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BMW and Ford Invest in Solid Power to Secure All Solid-State Batteries for Future Electric Vehicles

Solid Power formalizes path to electric vehicle integration with $130M Series B investment

PR Newswire

LOUISVILLE, Colo., May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Solid Power, an industry-leading producer of all solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, today announced a $130 million Series B investment round led by the BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and Volta Energy Technologies. Ford and the BMW Group have also expanded existing joint development agreements with Solid Power to secure all solid-state batteries for future electric vehicles.

The investment positions Solid Power to produce full-scale automotive batteries, increase associated material output and expand in-house production capabilities for future vehicle integration. The BMW Group and Ford aim to utilize Solid Power’s low-cost, high-energy all solid-state battery technology in forthcoming electric vehicles.

“BMW and Ford now share leading positions in the race for all solid-state battery-powered electric vehicles,” said Doug Campbell, CEO and co-founder of Solid Power. “Solid Power now plans to begin producing automotive-scale batteries on the company’s pilot production line in early 2022 as a result of our partners’ continued commitment to Solid Power’s commercialization efforts.”

Solid Power has demonstrated its ability to produce and scale next-generation all solid-state batteries that are designed to power longer range, lower cost and safer electric vehicles using existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure.

Solid Power’s leadership in all solid-state battery development and manufacturing has been confirmed with the delivery of hundreds of production line-produced battery cells that were validated by Ford and the BMW Group late last year, formalizing Solid Power’s commercialization plans with its two long-standing automotive partners. 

“Solid-state battery technology is important to the future of electric vehicles, and that’s why we’re investing directly,” said Ted Miller, Ford’s manager of Electrification Subsystems and Power Supply Research. “By simplifying the design of solid-state versus lithium-ion batteries, we’ll be able to increase vehicle range, improve interior space and cargo volume, deliver lower costs and better value for customers and more efficiently integrate this kind of solid-state battery cell technology into existing lithium-ion cell production processes.”

“Being a leader in advanced battery technology is of the utmost importance for BMW. The development of all solid-state batteries is one of the most promising and important steps towards more efficient, sustainable, and safer electric vehicles. We now have taken our next step on this path with Solid Power,” said Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management BMW AG, Development. “Together we have developed a 20 Ah all solid-state cell that is absolutely outstanding in this field. Over the past 10 years BMW has continuously increased the battery cell competence– important partners like Solid Power share our vision of a zero-emission mobility.”

Solid Power is currently producing 20 ampere hour (Ah) multi-layer all solid-state batteries on the company’s continuous roll-to-roll production line, which exclusively utilizes industry standard lithium-ion production processes and equipment.

Both Ford and the BMW Group will receive full-scale 100 Ah cells for automotive qualification testing and vehicle integration beginning in 2022. Solid Power’s all solid-state platform technology allows for the production of unique cell designs expected to meet performance requirements for each automotive partner. Solid Power’s truly all-solid cell designs achieve higher energy densities, are safer and are expected to cost less than today’s best-performing lithium-ion battery cells.

“Volta invested early in Solid Power when our team of energy and commercialization experts found they had not only promising technology, but also a fundamental focus on manufacturability. After all, a breakthrough battery will not find a place in the market if it can’t be produced at scale with acceptable costs,” said Dr. Jeff Chamberlain, CEO of Volta Energy Technologies, a venture capital firm spun out of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory focused on investing in breakthrough energy storage and battery innovations. “The fact that Solid Power is already producing multi-layer all solid-state batteries using industry-standard automated commercial manufacturing equipment is why Volta is excited to ramp up its earlier investment. The company’s partnership with BMW and Ford will further accelerate the full commercialization of Solid Power’s batteries and position both car companies to be among the first to have EVs on the road powered by safer, affordable, high-energy solid-state batteries.”

About Solid Power
Solid Power is an industry-leading producer of all solid-state rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and mobile power markets. Solid Power replaces the flammable liquid electrolyte in a conventional lithium-ion battery with a proprietary sulfide solid electrolyte. As a result, Solid Power’s all solid-state batteries are safer and more stable across a broad temperature range, can provide a 50-100% increase in energy density compared to the best available rechargeable batteries, enable cheaper, more energy-dense battery pack designs and are compatible with traditional lithium-ion manufacturing processes. For more information, visit http://www.solidpowerbattery.com/

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.

