Market Newsdesk

Mississauga, ON, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Systems today announced the general release of Applied Policy Works 2021. The latest release of Applied Policy Works enables brokers to further automate the commercial lines policy lifecycle through enhanced capabilities that streamline submissions and extend collaborative data capture solutions to consumers.

In addition to core enhancements to Applied Policy Works, the latest release deepens integrations within the Applied portfolio to create full commercial lines policy management. Bi-directional integration with Indio now enables brokers to export or import collaborative data to the consumer through Indio. Brokers can also connect to Indio through a shortcut link, providing a seamless front-office workflow and reducing duplicative data entry between applications. Additionally, deeper integration with Applied Epic enables brokers to browse attachments stored in Applied Epic within Applied Policy Works.

Other key enhancements include:

• CSIO Data Standard and Compliance: New questions and dynamic underwriting fields have been added to all submissions and policies, ensuring compliance with CSIO’s 43 minimum data set and robust, standardized data collection and setting the stage for real-time quoting with insurers.
• Contractor Question Set: Adds dynamically generated CSIO underwriting questions for contractors, based on the IBC industry code, allowing for more complete submissions and faster quotes.
• Insights and Analytics: Provides visual insights into the brokers’ book of commercial lines business, industry segmentation, insurer reports and marketing results, allowing brokers to make more informed business decisions.
• Issuance Quote: Enables brokers to create and track new or renewal quotes within delegated authority contracts or Lloyd’s Coverholder authority to allow faster workflows and response times from MGAs to brokers.

 

“As the industry moves towards real-time rating, Applied continues to facilitate these efforts by standardizing data and further automating the commercial lines workflow,” said Steve Whitelaw, vice president of Industry & Partner Relations, Applied Systems. “The latest release of Applied Policy Works takes a large step forward in creating simplicity in commercial lines operations management via integrated systems.”

The Applied products and logos are trademarks of Applied Systems, Inc., registered in the U.S.

About Applied Systems

Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

Lauren Malcolm
Applied Systems
[email protected]

MAYNARD, Mass., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stratus Technologies, a global leader in simplified, protected, autonomous Edge Computing platforms, today launched a new program to enable System Integrators (SIs) to develop Edge Computing competencies and deployment expertise. Through Stratus led training, certification, and accreditation, SIs now have the tools and support to develop Edge Computing technology practices to generate new revenue. The program’s top partnership level, Stratus Endorsed status, allows SIs to implement Stratus Edge Computing platforms using a repeatable and profitable methodology to ensure high-quality solution delivery, and to bundle Stratus Service offerings to provide on-going end user support.

“Edge Computing is a fundamental Industry 4.0 technology that delivers high value and fast payback, and represents a tremendous opportunity for System Integrators to support end users,” said Mike Bradshaw, Senior Director, Global Channels and Partner Ecosystem at Stratus. “Less than half of end user organizations have the expertise of how and when to deploy Edge Computing. Additionally, more than 70% of manufacturers therefore look to strategic partners to operationalize solutions. Stratus’ Global System Integrator Program provides the curriculum and accreditation as well as the deployment methodology and service support SIs need to successfully deliver value for their customers at the edge.”

Tim Shoppe, Avid Solutions said, “Processing and manufacturing end users are increasingly expecting product suppliers and system integrators to go beyond simply meeting their basic automation needs, which demands a wide breadth of knowledge. Due to the increasing volume of edge-generated data and the need for low-latency processing, Edge Computing has become vital. At Avid Solutions, we’re building on a foundation of Stratus Edge Computing platforms to deliver complete automation and IIoT solutions for clients. Stratus platforms combine all the computing characteristics needed for SIs to build a supportable high-performance IIoT edge automation solution.”

Jeff Geiger, Director of Sales and Marketing at Taurus Controls said, “We help our industrial clients move from underperforming traditional technologies to modern, easy-to-manage, and highly available Edge Computing platforms. We find clients who may be apprehensive about new technologies are quickly convinced of the cost-effective benefits of Edge Computing platforms from Stratus. We’ve implemented projects ranging from the plant floor for a soy manufacturer to a biomass steam generator, and clients are seeing massive improvements in the reliability and capability of their operations. SIs working with Stratus are educating end users about the pain points solved by moving away from legacy architectures to modern Edge Computing solutions.”

