Grifols fosters world’s first scientific journal specialized in blood plasma

– Plasmatology aims to become the reference publication for plasma science, bringing together the discipline’s knowledge, research and scientific advances that until now lacked a specialized journal

– The prestigious Publisher SAGE Publications, specializing in scientific journals, independently edits the new international, open access, peer-reviewed online publication, which debuts March 9

PR Newswire

BARCELONA, Spain, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Grifols (MCE: GRF, MCE: GRF.P y NASDAQ: GRFS), a global leader in plasma-derived therapies with a more than 100-year track record of contributing to the health and well-being of people, today announced it’s fostering the first scientific journal dedicated to the science of plasma, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the international presentation of the plasmapheresis technique.

This procedure, which separates plasma from the other blood components that are then reinfused into the donor, was developed by Josep Antonio Grifols i Lucas in 1951 in Barcelona and today continues to be the gold standard for plasma collection globally.

Plasmatology, which begins publishing March 9, aspires to become the scientific reference in its field, featuring all relevant research related to plasma science, from basic research to clinical application.

The publication is edited independently, with its editorial committee and director answering only to the prestigious publisher SAGE Publications , a longtime publisher of respected scientific journals covering different medical disciplines, life sciences, engineering, the humanities and other areas.

The international, open access, peer-reviewed journal will publish manuscripts evaluated and vetted by independent experts. Researchers can send their work – original articles, case studies, technical essays, reviews, editorials and comments – to the editorial board for its consideration. All content will be indexed in PubMed Central, as well as other scientific data bases.

Grifols, as part of its longstanding commitment to the scientific community, will provide the journal with an educational grant during the next two years to establish the publication as a global source for the scientific knowledge and research accomplishments in plasma science.

According to Víctor Grifols Deu, co-CEO of Grífols, “At Grifols we’re celebrating the creation of Plasmatology and we believe without a doubt it will accelerate the knowledge and research of proprietary plasma therapeutics.”

Raimon Grifols Roura, co-CEO of Grifols, added: “In addition it’s particularly gratifying that the birth of the publication coincides with the 70th anniversary of the development of plasmapheresis by my uncle Josep Antoni Grifols i Lucas. The company’s commitment to research and scientific publishing forms part of his legacy.”

About Grifols

Grifols is a global healthcare company founded in Barcelona in 1909 committed to improving the health and well-being of people around the world. Its four divisions – Bioscience, Diagnostic, Hospital and Bio Supplies – develop, produce and market innovative solutions and services that are sold in more than 100 countries.

Pioneers in the plasma industry, Grifols operates a growing network of donation centers worldwide. It transforms collected plasma into essential medicines to treat rare, chronic and, at times, life-threatening conditions. As a recognized leader in transfusion medicine, Grifols also offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions designed to enhance safety from donation to transfusion. In addition, the company supplies tools, information and services that enable hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare professionals to efficiently deliver expert medical care.

Grifols, with nearly 24,000 employees in 30 countries, is committed to a sustainable business model that sets the standard for continuous innovation, quality, safety and ethical leadership.

In 2020, Grifols’ economic impact in its core countries of operation was EUR 7.5 billion. The company also generated 140,000 jobs, including indirect and induced jobs.

The company’s class A shares are listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, where they are part of the Ibex-35 (MCE:GRF). Grifols non-voting class B shares are listed on the Mercado Continuo (MCE:GRF.P) and on the U.S. NASDAQ through ADRs (NASDAQ:GRFS).

For more information, please visit Grifols.com


LEGAL DISCLAIMER

The facts and figures contained in this report that do not refer to historical data are “future projections and assumptions”. Words and expressions such as “believe”, “hope”, “anticipate”, “predict”, “expect”, “intend”, “should”, “will seek to achieve”, “it is estimated”, “future” and similar expressions, in so far as they relate to the Grifols group, are used to identify future projections and assumptions. These expressions reflect the assumptions, hypotheses, expectations and predictions of the management team at the time of writing this report, and these are subject to a number of factors that mean that the actual results may be materially different. The future results of the Grifols group could be affected by events relating to its own activities, such as a shortage of supplies of raw materials for the manufacture of its products, the appearance of competitor products on the market, or changes to the regulatory framework of the markets in which it operates, among others. At the date of compiling this report, the Grifols group has adopted the necessary measures to mitigate the potential impact of these events. Grifols, S.A. does not accept any obligation to publicly report, revise or update future projections or assumptions to adapt them to events or circumstances subsequent to the date of writing this report, except where expressly required by the applicable legislation. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to buy or subscribe shares in accordance with the provisions of the following Spanish legislation: Royal Legislative Decree 4/2015, of 23 October, approving recast text of Securities Market Law; Royal Decree Law 5/2005, of 11 March and/or Royal Decree 1310/2005, of 4 November, and any regulations developing this legislation. In addition, this document does not constitute an offer of purchase, sale or exchange, or a request for an offer of purchase, sale or exchange of securities, or a request for any vote or approval in any other jurisdiction. The information included in this document has not been verified nor reviewed by the external auditors of the Grifols group.