About the BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a workforce of 120,726 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

About Volta Energy Technologies
Volta Energy Technologies is a venture capital firm that identifies and invests in battery, energy storage and related technologies. Spun out from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory in 2016, and led by a team of energy storage technology experts and investment industry veterans, Volta employs a technoeconomic diligence model that aims to invest in companies that have demonstrated valuable breakthroughs with a clear path to commercial reality. Volta is backed by corporate strategic investors Albemarle, Exelon, Equinor Ventures and Hanon Systems and manages the Volta Energy Storage Fund for a syndicate of financial investors. To learn more, visit plusvolta.com and follow @VoltaLink on Twitter.

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SOURCE Solid Power

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MAY 3, 2021 ATNX INVESTOR DEADLINE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Investors of the Deadline to File a Lead Plaintiff Motion in a Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against Athenex, Inc.

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Athenex, Inc. (“Athenex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ATNX) from August 7, 2019 through February 26, 2021 (the “Class Period”). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you purchased Athenex securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Athenex Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Joseph R. Seidman, Jr., toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose to investors: (i) the data included in the Oral Paclitaxel plus Encequidar NDA presented a safety risk to patients in terms of an increase in neutropenia-related sequalae; (ii) the uncertainty over the results of the primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) at week 19 conducted by BICR;  (iii) the BICR reconciliation and re-read process may have introduced unmeasured bias and influence on the BICR; (iv) that the Company’s Phase 3 study that was used to file the NDA was inadequate and not well-conducted in a patient population with metastatic breast cancer representative of the U.S population, such that the FDA would recommend a new such clinical trial; (v) as a result, it was foreseeable that the FDA would not approve the Company’s NDA in its current form; and (vi) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

Before the markets opened on March 1, 2021, Athenex issued a press release entitled “Athenex Receives FDA Complete Response Letter for Oral Paclitaxel Plus Encequidar for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer.” The release provided that “[i]n the CRL, the FDA indicated its concern of safety risk to patients in terms of an increase in neutropenia-related sequalae in the Oral Paclitaxel arm compared with the IV paclitaxel arm. The release also disclosed that the “[t]he [FDA] stated that the BICR reconciliation and re-read process may have introduced unmeasured bias and influence on the BICR.” Finally, the Company stated that the FDA “recommended that Athenex conduct a new adequate and well-conducted clinical trial in a patient population with metastatic breast cancer representative of the population of the U.S.”

On this news, the price of Athenex’s shares plummeted from their February 26, 2021 closing price of $12.10 per share to a March 1, 2021 close of just $5.46 each. This represents a one-day drop of approximately 55%, representing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost market capitalization.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 3, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased Athenex securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/athenexinc-atnx-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-stock-372/apply/ or Joseph R. Seidman, Jr., toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2021 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information

Joseph R. Seidman, Jr.,
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(877) 779-1414
[email protected]

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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP

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ZVerse Launches Breakthrough “2D to 3D” Automation-assisted Conversion For Service & Maintenance, Repair, And Overhaul (MRO) Part Production

Digital Manufacturing and Supply Chain Leader’s Automation-Assisted Conversion Generates Usable 3D Digital Assets from Legacy 2D Manufacturing Plans for Service and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Part Production Speed, Scale, Savings, and Sustainability

PR Newswire

COLUMBIA, S.C., May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Digital manufacturing solutions company ZVerse, Inc. has announced the launch of a landmark automation-assisted conversion that creates 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) assets from 2D technical drawing files. A lack of 3D digital files is one of the largest obstacles to digital manufacturing and on-demand Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) part production at scale.

For supply chain, advanced manufacturing, sustainability, and field service teams at OEM and industrial organizations seeking to increase deployed and fleet equipment uptime, this breakthrough assesses original 2D engineering files to generate a rapid 2D to 3D conversion project quote, then creates 3D manufacturing assets that can be stored in a digital library. Field and repair technicians can then quickly access files to request and manufacture a part from anywhere with a secure network connection.

