Market Newsdesk

Buying Your New Home is Now Literally a Click Away

PulteGroup’s Centex brand now offering first-of-its-kind online homebuying process; intuitive, modern, and innovative approach allows consumers to complete the entire home purchase online

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
National homebuilder PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) today announced its Transact Home Online program, a revolutionary homebuying process that is entirely online. Believed to be the first of its kind, homebuyers can now complete the entire home selection, configuration and home purchase contract process through its integrated online system that puts everything they need securely at their fingertips.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005089/en/

“The events of 2020 dramatically accelerated the transition to online shopping as more people are purchasing a broader array of products and services than ever before,” said Ryan Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer of PulteGroup. “To make sure we are meeting the needs of today’s consumers, we now offer the capability for homebuyers to purchase their new home on their own terms and timeline. Unlike the typical builder system which only allows buyers to make a reservation, through our fully integrated platform, consumers cannot only select and configure their Centex home, but can now complete the home purchase contract process in one seamless process. Our expectation is this will be particularly appealing for millennials, who already are showing a strong propensity for making significant transactions online, as well as other first-time homebuyers desiring greater flexibility and convenience.”

According to a recent America at Home study, 58 percent of millennials say they are very comfortable touring and purchasing a home online, with 49 percent of Gen-X and 28 percent of Baby Boomers agreeing. PulteGroup has been working to drive industry change and enhance the customer experience through its digital shopping tools for several years, but the effects of the pandemic accelerated this move to offer a completely online purchasing option. Buyers can now select their lot and floor plan, configure various exterior and interior options, then securely enter into a purchase agreement, make their initial deposit, and begin the financing process all from the comfort of their own home. Once complete, they will be assigned a homebuying coordinator who will guide them through the new home’s completion and closing on the purchase.

“We certainly invite consumers to visit our communities and shop for their new home in person, but it is no longer required. Through virtual reality, homebuyers can walk through homes via 3D and virtual tours. Online tools allow buyers to create their floor plans, visualize design options, and look at community maps and individual home sites. If you want to do a walkthrough, all you need to do is log into Facebook, FaceTime or schedule a self-guided tour,” said Brandon Jones, Southeast Area President and Vice President of Operations. “Now the last piece of the online homebuying process is in place: the ability to click and buy. With Transact Home Online, consumers can now efficiently complete the entire transaction online with or without visiting a sales center.”

Transact Home Online is currently available at select Centex communities in Houston and Raleigh, with nearly 100 additional communities expected to be on the platform before the end of 2022. Pulte Financial Services, along with a variety of other mortgage brokers, will be available to securely assist buyers in identifying the mortgage option that is right for them.

About PulteGroup

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup’s purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com; www.divosta.com; www.jwhomes.com; and www.americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005089/en/

Macey Kessler

Office: 404‐978‐6414

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Georgia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Construction & Property Residential Building & Real Estate Construction & Property

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ICE Announces That a Record 20,124 Murban Crude Oil Futures Contracts Traded on July 6

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced that a record 20,124 ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures traded on ICE Futures Abu Dhabi (“IFAD”) on July 6, marking its highest volume day since the contracts launched on March 29.

Alongside ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures, IFAD launched trading in 18 Murban-related cash settled derivatives and inter-commodity spreads, offering the market the broadest range of ways to trade and hedge Murban crude oil.

A total of 503,567 contracts have traded on IFAD since launch, equivalent to 0.5 billion barrels of Murban Crude oil. This includes 495,782 ICE Murban Crude Oil futures contracts and 7,785 Murban-related cash settled derivatives, with 63 firms having traded on IFAD. Open interest on IFAD is 51,068 contracts. Average daily volume in ICE Murban Crude Oil futures since launch is 6,886 contracts.

“The growing volumes and open interest in Murban futures are building the depth of liquidity on ICE Futures Abu Dhabi as the market uses Murban futures to hedge forward price risk and contribute to the price formation process of Murban crude oil,” said Jamal Oulhadj, President of ICE Futures Abu Dhabi.

