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After announcing its engagement with Texas-based CPG sales agency CROSSMARK on February 2, 2021, CROSSMARK began its early-stage initiatives to bring TAAT™ to new points of sale in Ohio last week, with an objective of complementing the product’s existing presence in the state. So far, more than three quarters of Ohio retail accounts approached by CROSSMARK have stated their interest in carrying TAAT™. In Q2 2021, CROSSMARK will be servicing more than 7,000 convenience stores in Ohio. To provide greater clarity with respect to CROSSMARK’s role in the launch of TAAT™, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella appeared in a video in which Mr. Coscarella uses layperson’s terms to explain CROSSMARK’s scope of duties and how they can create value for the Company.

LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TAAT™ LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS LTD. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) (the “Company” or “TAAT™”) is pleased to announce that last week, national consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) sales agency CROSSMARK, Inc. (“CROSSMARK”) began its early-stage initiatives to bring TAAT™ to new points of sale, starting in Ohio to build upon the Company’s existing retail presence in that market. In a press release dated February 2, 2021, the Company announced its engagement with CROSSMARK, an omnichannel agency for products in the CPG category based in Texas with more than 25,000 employees. CROSSMARK, which directly services over 100,000 convenience stores across the United States, has proven successful in bringing a wide range of CPG products to mainstream retail channels including an e-cigarette product that achieved dominant market share in that subset of the tobacco category. This commencement of CROSSMARK’s initiatives coincides with the February 17, 2021 launch of the TAAT™ e-commerce portal, which made TAAT™ Original, Smooth, and Menthol available to the majority of current smokers aged 21+ in the United States.

Last week, CROSSMARK began introducing all three varieties of TAAT™ to its accounts in Ohio including wholesalers and distributors of CPG and tobacco products, key retail accounts, and individual stores with whom CROSSMARK representatives have established business relationships. In Q2 2021, CROSSMARK will service over 7,000 convenience stores in the state of Ohio. The key account manager for TAAT™ in Ohio, who has more than a decade of experience in sales for a major global tobacco firm, has been leading sales training with CROSSMARK representatives to ensure that TAAT™ is positioned optimally among incumbent tobacco category offerings with an objective of capturing the attention and interest of current smokers aged 21+ and potentially persuading them to choose TAAT™ at the point of sale instead of their typical tobacco cigarette product. Through a combination of rollouts led by CROSSMARK, continued in-house efforts conducted by TAAT™ personnel, and digital advertising campaigns designed to direct smokers aged 21+ to the TAAT™ online store, the Company anticipates that these initiatives could collectively contribute to achieving greater market penetration for TAAT™ in the USD $814 billion global tobacco industry.

In addition to introducing products such as TAAT™ to potential new accounts and providing strategies to efficiently sell the product at retail, the Company has also engaged CROSSMARK to oversee the Order to Cash (“O2C”) process on its behalf. At a high level, O2C typically involves processing purchase orders and conveying the orders to wholesalers or distribution centres for fulfillment. Although such functions could be carried out internally by the Company, large-scale CPG firms often outsource O2C to third-party firms such as CROSSMARK to obviate the need to perform these functions themselves, which can become complex with products sold in multiple jurisdictions through several different wholesalers with numerous shipping points.

TAAT™ Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella commented, “These are exciting times for the Company as we enter the final month of Q1 2021. Now that our product line has had the opportunity to be tested by smokers aged 21+ across Ohio with consistently positive reception, we can start to roll TAAT™ out more aggressively with the knowledge that we have a solid product formulation and commercialization playbook. Last week, CROSSMARK got to work with introducing TAAT™ to its impressive portfolio of accounts in Ohio, and more than three quarters of retailers have stated an interest in carrying TAAT™ in their stores. CROSSMARK’s efforts will run concurrently with our continued in-house sales efforts and promotions for the TAAT™ online store. We are excited to see the impact CROSSMARK will have on the overall performance of TAAT™ as we continue our push to capture additional market share in the USD $814 billion global tobacco industry.”

To provide clarity with regard to the role of a sales agency such as CROSSMARK as a service provider to a CPG firm such as TAAT™, the Company has produced a video in which its Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella describes the dynamics between the two firms. This video is shown below, and can also be accessed by clicking here.