Stratus Global SI Program for Edge Computing Competency and Practice Development

The Stratus Global Systems Integrator Program is available to join at no cost, and offers partners three levels of certification and accreditation, including access to Not for Resale (NFR) units for testing and development of proof-of-concept (POC) projects. The three Stratus SI tiers are as follows:

• Stratus Registered level – Upon qualification, SIs join the Registered level and gain initial access to Stratus tools such as the Stratus Partner Portal, listing in the Partner Locator, and access to discounted demo units.
• Stratus Certified level – Registered SIs who complete pre-sales certifications and document examples of Stratus platform implementations gain insight via enhanced listing in the Partner Locator, previews of Stratus’ product roadmap, and other exclusive visibility from Stratus. Additionally, Certified level partners can complete implementation certification and employ Stratus’ proprietary installation methodology to deliver reliability for end users.
• Stratus Endorsed level – The leading Stratus Certified SIs are invited to join the Endorsed level based on their success with Stratus and regional Channel Partners. Endorsed level SIs demonstrate multiple project implementations and receive a range of benefits including executive sponsorship and invitation to joint opportunity pursuits.

The Global System Integrator Program develops proficiency, deployment methodology, and service support for Stratus’ three Edge Computing platforms:

• Stratus ztC™ Edge – a zero-touch, secure, and highly-automated Edge Computing platform purpose-built for critical equipment and distributed control architectures at the operational edge for continuous availability of critical applications in harsh environments.
• Stratus ftServer® – Edge Computing for the control center and local data center to handle heavier workloads and data flow with the highest level of fault tolerance for critical applications and data.
• Stratus everRun® – software-only offering that allows teams to easily enable application availability by connecting existing servers and customizing availability up to 99.999% uptime.

For complete detail about the Stratus Global System Integrator Program and to register, visit the Stratus Partner Portal.

Additional Resources

• Stratus Global System Integrator Program
• Stratus ztC Edge
• Stratus ftServer
• Stratus everRun
• ROI Guidebook: Stratus ztC Edge by Nucleus Research

About Stratus

For leaders digitally transforming their operations to drive predictable, peak performance with minimal risk, Stratus ensures the continuous availability of business-critical applications by delivering zero-touch Edge Computing platforms that are simple to deploy and maintain, protected from interruptions and threats, and autonomous. For 40 years, we have provided reliable and redundant zero-touch computing, enabling global Fortune 500 companies and small-to-medium sized businesses to securely and remotely turn data into actionable intelligence at the Edge, cloud and data center – driving uptime and efficiency. For more information, please visit www.stratus.com or follow on Twitter @StratusAlwaysOn and LinkedIn @StratusTechnologies

Press Contacts
DoShik Wood
[email protected]
+1 978-461-7064

LONDON, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VivoPower International PLC (NASDAQ: VVPR, the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Jos van der Linden has joined the Company in the role of Managing Director (Netherlands) for the Company’s electric light vehicle division, Tembo e-LV B.V. (“Tembo”).

Mr. van der Linden is a seasoned executive who has spent his career at the forefront of vehicle electrification and renewable energy. For more than a decade, he worked for Spijkstaal Elektro, an innovative international company that was among the first to convert internal combustion engine cars into fully electric and series electric hybrid vehicles. Mr. van der Linden has also been a leader in the development of many customer-specific, electrically driven solutions, with experience in battery technology, solar and wind energy applications.

In addition to his years of experience delivering sustainable energy solutions, Mr. van der Linden has held several management positions in family businesses and publicly traded companies. He has a background in business economics, supplemented with studies in the fields of Sustainable Materials Management and Electric Vehicles and Mobility.

Executive Chairman and CEO of the Company, Kevin Chin, commented, “Jos possesses extensive direct experience in the development of electric vehicles, battery technology and related electric power solutions. We are delighted to welcome him to VivoPower and look forward to his leadership as we hyperscale the Tembo business.”

On joining the Company, Mr. van der Linden said, “VivoPower is a unique player in the energy market, offering customers a comprehensive suite of solutions to reduce both carbon emissions and electricity costs. Tembo has enormous growth potential as the centerpiece of those sustainable energy solutions. In combination with the other operating companies within VivoPower, Tembo can enable customers to move towards net zero, increase productivity and reduce operational costs. I am excited to take on this challenge in this professional organization with strong core values.”

