Fisker and Magna Enter Into Definitive Agreements

Fisker and Magna Enter Into Definitive Agreements

  • Fisker and Magna sign the definitive platform agreement and initial manufacturing agreement, just two months on from the original framework agreements
  • Fisker and Magna achieved Preliminary Product Specification (PPS) engineering gateway on schedule in November 2020

 

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker) – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions – today announced it has entered into definitive “operational phase” platform-sharing and initial manufacturing agreements with Magna International Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Magna”), which clarify and finalize key aspects of the framework agreement previously announced on Oct. 15, 2020.

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Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker) – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions – today announced it has entered into definitive “operational phase” platform-sharing and initial manufacturing agreements with Magna International Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Magna”), which clarify and finalize key aspects of the framework agreement previously announced on Oct. 15, 2020. The Fisker Ocean will initially be manufactured exclusively by Magna in Europe, where it currently produces several high-quality vehicles on behalf of global brands. Interest in the Ocean continues to build at an encouraging pace, with global paid reservations now standing at more than 10,400 as of today. Fisker plans to unveil a production-intent prototype of the Ocean in the summer of 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker) – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions – today announced it has entered into definitive “operational phase” platform-sharing and initial manufacturing agreements with Magna International Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Magna”), which clarify and finalize key aspects of the framework agreement previously announced on Oct. 15, 2020. The Fisker Ocean will initially be manufactured exclusively by Magna in Europe, where it currently produces several high-quality vehicles on behalf of global brands. Interest in the Ocean continues to build at an encouraging pace, with global paid reservations now standing at more than 10,400 as of today. Fisker plans to unveil a production-intent prototype of the Ocean in the summer of 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

“I’m very pleased to have closed this definitive agreement, as planned, following the signing of the original framework deal,” commented Fisker Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Henrik Fisker. “With the recent completion of the PPS gateway, the Fisker and Magna teams are working literally around the clock to ensure we can keep our rapid development program on track towards the delivery of the all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV, projected to commence in Q4 2022.”

The Fisker Ocean will initially be manufactured exclusively by Magna in Europe, where it currently produces several high-quality vehicles on behalf of global brands. Interest in the Ocean continues to build at an encouraging pace, with global paid reservations now standing at more than 10,400 as of today. Fisker plans to unveil a production-intent prototype of the Ocean in the summer of 2021.

“Our teams are fully engaged to enable the projected start of production in Q4 2022 and are working through a common set of program milestones,” said Frank Klein, President of Magna Steyr. “Our complete vehicle development approach is ideally suited to the Ocean program and its rapid development path to market.”

The Fisker Ocean SUV will use a modified version of a Magna-developed EV platform. According to Fisker, “Taking Magna’s EV platform as the starting point, Fisker engineers are further developing FM29, and in the process, creating new IP that is unique to Fisker. To suit our requirements for the Ocean and other vehicles, we are redesigning the front-end structure and both lengthening and widening the platform. FM29 provides us the flexibility to accommodate a large battery, increase occupant space and enable the signature Fisker wide vehicle stance, while delivering purchasing cost efficiencies to bring the Ocean to market at a starting price below $40,000. Available on the range-topping Ocean Extreme model, the large battery format enabled by FM29 is also projected to support an Ultra Long Range (ULR) option with a potential range of more than 350 miles.”

“Complementing the FM29 platform will be an EE architecture that includes features not previously seen in automotive applications – developed in-house by Fisker,” continued Mr. Fisker. “Our powertrain team is working to optimize the drive unit in deep collaboration with our cell provider to deliver the expected class-leading output we are projecting for the battery pack. Further, as a digital car company we are creating smarter methodologies in digital and master data management (MDM) that enable smart platform sharing across different vehicle models. This helps us to deliver a seamless customer experience, as well as expedite the globalization of our supply chain and manufacturing.”

For more information, or for interview inquiries, contact [email protected].

About Fisker Inc.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to become the No. 1 e-mobility service provider with the world’s most sustainable vehicles. To learn more, visit www.FiskerInc.com – and enjoy exclusive content across Fisker’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play store.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “feel,” “believes,” expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “is to be,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: Fisker’s limited operating history; Fisker’s ability to enter into additional manufacturing and other contracts with Magna, or other OEMs or tier-one suppliers in order to execute on its business plan; Fisker’s ability to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services; Fisker’s inability to retain key personnel and to hire additional personnel; competition in the electric vehicle market; Fisker’s inability to develop a sales distribution network; and the ability to protect its intellectual property rights; and those factors discussed in Fisker’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2020 under the heading “Risk Factors” and other reports and documents Fisker files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Fisker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Fisker Inc.