ZVerse’s breakthrough 2D to 3D automation enables manufacturing engineers and industrial designers to speed the legacy file conversion process for MRO parts, resulting in project time and cost savings while delivering reliable geometric accuracy. ZVerse’s solution maximizes customer operations resources by eliminating the foundational step of re-drawing part geometries at current manufacturing software standards, resulting in an average 35-50% reduction in comparative project time.

“ZVerse has been doing this work for years, converting 2D files to 3D through our on-demand design services. We know the areas where you can drive automation and drive the biggest impact in workflow,” said ZVerse President David Craig. “We have also learned that the greatest time spent in the conversion process can be automated and we now have automated those steps. We are committed to driving even more types of automation in, and around, this critical business need.”

As the foundation of the company’s solutions for digital manufacturing, this service enables ZVerse customers to accelerate digital manufacturing and supply chain initiatives for reduced equipment downtime, lower inventory carrying, material, and production costs, and to directly address Right to Repair compliance, sustainability, and circular economy goals.

ZVerse and industry representatives will be addressing these topics and answering questions at an upcoming webinar on 06/01/21 titled, “Delivering on MRO: How Digital Manufacturing is Making Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul a Reality.”

Register for Webinar: http://bit.ly/MRO-event-registration
More About 2D to 3D & Download our Whitepaper: http://bit.ly/learn-more-2d-to-3d

About ZVerse
ZVerse helps teams solve 3D content creation and scale challenges in digital manufacturing and supply chain. For companies leveraging digital manufacturing for service and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) part production, ZVerse’s “2D to 3D” automation-assisted solution converts legacy 2D part drawings into usable 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) manufacturing assets. ZVerse solutions for digital manufacturing innovation help bring ideas to reality.
Learn more at zverse.com.

CONTACT: Laura Watford
803-995-8873 | [email protected]

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SOURCE ZVerse, Inc.

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AssetMark Institutional to Host RIA Summit Providing Deep Dive into RIA Business Models May 25-26

Two-day summit will feature guest speakers including Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and Nerd’s Eye View Publisher Michael Kitces

CONCORD, Calif., May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssetMark (NYSE: AMK) today announced the first AssetMark Institutional RIA Summit. The RIA Summit will bring together thought leaders from across the industry covering a range of topics that matter to RIAs at any stage, from launching an advisory firm to fine tuning an existing practice, to preparing for mergers and acquisitions. The Summit features insights from leaders in the investment space, including Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, and Nerd’s Eye View Publisher Michael Kitces.

The free, virtual, two-day event will take place on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26.

Insights from the RIA community will include:

  • Latest trends impacting the independent advisor and opportunities for growth;
  • Building professional relationships and leveraging technology to scale your business;
  • How investing in private markets has evolved;
  • Solutions to serve the needs of ultra-high-net-worth investors;
  • Issues facing your clients and how to work with them to achieve their financial goals.

“We are thrilled to host our first summit for the RIA community,” said AssetMark CEO Natalie Wolfsen. “We have designed this event to deliver content catered to meeting the specific needs of registered independent advisors, which will help them better prepare for industry shifts and the evolving needs of investors. Attendees will have the opportunity to expand their skills, engage with their peers, and explore ways to prepare their businesses for the future.”

For a complete agenda, and to register for the Summit, please visit: https://cvent.me/Xn07R1?rt=msLY8XDhN0ughK89n8qMXA&RefId=Media.

About AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc.

AssetMark is a leading provider of extensive wealth management and technology solutions that help financial advisors meet the ever-changing needs of their clients and businesses. Through AssetMark, Inc., its investment adviser subsidiary registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, AssetMark operates a platform that brings together fully integrated technology, personalized and scalable service, and curated investment solutions to support financial advisors and their businesses. For more than 20 years, AssetMark has focused on offering the solutions and services that help financial advisors grow. AssetMark had $74 billion in platform assets as of December 31, 2020. For more information visit assetmark.com.

Media Contact:

Oliver Hays
MSR Communications for AssetMark, Inc.
[email protected]

Source: AssetMark, Inc. / AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc.



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QuestionPro Survey Finds Majority of Consumers Will Use Apple’s “Do Not Track” Feature and Admire Apple for Offering it

AUSTIN, Texas, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to a national poll of 1,000 adults in the United States by online survey and research leader QuestionPro, consumers are very concerned about apps and companies that track and share their online activity. A large majority plan to use Apple’s new “Do Not Track” feature, admire Apple for offering it, and strongly believe other companies should follow Apple’s lead.