About VivoPower

VivoPower is a sustainable energy solutions company focused on battery storage, electric solutions for customized and ruggedized fleet applications, solar and critical power technology and services. The Company’s core purpose is to provide its customers with turnkey decarbonization solutions that enable them to move toward net zero carbon status. VivoPower is a certified B Corporation with operations in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes certain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the United States federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements about Mr. van der Linden’s ability to support the objectives of the Company. These statements are based on VivoPower’s management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to risk, uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of VivoPower’s business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include changes in business conditions, fluctuations in customer demand, changes in accounting interpretations, management of rapid growth, intensity of competition from other providers of products and services, changes in general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes and other factors set forth in VivoPower’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. VivoPower is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Contact

Investor Relations
[email protected]

Press
[email protected]

THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire — Sports Venues of Florida, Inc., (OTCMKTS: BTHR) (“Sports Venues of Florida”, “BTHR”, or the “Company”), an emerging leader in the youth sports, family sports entertainment, and eSports markets, announces April ended with record-breaking numbers in key categories. Total monthly player registrations grew by 50% shattering any previous month in our history by over 500 registrants, total monthly active players were up 45%, and total monthly unique Twitch viewers reached over 11,000!   We previously announced the amazing growth in our Discord membership, surpassing the 4,000 milestone last week. To simply say we are pleased with April results would be an understatement. The Company is shattering estimates in virtually every category.  Looking to the month of May, the Company is adding 2 new events, which will bring a total of 9 tournaments in one month for the first time in Company history.

We kicked off the month of May strong with our Third Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links event. GGtoor and DLE teamed up to bring you another amazing tournament, this time with both a new main box release and new ban-list implications! This event did even better than our prior Duel Links event in several key categories, including hitting a peak of almost 1,000 concurrent viewers for the Grand Finals!  All eyes were on the newly nerfed blue eyes deck to see if it could take back its throne as the number one deck of duel links, while many others were looking at the Water Stun deck and Harpie ladies to get another solid tournament win.

While many in the community were not expecting the new box to make an impact, it certainly did! We saw the power of Fire Formation Tenki, a card that helps any beast warrior deck — including Yosenju, which was the winning deck last month, and was featured in the winner of this weekend’s tournament, a Firekings deck! It was an amazing final where an old classic, six samurai, saw a surge in power from the new box XYZ monster Heroic Champion Excalibur, but fell short in the Grand Finals to the might of Tenki Firekings. The meta is still shifting, so stay tuned for the next event to see where things lead!

The events GGtoor has been offering typically have been run over one day, or a single weekend, for a set prize pool. We are exploring the idea of expanding the ways we hold and support events, to further accelerate growth. This includes possibilities such as longer-term Organized Play (Leagues, or Tournaments held over many weeks) as well as the possibility of offering a tiered prize pool for select events, where the players can unlock larger rewards if the event hits stated goals, such as exceeding a certain number of players participating in the event.

Want to participate? Find the plan that best suits you; you can choose between Bronze Plan, Gold Plan, Diamond Plan https://ggtoor.com/join.php.  If you want to be an organizer, bring your team or friends to GGtoor.com; we can help you grow and support, so you can reach a worldwide audience of similar-minded individuals that like to compete and have fun — you can be sure that GGToor.com is here to grow with you. Just follow the link to sign up as an organizer https://ggtoor.com/organizerlogin.php; if you have any questions about our events visit Discord https://discord.gg/GUhyZxFH8Q, https://twitter.com/ggtoor/, https://www.twitch.tv/ggtoor, https://www.facebook.com/eShadowGaming

If your organization would like to be part of this growth and would like to work with Shadow Gaming contact us at [email protected]/

About BTHR

Sports Venues of Florida, Inc., is a developmental stage company engaged in the business of eSports, and the development of youth sports and family entertainment complexes. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Shadow Gaming, Inc., has aggressively entered the eSports market. Shadow Gaming’s new portal GGToor.com has been launched and is one of the most comprehensive gaming portals in the world. The Company is now accepting subscriptions from players, gamers, and tournament organizers. To register logon to https://ggtoor.com/. In addition, the company plans on operating a few subsidiary companies from high tech data management businesses to product and support businesses. Finally, the Company is actively looking for locations to build indoor eSports arenas that will host major international gaming tournaments.

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. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as “expect,” “expectation,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “belief,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “predict,” “likely,” “seek,” “project,” “model,” “ongoing,” “will,” “should,” “forecast,” “outlook” or similar terminology. These statements are based on and reflect our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and/ or projections as well as our perception of historical trends and current conditions, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events, circumstances or performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. There can be no assurance that our expectations, estimates, assumptions and/or projections, including with respect to the future earnings and performance or capital structure of Sports Venues of Florida, Inc.