Simon Sproule, SVP, Communications

310.374.6177 | [email protected]

Dan Galves, VP, Investor Relations

[email protected]

[email protected]

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Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker) – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions – today announced it has entered into definitive “operational phase” platform-sharing and initial manufacturing agreements with Magna International Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “Magna”), which clarify and finalize key aspects of the framework agreement previously announced on Oct. 15, 2020. The Fisker Ocean will initially be manufactured exclusively by Magna in Europe, where it currently produces several high-quality vehicles on behalf of global brands. Interest in the Ocean continues to build at an encouraging pace, with global paid reservations now standing at more than 10,400 as of today. Fisker plans to unveil a production-intent prototype of the Ocean in the summer of 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

Haitong International First Announces Net Zero Carbon Emissions Target among all HK Financial Institutions

PR Newswire

HONG KONG, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Haitong International Securities Group Limited (“Haitong International”, Stock Code: 665.HK) recently published its first Haitong International ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Statement, pledging to achieve Carbon Neutrality by the end of 2025 with ESG practices implemented to promote Energy Conservation and Sustainable Finance. This is the first publicized commitment for Carbon Neutrality in Hong Kong financial circle, 25 years ahead of the city’s target.

Dr. Lin Yong, JP, Deputy Chairman and CEO of Haitong International, said: “Haitong International is committed to providing comprehensive professional financial services for its clients around the world, and at the same time strives to implement ESG principles across all areas of its operations. In the future, Haitong International will continue to create positive environmental and social values through each of its businesses and decisions. Capitalizing on our unique capital intermediary role in investment, financing, consultancy, research and brokerage, Haitong International is capable of bringing ‘Impact Investment’ into play and strives to become a world’s leading investment bank with a clear focus on sustainable finance, contributing to Hong Kong’s position as a global ESG investment hub in Asia.”

According to the Statement, Haitong International will gradually cut down on its carbon emissions through reducing energy consumption and utilizing renewable energy. Carbon credits will be purchased to offset any remaining carbon emissions to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions, i.e. Carbon Neutrality by the end of 2025.

Haitong International will also advocate the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” concept throughout the Group, and aims to power its operations with 100% renewable energy and reduce its annual paper consumption and waste generation per capita by at least 30% by the end of 2025 (compared to the end of 2020). The Group encourages replacing high carbon-emitting business activities such as business trips and bulk printing with alternatives. The Group will keep track of its greenhouse gas emission metrics in line with the ISO 14064 standard and disclose the data in its annual ESG report.

In support of Sustainable Finance, Haitong International aims to deploy or provide USD20 billion in ESG and sustainable financing and investment by the end of 2025. To achieve this, Haitong International will establish a firm-wide incentive system to encourage its staff to devote efforts towards green financing and sustainable businesses such as green bonds and ESG-themed products.

Haitong International will also include ESG risk assessment in its investment decision-making process, and gradually turn away from heavily polluting and energy-wasting corporate financing and investment activities. It will proactively support the development of renewable and clean energy, environmental protection and green industries.

In addition, Haitong International has set up the ESG Committee and ESG Executive Office under the Group’s Executive Committee, responsible for managing the Group’s ESG initiatives and directing the implementation of the above ESG strategies throughout the Group’s global operations.

In October 2020, Haitong International launched the Haitong MSCI China A ESG ETF (Ticker: 3031.HK), which is currently the only ETF in Hong Kong offering broad ESG investment exposure on China A-shares. As of 1 December 2020, Haitong International has underwritten 13 green bond issuances, amounting to a total of more than USD3.2 billion. In the ECM space, Haitong International has participated in green projects including China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle’s equity placement and the IPO of Beijing Enterprises Urban Resources in Hong Kong this year.

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SOURCE Haitong International

Over half of Canadians say they have not set goals for 2021

Canada NewsWire

‘Let’s get you there.’ – Sun Life empowers Canadians to achieve financial, physical and mental health goals

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2020 /CNW/ – ‘New Year. New me’ – Is a popular saying Canadians use when they think about changing behaviours and setting goals to start the New Year. This year has tested Canadians’ physical, mental and financial health in many ways. As we welcome 2021, are Canadians making resolutions for the year ahead? A recent Sun Life survey tells us Canadians are not goal setting with 57 per cent having set zero goals for 2021.