On June 30, the August Murban futures contract went to expiry with 6,923 contracts going to delivery, a 14% increase on the 6,079 contracts that went to expiry the prior month.

IFAD has 32 Exchange Members and 23 Clearing Members, who are listed in full on IFAD’s Membership page.

For more information on how to clear or trade IFAD markets please contact [email protected] or to arrange education sessions on IFAD please contact [email protected].

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading “Key Information Documents (KIDS).”

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 — Statements in this press release regarding ICE’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021.

ICE- CORP

Source: Intercontinental Exchange

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005495/en/

ICE Media Contact:

Rebecca Mitchell

[email protected]

+44 7951 057 351

ICE Investor Contact:

Mary Caroline O’Neal

[email protected]

(770) 738-2151

KEYWORDS: Middle East United Arab Emirates

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Finance Oil/Gas Banking Energy Professional Services

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Baxter Launches New 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment to Advance Environmental, Social and Governance Priorities

The company’s 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report unveils new 10-year commitment and details continued efforts to create lasting stakeholder value

DEERFIELD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a leading global medical products company, today released its 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report. This year’s report details final achievement towards Baxter’s 2015-2020 set of corporate responsibility priorities and goals and launches the company’s new 2030 corporate responsibility commitment to advance environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance over the next decade.

“The global challenges presented in 2020 inspired a unique and powerful year in Baxter’s ongoing journey of corporate citizenship,” said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chairman and chief executive officer. With patients at the forefront of all that we do, our colleagues worldwide embraced Baxter’s mission to save and sustain lives in meaningful new ways – from responding to urgent patient, customer and community needs amid a raging pandemic to initiating action in support of racial justice. We also continued our ongoing pursuit of creating a best place to work, prioritizing our employees’ health and safety and initiating new efforts that underscore Baxter’s unwavering commitment to inclusion and diversity. Today, we are proud to launch a new commitment for 2030 that reflects our multifaceted approach to addressing the ESG topics most important to Baxter and our stakeholders.”

2020 Corporate Responsibility Accomplishments

Between 2015 and 2020, Baxter’s corporate responsibility priorities and goals focused on driving the sustainability of products and operations, improving access to care for the underserved and fostering a best place to work. The company made progress across each priority area, with noteworthy accomplishments including:

• Establishing more than 375 PVC recovery and recycling partnerships with hospitals and clinics across Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala and Colombia, exceeding the company’s goal.
• Launching six new therapies/products that reduced materials use by at least 15% versus those currently on market, exceeding the company’s goal, and achieving a 19% decrease in product complaints compared with 2015, also exceeding the goal.
• Reducing absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13.6% compared with 2015, exceeding the company’s goal.
• Transforming the Baxter International Foundation’s giving to focus on long-term strategic investments and establishing its first six Signature Partnerships to drive increased healthcare access around the world. In 2020, new partnerships included Save the Children to support the organization’s global COVID-19 relief efforts and the American Diabetes Association to address health disparities for people with diabetes in Chicago’s underserved Black communities.

Baxter also continued to proactively evaluate its reporting approach to align with leading disclosure frameworks, sustainability standards and reporting organizations, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In fact, Baxter was one of the first companies to pilot the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines in 1999. And in 2020, Baxter published its first Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Index in line with the Medical Equipment & Supplies Sustainability Accounting Standard. Moving forward, Baxter intends to include its SASB Indices in its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, beginning with the 2020 report launched today.

Introducing Baxter’s 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment

Rooted in Baxter’s longstanding focus on corporate responsibility as an integral component of its business strategy, a new set of 10 goals support an overarching commitment to “Empower our Patients,” “Protect our Planet” and “Champion our People and Communities” – the three pillars that will drive the company’s ESG efforts over the next decade. Bolstered by Baxter’s approach to good governance – which prioritizes ethics and compliance, human rights, inclusion and diversity and privacy and data protection – highlights of the new goal set include:

• Doubling the number of patients reached in underserved markets through Baxter’s peritoneal dialysis portfolio.
• Committing to achieve carbon neutrality for direct operations by 2040, in addition to GHG emission goals for 2030.
• For the first time externally, disclosing measurable goals to increase the representation of women (globally) and ethnic minorities (in the U.S.) in leadership roles.
• Investing $275 million in underserved communities around the world through strategic philanthropy.