For Additional Information Contact:
John V Whitman Jr.,
[email protected]
https://sportsvenues.net/ 

https://ggtoor.com/home.php

BOULDER, Colo., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BDSA announced its new Wholesale Pricing solution today, first to market with the only comprehensive view of wholesale and retail pricing data, providing better market intelligence for both growers and retailers. BDSA launched the new solution in partnership with Apex Trading. BDSA is the market leader in offering data, market intelligence and strategic guidance to the cannabis industry. Apex Trading provides cultivators, product manufacturers, distributors and retailers with comprehensive sales and wholesale business management tools that streamline operations and strengthen the individual relationship between buyers and sellers.

“The new Wholesale Pricing solution helps both growers and retailers better understand and predict pricing patterns, adding new efficiencies to their go-to-market strategies,” said Micah Tapman, CEO of BDSA. “For the first time, cannabis industry players have a single location for all the information they need to make better decisions and accelerate their path to profitability.”

The Wholesale Pricing solution offers wide visibility into pricing trends including weekly pricing indices, maximum and minimum pricing, breakdowns of pricing at the wholesale level for various product groups — a buds, b buds, et al. — pricing for indoor versus outdoor products, and more. Growers can see for each product they offer where the market is pricing their product and determine the best time to bring products to market. Retailers can research best pricing for various products they want to stock.

“At Apex Trading we are constantly developing new solutions that provide greater value to our clients and this partnership with BDSA is a great example of that,” says John Manlove, Apex Trading founder and CEO. “Through rich and actionable wholesale and retail market data insights, producers and retailers will now have more tools in their chest for making wholesale production, pricing and purchasing decisions.”

To view a demo of the new Wholesale Pricing solution, click here.

About Apex Trading

Apex Trading helps businesses streamline wholesale operations by optimizing inventory and order management while also empowering sales and marketing teams with an array of tools that let them engage with their current and new buyers in a direct relationship-driven manner. Designed to benefit both small and large businesses and utilized by over a thousand companies across the entire wholesale supply chain and country, Apex Trading is constantly developing innovative features that set the new bar for what a wholesale buying and selling platform should be. To learn more, please visit apextrading.com.

About BDSA

BDSA helps businesses improve revenues, reduce innovation risk, and prioritize market expansion with accurate and actionable cannabis market intelligence, consumer research and strategic guidance. The company provides a holistic understanding of the cannabis market by generating insights from point-of-sale data, consumer research and market-wide industry projections. Retailers, manufacturers, brands, wholesalers and investors can now make better strategic decisions that drive profitability, increase revenues and market share, and reduce expenses. BDSA is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. To learn more, please visit bdsa.com.

Media Contact

Katie Parr
UPRAISE Marketing + PR for BDSA
415-397-7600
[email protected]

CHICAGO/NEW YORK, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tidal ETF Services LLC (“Tidal”), an innovative leading provider of ETF services, today announced its assets under administration (“AuA”) have reached the US$2 billion milestone under its Tidal ETF Trust (“Trust”). Tidal experienced phenomenal growth in the past several years, launching 8 new ETFs in 2020, with plans to launch 15-20 new ETFs in 2021.

“We’ve enhanced our launch process to be more efficient than ever. We’ve always focused on quality partnerships and innovative strategies, but now we’re in a position to expand and refine our marketing and distribution services, which is an exciting part of what we do,” said Eric Falkeis, Chief Executive Officer of Tidal.

New and existing issuer partnerships in 2020 and early 2021 that led to innovative ETF launches included:

SoFi Weekly Income ETF (TGIF)

: The SoFi ETF offering expanded with the TGIF, an actively managed fixed income ETF that expects to distribute income on Fridays.

Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF (JSTC)

: Adasina Social Capital is a Black-owned and majority-operated by women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The ETF uses community-sourced impact data to set the standards for how publicly traded companies participate in gender, racial, economic, and climate justice.

Euclid Capital Growth ETF (EUCG): An actively managed ETF that seeks capital appreciation, EUCG is overweight to equities in low-risk in bull market environments whereas it is overweight to fixed income and other non-equity exposure in higher risk, bear market environments.

Sound Equity Income ETF (SDEI) and Sound Enhanced Fixed Income ETF (SDEF): Sound Income Strategies, founded by David Scranton and specializing in the active management of income-generating portfolios specifically for retirees and those planning for retirement, launched two actively managed, income ETFs that seek to generate income at a time when rates are at ultra-low levels and Baby Boomers are unprepared for retirement.