The newest release of Apple’s iOS 14.5 includes a new feature that makes it easy for users to prevent third party applications, websites and advertisers to track and share information about their online activity.

The survey found that consumers are overwhelmingly aware of (92 percent) and concerned about (40 percent moderately and 29 percent very concerned) such activity tracking and sharing by others.

More than two thirds of consumers (67.5 percent) expect to use Apple’s new feature to block third parties, advertisers and apps from tracking their online activity, while 70 percent believe that other companies should follow Apple’s lead.

Last, consumers are glad Apple is making this feature available, with nearly two out of three (65.86 percent) reporting that they appreciate and admire Apple for doing so.

“Clearly consumers appreciate having more control over who can track and share their online activities and will be taking steps to limit such tracking,” said Dan Fleetwood, President of Research & Insights at QuestionPro. “What’s more, their belief that others should follow Apple’s lead and their appreciation for Apple’s leadership on this should send a signal to app developers and advertisers everywhere.”

The survey of U.S. consumers was fielded April 29, 2021 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The survey was conducted using technology and multi-method behavioral fraud detection to verify respondents, including 80+ different security variables which accomplish the following: detection and rejection of suspicious IP addresses; digital fingerprinting; Captcha bot detection; event streaming and analysis, copy paste detection and translation of text detection. Mouse movements on desktops were also tracked.

About QuestionPro

Founded in 2006, QuestionPro is a global provider of online survey and research services that help companies make better decisions through data. From free consumer accounts to robust enterprise-level research, we offer tools for the creation, distribution, and analysis of surveys. We also offer platforms for polling, mobile research and data visualization. Fortune 100 companies rely on us to help unlock insights about customers, employees and the marketplace. With offices in the US, Mexico, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and India, we offer customers 24-7 access to highly trained support specialists and engineers. More information is available atwww.questionpro.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1bb894b-a8e1-4171-bd15-40343ae13d6a



Media Contact
John Williams, Scoville PR for QuestionPro
206.660.5503, [email protected]

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LPL Financial and Inc Advisors Welcome Kraner, LLC

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC (Nasdaq:LPLA) today announced that wealth management professionals at Kraner, LLC have joined LPL Financial, aligning with Independent Network of Consultants & Advisors (INC Advisors), an existing large enterprise serving LPL-affiliated advisors. The team reported having served more than $200 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets*, and joins LPL from Voya Financial Advisors.

CEO and President Vladislav (Vlad) Zherenovsky founded the firm in 2010, choosing his mother’s maiden name, Kraner, for his business. With its main office in Montvale, N.J., and employees throughout N.J. and Iowa, Zherenovsky is joined by Wealth Advisor Nicholas Choman, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), and four support staff members, including a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to help advisors with tax loss harvesting and tax prep.

Born in Latvia, Zherenovsky found an interest in financial services at a young age. “In 1991, when Latvia became an independent country, its citizens quickly had to learn how to evolve and create an economy and currency. As a teenager, I watched my parents figure out how to work with money in a new way. When we relocated to the United States and I saw the complexity of the U.S. financial system, I knew I wanted to learn everything I could about finances so I could protect my family and the people I care about.”

After gaining industry experience, he decided he wanted to focus on helping people plan for their futures as an independent financial advisor. Since launching his practice, Zherenovsky has purchased 11 books of business in 11 years, and has been awarded 2015 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager Awards. LPL’s M&A Solutions was a key differentiator to support his continuing growth goals.

Why Kraner chose LPL and INC Advisors

“We did our due diligence and considered 14 different firms when making this decision,” said Zherenovsky. “You can tell LPL is not only striving to be the best, but truly is the best place for advisors to support, grow and manage their businesses. The technology is integrated and intuitive, making for an easy learning process. In addition, the local support and quality of professionalism by the INC Advisors team and its two partners, Rick Capozzi and Rich Dragotta, has been off the charts, and the ease of the transition has truly validated my decision.”