 

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SOURCE Grifols, SA

Compugen to Present at the Oppenheimer 31st Annual Healthcare Conference

PR Newswire

HOLON, Israel, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leader in predictive discovery and development of first-in-class therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy, today announced that management will present at the Oppenheimer 31st Annual Healthcare Conference (virtual), on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:40 AM ET.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available on Compugen’s website. A replay will be available after the presentation ends.

About Compugen

Compugen is a clinical-stage therapeutic discovery and development company utilizing its broadly applicable, predictive computational discovery platforms to identify novel drug targets and develop therapeutics in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Compugen’s lead product candidate, COM701, a first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody, for the treatment of solid tumors, is undergoing a Phase 1 clinical study. In addition, COM902, Compugen’s antibody targeting TIGIT, is in a Phase 1 clinical study. Compugen’s therapeutic pipeline also includes early stage immuno-oncology programs focused largely on myeloid targets. Compugen is headquartered in Israel, with offices in South San Francisco, CA. Compugen’s shares are listed on Nasdaq and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CGEN. For additional information, please visit Compugen’s corporate website at www.cgen.com.

Company contact:

Elana Holzman

Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Compugen Ltd.
Email: [email protected] 
Tel: +972 (3) 765-8124

Investor Relations contact:

Bob Yedid

LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Email: [email protected]   
Tel: +1 (646) 597-6989

Media contact:

Josephine Belluardo, Ph.D.
LifeSci Communications 
Email: [email protected] 
Tel: +1 (646) 751-4361

 

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SOURCE Compugen Ltd.

Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants, Commencing on March 8, 2021

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: SLCRU) (the “Company”) today announced that, commencing on March 8, 2021, holders of the 34,500,000 units sold in the Company’s initial public offering (the “offering”) may elect to separately trade the Company’s Class A ordinary shares and the Company’s warrants included in the units. Any units not separated will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “SLCRU”, and each of the Class A ordinary shares and warrants will separately trade on Nasdaq under the symbols “SLCR” and “SLCRW”, respectively. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Holders of units will need to have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, in order to separate the units into Class A ordinary shares and warrants.

About Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation

Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While the Company may pursue a business combination target in any business or industry, the Company intends to concentrate its efforts in identifying global or regional businesses with differentiated products and services in one or more high growth consumer and consumer technology sectors.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 13, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s business and intention to consummate an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus relating to its initial public offering, as filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this communication, except as required by law.


Contact:

Derek Cheung, CEO


[email protected]



+852 2165-9000

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SOURCE Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation

Canadian Solar Completes 61 MWp Solar Portfolio Sale in Japan and Deepens Partnership with Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund

PR Newswire

GUELPH, ON, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company”, or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ) announced today that it has completed the sale of two operational projects totaling 61 MWp to Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund (“CSIF”, TSE: 9284) for JPY 30.6 billion (approximately US$283 million).

To finance the acquisition of the 53 MWp Oita Hiji-machi and 8 MWp Miyagi Ogawara projects, CSIF recently completed an international public offering and raised over JPY 18 billion (US$166 million) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Canadian Solar participated in this transaction and continues to own approximately 15% of CSIF. Additionally, CSIF issued over JPY 19 billion (US$175 million) of long-term debt to maintain its capital structure. These transactions affirmed CSIF as one of the largest listed infrastructure funds in Japan with over JPY 80 billion (US$740 million) of operational solar assets under management.

“I am pleased to report that we have surpassed $1 billion of asset sales in the Japanese solar market, helped by significant growth in the Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund which Canadian Solar continues to sponsor both as the asset manager and the largest investor. Since CSIF’s listing in October 2017, it has grown over 2.5 times and now owns 25 solar power plants totaling 184 MWp across Japan. A few weeks ago, we also launched the Japan Green Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the development of new solar projects in the country. We are very excited about the growth opportunities in this market,” commented Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.

He added, “The greater scale and expanded capital base will help our solar fund platforms to pursue attractive investment opportunities. We see significant prospects to increase shareholders’ returns with similar capital partnership platforms where we have secured gigawatt-scale pipelines, particularly in Latin America and Europe.”

About Canadian Solar Inc.