Gotham Enhanced 500 (GSPY):
Institutional manager, Gotham Asset Management, known for its family of hedge funds and mutual funds debuted their first exchange traded fund, an actively managed ETF that buys all 500 stocks in the S&P 500 Index but reweights them, buying more of those they think are cheaper and less of those they believe are more expensive.

“Our recent launches highlight the way the ETF space is evolving. ETFs are meeting investor demands – tending to be more thematic and active in nature. We can expect to see more interesting ETF activity in 2021 and beyond,” said Eric Falkeis.

ABOUT TIDAL ETF SERVICES

Formed by ETF industry pioneers and thought leaders, Tidal sets out to disrupt the way ETFs have historically been developed, launched, marketed and sold. With a transparent, partnership approach, Tidal offers a comprehensive suite of services, proprietary tools, and methodologies designed to bring lasting ideas to market. As advocates for ETF innovation, Tidal helps RIAs, institutions and investment firms launch, manage and grow innovative ETFs that clients demand. For more information, visit tidaletfservices.com.

 

Media Contact:

Leann Gaines [email protected]
(847) 309-5497

DISCLOSURES

This release is being made available for informational purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose. The information contained herein does not constitute and should not be construed as an offering of advisory services or an offer to sell or solicitation to buy any securities or related financial instruments in any jurisdiction. Investments in ETFs involve risk. Some investment products have more risk than others. Please read each prospectus for specific details regarding the ETF’s risk profile.

Certain information contained herein concerning economic trends and performance is based on or derived from information provided by independent third-party sources. Tidal believes that the sources from which such information has been obtained are reliable; however, it cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information and has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such information or the assumptions on which such information is based.

The Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. For the summary and/or statutory prospectuses containing this and other important information for the Funds please call 877-358-0096‪. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Funds are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New Leaf Ventures Inc. (CSE: NLV) (OTC: NLVVF) (“New Leaf,” “NLV” or the “Company”), a management and investment organization dedicated to evaluating, investing and accelerating advanced stage operations in the North American Cannabis sector advises that its New Leaf USA venture has announced the appointment of Mr. David Weston to the position of Sales Director effective immediately.

Mr. Weston previously served in the role of on-premises manager with Red Bull North America beginning in 2003 where he was territorially responsible for the entire state of Washington and the Coeur d’Alene region. In this role, he managed relationships with eight distributors, over 40 representatives and their on-premises clients (3200 accounts). During his tenure he created marketing concepts and incentives which in turn increased Columbia Distributing sales from 28,000 cases in 2003 to over 160,000 in 2011. He further grew his account-base by over 600 new accounts. In 2011 he subsequently went on to purchase and operate his own business where he put his marketing skills to work and increased historic sales by 57%. During this period, he continued to grow his regional network and determined to leverage his experience through service as a consultant with the coastal division of Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits where he was responsible for the Edmonds – Lynnwood territory off-premises sales. In the first year of his consultancy, he increased territory revenue by 120%, and was identified as one of the top 3 sales affiliates who contributed to top state performance for 2018/2019/2020 as recognized by multinational spirits corporation, Beam Suntory.

In his role as Sales Director, he will report directly to Robert (Dax) Colwell, CEO and Boris Gorodnitsky, President of New Leaf USA, and Directors of New Leaf Ventures Inc., whereby he will monitor, report, and administer all sales metrics and manage the entire sales administration process. In this role he will manage a team of sales representatives to develop sales targets through telemarketing, face to face interactions, direct mail, and web-based sales strategies. He will ensure sales goals are identified and communicated through ongoing training, coaching, mentoring and motivating skill development and administration of sales pipelines. Mr. Weston’s management role encompasses all aspects of the sales life cycle including strategy, lead generation, direct relationship management including lead development, negotiation of sales and lead conversion, deal evaluations and approvals.

Robert ‘Dax’ Colwell, CEO, Co-Founder, New Leaf USA & Director, New Leaf Ventures Inc. notes, “We are thrilled to have David join us at this critical juncture of our growth. As we reach the point where the introduction of multiple new products and significantly increased production capability are poised to launch us into a period of sustained growth and increased revenue potential, it became clear to us it was time to bring in some proven talent. David’s background as an entrepreneur and his time with Red Bull have served him well as he has honed his abilities and his sense of accountability and determination to where we believe he can take on this outstanding prospect and really own the playing field throughout the entire state and potentially beyond. The opportunities are right in front of us, and we look forward to working with, and supporting him as we move ahead to carve out a leading role in the Cannabis industry across Washington state today, and potentially throughout the entire western region in future.”