With its new set of corporate responsibility goals, Baxter is also proud to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and 2030 Agenda. While the company’s efforts align with many of the UN SDGs, Baxter’s initial focus areas will most directly address Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being; Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Baxter has reported on its environmental performance for nearly 30 years, demonstrating the company’s established commitment to transparent reporting. Baxter has also long been recognized for its corporate responsibility contributions and will continue to advance efforts that demonstrate its leadership as an ethical company, an employer of choice, a company that works to nurture an inclusive and diverse workplace, and a socially and environmentally responsible business. Recent recognitions include 3BL Media’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens, JUST Capital’s America’s Most JUST Companies and Newsweek Magazine’s America’s Most Responsible Companies. The company was also included in Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Diversity and Best Employers for Women; Seramount’s (formerly Working Mother Media) 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads; Seramount’s (formerly Working Mother Media‘s National Association for Female Executives) Top Companies for Executive Women; the Seramount Global Inclusion Index (for 11 countries); and the Seramount Inclusion Index as a Top 10% Inclusion Index Company. Baxter has consistently received a top score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for LGBTQ Equality and was newly recognized in the top 10% of all companies appearing on the Disability Equality Index, designating Baxter as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. Baxter is proud to be recognized in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index Series and by CDP for its environmental leadership with A- scores in both climate and water. These awards are among numerous other regional and country-specific recognitions across the globe.

About Baxter

Every day, millions of patients and caregivers rely on Baxter’s leading portfolio of critical care, nutrition, renal, hospital and surgical products. For 90 years, we’ve been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers that make it happen. With products, technologies and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter’s employees worldwide are now building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxter.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Baxter is a registered trademark of Baxter International Inc.

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning Baxter’s 2030 Corporate Responsibility Commitment. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: continuity, availability and pricing of acceptable raw materials and component supply; inability to create additional production capacity in a timely manner or the occurrence of other manufacturing or supply difficulties (including as a result of a natural disaster, public health crises and epidemics/pandemics, regulatory actions or otherwise); the impact of global economic conditions (including potential trade wars) and public health crises and epidemics, such as the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on us and our customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which we operate; the adequacy of the company’s cash flows from operations (which may be negatively impacted by collectability concerns as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise) and other sources of liquidity to meet its ongoing cash obligations and fund its investment program; future actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; and other risks identified in Baxter’s most recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other SEC filings, all of which are available on Baxter’s website. Baxter does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements unless otherwise required by the federal securities laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005492/en/

Media Contact

Bess Featherstone, (224) 948-5353

[email protected]

Investor Contact

Clare Trachtman, (224) 948-3020

KEYWORDS: Illinois United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: General Health Health Other Philanthropy Philanthropy Medical Supplies

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Gerald O’Shaughnessy Issues Letter to GeoPark Shareholders

Company’s Board Has Failed to Address Pressing Strategic Challenges that Will Impede Future Value Creation

GeoPark’s Public Materials Contain Numerous Outright Lies – Including About Mr. O’Shaughnessy’s Departure from the Board – and Shareholders Deserve the Truth

Jim Park’s Lack of Transparency and Insistence on Control at All Costs Have Derailed Potential Strategic Options for Creating Value

Shareholders Should Vote AGAINST Four Company Nominees at Upcoming Annual Meeting to Signal that GeoPark Must be Run in the Best Interests of All Shareholders – Not for the Benefit of Jim Park

WICHITA, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Gerald O’Shaughnessy, the co-founder, former Chairman and second largest shareholder of GeoPark Limited (“GeoPark” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GPRK) today issued the following letter to the Company’s shareholders.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005489/en/

July 8, 2021

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

You face an important decision at the upcoming GeoPark Annual General Meeting (“the Meeting”). How you vote will determine whether the current GeoPark Board seriously considers options to improve the value of your investment, or whether the incumbent directors simply continue with the status quo that has resulted in suboptimal economic results compared to our closest peer and our partner in Llanos 34, Parex Resources. Put simply, voting against four of the Company’s director nominees sends a message that GeoPark must be run in the best interests of all shareholders, not just to benefit CEO Jim Park.