Physical distancing from loved ones, working from home and finding new ways to stay active, the list goes on. Canadians have had to re-invent their routines and traditions repeatedly. Of the 43 per cent who have set goals for 2021, only 26 per cent have set financial goals, 25 per cent have set physical health goals and 23 per cent have set mental health goals.

“We are living and working through the most significant health crisis of our lifetime,” said Rowena Chan, President, Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. and SVP, Distribution. “This year has tested our physical, mental and financial limits – setting new goals could feel overwhelming for many Canadians. A great first step to feeling at ease about physical, mental and financial health is creating a plan and leaning on experts. Sun Life’s network of advisors can help Canadians navigate these uncertain times and create achievable goals for the year ahead,” Ms. Chan added.

Let’s get you there. Holistic solutions to help realize your goals
Since the pandemic began, younger Canadians have demonstrated the greatest financial and mental health concerns. Fifty per cent of those aged 18-34 report feeling less financially secure and 68 per cent report their mental health being negatively affected.

When it comes to goal setting for the New Year, those aged 18-34 are most likely to have set at least one financial goal (38%) compared to 26 per cent of those aged 35-54 and 16 per cent of those 55 years and older. Younger Canadians are also most likely to set physical and mental health goals at 36 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively.

Acknowledging the value of advice, a growing number of those aged 18-34, are seeking support through an advisor (18%), up from 6 per cent in July. Whether Canadians are interested in protecting themselves and loved ones through insurance, needing to connect with a health care practitioner or trying to build up savings, a Sun Life advisor can offer health, wealth and protection advice – and help turn that advice into action at any age.

“Sitting down with an advisor and discussing goals is the first step in achieving lifetime financial security and living a healthier life,” said Angie MacLean, Sun Life advisor. “My role as an advisor is so much more than just financial planning; I take a holistic approach to understand my Clients’ needs and what is most important to them. Whether Canadians’ goals are big or small, an advisor can set Clients on the right track to achieving them and help turn dreams into reality.”

In 2020, Sun Life launched the Advice for Life video series highlighting the value of advice an advisor can bring to Clients. Sun Life’s national brand campaign ‘Let’s get you there.’ focuses on helping empower Canadians to achieve their financial, physical and mental health goals. 

About the survey
The survey is based on findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 12-15, 2020. A sample of 1,000 Canadians was drawn from the Ipsos I-Say online panel aged 18 and older. The data for Canadians surveyed was weighted to ensure the sample’s regional, age, and gender composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5% at 95% confidence level had all Canadian adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to methodological change, coverage error and measurement error.

About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2020, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,186 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars

Media Relations Contact:                                        
Alessandra Nigro
Director, Corporate Communications
T. 416-979-4884
[email protected] 

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.

Hitachi Vantara and Rainforest Connection Analyze Tree Top Eco-Acoustic Data to Predict and Prevent Illegal Logging

New Predictive Analytics Capabilities Will Provide Forest Rangers With Up to Five Days Advance Warning of Illegal Logging to Help Protect Trees and Animals

PR Newswire

SANTA CLARA and SAN FRANCISCO Calif., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hitachi Vantara, the digital infrastructure and solutions subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), and Rainforest Connection, the non-profit that uses real-time data to enable partners to stop deforestation and poaching, have developed a unique solution that uses eco-acoustic data to predict illegal logging in the world’s rainforests.

Every two seconds[1], an area of rainforest the size of a football field is destroyed, causing the extinction of hundreds of animal and plant species every year, contributing to droughts, and threatening indigenous reserves across multiple continents. Deforestation accounts for 10%[2] of all worldwide carbon emissions, making it a massive contributor to global warming, with up to 90%[3] of deforestation attributed to illegal logging.

Rainforest Connection builds devices called ‘Guardians’ that are installed high in the rainforest canopy to collect acoustic data from the rainforest. The company detects chainsaw events in real-time and sends rangers an audio file to review, verify and reference to arrange to go on site. This entire process can take up to 14 days and in some cases trees are lost by the time rangers arrive.

Hitachi Vantara has created a new solution to help predict illegal rainforest activity and shorten rangers’ time to site. Using the company’s Lumada data analytics technology, Hitachi Vantara built algorithms that create a baseline of rainforest sounds. This bio-acoustic signature then simplifies and accelerates the process of identifying acoustic anomalies. For example, before starting a chainsaw, loggers will typically scout appropriate locations in advance. Their presence causes a change in species’ acoustic signatures and signals a disruption to the environment. Hitachi Vantara’s solution detects these advance warnings and alerts rangers in real-time. Rangers use this technology get up to five days lead time to arrive on site. This head start gives rangers valuable time to pre-position themselves and prevent even more deforestation than they can today.