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world’s largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. Over the past 19 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered over 49 GW of premium-quality, solar photovoltaic modules to customers in over 150 countries. Likewise, since entering the project development business in 2010, Canadian Solar has developed, built and connected over 5.7 GWp in over 20 countries across the world. Currently, the Company has over 500 MWp of projects in operation, over 5 GWp of projects under construction or in backlog (late-stage), and an additional 11 GWp of projects in pipeline (mid- to early- stage). Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar and renewable energy industry, having been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com.

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as Japan, the U.S., India and China; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; delays in utility-scale project approval process; delays in utility-scale project construction; delays in the completion of project sales; delays in the process of qualifying to list the MSS subsidiary in the PRC; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 28, 2020. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today’s date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

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SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.

Chemours Announces Project to Reduce HFC-23 Emissions

Next step on the journey to reduce the company’s environmental footprint

PR Newswire

WILMINGTON, Del., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC), a global chemistry company with leading positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials and Chemical Solutions, announced the implementation of an improvement project to significantly reduce emissions of HFC-23 at its Louisville, Kentucky manufacturing site.

The project includes the design, custom-build and installation of proprietary technology to capture at least 99% of HFC-23 process emissions from the site. HFC-23 is a unique hydrofluorocarbon that is commercialized for critical low-volume applications such as ultra-low temperature refrigerants for vaccines, medical utilization, and semiconductor manufacturing. If emitted, HFC-23 does not remain at ground level and instead, rises-up into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas with high global warming potential (GWP).

“Chemours operates with an imperative to be a responsible manufacturer, that includes our commitment to safe operations and continuous efforts to reduce our environmental footprint,” said Sheryl Telford, Chief Sustainability Officer. “This project is another important step on our journey to ensure we deliver essential products that address growing societal needs while manufacturing them responsibly.” 

According to Tim Byrd, Vice President, Operations, Advanced Performance Materials, Chemours’ Louisville manufacturing site has been on a journey of continual improvement. “Our Louisville site currently captures a majority of HFC-23 process emissions. We’ve also implemented other process improvements to reduce the amount of HFC-23 that gets created. It’s taken us  some time to get here, but we are pleased to have initiated this next piece of our emission control plan that will allow us to capture at least 99% of HFC-23 process emissions and move us closer to meeting our overall goal of a 99% or greater reduction in fluorinated emissions,” Byrd said.  He noted that the company has explored various options for HFC emissions control over the past few years in order to decide on a final solution that is both efficient and highly effective. The custom manufacturing and installation of the multiple components needed for the proprietary system are expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

In 2018, Chemours announced 10 ambitious Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals including at least a 99% reduction in fluorinated emissions, a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity and longer-term carbon goals. The company is a proponent of the Paris Climate Agreement, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the recently passed bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act that will begin the national phase-down of HFCs. Chemours has also invested in a more sustainable product offering including Opteon™ low GWP refrigerants and Nafion™ ion exchange membranes that enable green hydrogen gas production and low emitting vehicles.

About The Chemours Company
The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration, and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, mining and oil and gas.  Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Ti-Pure™, Opteon™, Freon™, Nafion™, Krytox™, Teflon™, and Viton™. In 2019, Chemours was named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies. The company has approximately 6,500 employees and 30 manufacturing sites serving approximately 3,300 customers in approximately 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC.

For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on Twitter @Chemours or LinkedIn.  

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date such statements were made. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the outcome or resolution of any pending or future environmental liabilities, the commencement, outcome or resolution of any regulatory inquiry, investigation or proceeding, the initiation, outcome or settlement of any litigation, changes in environmental regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that affect demand for or adoption of our products, anticipated future operating and financial performance for our segments individually and our company as a whole, business plans, prospects, targets, goals and commitments, capital investments and projects and target capital expenditures, plans for dividends or share repurchases, sufficiency or longevity of intellectual property protection, cost reductions or savings targets, plans to increase profitability and growth, our ability to make acquisitions, integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations, and achieve anticipated synergies or cost savings, all of which are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond Chemours’ control. In addition, the current COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the national and global economy and commodity and financial markets, which has had and we expect will continue to have a negative impact on our financial results. The full extent and impact of the pandemic is unknown and to date has included extreme volatility in financial and commodity markets, a significant slowdown in economic activity, and increased predictions of a global recession. The public and private sector response has led to significant restrictions on travel, temporary business closures, quarantines, stock market volatility, and a general reduction in consumer and commercial activity globally. Matters outside our control have affected our business and operations and may or may continue to limit travel of employees to our business units domestically and internationally, adversely affect the health and welfare of our personnel, significantly reduce the demand for our products, hinder our ability to provide goods and services to customers, cause disruptions in our supply chains, adversely affect our business partners or cause other unpredictable events. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law.