To view Picture 1 accompanying this release please visit:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c893a25e-b37e-4035-99e7-abc6f2cbf58b

In the video shown above, TAAT™ Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella describes the relationship between a sales agency such as CROSSMARK and a CPG firm such as TAAT™. Last week, CROSSMARK began rolling out TAAT™ to new accounts in Ohio including wholesalers, distributors, key retail accounts, and individual stores. The video can be watched by clicking above or


clicking here


.

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the

Investor Relations

section of the Company’s website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

TAAT™ Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. also announces that it has engaged Bay Street Communications to provide investor relations services for the Company. In connection with the engagement, the Company has entered into an Investor Relations Services Agreement with Bay Street Communications, pursuant to which it will primarily be tasked with providing the following services:

Development of a strategic investor relations plan, creation of digital media (including a new investor relations website, updated presentations, and social media content), outreach to analysts/financial media/investors, managing inbound inquiries from investors.

The services agreement has a six-month minimum term with a per-month payment value of CAD $7,000.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT™ LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS LTD.

“Setti Coscarella”

Setti Coscarella, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT™ Investor Relations
1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)
[email protected]

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (“CSE”) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSE’S REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT™ Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd.

The Company has developed TAAT™, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in “Original”, “Smooth”, and “Menthol” varieties. TAAT™’s base material is Beyond Tobacco™, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with “Big Tobacco” pedigree, TAAT™ was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $814 billion¹ global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com.

References

¹

British American Tobacco – The Global Market

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the potential launch of Beyond Tobacco™, in addition to the following: Potential outcomes from the commencement of CROSSMARK’s rollout of TAAT™ to its network of accounts in Ohio, potential outcomes from CROSSMARK’s management of the O2C process on behalf of the Company. The forward-looking information reflects management’s current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company’s management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Company’s products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Company’s products on an individual’s health and well-being. The Company’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by TAAT™ Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd. can be found under the Company’s profile on http://sedar.com. 

NEW YORK, March 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vickers Vantage Corp. I (NASDAQ: VCKAU) (the “Company”) announced that, commencing 3^rd March 2021 holders of the units sold in the Company’s initial public offering may elect to separately trade shares of the Company’s common stock and warrants included in the units. Common stock and warrants that are separated will trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “VCKA” and “VCKAW,” respectively. Those units not separated will continue to trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “VCKAU.”

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.

About Vickers Vantage Corp. I

Vickers Vantage Corp. I is a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region. The Company is led by Jeffrey Chi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Ho, Chief Financial Officer and Director, and Special Advisor Dr. Finian Tan.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the anticipated use of net proceeds. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, 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 preliminary prospectus for the offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Company Contact:

REDHILL Communications
Pranav Rastogi
Managing Director
+6587487919
[email protected]

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bank of Commerce Holdings (NASDAQ: BOCH) (the “Company”), a $1.764 billion asset bank holding company and parent company of Merchants Bank of Commerce (the “Bank”), today announced the addition of Diane D. Miller to the Boards of Directors of both the Company and the Bank, effective March 16, 2021.

“We are pleased and excited to have Ms. Miller join our Company. Her diverse background and experience will complement and strengthen our Boards,” said Randall S. Eslick, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Ms. Miller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilcox Miller & Nelson, a human capital management and governance consulting firm. She has experience in audit, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, board governance, and corporate culture, and she has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards, including boards of other financial institutions. Ms. Miller received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of the Pacific and her MBA in Marketing from Golden Gate University, and she holds a variety of certifications and designations.

About Bank of Commerce Holdings

Bank of Commerce Holdings is a bank holding company headquartered in Sacramento, California and is the parent company for Merchants Bank of Commerce. The Bank is an FDIC-insured California banking corporation providing community banking and financial services in northern California along the Interstate 5 corridor from Sacramento to Yreka and in the North Bay wine region. The Bank was incorporated as a California banking corporation on November 25, 1981 and opened for business on October 22, 1982. The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and trades under the symbol “BOCH”.

Contact Information

Randall S. Eslick, President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone Direct (916) 677-5800

James A. Sundquist, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Telephone Direct (916) 677-5825

Andrea M. Newburn, Vice President and Senior Administrative Officer / Corporate Secretary
Telephone Direct (530) 722-3959

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LMP Automotive Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMPX), an e-commerce and facilities-based automotive retailer in the United States, today announced closings on its stage 1 acquisitions, which it expects to lead to its highest revenue and gross profit this month in the history of the company.