With both companies sharing common ideals of social responsibility to the environment, Hitachi Vantara and Rainforest Connection established a partnership in 2019. At Hitachi’s conference, NEXT 2019, Hitachi Vantara announced the partnership and donated $250,000 in cash and in-kind services to Rainforest Connection to support its mission. Hitachi Vantara and Rainforest Connection have since worked together to co-create and design the bio-acoustic solution. The solution is now live in Sumatra, where over 70% of all deforestation is illegal[4]. The solution is scheduled to rollout to the entire network of Rainforest Connection guardians, located in over 11 countries, in 2021.

“The projects with Hitachi Vantara are game-changing for Rainforest Connection,” said Topher White, CEO, Rainforest Connection. “We’ll be able to scale up our operations and provide rangers with greater certainty around when logging events are likely to happen.”

“The rainforest of Sumatra and Silicon Valley may be separated by thousands of miles, but data is the bridge between us, and has to be the foundation for solving some of our planet’s biggest challenges,” said Gajen Kandiah, Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi Vantara. “At Hitachi, we believe in the power of data to benefit both business and society. We are immensely proud to partner with Rainforest Connection to make a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change.”

1
https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/effects-of/deforestation 
2 https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/relationship-between-deforestation-climate-change 
3 https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/forests_practice/deforestation_causes2/illegal_logging/?
4
 https://archive.is/20130414200511/http://www.foei.org/en/resources/publications/miscellaneous/clashes/indonesiatrees.html 

Resources

Connect with Hitachi Vantara

About Rainforest Connection
Rainforest Connection (RFCx) has created the world’s first scalable, real-time monitoring system for protecting and studying remote ecosystems. Unlike visual based tracking systems (such as drones or satellites), the RFCx approach relies on acoustic sensors (RFCx Guardians) that will monitor the ecosystem soundscape at selected locations 365 days a year. With over six years of experience operating in rainforests around the world, RFCx technology acts as a force multiplier which does much of the monitoring and analysis work for a fraction of the cost. RFCx technology is advancing through a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring program that allows the local partners to measure progress of wildlife restoration and recovery through principles of adaptive management. The audio recordings being collected from online RFCx Guardiandetect and analyze everything from illegal activities to primates, birds, frogs, insects, bats, and countless other groups of organisms. Acoustic data is extremely rich in information about the makeup of an ecosystem. The RFCx monitoring platform has the capacity to create CNN models for analysis.

About Hitachi Vantara
Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., guides our customers from what’s now to what’s next by solving their digital challenges. Working alongside each customer, we apply our unmatched industrial and digital capabilities to their data and applications to benefit both business and society. More than 80% of the Fortune 100 trust Hitachi Vantara to help them develop new revenue streams, unlock competitive advantages, lower costs, enhance customer experiences, and deliver social and environmental value. Visit us at www.hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is focused on its Social Innovation Business that combines information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and products. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2019 (ended March 31, 2020) totaled 8,767.2 billion yen ($80.4 billion), and it employed approximately 301,000 people worldwide. Hitachi drives digital innovation across five sectors – Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT – through Lumada, Hitachi’s advanced digital solutions, services, and technologies for turning data into insights to drive digital innovation. Its purpose is to deliver solutions that increase social, environmental and economic value for its customers. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Hitachi Vantara Corporation

Choice Hotels Makes It Easier Than Ever For Loyalty Members To Achieve Elite Status For More Rewarding Travel In 2021

New Requirements Allow Choice Privileges Members to Earn Benefits Faster

PR Newswire

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is making life a little more rewarding on the road next year for members of its award-winning loyalty program, Choice Privileges. Building upon valued program features, elite status qualifications are being reduced so guests can get the most value out of their travel in 2021. These new changes allow guests to receive benefits faster, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to its loyalty members amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We cannot thank our more than 47 million loyalty members enough for continuing to choose to stay with us during these challenging times — ranging from essential and frontline workers to families on road trips. Further, they have been unbelievably generous throughout the pandemic by donating over 50 million points to charitable causes we support, including Serta Inc.’s “Stay Home, Send Beds” initiative, the International Franchise Association’s “Franchising Gives Back” program, and organizations such as Operation Homefront and the American Red Cross,” said Jamie Russo, vice president, loyalty programs and customer engagement, Choice Hotels. “These new reduced requirements are meant to make it easier for loyalty members to achieve and maintain elite status. That way, they can take advantage of all the benefits we offer while having peace of mind knowing they are free to travel when ready. We look forward to finding new ways to recognize guests for their incredible loyalty in 2021, so they know how much we and our small-business hotel owners appreciate them.”