As the Company’s second largest shareholder, my interests are wholly aligned with yours. Unlike you, I unfortunately have had to witness the dysfunction in GeoPark’s boardroom and the extreme deference of most directors to Mr. Park. What has occurred at the Company is a classic failure of corporate governance – Mr. Park has been allowed to operate without real oversight from the Board. That is why I strongly urge you to vote against directors most responsible – Jim Park, Constantin Papadimitriou, Robert Bedingfield and Pedro Aylwin.

Please consider the following points:

The Board Has Failed to Address the Critical Strategic Issues Facing GeoPark

GeoPark’s conduct during this campaign has been highly telling. Despite its voluminous public materials, the GeoPark Board has not addressed many of the urgent issues I have raised – instead, and perhaps unwittingly, since Jim Park has undoubtedly dictated the Company’s response to my points, it has sought to distract shareholders from what really matters.

For example, the Board has still not unequivocally stated that it will consider potential strategic combinations or partnerships to enhance shareholder value where Mr. Park and his team would not occupy leadership roles in any resulting entity. These issues are core to GeoPark’s future, and the Board cannot leave shareholders in the dark on these matters.

In terms of the economic case, the facts on the surface mask a deeper issue. GeoPark’s performance in the last five years has been good, largely as a result of discovering one asset – Llanos 34 in Colombia – that has been a game changer for two companies sharing the same asset. This good fortune has been weakened, however, by the Company’s money-losing non-Colombian assets.

GeoPark also has not sufficiently addressed its debt situation and continues to be one of the most leveraged companies among its peer group. This means that the majority of its cash flows are being used to service debt in addition to maintenance capital expenditures and a modest exploration program. High leverage severely limits GeoPark’s ability to invest in growth. Further, GeoPark has had to hedge its production, thereby limiting its upside when oil and gas prices rise.

Fact versus Fiction

Given GeoPark’s public statements on recent events, it is also vitally important to separate fact from fiction so that shareholders know the truth. GeoPark has made many untrue statements, but here are the key instances:

First, the Company initially tried to portray my removal as Chairman as an orderly transition. The reality is that it was anything but orderly. On June 4, a week after the call described in the paragraph below, I received a written ultimatum that either I resign as Chair within the next 24 hours, or I would be removed at a board meeting to be held on June 6. Upon receiving the June 4^{ultimatum, I asked for an additional 24 hours to respond, which was denied. I was removed on June 6 and told I would not be nominated at the upcoming annual meeting of shareholders. This timing was clearly related to the next point.}

Second, let me unequivocally state that any discussions I had with potential third parties about possible business transactions in my role as Chairman were at the request of my fellow directors. In these instances, I was approached on an entirely unsolicited basis by these parties, and I immediately reported that to the Board. The Board then asked me to speak alone with the third parties, whose input I immediately reported back. In these conversations, it became clear that the biggest obstacle to a transaction was Mr. Park’s lack of transparency in negotiations and his insistence on leading any resulting entity. When I relayed this information back to certain directors, the meeting where I was scheduled to report this to a larger group of directors was abruptly cancelled, and I received a call from two Board members, requesting that I resign, in which they said my successor as Chair was undetermined at that point.

Third, in April of 2021 I agreed to apply the Board’s newly proposed share pledge policy to my share pledges, which stemmed from my family’s $20 million investment into GeoPark at the Company’s NYSE IPO, by reducing my share pledges over a period of time agreed to by the Board. I have always been in compliance with all guidelines and disclosure requirements put in place by the Board on this matter and all matters.