• Revenues are expected to increase over 700% this month compared to our average month in the third quarter of 2020, as a result of these closings, which are expected to be immediately accretive to income.

Sam Tawfik, LMP’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “On behalf of the board of directors, myself and the LMP team, I want welcome our new partners to the LMP family. We all look forward to working together to expand on your historical successes. I also want to thank Richard Aldahan, our Chief Operating Officer, who demonstrated his experience and professionalism in being the mid-wife to these transactions, carrying them from origination to consummation. Also, our Chief Financial Officer Evan Bernstein, who was integral throughout the process in all that is involved to execute a multi-state, multi dealership group and real estate closing all within 48 hours.”

Mr. Tawfik concluded, “These partnerships significantly expand our inventory on our proprietary e-commerce platform as well as our sales and fulfillment footprint in some of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Importantly, we will also have a more cost-efficient e-commerce fulfillment, reconditioning, and service capacity network. This also increases our vehicle storage capacity by approximately 6,000 units, which enables us to significantly expand our sales. Our e-commerce systems are already staged to synchronize inventory with all of the acquired dealerships, and we intend to begin synchronizing inventory in the coming weeks. This will enable us to significantly increase inventory on both our lmpmotors.com website and mobile app. We plan to expedite and expand the roll-out of our hybrid e-commerce order online, get it delivered or pick up from store strategy. We will expand our free delivery radius by cutting out multiple legs of costly transportation, logistics and reconditioning costs, thus increasing margins and enhancing profitability.”

Richard Aldahan, LMP’s Chief Operating Officer, stated, “This is a transformative event for LMP as we are officially a part of the elite public franchise dealership group. There has not been a new entrant in this sector in over 15 years. We have closed 8 of our 13 dealership acquisitions, comprised of Beckley Buick GMC, WV; King Coal Chevrolet, WV; Hometown Kia, WV; Princeton Pre-owned, WV; Lewisburg Pre-owned, WV; Summerville Pre-Owned, WV; Kia of Cape Coral, Fl.; Kia of Port Charlotte Fl. and 4 parcels of real-estate encompassing approximately 60 acres, representing approximately 84% of the total anticipated Stage 1 income. We plan on closing the remaining 5 acquisitions in the coming weeks on a rolling close basis.”

Evan Bernstein, LMP’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “LMP’s unique partnership model is attracting much interest amongst dealership groups who want to diversify and grow as well as stay in the game. We are experiencing record deal flow and expect many more transactions in the near future. The talent in our combined organizations along with the resilience and stability of our business model makes us a stronger and a more diversified company. We believe the best is yet to come.”

ABOUT LMP AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS, INC.

LMP Automotive Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMPX) is a growth company with a long-term plan to profitably consolidate and partner with automotive dealership groups in the United States. We offer a wide array of products and services fulfilling the entire vehicle ownership lifecycle, including new and used vehicles, finance and insurance products and automotive repair and maintenance.

Our proprietary e-commerce technology and strategy are designed to disrupt the industry by leveraging our experienced teams, growing selection of owned inventories and physical logistics network. We seek to provide customers with a seamless experience both online and in person. Our physical logistics network enables us to provide convenient, free delivery points for customers and provide services throughout the entire ownership life cycle. We use digital technologies to lower our customer acquisition costs, achieve operational efficiencies and generate additional revenues. Our unique growth model generates significant cash flows, which funds our innovation and expansion into new geographical markets, along with strategically building out dealership networks, creating personal transportation solutions that consumers desire.

Investor Relations:

LMP Automotive Holdings, Inc.
500 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 1900
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
[email protected]

For more information visit: https://lmpmotors.com/.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release may contain “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, each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar matters that are not historical facts. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “likely,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “seek,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” will,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meanings. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: our dependence upon external sources for the financing of our operations; our ability to effectively executive our business plan; our ability to maintain and grow our reputation and to achieve and maintain the market acceptance of our services and platform; our ability to manage the growth of our operations over time; our ability to maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property and to avoid violation of the intellectual property rights of others; our ability to maintain relationships with existing customers and automobile suppliers, and develop relationships; and our ability to compete and succeed in a highly competitive and evolving industry; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. There is no assurance that any forward-looking statements will materialize. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect expectations only as of this date. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

SOURCE: LMP Automotive Holdings, Inc.