Following program updates from earlier this year, Choice is continuing to help loyalty members earn rewards faster through:

– 2021 Elite Status Requirements: Reducing the number of nights members are required to stay in 2021 to qualify for elite status in 2022. They can now achieve:

  • Gold status after staying seven nights, as opposed to 10 nights.
  • Platinum status after staying 15 nights, as opposed to 20 nights.
  • Diamond status after staying 25 nights, as opposed to 40 nights.

– Extensions for Gold, and Platinum and Diamond Members: As previously announced, all Elite Choice Privileges members will maintain their current Elite status through December 31, 2021, regardless of travel activity in 2020.

  • Members who have stayed at least five nights between June 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will maintain their upgraded Elite status through Dec. 31, 2021.

Choice continues to offer its Status Match program, which allows its loyalty members to match their elite status from another major hotel rewards program to the Choice Privileges program. With nearly 100% of Choice’s domestic hotels continuing to operate, Status Match provides travelers with an added opportunity to make their most of their stay. Choice Privileges members can redeem their points in various ways, including for gift cards on everyday essentials like groceries, as well as donating points toward charitable causes and organizations.

Named a top hotel loyalty program by both USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards and U.S. News & World Report, Choice Privileges membership is free, offering fast rewards, including bonus points, airline miles, or credits for premium coffee and shared rides through the exclusive, one-of-a kind, Your Extras program. For more information or to enroll in Choice Privileges, visit www.choicehotels.com/choice-privileges.

Choice Hotels’ Commitment to Clean initiative and flexible cancellation policies are designed to help give guests added peace of mind when booking a Choice-branded hotel. All Choice-branded hotels are participating in Commitment to Clean, an initiative that builds upon the strong foundation of franchisees’ long-standing dedication to cleanliness with enhanced training and best practices for deep cleaning, disinfecting and social distancing.


About Choice Hotels

®




Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 7,100 hotels, representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in over 40 countries and territories as of September 30, 2020, the Choice® family of hotel brands provide business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.  

© 2020 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

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SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Google Cloud Furthers Digital Transformation of Tapestry’s Three Iconic Brands

Global house of modern luxury lifestyle brands chooses Google Cloud to migrate its SAP® software environment to the cloud and help fuel the company’s growth

PR Newswire

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Google Cloud today announced a multi-year agreement with Tapestry, the parent company of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, to migrate its SAP S/4HANA® environment to the cloud, modernizing its IT infrastructure and increasing overall operational efficiency. This partnership is a critical step to Tapestry’s broader acceleration program and furthers the company’s goal to drive growth and enhance profitability across its portfolio.

While Tapestry’s three brands operate and maintain a unique brand identity and culture, the company serves as an enabling platform that enhances opportunities for each of the three brands, working to gain benefits and efficiencies across each where appropriate. With support from Google Cloud Partner Lumen, Google Cloud and Tapestry collaborated to migrate Tapestry’s SAP® software environment onto Google Cloud. Accomplishing this during a global pandemic meant adapting to rapidly shifting work environments, but the team completed the task in just three-and-a-half months, ensuring the organization was up-and-running ahead of the holiday shopping season.

“Google Cloud has been a great partner, providing the power and elasticity for SAP S/4 HANA that our organization needed in order to achieve our goals of leveraging data and leading with a digital-first mindset,” said Ashish Parmar, Chief Information Officer at Tapestry. “Google Cloud has been an accelerator for our new digital capabilities, and our migration – even during the restrictions of a global pandemic – highlighted the successful collaboration and teamwork amongst the organizations.”

With its SAP S/4HANA suite now on Google Cloud, Tapestry is able to increase operational efficiency, allow for flexibility within the platform, and enable future innovation. As Tapestry continues to accelerate its digital transformation, it has access to Google Cloud’s full spectrum of solutions, including Google Cloud’s Network Intelligence Center. Working to ensure uptime and consistent performance of systems is key for any retailer, especially during peak shopping events when the spikes in demand can be extraordinary. With Network Intelligence Center, Tapestry can now quickly resolve any connectivity issues, cut down troubleshooting time, and ultimately improve the online shopper experience.

