achieves Record Annual Revenue of $37.3 Million for 2020

Web-based gaming turnover increases 54% versus the same period last year

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Elys Game Technology, Corp. (“Elys” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:ELYS), an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020. The complete financial results are available in the Company’s Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2021, which is available at www.sec.gov.

“I am very pleased to report that Elys not only achieved record revenue for 2020 but also broke through a major milestone by surpassing our half-billion dollar objective—reaching almost $575 million in gaming turnover despite the challenges brought on by the global pandemic. These results reflect the success of our omni-channel approach, and combining the best of both online and land-based retail betting, with balanced product diversification backed by our committed management teams,” stated Michele (Mike) Ciavarella, Executive Chairman of Elys Game Technology, Corp.

Matteo Monteverdi, CEO of Elys Game Technology, Corp., commented, “Our multi-faceted approach allowed us to adapt to evolving market conditions and continue to grow. The increase in revenue to $37.3 million for the full year of 2020 reflects the strong growth in our web-based gaming turnover, which increased 54% versus 2019. This increase was offset by a decline in our land-based gaming turnover, that has been impacted by the shutdown of betting shops in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mark Korb, CFO of Elys Game Technology, Corp., added, “We believe that we are very well positioned heading into 2021 to execute our vision of building a premier, end-to-end sports betting solution for European and US gaming operators. We continue to carefully manage expenses and have a solid balance sheet with over $18.9 million of cash as of December 31, 2020, which we expect will be more than sufficient to fund our planned geographic expansion in North America.”

Mr. Ciavarella concluded, “Through product preparedness with the build out of our ELYS U.S. platform, strategic selection of customers and the sequence of states in which to open, we expect that 2021 could represent a major inflection point for the Company. Elys is led by a highly experienced team, with a cutting-edge betting technology that we are confident can be quickly adopted by B2C operators throughout the U.S., and we continue to believe that our disciplined go-to-market strategy could extract long-term value for our investors and shareholders.”

About Elys Game Technology, Corp.

Elys Game Technology, Corp., is a B2B global gaming technology company operating in multiple countries worldwide, with B2C online and land-based gaming operations in Italy. In Italy, Elys offers its clients a full suite of leisure gaming products and services, such as sports betting, e-sports, virtual sports, online casino, poker, bingo, interactive games and slots.

The Company’s innovative wagering solution services online operators, casinos, retail betting establishments and franchise distribution networks. Additional information is available on our corporate website at www.elysgame.com.

Investors may also find us on Twitter @ELYS_gaming.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements and include statements regarding the Company being very well positioned heading into 2021 to execute its vision of building a premier, end-to-end sports betting solution for European and US gaming operators, the Company’s cash position being more than sufficient to fund its planned geographic expansion in North America, 2021 representing a major inflection point for the Company, the Company’s cutting-edge technology being quickly adopted by B2C operators throughout the U.S., and the Company’s disciplined go-to-market strategy extracting long-term value for our investors and shareholders. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the Company’s ability to deliver a premier, end-to-end sports betting solution for European and US gaming operators as planned, the Company’s ability to roll-out and fund its planned geographic expansion in North America, 2021 representing a major inflection point as expected, our cutting-edge technology being quickly adopted by B2C operators throughout the U.S. as expected, our disciplined go-to-market strategy could extract long-term value for our investors and shareholders as believed, the duration and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide, including the impact to state and local economies, and the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005707/en/

Crescendo Communications, LLC

David Waldman

Tel: (212) 671-1020

Email: [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Casino/Gaming Entertainment Online

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Akers’ Proposed Merger Partner MyMD Pharmaceuticals Announces Plans to Initiate COVID-19 Inflammatory Depression Trial

BALTIMORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Akers Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKER), today announced that its proposed merger partner MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MyMD”), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to extending health lifespan and treating immune mediated illnesses, has reached an agreement with a major medical school to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of MYMD-1 to treat immune mediated depression in patients affected with COVID-19. MYMD believes that this investigator-initiated study is the first of its kind and addresses a significant unmet medical need.