Fourth, the share pledging was never mentioned by the Board in their ultimatum that I resign as Chair and my eventual removal as a director. The claim that my pledging of shares was part of the rationale for my removal is a blatant attempt to rewrite history and distract from the real issues at hand that I have raised, as the Board well knows given our correspondence. Regardless, if reinstated to the Board, I have committed to have my pledges released and paid off in full within a year – I am happy to simply remove the distraction put forward by the GeoPark Board.

In fact, I was told that my “disruptive,” and “non-collaborative” approach was why I was being kicked off the Board. The fact is that these descriptions mischaracterize my conduct, which was the result of my expressed concerns about inadequacies, lack of independence and poor governance practices exhibited by the Board.

• Yes, I was critical of the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Robert Bedingfield) for delaying the corporate governance review and reform for six months and later for his delay of an additional five months in adopting best practices in the director selection processes that I proposed (particularly with respect to the determination of the needed skill sets for directors) and for then ignoring these practices despite Board recognition of their merits. However, such criticism was respectful and appropriate under the circumstances.
• Yes, I have also complained to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee (Constantin Papadimitriou) for his failure to provide information or feedback on executive compensation and overall salaries and benefits.
• On several occasions, I acknowledge correcting inaccurate draft minutes of meetings prepared by the corporate secretary and director Pedro Aylwin, which I believe is what a director is supposed to do.

What this all boils down to is that I was pushed out for simply carrying out my responsibilities as Chairman of the Board. My removal is direct evidence of Mr. Park’s tight grip on the Board and the Company, his resistance to true corporate governance reform and his unwillingness to explore pathways for shareholder value creation.

Jim Park’s History of Dodging the Truth

Mr. Park is extremely opaque in the conduct of both his professional and personal lives, benefitting from a Board lax in its oversight of substantial perquisites from the Company and all too willing to be kept in the dark on significant matters, allowing him to escape scrutiny in instances where other executives would have been censured.

All this has contributed to a general perception in the marketplace that Mr. Park’s lack of transparency and insistence on control are substantial impediments to strategic discussions.

At this point, shareholders should be asking the following questions:

• What does the Company have to show under Mr. Park’s stewardship beyond a single big discovery in Llanos 34 in Columbia, which was a windfall for GeoPark?
  • GeoPark’s mantra is “Creating Value and Giving Back.” Looking back, GeoPark’s book value has declined by more than $400 million since 2012 – despite the Llanos 34 bonanza in Columbia – while our partner in the same block, Parex Resources, has substantially improved its balance sheet by nearly $1 billion. (See Image 1)

  • Additionally, GeoPark’s long-term share performance is mediocre at best: its share price has decreased from $13.84 on January 3, 2011, to $12.14 on July 7, 2021. During the same period, the S&P 500 increased roughly 240%. (See Image 2)

• Looking forward, how and when will GeoPark return value to shareholders?
  • My concern is that GeoPark will attempt to improve its balance sheet through equity issuances that will dilute shareholders in an effort to fund future acquisitions and achieve scale, while maintaining Mr. Park’s objective of retaining control.

  • With Mr. Park and the current Board in control of the Company, it is doubtful that GeoPark will achieve the scale to be the LATAM winner in the next three to five years in transactions which are accretive to shareholders, which is the time when major players will be divesting attractive assets.

• What damage has been done in the past to the realization of shareholder value by Mr. Park’s opaqueness and overall lack of transparency?
  • Based upon Mr. Park’s mediocre track record in long term value creation and his lack of transparency and need for control, it is difficult to see how shareholders can trust him to pursue all options to create shareholder value.

• Why does GeoPark have only one director with public company board experience and why have Mr. Park and other directors been so vehemently against adding experienced and independent directors with public company board experience to the Board?
  • Over the past two years, I have proposed highly qualified, independent director candidates to enhance our Board’s oversight. These candidates were rejected.

  • It is certainly problematic that Mr. Bedingfield (who serves on only one other public company board) is the model for the rest of the directors in terms of how to behave on a public company board – which I believe has caused the Board to fail to carry out its fiduciary duties appropriately.

• Why did members of the Compensation Committee not receive compensation information for the top officers other than the CEO or for the permanent consultants to the Company? Why does the Compensation Committee not receive information on Mr. Park’s perquisites?
  • This is a failure of governance at the most basic level and must be rectified.