About New Leaf Ventures Inc. (CSE: NLV) (OTC: NLVVF)
New Leaf Ventures Inc. is developing a cannabis sector-based scalable securities concept of focused financing and applied management to achieve earnings growth through targeted investment. The Company’s flagship enterprise is New Leaf USA and its subsidiaries, which provide licenses, consulting services, real property, intellectual property and equipment for lease and ancillary services to a Washington-based Tier 3 Producer/Processor focused on cultivating, growing, processing, packaging, and distributing cannabis and cannabis related products. Find out more at: https://newleafventuresinc.com/.

For further information, please contact:
New Leaf Ventures Inc.
Invictus Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (604) 330-9220
Email: [email protected]

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “likely”, “except”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan”, “forecast”, “project”, “estimate”, “outlook”, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, today announced that it has been selected by Grassmid Transport Inc. (Grassmid), a premier provider of truckload carrier services based in Zeeland, MI, to provide its integrated in-cab and asset tracking solutions to monitor their fleet of trucks, dry vans and refrigerated trailers. ORBCOMM’s comprehensive solutions provide wireless connectivity through its industry-leading hardware and a single, unified Cloud-based analytics platform for optimal fleet management across multiple asset classes.

Grassmid hauls products including meat, fruit, vegetables, water heaters and office furniture, servicing the lower 48 states with lanes of service to the West Coast, Texas, Florida and the East Coast. They are using ORBCOMM’s in-cab solution to enhance operational efficiency through increased visibility and auditing, along with more automated management of their drivers and trucks. ORBCOMM’s driver-friendly solution delivers GPS fleet tracking and connects to the truck’s CANbus to seamlessly collect important data from the engine, brake systems, fuel tanks and more, providing access to deep analytics and reporting via the ORBCOMM Platform. By automating hours of service calculations, ORBCOMM enables Grassmid to comply with the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) and FMCSA Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. ORBCOMM’s solution also helps Grassmid improve driver safety by providing live, on-board driver performance scoring and correcting unsafe driving behaviors that lead to accidents, fines and higher insurance. Grassmid can utilize these deep data insights to decrease operating and maintenance costs and improve productivity through real-time asset management, reduced risk of fuel loss and scheduled preventive maintenance.

Leveraging ORBCOMM’s triple play offering, Grassmid is also using ORBCOMM’s telematics solutions for two-way temperature monitoring and control, fuel management, maintenance and logistics services for its refrigerated and dry assets. With mapping, reports, alerts and exception management, the ORBCOMM Platform provides the real-time data and business intelligence needed to help Grassmid increase utilization of its mixed fleet, gain fuel savings, mitigate product spoilage and ensure compliance with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act. With the ORBCOMM Platform, Grassmid can manage all of their assets from anywhere through one seamless, comprehensive system.

“We are excited to be able to offer Grassmid our telematics triple play and meet all of their needs for cost-effectively tracking and monitoring their trucks, dry vans and reefers as well as their drivers through one powerful solution,” said Christian Allred, ORBCOMM’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of Global Sales. “The next-gen ORBCOMM Platform is a gamechanger for customers like Grassmid with multi-asset fleets, who can get advanced data and analytics for every transport asset class from one provider where and when they need it.”

“ORBCOMM’s solution was hands-down the best fit for our diverse freight hauling business because now we know what is happening with every aspect of our operations using one integrated system,” said Adam Grassmid, Safety and Compliance Manager for Grassmid Transport Inc. “Since we deployed with ORBCOMM, we have been able to garner substantial benefits through improved fleet safety, compliance and customer satisfaction and have the peace of mind that our dry and refrigerated loads are delivered reliably, safely and on time.”

For more information about ORBCOMM’s integrated transportation solutions, please visit https://www.orbcomm.com/en/industries/transportation-and-distribution.