CONTACT:

NEWS MEDIA 
Thomas Sueta
Director, Corporate Communications
+1.302.773.3903
[email protected]  

INVESTORS 
Jonathan Lock 
VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations 
+1.302.773.2263 
[email protected] 

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SOURCE The Chemours Company

Bio-Techne Announces ExoTRU Kidney Transplant Rejection Assay Data Publication

PR Newswire

MINNEAPOLIS, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) today announced that Exosome Diagnostics, a Bio-Techne brand, has published preliminary data on its kidney transplant rejection test, ExoTRU™ (Exosome Transplant Rejection Urine), a non-invasive multigene urine-based exosomal mRNA assay. ExoTRU was developed in collaboration with the Azzi laboratory at the Transplantation Research Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. The ExoTRU test will be the first ever commercially available test capable of discriminating between types of kidney rejection, providing critical information to assist clinician decision making and optimize patient care. The ExoTRU test is expected to launch in calendar 2021 and will be performed in Exosome Diagnostics’ CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The paper entitled, “Discovery and Validation of a Urinary Exosome mRNA Signature for the Diagnosis of Human Kidney Transplant Rejection,” was published this month in the peer-reviewed publication, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology by Dr. Jamil Azzi, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a physician scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Transplantation Research Center. The study demonstrated high stability of urinary exosomes and reliability in monitoring patients for allograft rejection. The assay discriminates between “any-cause rejection vs. no rejection” with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.3% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 86.2% and differentiates between “T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR) vs. antibody mediated rejection (ABMR)” with a NPV of 90.6% and PPV of 77.8%. The assay’s ability to discriminate between TCMR and ABMR is critical to improving patient management and outcomes. The current standard of care relies on measuring changes in serum creatinine levels, which has poor sensitivity and specificity for detecting kidney transplant rejection, and can rise and fall due to numerous factors, leading to challenges making therapeutic decisions in a timely manner. Utilization of needle biopsy procedure and histology is more accurate; however, this method introduces additional risks and potential complications, leading to higher costs and increased morbidity.

According to Dr. Azzi, “Kidney transplant providers currently have sub-optimal tools to care for transplant patients and need more reliable tools to ensure post-operative success of kidney transplants, particularly for those patients that are far from academic centers.” He continued, “There is increased risk for non-compliance in patients after one year as most cannot continue check-ups due to logistical or resource constraints. Non-compliance after the first year can lead to subclinical rejections, kidney fibrosis, and mortality, as well as increased costs to the healthcare system. I expect the non-invasive urine-based ExoTRU test will be well-received among transplant care providers as patients can easily provide a urine sample from the comfort and convenience of their home, enabling improved allograft monitoring.”

“ExoTRU is an important test to improve the management and care of kidney transplant patients,” said Chuck Kummeth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Techne. “With ExoDx Prostate (EPI) already commercially available, ExoTRU will be the second innovative liquid biopsy test launched by the Exosome Diagnostics team. We look forward to continued development and commercilization of our rich pipeline of diagnostic tests leveraging the power of exosomes.”

See press release from Brigham and Women’s Hospital here.

About Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH)

Contact: David Clair, Senior Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
[email protected]
612-656-4416

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SOURCE Bio-Techne Corporation

BARK Announces Participation in the 33rd Annual Virtual Roth Conference

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Barkbox, Inc. (“BARK”), a leading global omni-channel brand for dogs, today announced that the Company will be participating in the 33rd Annual Roth Conference, held virtually, on Monday, March 15, 2021, with a fireside chat presentation at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Co-founder and Executive Chairman of BARK, Matt Meeker; Chief Executive Officer of BARK, Manish Joneja; Chief Financial Officer of BARK, John Toth; and Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Star Acquisition Corp., Joanna Coles, will participate in the fireside chat.

The conference will feature presentations from public and private companies across a variety of industry sectors. During previous events, ROTH has hosted close to 550 participating companies and attracted more than 5,000 attendees, including institutional investors, analysts, family offices and high-net-worth investors.

To learn more and submit a registration request, visit https://ibn.fm/ROTH2021Registration

The audio portion of the presentation will be webcast live over the internet and can be accessed at investors.bark.co. An online archive will be available for a period of 90 days following the presentation.

On December 17, 2020, BARK entered into a definitive merger agreement with Northern Star Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: STIC). Completion of the proposed business combination is subject to approval by the stockholders of Northern Star and certain other conditions. Upon the closing of the transaction, which is expected to be completed early in the second quarter of 2021, the combined company intends to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol, “BARK”.