“It is my pleasure to welcome Vlad and the Kraner team to our independent network of financial advisors,” said Rich Dragotta, founder of INC Advisors. “As the evolution of an advisor’s role continues, having choice and control, coupled with innovative technology and a robust wealth management platform, becomes the standard for successful advisors and firms like Kraner. INC Advisors is committed to leveraging our economies of scale and decades of experience to help Vlad and his team continue to develop and grow their firm with the support of LPL.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Vlad and his team to INC Advisors. We understand advisors have many options, and in a very noisy and competitive marketplace, successful advisors like Vlad value deep industry experience and a proven track record of accelerating their growth,” said Rick Capozzi, INC Advisors managing partner and author of “The Growth Mindset.” “With over three decades of experience working with advisors from around the world and as a former senior executive at leading wirehouses, I’m passionate about helping advisors achieve greater success. I look forward to personally working with the Kraner team for many years to come.”

Scott Posner, LPL executive vice president, Business Development, said, “We welcome Vlad and the rest of the Kraner team to the LPL family, and congratulate INC Advisors on adding a high caliber group to its network. We recognize the work that Vlad has accomplished to build his practice and look forward to supporting him with M&A Solutions, tools and resources to help him continue his growth trajectory.”

Read about other firms that recently joined LPL in the LPL Financial News and Media section of LPL.com.

Advisors, find an LPL business development representative near you.


About LPL Financial


LPL Financial (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that the firm should work for the advisor, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader** in the markets we serve, supporting more than 17,000 financial advisors, 800 institution-based investment programs and 450 independent RIA firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-centered model and the belief that Americans deserve access to objective guidance from a financial advisor. At LPL, independence means that advisors have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services, and technology resources that allow them to run their perfect practice. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors, so they can take care of their clients.

** Top RIA custodian (Cerulli Associates, 2019 U.S. RIA Marketplace Report); No. 1 Independent Broker-Dealer in the U.S (Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2020); No. 1 provider of third-party brokerage services to banks and credit unions (2019-2020 Kehrer Bielan Research & Consulting Annual TPM Report)

*Based on prior business and represents assets that would have been custodied at LPL Financial, rather than third-party custodians. Reported assets and client numbers have not been independently and fully verified by LPL Financial.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC, an SEC- registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. 

Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial LLC. We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

The 5 Star Wealth Manager Award is based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2015-2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.

Kraner LLC, INC Advisors and LPL Financial are separate entities.

Connect with Us!

https://twitter.com/lpl

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lpl-financial

https://www.facebook.com/LPLFinancialLLC

https://www.youtube.com/user/lplfinancialllc


Media Contact:


Lauren Hoyt-Williams
(980) 321-1232
[email protected]



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Tidewater to Nominate Robert E. Robotti to Board of Directors

Tidewater to Nominate Robert E. Robotti to Board of Directors

  • Enters into Cooperation Agreement with the Robotti Group

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Tidewater Inc. (NYSE: TDW) (“Tidewater” or the “Company”), a leading owner and operator of offshore support vessels providing offshore energy transportation services worldwide, today announced that it has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Robert E. Robotti and his affiliated and controlled entities (the “Robotti Group”). Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company has agreed to nominate Mr. Robotti to its Board of Directors (the “Board”) for election at the 2021 Annual Meeting, and the Robotti Group has agreed to vote in favor of the Company’s nominees and proposals at the 2021 Annual Meeting, as well as to abide by certain customary standstill provisions. With the addition of Mr. Robotti, the Tidewater Board of Directors will increase from seven to eight directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Bob to the Tidewater Board of Directors,” said Quintin Kneen, President, CEO and director of Tidewater. “Our Company has been positively transformed over the past couple of years with strong new leadership at both the board and management levels, streamlined cost structure, improved operational efficiency and a strengthened balance sheet – which all position Tidewater well to address both the ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities in the OSV industry. We look forward to the contributions Bob can make to our future success and value creation.”

Mr. Robotti stated, “I have been a large and long-term investor in Tidewater because I believe in the potential of the Company, its assets and its current leadership team. I would like to thank the Board for its constructive approach to our discussions, and I am excited about the future for Tidewater and bringing value to its shareholders.”

The Robotti Group will not be submitting a Proxy Card for tabulation at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and will be voting for the Company’s full slate of nominees.

The complete agreement will be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K.