• Why were independent directors not given access to compensation information for C-suite and permanent consultants?
  • I asked for it and it was withheld.

• If “it is categorically false that the Company maintains four houses for Mr. Park,”¹as the Company claims, how many residences (including apartments) has the Company provided financial assistance for with respect to Mr. Park in the past few years?
  • The Company’s response was characteristically evasive by using the word “houses” when they knew some of these residences were apartments.

• Who bears responsibility for advancing these falsehoods and tactics aimed at avoiding the real issues?
  • Mr. Park.

It is beyond time for a truly independent Board at GeoPark, one with the industry knowledge and the strength to rein in and oversee management and to provide input into the Company’s strategy.

In order to protect and enhance shareholder value, I urge you to join me in opposing the election to the Board of Jim Park, Constantin Papadimitriou, Robert Bedingfield and Pedro Aylwin.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. O’Shaughnessy

A vote AGAINST four incumbent directors is a vote to send a message that change is needed on the Board at GeoPark to benefit all of the Company’s shareholders. You can vote AGAINST these directors either by voting on GeoPark’s proxy card, or by voting on the BLUE proxy card included in these materials.

VOTE AGAINST FOUR GEOPARK DIRECTOR NOMINEES TO SIGNAL THAT YOU DEMAND CHANGE IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

¹ GeoPark Investor Presentation: Consistent Performance and Value Delivery, Page 28.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005489/en/

Investors:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

Edward McCarthy / Richard Grubaugh

(212) 269-5550

[email protected]

Media:

Sloane & Company

Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani

[email protected] / [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Kansas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Finance

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Image 2 (Photo: Business Wire)

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Image 1 (Photo: Business Wire)

With Peak Hurricane Season Underway, Consumers Want More Options for Receiving Insurance Claim Payments Quickly and Securely, New ACI Worldwide Study Reveals

• Insurance companies must consider adding options for digital disbursements to ensure payments quickly reach consumers in their time of need
• Fewer consumers prefer to receive payments by check; direct deposit to banks is most preferred method
• Checks getting lost in the mail is a top concern among consumers

MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
New data from ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a leading global provider of real-time and digital payments software solutions, revealed that of U.S. adults who received a payment disbursement* (including insurance claims), more than half (54%) did not have a choice in how they received their payment, a significant disconnect considering nearly half (48%) feel a choice in how payments are received is either important or very important. Only 17 percent prefer to receive payments through a check in the mail, while 35 percent prefer a direct deposit to their bank account if given the choice.

Based on a sample of 1,188 U.S. adults, the survey also showed more consumers who have received payments did so via a check in the mail (31%), followed by direct deposit to their bank (21%) and credit toward their debit card (14%). In addition, of those who had issues receiving payments (23%), a check getting lost in the mail (39%) was at the top of the list.

According to the study, of those who received an insurance claim payment, 33 percent filed a claim for a natural disaster that caused damage to their property.

“As we enter peak hurricane season in many parts of the country, insurance companies are likely to see more claims for natural disaster-related damage,” said Sanjay Gupta, executive vice president, ACI Worldwide. “It is important for these companies to ensure claim payments reach consumers quickly and securely. Insurance companies should consider adding options for digital disbursements to allow payments to quickly reach consumers in their time of need.”

*Payment disbursement refers to insurance claims, and refunds and rebates from a wide variety of billers; it does not include income tax refunds or stimulus payments from the government.