About BARK

BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company, devoted to making dogs happy with the best products, services and content. BARK’s dog-obsessed team applies its unique, data-driven understanding of what makes each dog special to design playstyle-specific toys, wildly satisfying treats and wellness supplements, and dog-first experiences that foster the health and happiness of dogs everywhere. Founded in 2012, BARK loyally serves dogs nationwide with monthly subscription services, BarkBox and Super Chewer; a curated e-commerce experience on BarkShop.com; custom collections via its retail partner network, including Target and Amazon; wellness products that meet your dogs’ needs with BARK Bright; and a personalized meal delivery service for dogs BARK Eats. At BARK, we want to be the people our dogs think we are and promise to be their voice until every dog reaches its full tail-wagging potential. Sniff around at bark.co for more information.

About Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

Northern Star Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The management team and Board of Directors are composed of veteran consumer, media, technology, retail and finance industry executives and founders, including Joanna Coles, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jonathan Ledecky, President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Coles is a creative media and technology executive who in her previous roles as editor of two leading magazines and Chief Content Officer of Hearst Magazines developed an extensive network of relationships at the intersection of technology, fashion and beauty. Ms. Coles currently serves as a special advisor to Cornell Capital, a $7 billion private investment firm, and is on the board at Snap Inc., Sonos, Density Software, and Women Entrepreneurs of New York City. Mr. Ledecky is a seasoned businessman with over 35 years of investment and operational experience. He has executed hundreds of acquisitions across multiple industries and raised over $20 billion in debt and equity. He is also co-owner of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders franchise. For additional information, please visit https://northernstaric.com.

Important Information and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger transaction involving Northern Star and BARK. Northern Star has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which includes a proxy statement/prospectus of Northern Star, and certain related documents, to be used at the meeting of shareholders to approve the proposed business combination and related matters. Investors and security holders of Northern Star are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, and any amendments thereto and other relevant documents that will be filed with the SEC, carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about BARK, Northern Star and the business combination. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to shareholders of Northern Star as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the registration statement and other documents containing important information about each of the companies once such documents are filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

Northern Star, BARK and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Northern Star in favor of the approval of the business combination and related matters. Shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Northern Star’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Northern Star’s Final Prospectus dated November 10, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, and the proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Northern Star’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the business combination when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such other jurisdiction.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity.

These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of BARK’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of BARK. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the merger, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the merger is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to BARK; the risk that spending on pets may not increase at projected rates; that BARK subscriptions may not increase their spending with BARK; BARK’s ability to continue to convert social media followers and contacts into customers; BARK’s ability to successfully expand its product lines and channel distribution; competition; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors discussed in documents of Northern Star filed, or to be filed, with SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Northern Star nor BARK presently know or that Northern Star and BARK currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Northern Star’s and BARK’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Northern Star and BARK anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Northern Star’s and BARK’s assessments to change. However, while Northern Star and BARK may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Northern Star and BARK specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Northern Star’s and BARK’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Any financial projections in this communication are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Northern Star’s and BARK’s control. While all projections are necessarily speculative, Northern Star and BARK believe that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections. The inclusion of projections in this communication should not be regarded as an indication that Northern Star and BARK, or their respective representatives and advisors, considered or consider the projections to be a reliable prediction of future events.

This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering in an investment in Northern Star and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in Northern Star. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Northern Star and BARK, the proposed transactions or other matters and attributable to Northern Star and BARK or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

Contacts

For BARK

Investors:
ICR, Inc.
Jean Fontana
[email protected]

Media:
Garland Harwood
[email protected]

For Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick/Sam Fisher
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170
[email protected] 

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SOURCE BARK and Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

Ritchie Bros. hits US$54+ million with Rocky Mountain Regional Auction

PR Newswire

Two-day unreserved auction attracts a record 12,000 online bidders from 66 countries

DENVER, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Ritchie Bros. has come out strong in 2021, driving record demand and achieving strong equipment and truck prices for sellers. Last week the company attracted close to 12,000 bidders for its Rocky Mountain Regional Auction, selling 4,150+ items for US$54+ million—making it the company’s largest auction ever in the region.

Equipment for the March 3 – 4, 2021 Rocky Mountain auction was stored at three Ritchie Bros. locations in Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; and Williston, ND; but all bidding was done online at rbauction.com. Highlights included six 2019 John Deere 300GLC hydraulic excavators that sold for a combined US$1.17 million and two 2018 Caterpillar 745 6×6 articulated dump trucks that sold for a combined US$840,000.