About Robert E. Robotti

Mr. Robotti has been the president of Robotti & Company Advisors, LLC (a registered investment advisor) and Robotti Securities, LLC, formerly known as Robotti & Company, LLC (a registered broker-dealer), and their predecessors, since 1983. Robotti & Company Advisors’ investment approach is guided by the classic tenets of value investing. Robotti & Company Advisors believes that the market price of a security does not necessarily indicate its true economic value. Robotti & Company Advisors’ analysts identify and research companies with solid balance sheets, the ability to generate significant amounts of free cash flow and yet are misunderstood, neglected or just out-of-favor with Wall Street. Robotti & Company Advisors has followed this investment philosophy since its inception over 35 years ago in order to meet its goal of providing risk adjusted returns greater than the general market. Robotti & Company Advisors LLC frequently is a constructive and actively engaged owner with many of its portfolio companies.

Mr. Robotti has been the Managing Director (and previously, managing member) of Ravenswood Management Company, LLC (and its predecessor) since 1980, which serves as the general partner of The Ravenswood Investment Company, L.P. and Ravenswood Investments III, L.P. Mr. Robotti served as a portfolio manager of Robotti Global Fund, LLC, a global equity fund, from 2007 to March 2015. He currently serves as a director and Chairman of the Board of Pulse Seismic Inc. (PSD-TSX), a seismic data licensing business, and has held these positions for more than the past five years. Mr. Robotti has served as a director on the board of directors of AMREP Corporation (AXR-NYSE) since September 2016 and on the Board of PrairieSky (PSK-TSX) since October 2019. Mr. Robotti was a director of PHX Minerals Inc. (PHX-NYSE), formerly known as Panhandle Oil & Gas Inc. and Panhandle Royalty Company, from 2004 to May 2020 and was a director of BMC Building Materials Holding Corporation from 2012 to December 2015. Mr. Robotti was a member of the SEC’s Advisory Committee of Smaller Public Companies from 2005 to 2006 and served on its corporate governance subcommittee. He has an MBA in Accounting and was a certified public accountant earlier in his career, which license is currently inactive.

About Tidewater

Tidewater owns and operates the largest fleets of offshore support vessels in the industry, with over 65 years of experience supporting offshore energy exploration and production activities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.tdw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Tidewater notes that certain statements set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements which reflect our current view with respect to future events and future financial performance. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, and our future results of operations could differ materially from our historical results or current expectations reflected by such forward-looking statements. Investors should carefully consider the risk factors described in detail in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, most recent Form 10-Q, and in similar sections of other filings made by the Company with the SEC from time to time. The Company’s filings can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except to the extent required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Forward-looking statements and written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or its representatives after the date of this release are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this paragraph and in other reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

Important Additional Information

Tidewater Inc., its directors, nominees and certain of its executive officers are deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Tidewater’s stockholders in connection with the matters to be considered at Tidewater’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information regarding the names of Tidewater’s current directors and executive officers and their respective interests in Tidewater by security holdings or otherwise can be found in Tidewater’s proxy statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on June 18, 2020, and in other filings with the SEC. Information regarding Robert E. Robotti and his interests in Tidewater by security holdings or otherwise can be found in the amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on March 12, 2021. To the extent our current directors’ and executive officers’ holdings of Tidewater’s securities have changed since the amounts set forth in Tidewater’s proxy statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. These documents will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Tidewater intends to file a proxy statement and accompanying BLUEproxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Tidewater stockholders in connection with the matters to be considered at Tidewater’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Additional information regarding the identity of participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in Tidewater’s proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting, including the schedules and appendices thereto. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ ANY SUCH PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING BLUE PROXY CARD AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY TIDEWATER WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Stockholders will be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement, the accompanying BLUEproxy card, and other documents filed by Tidewater with the SEC for no charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge at the Investor Relations section of Tidewater’s corporate website at www.tdw.com or by contacting Tidewater’s Corporate Secretary at Tidewater, Inc., 6002 Rogerdale Road, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77072, or by calling Tidewater’s Corporate Secretary at (713) 470-5310.