About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM (Nasdaq: ORBC) is a global leader and innovator in the industrial Internet of Things, providing solutions that connect businesses to their assets to deliver increased visibility and operational efficiency. The company offers a broad set of asset monitoring and control solutions, including seamless satellite and cellular connectivity, unique hardware and powerful applications, all backed by end-to-end customer support, from installation to deployment to customer care. ORBCOMM has a diverse customer base including premier OEMs, solutions customers and channel partners spanning transportation, supply chain, warehousing and inventory, heavy equipment, maritime, natural resources, and government. For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com. You can also connect with ORBCOMM at https://blog.orbcomm.com, on Twitter at @ORBCOMM_Inc, at https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbcomm or at https://www.youtube.com/c/ORBCOMM_Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for future events and include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning the Company’s expectations, are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, projected, expected or implied by the forward-looking statements, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, specific consideration should be given to various factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements or cautionary factors, except as required by law.

ORBCOMM Contacts
For Investors:	For Trade Media:
Aly Bonilla, VP of Investor Relations	Sue Rutherford, VP of Marketing
+1 703.433.6360	+1 613.254.5269
[email protected]	[email protected]
[email protected]	[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08444053-ce53-4e8b-8aed-8dbbd67eb20f

NEWBURYPORT, Mass., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UFP Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPT), an innovative designer and custom manufacturer of components, subassemblies, products, and packaging primarily for the medical market, today reported net income of $4.2 million or $0.55 per diluted common share outstanding for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to net income of $3.9 million or $0.52 per diluted common share outstanding for the same quarter in 2020. Sales for the first quarter were $48.6 million compared to 2020 first quarter sales of $48.3 million.

“I am very pleased with our Q1 results for a number of reasons,” said R. Jeffrey Bailly, Chairman & CEO. “Our medical market showed notable progress versus the last two quarters of 2020. While medical sales are still below where they were before the Covid pandemic, they improved from a 19.4% decrease in Q4 2020 to an 11.5% decrease in Q1, as patients are again beginning to schedule the elective procedures that are key to our overall medical strategy. Another positive sign is that our Product Development business grew 51% vs. the prior year, which bodes well for future medical manufacturing revenue.”

“Overall, revenue for the quarter exceeded prior year results for the first time since the pandemic began,” Bailly said. “We saw especially strong growth in the Aerospace & Defense and Consumer markets, 68% and 62%, respectively, as we ramped up production on several important new programs.”

“Along with the revenue increase, our reduced cost structure generated improved bottom line results,” Bailly added. “This impact will be amplified as the pandemic diminishes and higher-gross-margin medical sales rebound. In addition, we continued to make progress on our strategic initiatives related to acquisitions, low-cost country manufacturing, and efficiency improvement, all of which leave us bullish about the future.”

Financial Highlights for Q1 2021

• Overall sales grew 0.7% to $48.6 million.
• Sales to the medical market declined 11.5%. Sales to the aerospace & defense and automotive markets increased 68.2% and 1.0%, respectively. All other sales (consumer, electronics, and industrial) increased 31.5%.
• Gross profit as a percentage of sales decreased to 25.9% compared to 26.6% in the first quarter of 2020.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) as a percentage of sales was 15.0% compared to 16.1% in the first quarter of 2020.
• Operating income was $5.3 million compared to $5.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.
• Net income was $4.2 million compared to $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2020.

About UFP Technologies, Inc.
UFP Technologies is an innovative designer and custom manufacturer of components, subassemblies, products, and packaging primarily for the medical market. Utilizing highly specialized foams, films, and plastics, we convert raw materials through laminating, molding, radio frequency welding and fabricating techniques. We are diversified by also providing highly engineered solutions to customers in the aerospace & defense, automotive, consumer, electronics, and industrial markets.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains statements relating to expected financial performance and/or future business prospects, events and plans that are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to: statements regarding the anticipated effects on us of the COVID-19 pandemic, including with respect to demand for our products; statements regarding anticipated trends in the different markets in which we compete and expectations regarding customer demand; expectations regarding our liquidity and business opportunities; statements about our growth potential and strategies for growth; and any statements implying that we may be able to sustain or increase sales, earnings and earnings per share or sales, earnings and earnings per share growth rates. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business and prospects, and otherwise cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements, or otherwise, including without limitation: the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the markets in which we participate, including its impact on our customers, suppliers and employees, as well as the U.S. and worldwide economies; the timing, scope and effect of further governmental, regulatory, fiscal, monetary and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks relating to decreased, including substantially decreased, demand for our products; risks relating to the potential closure of any of our facilities or the unavailability of key personnel or other employees; risks that our inventory or cash reserves may be insufficient; risks relating to the identification of suitable acquisition candidates and the successful, efficient execution of acquisition transactions and integration of any acquisition candidates; risks and uncertainties associated with increasing sales, earnings and earnings per share, as well as other risks and uncertainties that are detailed in the documents we file with the SEC. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially. Readers are referred to the documents we file with the SEC, specifically the last report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only of our expectations as of the date of this press release. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31
		2021				2020
Net sales	$	48,599			$	48,277
Cost of sales		35,990				35,454
Gross profit		12,609				12,823
SG&A		7,309				7,752
Gain on sale of fixed assets		–				(4	)
Operating income		5,300				5,075
Interest expense, net		16				16
Other (income) expense		(10	)			327
Income before income taxes		5,294				4,732
Income taxes		1,131				841
Net income	$	4,163			$	3,891
Net income per share	$	0.55			$	0.52
Net income per diluted share	$	0.55			$	0.52
Weighted average common shares outstanding		7,507				7,457
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		7,570				7,538