“We have seen a steady increase in bidder registrations over the past year, especially for these combined regional events, helping drive great returns for our consignors,” said Noni Garcia, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. “Our Rocky Mountain auction featured a great selection of late-model, low-hour equipment that sold extremely well. In fact, we have received a ton of great feedback from consignors recently, they just wish they had consigned more equipment as demand is very strong right now.”

With bidding 100% online, Ritchie Bros. is driving record web traffic in 2021. In fact, last week’s Rocky Mountain auction saw a 33% increase in pageviews (956,000+) over the same auction in December 2020, as well as a 35% increase in watchlist adds (89,000+), and a 19% increase in PriorityBids (28,000+). 

Approximately 93 percent of the equipment in the auction was sold to U.S. buyers, including 24% to Colorado, 9% to Utah, and 1% to North Dakota, while the remaining 7% was sold to international buyers from as far away as Australia, Egypt, and the United Kingdom.

More than 600 owners sold equipment, including local Colorado companies 1888 Industrial Services and Miete. 

“I’ve worked with Ritchie Bros. in Texas and Colorado, they have always been a great partner—they have it figured out,” said Jeremy Townley, CEO of 1888 Industrial Services, based in Greeley, CO. “The new auction format is great. Inspect onsite ahead of time and then bid online. We sold more than 30 items in the Rocky Mountain auction and exceeded our expectations.”

Ritchie Bros. is passionate about equipment and its customers,” added Corey Huwa, Co-owner of Miete, based in Keenesburg, CO. “We consigned more than 160 pieces of equipment two weeks before the auction and Ritchie Bros. immediately jumped into action. They put a team together to appraise items, working through the weekends, taking inspection photographs and videos for buyers, and advertising our equipment to the world. At the end of the auction our returns were right where Ritchie Bros. said they would be.”

AUCTION QUICK FACTS: ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL AUCTION (MARCH 2021)

  • Gross Transaction Value (GTV): US$54+ million
  • Total Registered Bidders: 12,000
  • Total Number of Lots: 4,150+
  • Total Number of Consignors: 600+

Ritchie Bros. will sell more than 70,000 equipment items and trucks in its upcoming auctions, including a two-day auction in Fort Worth, TX on March 17 – 18; a Los Angeles, CA auction on March 19; and a Northeast Regional Auction on March 23 – 24. The company also has weekly featured online auctions at IronPlanet.com and a daily reserved option with Marketplace-E.


About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company’s selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world’s largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance® equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company’s suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media. 

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SOURCE Ritchie Bros.

Independent Advisory Firm ISS Recommends NTN Stockholders Vote FOR Proposed Merger and Asset Sale and ALL Related Proposals

PR Newswire

CARLSBAD, Calif., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE American: NTN) today announced that leading independent proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) recommends that NTN stockholders vote “FOR” ALL PROPOSALS to be considered and voted on at the March 15, 2021 special meeting of stockholders, all of which relate to the proposed merger involving NTN and Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics LLC (“Brooklyn“) and the proposed sale of NTN’s assets to eGames.com Holdings LLC (“eGames.com”).

“We are very pleased that ISS supports our board’s recommendation that stockholders vote “FOR” the proposals related to the merger and asset sale,” said Allen Wolff, NTN’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are confident that these transactions are the best strategic option for NTN and its stockholders, and are fair to, highly advisable and in the best interest of NTN and its stockholders.”

As previously announced, the NTN board of directors reiterates the following:

  • The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant and bar industry was abrupt and substantial, and NTN’s business, cash flows from operations and liquidity has suffered, and continues to suffer, materially as a result.
  • The NTN business has been operating at a loss for months and is projected to run out of cash in three weeks.
  • NTN currently has no arrangements to raise the capital required to continue operations past mid-March 2021, and no assurances can be given that NTN will be able to raise such capital when needed, on acceptable terms, or at all.
  • If the proposed merger and/or asset sale are not completed by mid-March 2021, then NTN will likely have no choice but to pursue bankruptcy. In such event, NTN stockholders will likely lose their entire investment in the company.
  • Following a 25 month strategic process, NTN board of directors believes the proposed merger and asset sale are the best deal for NTN stockholders.
  • If the proposed merger is completed, then NTN’s stockholders will become stockholders of an exciting clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine-based therapy can have on the immune system in treating patients with cancer.
  • Additionally, if the proposed asset sale is completed, then NTN’s stockholders will own a greater percentage of the combined company than they would if the asset sale is not completed.

The special meeting of stockholders will be held on March 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time, unless postponed or adjourned to a later date or time. NTN stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 8, 2021 are entitled to vote at the special meeting, even if they have sold their shares since that date. Additional details regarding the proposals and the special meeting is available in the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement relating to the special meeting dated February 8, 2021. Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. You are encouraged to submit your “FOR” vote as soon as possible.