For Tidewater:

Investors:

Jason Stanley

Vice President ESG & Investor Relations

+1.713.470.5292

[email protected]

Media:

Sloane & Company

Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani

[email protected] / [email protected]

For Robotti & Company:

Profile

Greg Marose / Bela Kirpalani

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Maritime Automotive Transport Oil/Gas Energy Fleet Management

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Superior Drilling Products to Report First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Host Conference Call on May 12

Superior Drilling Products to Report First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Host Conference Call on May 12

VERNAL, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Superior Drilling Products, Inc. (NYSE American: SDPI) (“SDP” or “Company”), an innovator and manufacturer of drilling tool technologies, today announced that it will release its first quarter 2021 financial results before the opening of financial markets on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast that day to review the financial and operating results for the quarter and discuss its corporate strategy and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

First Quarter 2021 Conference Call

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

10:00 a.m. Mountain Time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Phone: (201) 689-8470

Internet Webcast and accompanying slide presentation: www.sdpi.com

A telephonic replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. MT (3:00 p.m. ET) the day of the teleconference until Wednesday, May 19, 2021. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13718357, or access the webcast replay via the Company’s website at www.sdpi.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Superior Drilling Products, Inc.

Superior Drilling Products, Inc. is an innovative, cutting-edge drilling tool technology company providing cost saving solutions that drive production efficiencies for the oil and natural gas drilling industry. The Company designs, manufactures, repairs and sells drilling tools. SDP drilling solutions include the patented Drill-N-Ream® well bore conditioning tool and the patented Strider™ oscillation system technology. In addition, SDP is a manufacturer and refurbisher of PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) drill bits for a leading oil field service company. SDP operates a state-of-the-art drill tool fabrication facility, where it manufactures its solutions for the drilling industry, as well as customers’ custom products. The Company’s strategy for growth is to leverage its expertise in drill tool technology and innovative, precision machining in order to broaden its product offerings and solutions for the oil and gas industry.

Additional information about the Company can be found at: www.sdpi.com.

For more information, contact investor relations:

Deborah K. Pawlowski

Kei Advisors LLC

(716) 843-3908

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Utah

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Energy Oil/Gas Natural Resources Other Manufacturing Energy Other Natural Resources Mining/Minerals Manufacturing

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Citi Commercial Cards Collaborates with Corporate Spending Innovations in Global Payments Alliance

Citi Commercial Cards Collaborates with Corporate Spending Innovations in Global Payments Alliance

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Citi Commercial Cards and Corporate Spending Innovations, an Edenred company, have announced a collaboration to offer frictionless and innovative B2B payment solutions to Citi’s clients. The integration brings together Corporate Spending Innovations unique digital payment capabilities and Citi Commercial Card’s global network to jointly deliver fully integrated end-to-end payment solutions to customers.

With this collaboration, Citi Commercial Card clients, whether leveraging a Visa or Mastercard solution, will have the ability to integrate their virtual cards into Corporate Spending Innovations’ platform. For clients, this is especially beneficial for making supplier payments as the platform is connected to a large number of suppliers, including eCommerce and large digital advertising platforms. This new solution will allow clients to pay approved invoices via a Citi virtual card in addition to ACH or check payments. The platform will serve as both the centralized tool for payment initiation and reconciliation, providing clients with enhanced reporting and reconciliation data, together with greater visibility into their card spend.

By using this platform and moving spend to their card programs, clients will increase the overall value of payments processed and will benefit by improving working capital with increased rebates from suppliers. Suppliers will also benefit by receiving fast and secure payments, which are increasingly important in an environment where suppliers’ cash flows have been disrupted by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A core element of our strategy is providing our customers with innovative and efficient global payment options,” said Gonca Latif-Schmitt, Global Head of Citi’s Commercial Cards. “This integration with Corporate Spending Innovations will provide new ways for our clients to make streamlined payments to eCommerce suppliers, especially in the digital media and advertising space, leveraging Corporate Spending Innovations’ critical mass with supplier access via Citi’s global network.”

“CSI is excited about partnering with Citi to redefine B2B payments solutions delivered to their commercial card customers as part of our expansion in Corporate Payments,” said Marc Divay, General Manager, Corporate Payments, at Edenred.

The integration will launch in the United States first, with Canada and select European markets to follow. It will include access to suppliers across multiple verticals including digital media and advertising, eCommerce and telecommunications, which require complex solutions for managing payment reconciliation.