Key Findings:

Consumer preference in receiving payments:

• Preferred methods for receiving payments among U.S. adults who have received one include:
  • Direct deposit to bank account – 35 percent
  • Check in the mail – 17 percent
  • Deposit in a digital wallet (e.g., PayPal, Venmo) – 17 percent
  • Credit toward debit card – 13 percent
  • Electronic gift card or code – 12 percent
  • Physical gift card that was mailed – 4 percent
  • Other – 2 percent
• These consumers’ choice of payment method depends on:
  • Convenience – 46 percent
  • Security – 28 percent
  • Speed – 24 percent
  • Other – 2 percent

• Of those who experienced issues with receiving payments, the check getting lost in the mail was most common (39%), followed by:
  • Not being given a choice in payment method (30%)
  • Taking too long to receive payment (24%)
  • Having no way to track payment status (23%)
  • Never received payment (19%)

Insurance payments:

• Of those who received a payment, 29 percent received it from an insurance company:
  • Auto: 14 percent
  • Health: 13 percent
  • Home/Rental: 8 percent
• Of those who received an insurance payment, 15 percent were part of a multi-party claim, while 33 percent made a claim for a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake.
• Nearly half of insurance payment recipients received their insurance claim payment as a check in the mail (49%), followed by a direct deposit to their bank (25%) and credit toward their debit card (10%).

Methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,188 adults, among whom 372 have received one of the forms of payments tested in the survey. Fieldwork was undertaken between June 22-23, 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+).

About ACI Worldwide

ACI Worldwide is a global software company that provides mission-critical real-time payment solutions to corporations. Customers use our proven, scalable and secure solutions to process and manage digital payments, enable omni-commerce payments, present and process bill payments, and manage fraud and risk. We combine our global footprint with local presence to drive the real-time digital transformation of payments and commerce.

© Copyright ACI Worldwide, Inc. 2021

ACI, ACI Worldwide, ACI Payments, Inc., ACI Pay, Speedpay and all ACI product/solution names are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACI Worldwide, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States, other countries or both. Other parties’ trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005479/en/

Media Contacts

Dan Ring

[email protected]

781-370-3600

Nidhi Alberti

[email protected]

781-370-3600

KEYWORDS: United States North America Florida Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Insurance Networks Finance Data Management Professional Services Technology Mobile/Wireless

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Seagen to Host Conference Call and Webcast Discussion of Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results on July 29, 2021

BOTHELL, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Seagen Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) today announced that it will report its second quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, July 29, 2021 after the close of U.S. financial markets. Following the announcement, Company management will host a conference call and webcast discussion of the results and provide a business update. Access to the event can be obtained as follows:

Thursday, July 29, 2021

1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

• Telephone 844-763-8274 (U.S.) or +1 412-717-9224 (international); conference ID 10157814
• Webcast with slides available at www.seagen.com in the Investors section. A webcast replay will be archived on the Company’s website.

About Seagen

Seagen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative cancer medicines to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Seagen is headquartered in the Seattle, Washington area, and has locations in California, Canada, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on the company’s marketed products and robust pipeline, visit www.seagen.com and follow @SeagenGlobal on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005087/en/

For Investors

Peggy Pinkston

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

(425) 527-4160

[email protected]

For Media

David Caouette

Vice President, Corporate Communications

(310) 430-3476

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Washington United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Oncology Health Clinical Trials Research Science Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

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AGCO Announces 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

DULUTH, Ga.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
AGCO, Your Agriculture Company, (NYSE: AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, announced today its 2021 Second Quarter Earnings Release Conference Call is scheduled for Thursday, July 29^th at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Company will refer to slides on its conference call. Interested persons can access the conference call and slide presentation via AGCO’s website at www.agcocorp.com under the “Investors” Section.

The webcast will also be archived for twelve months immediately afterward.

About AGCO:

AGCO (NYSE:AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Challenger®, Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson® and Valtra®. Powered by Fuse® smart farming solutions, AGCO’s full line of equipment and services help farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $9.1 billion in 2020. For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.

Please visit our website at www.agcocorp.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005078/en/

Greg Peterson

Vice President, Investor Relations

(770) 232-8229

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Georgia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Agriculture Natural Resources Other Natural Resources

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Vera Bradley Selects Zebra Technologies and Reflexis Systems to Manage Customer Appointments

Reflexis Appointments ^TM ensures the right staff are available to provide a tailored shopping experience

DEDHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Reflexis Systems (now part of Zebra Technologies), a leading provider of intelligent workforce management and execution solutions for multi-site businesses in retail, food service, hospitality and banking, today announced Vera Bradley has selected Reflexis Appointments^TM to provide a tailored experience for its customers, enabling them to select an in-person or virtual shopping session. Reflexis Appointments also helps stores stay in compliance with evolving state and municipal mandates throughout the pandemic.