If you need assistance in completing your proxy card or have questions regarding the special meeting, please contact NTN’s proxy solicitor, Alliance Advisors, by calling 866-329-8430.

About NTN Buzztime:

NTN Buzztime (NYSE American: NTN) delivers interactive entertainment and innovative technology that helps its customers acquire, engage and retain its patrons. Most frequently used in bars and restaurants in North America, the Buzztime tablets, mobile app and technology offer engaging solutions to establishments that have guests who experience dwell time, such as casinos, senior living, and more. Casual dining venues license Buzztime’s customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and arcade games. Buzztime’s platform creates connections among the players and venues and amplifies guests’ positive experiences. Buzztime’s in-venue TV network creates one of the largest digital out of home ad audiences in the US and Canada. Buzztime hardware solutions leverages the company’s experience manufacturing durable tablets and charging systems, enabling a diverse group of businesses including corrections, point-of-sale and loyalty with product implementation. Buzztime games have also been recently licensed by other businesses serving other markets. For more information, please visit http://www.buzztime.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @buzztime.

No Offer or Solicitation

This release is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval, 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 offer of securities in connection with the proposed merger contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger and reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) between NTN and Brooklyn Immunotherapeutics LLC (“Brooklyn“) dated August 12, 2020 (the “Merger”) shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger and asset sale, NTN filed relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form S-4, that will serve as a proxy statement and prospectus of NTN and a consent solicitation statement for the beneficial holders of Brooklyn’s Class A membership units, and will be mailed or otherwise disseminated to NTN stockholders and to the beneficial holders of Brooklyn’s Class A membership units if and when it becomes available. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NTN AND BROOKLYN ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NTN, BROOKLYN, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND ASSET SALE, AND RELATED MATTERS. The proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and other relevant materials (when they become available) and any other documents filed by NTN with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by NTN by directing a written request to: NTN Buzztime, Inc, 6965 El Camino Real, Suite 105-Box 517, Carlsbad, California 92009. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed merger and asset sale.

Participants in the Solicitation

NTN and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees, Brooklyn and its managers and officers, and eGames.com and its managers and officers may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NTN with respect to the proposed Merger and Asset Sale and related matters. Information about the directors and executive officers of NTN, including their ownership of shares of common stock is set forth in NTN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Amendment No. 1 thereto, which were filed with the SEC on March 19, 2020 and April 27, 2020, respectively (the “2019 Annual Report”). Additional information regarding the persons or entities who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from NTN stockholders, including a description of their interests in the proposed Merger and Asset Sale, by security holdings or otherwise, are included in the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement referred to above and other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC when they become available. As described above, these documents will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website or by directing a written request to NTN. Neither the managers or officers of Brooklyn nor the managers or officers of eGames.com currently hold any interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in NTN.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are any statements that are not statements of historical fact and may be identified by terminology such as “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: (i) risks that the conditions to the closing of the proposed merger and/or asset sale are not satisfied, including the failure of NTN and Brooklyn to timely obtain the requisite stockholder and member approvals for the merger and/or asset sale and related matters or to meet the net cash and capitalization requirements under the merger agreement, as applicable; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed merger and asset sale and the ability of each party to consummate the proposed merger and asset sale; (iii) risks related to NTN’s and Brooklyn’s ability to manage their respective operating expenses and expenses associated with the proposed merger and asset sale, as applicable, pending closing of the merger; (iv) the risk that, as a result of adjustments to the exchange ratio, NTN stockholders and Brooklyn members could own more or less of the combined company than is currently anticipated; (v) NTN’s continued listing on the NYSE American; (vi) uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business and financial condition of NTN, Brooklyn and the combined company and the ability of NTN and Brooklyn to consummate the merger and NTN and eGames.com to consummate the asset sale; (vii) NTN’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern if the proposed merger or asset sale are not consummated in a timely manner, or at all; (viii) Brooklyn’s need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development activities; (ix) Brooklyn’s ability to successfully progress research and development efforts after the merger, including its manufacturing development efforts, and to create effective, commercially-viable products; (x) the success of Brooklyn’s product candidates in completing pre-clinical or clinical testing and being granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere; (xi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been instituted against NTN, Brooklyn, eGames.com or others related to the merger agreement or the asset purchase agreement, as applicable; (xii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of either or both of those agreements; (xiii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed merger or asset sale; and (xiv) those risks and uncertainties discussed in NTN’s reports filed with the SEC, including its 2019 Annual Report, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as other documents that may be filed by NTN from time to time with the SEC available at www.sec.gov.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. NTN cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this communication speak only as of the date on which they were made. NTN does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

 

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SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.