In a finding published in JAMA Network Open on 3/12/21, it was found that 52% of individuals who had COVID-19 had an associated moderate to severe Major Depressive Disorder. Currently there are no studies–to date or currently–to investigate therapeutic approaches to treat COVID-19 associated depression that MYMD is aware of, making this MYMD-1 study a potential landmark undertaking to address a critical global unmet need.

The study is designed to analyze the pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with the “cytokine storm,” with the Phase 2 trial planned to begin in Q2, under a contract research agreement. The COVID-19 depression trial is expected to be followed by studies at a major medical school on the therapeutic potential of MYMD-1 in patients with multiple sclerosis, including its effects on depression and disease progression. MYMD-1 is believed to be the first drug being developed to treat age related diseases and aging itself.

“COVID-19 associated depression is just the beginning,” said Chris Chapman, M.D., President and Chief Medical Officer of MyMD Pharmaceuticals. “After confirming, in successful preclinical studies over the past few years, that MYMD-1 can slow aging and treat age-related illnesses where the immune system has gone awry, we are excited to be moving into the clinical development phases of this promising novel therapeutic. Because inflammation is often the culprit for a myriad of diseases, additional studies that are planned will include the application of MYMD-1 to treat autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, delay age-related effects such as muscle loss and frailty, and prevent the adverse effects of space travel among Astronauts.”

About MyMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

MyMD is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to extending healthy lifespan by focusing on developing two therapeutic platforms. MYMD-1 is a drug platform based on a clinical stage small molecule that regulates the immunometabolic system to control TNF-α and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. MYMD-1 is being developed to treat autoimmune diseases, including those currently treated with non-selective TNF-α blocking drugs, and aging and longevity. SUPERA-CBD is a drug platform based on a novel (patent pending) synthetic derivative of cannabidiol (CBD) that targets numerous key receptors including CB2 and opioid receptors and inhibits monoamine oxidase. SUPERA-CBD is being developed to address the rapidly growing CBD market, that includes FDA approved drugs and CBD products not currently regulated as a drug. For more information, visit www.mymd.com.

No Offer or Solicitation

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

Important Additional Information for Investors and Stockholders

In connection with the proposed transaction between Akers and MyMD, Akers has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a proxy statement and prospectus of Akers. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on March 23, 2021, and the proxy statement of Akers and prospectus was mailed to the stockholders of Akers on or about March 24, 2021. Akers may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. AKERS URGES INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AKERS, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement, prospectus and other documents filed by Akers with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement, prospectus and other documents filed by Akers with the SEC by contacting Investor Relations by mail at Akers Biosciences, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, New York USA 10036. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement, prospectus and the other relevant materials before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.

Participants in the Solicitation

Akers and MyMD, and each of their respective directors and executive officers and certain of their other members of management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Akers’ directors and executive officers is included in Akers’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021. Additional information regarding these persons and their interests in the transaction is included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus referred to above. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this communication regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, known as the PSLRA. These include statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Akers and MyMD undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “guidance,” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. Such forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the completion of the merger, including the need for stockholder approval and the satisfaction of closing conditions; the cash balances of the combined company following the closing of the merger; the ability of Akers to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market in connection with the merger; and expected merger-related cash outlays, including the timing and amount of those outlays. Risks and uncertainties related to MyMD that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the timing of, and MyMD’s ability to, obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for clinical trials of MyMD’s pharmaceutical candidates, the timing and results of MyMD’s planned clinical trials for its pharmaceutical candidates, the amount of funds MyMD requires for its pharmaceutical candidates; increased levels of competition; changes in political, economic or regulatory conditions generally and in the markets in which MyMD operates; MyMD’s ability to retain and attract senior management and other key employees; MyMD’s ability to quickly and effectively respond to new technological developments; MyMD’s ability to protect its trade secrets or other proprietary rights, operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others and prevent others from infringing on MyMD’s proprietary rights; and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on MyMD’s results of operations, business plan and the global economy.

New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the combination, are more fully discussed in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus referred to above. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Akers’ Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Akers and MyMD as of the date of this release. Neither Akers nor MyMD undertakes any obligation to update such forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005702/en/

Investor Contact:

Brett Mass

646-536-7331

[email protected]

www.haydenir.com

Media Contact:

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www.antennagroup.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Maryland

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Research Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Practice Management Biotechnology Health Pharmaceutical Other Science Science

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