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	March 31,				December 31,
		2021				2020
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	25,377			$	24,234
Receivables, net		30,018				26,428
Inventories		20,016				18,642
Other current assets		2,630				2,560
Net property, plant, and equipment		53,649				53,755
Goodwill		51,838				51,838
Intangible assets, net		19,404				19,718
Other assets		6,248				6,029
Total assets	$	209,180			$	203,204
Liabilities and equity:
Accounts payable		5,977				4,121
Other current liabilities		10,691				11,016
Other liabilities		11,693				11,174
Total liabilities		28,361				26,311
Total stockholders’ equity		180,819				176,893
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	209,180			$	203,204

Contact: Ron Lataille
978-234-0926

BOSTON, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Executive compensation consultancy Pearl Meyer has published its Work From Home Policies and Practices survey and results indicate 33% of responding companies’ total US-based workforces will work remote post-pandemic. More than 80% noted their organization’s shift to remote work during the pandemic has been successful and nearly 40% reported an increase in productivity. Perhaps recognizing an opportunity for cost savings, 36% of surveyed organizations have made the decision to reduce the number and/or size of their offices and/or facilities.

Exempt status professionals and middle management are most likely to work from home at 32% and 28% respectively, while an almost equal level of executive (23%) and non-exempt/hourly workers (22%) are expected to remain remote.

“One of the more interesting HR questions behind the mass move to working remotely has been whether or not companies would change geographic-based salary structures,” said Bill Dixon, managing director at Pearl Meyer and lead for the survey. “We know there’s been some level of worker migration from high cost-of-living areas to lower-cost markets, yet it appears that the number of companies that are considering changes to an individual’s salary as a result is fairly small.”

One third of survey respondents currently apply “geographic differentials” to their salary structure and of those, 20% are considering modifications to their current approach. When asked outright about reducing an individual’s cash compensation if they move to a lower-cost geographic area and work from home, just 4.3% said they would do so, while 56.5% said they would not, and the balance were uncertain or would decide on a case-by-case basis. “At this juncture, when companies are allowing—or encouraging—remote work and it is going well, it appears there is some hesitancy to disrupt the talent pool,” said Dixon. 

Of the reporting companies, 62% indicated the pandemic had a neutral to positive impact on revenues. At the other end of the spectrum, 9% reported revenues were “extremely” negatively impacted by more than -15% since March of 2020 and 29% indicated their revenues had been “marginally” negatively impacted.

About the Survey

The online survey was conducted in February and March of 2021, with participation from 349 companies, including 128 publicly traded, 159 private for-profit, and 62 not-for-profit/governmental organizations. Annual revenue (or asset size in the case of financial institutions) ranged from less than $300 million to over $10 billion.

Additional Resources

• Survey: Work From Home Policies and Practices
• Opinion: A Flexible Organizational Structure and Positive Corporate Culture are Strategic Imperatives
• Article: Compensation Strategies in the Era of COVID-19

About Pearl Meyer

Pearl Meyer is the leading advisor to boards and senior management on the alignment of executive compensation with business and leadership strategy, making pay programs a powerful catalyst for value creation and competitive advantage. Pearl Meyer’s global clients stand at the forefront of their industries and range from emerging high-growth, not-for-profit, and private companies to the Fortune 500 and FTSE 350. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Rochester, and San Jose.

###

Attachments

• work-from-home-productivity-assessment-chart
• cash-compensation-level-changes-chart

Shawn-Laree O'Neil
Pearl Meyer
773-802-0377
[email protected]