Citi’s Commercial Cards business provides Travel, Purchase and Virtual cards solutions to institutional clients, including corporations, financial institutions, and public sector entities. It has been recognized as a global market leader with the largest proprietary network in the industry, with local issuance in over 60 countries, 45 unique currencies and 30 languages. As a leading global commercial card issuer, Citi has one of the largest global footprints supported by unrivaled card acceptance.

Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS) enables its clients’ success by providing an integrated suite of innovative and tailored cash management and trade finance services to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations across the globe. Based on the foundation of the industry’s largest proprietary network with banking licenses in over 90 countries and globally integrated technology platforms, TTS continues to lead the way in offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of digitally enabled treasury, trade, and liquidity management solutions.

About Citi: Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi |

Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About Corporate Spending Innovations: Corporate Spending Innovations provides innovative payment solutions to world-leading brands with their highly secure corporate payment solutions that include CSI Paysystems, CSI Travel, and global-fleet fuel cards. Corporate Spending Innovations’ customers can automate 100% of B2B payables including virtual credit card, proprietary network, ACH, check, or foreign exchange with cross-border payments settled in local currency. The company is a certified Mastercard processor and has obtained Visa Ready for Business Solutions approval. Corporate Spending Innovations is part of Edenred, a leading digital platform for services and payments and the everyday companion for people at work. For more information visit www.corporatespending.com.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/csi-corporate-spending-innovations/

Media:

Citi: Nina Das [email protected]

CSI Mary Brandon 239-221-3307 [email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Finance Marketing Advertising Banking Communications Professional Services Logistics/Supply Chain Management Transport

MEDIA:

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Liberty Latin America Appoints Rocío Lorenzo as Chief Customer Officer

Liberty Latin America Appoints Rocío Lorenzo as Chief Customer Officer

DENVER, Colorado–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Liberty Latin America Ltd. (“Liberty Latin America” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LILA and LILAK, OTC Link: LILAB) announced today that Rocío Lorenzo will join the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, starting in August. Ms. Lorenzo was most recently a Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where she led the firm’s Telecommunications practice. Before joining BCG, Rocío worked for Siemens AG as a consultant. And in 2015, Rocío was named as a Top 25 female business leader by Handelsblatt, HuffPost, and Edition F.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210503005423/en/

Rocío Lorenzo, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Liberty Latin America (Photo: Business Wire)

Rocío Lorenzo, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Liberty Latin America (Photo: Business Wire)

Balan Nair, CEO of Liberty Latin America, said, “I am so happy to have Rocío join our team.With her significant experience working in telecommunications and media, advising large companies on strategy development, and creating growth programs in marketing and sales, she will undoubtedly help us improve our customer experience and enhance the value we provide.Rocío shares our ambitions and commitment to growth, innovation, and operational excellence. And equally important, she fits our culture.”

Ms. Lorenzo will relocate to Liberty Latin America’s Operations Center in Panama where she will lead the company’s customer experience teams, including: Digital, Customer Care, and Commercial Programming.

Rocío Lorenzo commented, “I am excited to join Liberty Latin America. It’s a great company with a strong culture, and there is a huge opportunity in the region to differentiate ourselves on the connectivity, access, and service we provide to our customers. I look forward to working with Balan and the entire team on this journey.”

ABOUT LIBERTY LATIN AMERICA

Liberty Latin America is a leading communications company operating in over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean under the consumer brands VTR, Flow, Liberty, Más Móvil, BTC, UTS and Cabletica. The communications and entertainment services that we offer to our residential and business customers in the region include digital video, broadband internet, telephony and mobile services. Our business products and services include enterprise-grade connectivity, data center, hosting and managed solutions, as well as information technology solutions with customers ranging from small and medium enterprises to international companies and governmental agencies. In addition, Liberty Latin America operates a sub-sea and terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects over 40 markets in the region.

Liberty Latin America has three separate classes of common shares, which are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “LILA” (Class A) and “LILAK” (Class C), and on the OTC link under the symbol “LILAB” (Class B).

For more information, please visit www.lla.com.

Investor Relations:

Kunal Patel, [email protected]

Media Relations:

Claudia Restrepo, [email protected]

KEYWORDS: Colorado United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Mobile/Wireless Technology Other Communications Entertainment Communications Telecommunications Audio/Video Networks General Entertainment TV and Radio

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Rocío Lorenzo, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Liberty Latin America (Photo: Business Wire)