A New Way to Reach Travelers: Tripadvisor Enables Hotels to Participate Directly in Travel Membership Program for First Time

As summer booking demand grows, Tripadvisor Plus offers accommodations an innovative way to reach more ready-to-book travelers and lower distribution costs

PR Newswire

NEEDHAM, Mass., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Tripadvisor®, the world’s largest travel guidance platform*, announced today that – for the first time – hotels and B&Bs can expand their visibility and reach to a ready-to-book, high spend traveler audience by participating directly in Tripadvisor Plus, a new membership program for travelers.

Tripadvisor Plus hotels receive special badging and increased visibility on the Tripadvisor platform, helping them to stand out from the competition and increase bookings at a lower cost than traditional channels – providing a crucial cost saving to hotels as the hospitality industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is free for hotels to join, with no upfront costs and zero commission rates.

For travelers, Tripadvisor Plus offers the ability to up-level their travel by unlocking insider savings, personal service, benefits and perks (such as a free bottle of wine upon check-in, room upgrades when available or spa credits), all available for an annual membership fee of $99.

How it works

Tripadvisor Plus offers an innovative alternative to the traditional online model of room distribution for hotels. Rather than spend as much as 30% per booking on commission fees, hotels can now significantly reduce their third-party costs and pass on some of those savings to their guests via discounts and perks, increasing room demand and enhancing the guest experience at the same time.

By offering these savings and perks to Tripadvisor Plus subscribers, hotels increase their visibility on the world’s largest travel platform, among both subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Tripadvisor Plus accommodations receive special badging and enhanced placement within the Best Value sort order reflective of the strength of their offering to travelers.

Discounted room rates available via Tripadvisor Plus can only be viewed by Tripadvisor members and can only be booked by Tripadvisor Plus subscribers, ensuring those rates are not widely available on the open internet, thereby preserving a hotel’s rate integrity.

Furthermore, by participating directly in the program, Tripadvisor Plus hotels get full access to all of the customer information from each reservation. 

“Tripadvisor Plus is a game changer for both travelers and hoteliers,” said Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer, Tripadvisor. “Travelers get to enjoy a memorable experience thanks to special perks and discounts – and hotels have a brand new way to attract valuable guests while avoiding hefty third-party commissions.”

Why hotels should participate in Tripadvisor Plus now

While travel restrictions remain in place in many countries, the speed of national vaccination programs has raised the prospect of a sustained recovery in travel demand, potentially as early as this summer – and for hotels that means taking action now to capture this demand.

Tripadvisor Plus offers an innovative new channel through which to do just that, unlocking a host of benefits that help hotels attract ready-to-book guests:

  • More visibility, more demand – Participating hotels get extra visibility (higher placement in the Best Value sort order as well as special badging) on Tripadvisor, whether a traveler books through Tripadvisor Plus or not
  • Lower spend, more bookings – Tripadvisor Plus is free to join and operates as a less expensive pay-for-performance demand channel than traditional online channels
  • Total flexibility – With no annual commitments and no last room availability requirements, participating hotels can opt in and out of discounting at any time as occupancy levels change
  • Stronger customer relationships – Hotels can market directly to guests after their stay
  • More engaged travelers – Tripadvisor Plus reaches a highly valuable customer segment. On average, Tripadvisor Plus subscribers spend more and stay longer than non-subscribers
  • Better guest experience – Tripadvisor Plus enables hotels to pass some of their third-party cost savings to their guests, increasing guest satisfaction and customer loyalty

Tripadvisor Plus launched in beta in December 2020 to a small slice of Tripadvisor’s traffic in the United States, and will soon become available to all U.S. travelers with additional markets to follow later. Hotels worldwide interested in capturing pent up demand from U.S. travelers are encouraged to join the program now. 

For more information on how to join, please visit: https://www.tripadvisor.com/business/plus.

Notes to editor

*Source: Tripadvisor internal log files, Q4 2020

About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform*, helps hundreds of millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 884 million reviews and opinions of 7.9 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby. As a travel guidance company available in 49 markets and 28 languages, Tripadvisor makes planning easy no matter the trip type. 

The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP), own and operate a portfolio of online travel brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps, including the following websites:
www.bokun.io, www.cruisecritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com  (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.bookatable.co.uk, and www.delinski.com), www.helloreco.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.seatguru.com, www.singleplatform.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, and www.viator.com.

* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, December 2020
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log file

TRIP-G

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SOURCE Tripadvisor