Vera Bradley will utilize Reflexis Appointments to streamline and improve the customer shopping experience. Customers can book time slots on Vera’s website to shop in-store or virtually from home, schedule curbside pickup and join on-site queues for walk-in service.

“Reflexis Appointments lets customers initiate and choose their shopping experience, and our stores have benefited from this customized approach,” said Kelly Brown, Vice President of Stores, Vera Bradley. “This helpful technology ensures we have the right employees in place to meet our customers’ needs, and feedback has shown shoppers plan to continue using this personalized approach in the future.”

Booked appointments are automatically accounted for in labor forecasts and schedules to ensure the right staff with the right skills are available to meet customer demand. Appointment data can also be integrated with a CRM or other third-party systems for better customer-facing processes.

“Reflexis Appointments is an essential component of reopening stores safely, empowering customers to select their ideal shopping experience,” said Suresh Menon, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Software Solutions, Zebra Technologies. “Retailers are able to open stores quickly while adhering to mandated state and local safety regulations in addition to achieving more accurate labor forecasting.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Vera Bradley, a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, has selected Reflexis Appointments to reopen stores safely while empowering customers to select their ideal shopping experience.
• Feedback from Vera Bradley customers has shown that they intend to utilize this tailored approach to shopping well into the future.
• The recent acquisition of Reflexis Systems by Zebra Technologies enables teams to simplify communications, enhance task execution, and align labor with demand via AI-powered forecasting.

ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES

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

ABOUT REFLEXIS SYSTEMS

Reflexis Systems (now part of Zebra Technologies), is the leading provider of intelligent workforce management, execution and communication solutions for multi-site organizations in retail, food service, hospitality and banking. The Reflexis ONE™ intelligent work platform is used by our customers across the globe to simplify execution, improve communication and optimize labor decisions. Today, over 275 leaders in retail, food service, hospitality and banking are leveraging Reflexis ONE™ to achieve measurable improvements in customer engagement & employee productivity and retention. Reflexis Systems is headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts and has offices in Atlanta, Columbus, London, Düsseldorf, and Pune (India), with additional sales presence across Europe and Latin America. For further information, please visit www.Reflexisinc.com.

Follow Reflexis on: LinkedIn | Blog | Twitter | YouTube

ABOUT VERA BRADLEY, INC.

Vera Bradley, Inc. operates two unique lifestyle brands – Vera Bradley and Pura Vida. Vera Bradley and Pura Vida are complementary businesses, both with devoted, emotionally-connected, and multi-generational female customer bases; alignment as causal, comfortable, affordable, and fun brands; positioning as “gifting” and socially-connected brands; strong, entrepreneurial cultures; a keen focus on community, charity, and social consciousness; multi-channel distribution strategies; and talented leadership teams aligned and committed to the long-term success of their brands. Vera Bradley, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a leading designer of women’s handbags, luggage and other travel items, fashion and home accessories, and unique gifts. Founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller, the brand is known for its innovative designs, iconic patterns, and brilliant colors that inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace. In July 2019, Vera Bradley, Inc. acquired a 75% interest in Creative Genius, Inc., which also operates under the name Pura Vida Bracelets (“Pura Vida”). Pura Vida, based in La Jolla, California, is a rapidly growing, digitally native, and highly engaging lifestyle brand founded in 2010 by friends Paul Goodman and Griffin Thall. Pura Vida has a differentiated and expanding offering of bracelets, jewelry, and other lifestyle accessories.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005001/en/

Media Contact:

Peter Czyryca

Zebra Technologies

+1 (781) 493-3400 x351

[email protected]

Industry Analyst Contact:

Kasia Fahmy

Zebra Technologies

+1-224-306-8654

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Other Retail Human Resources Data Management Professional Services Technology Online Retail Retail

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Cybersecurity Remains a Top Priority for County Officials