“As we conclude one of the most turbulent years in retail history, retail leaders across the industry are prioritizing and heavily investing in their IT systems to accelerate their digital transformations, unlocking growth and performance improvement opportunities, while quickly bringing new experiences to life,” said Carrie Tharp, VP of Retail & Consumer at Google Cloud. “By partnering with Google Cloud and Lumen, Tapestry now has the foundation to quickly understand the performance across each of its global brands through real-time insights—and take action to respond to a rapidly evolving environment. We’re excited to partner with iconic brands like those at Tapestry and help further their digital transformational journeys.”

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud provides organizations with leading infrastructure, platform capabilities and industry solutions. We deliver enterprise-grade cloud solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology to help companies operate more efficiently and adapt to changing needs, giving customers a foundation for the future. Customers in more than 150 countries turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to solve their most critical business problems.

About Tapestry, Inc.

Tapestry, Inc. is a New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands. The Company’s portfolio includes Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman. Our Company and our brands are founded upon a creative and consumer-led view of luxury that stands for inclusivity and approachability. Each of our brands are unique and independent, while sharing a commitment to innovation and authenticity defined by distinctive products and differentiated customer experiences across channels and geographies. To learn more about Tapestry, please visit www.tapestry.com. The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TPR.

Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties described in Google, Tapestry, Inc. and SAP’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC), including each company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K or 20-F, as applicable, and other filings with the SEC that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Google, Tapestry and SAP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which each company has no obligation to update and which speak only as of their dates.

 

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SOURCE Google Cloud

Ambow Education Announces Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

PR Newswire

BEIJING, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (“Ambow” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020.

“While our business continued to be impacted by COVID-19-related macro headwinds during the third quarter of 2020, I am pleased to report that after a solid start to the new fall semester, revenue from the K-12 schools segment increased 18.8% year-over-year. Encouragingly, deferred revenue related to tuition and course fees and our education service platform increased 12.4% to US$37.9 million from the year-ago period and reached its highest level since 2015, reflecting the resilience of our business. Supported by ample cash resources and a healthy balance sheet, our core strength and fundamentals remain solid across our key segments,” noted Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited that in September we won the bid for a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Center project that is financially supported by the Asian Development Bank as a part of its inclusive growth project in Ziyang City of Sichuan Province. This achievement demonstrates our exceptional capabilities and leading position in the vocational and technical education sector.”

“We continued to execute our key strategies to pursue more balanced growth, while providing high quality educational services that better engage students against the challenging backdrop of the COVID-19 environment. Leveraging our 20-year proven track record in curriculum development, professional training, job placement and education technology innovation, we are making massive progress in building out our online-to-offline education SaaS platform, Huanyujun Education Hub. We have gradually started rolling out Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cisco-authorized certification and training courses on the Huanyujun Education Hub, which is already supported by our cutting-edge educational solutions such as Ambow Panorama Digital Teaching System and Ambow Cloud Platform. We believe these best-in-class educational services and course offerings will broaden our appeal to a wider student base as they pursue professional certifications for their technology careers.”

“Going forward, we will maintain our strategic efforts to enrich our educational service offerings, optimize operating efficiencies, and increase student enrollments and engagement. We remain confident that our efforts will support the long-term sustainability of our overall business,” concluded Dr. Huang.

Third Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Net revenues for the third quarter of 2020 decreased by 6.2% to US$16.6 million from US$17.7 million in the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily from fewer services provided at the Company’s tutoring centers, training offices and college campuses. This was partially offset by the increase in the revenue from K-12 schools driven by higher enrollment and the revenue from NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC (“NewSchool”), acquired in the first quarter of 2020.
  • Gross profit for the third quarter of 2020 decreased by 77.8% to US$1.0 million from US$4.5 million in the same period of 2019. Gross profit margin was 6.0%, compared with 25.4% for the third quarter of 2019. The decreases in gross profit and margin were mainly attributable to the decrease in net revenues from CP&CE Programs.
  • Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2020 decreased by 3.4% to US$14.0 million from US$14.5 million for the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to stringent expense controls to improve operating efficiency, and partially offset by operating expenses related to NewSchool.
  • Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was US$12.5 million, or US$0.29 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$10.2 million, or US$0.23 per basic and diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019.
  • As of September 30, 2020, Ambow maintained strong cash resources of US$44.0 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of US$12.7 million and short-term investments of US$31.3 million.
  • As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s deferred revenue balance was US$37.9 million, representing a 59.9% increase from US$23.7 million as of December 31, 2019, mainly attributable to the tuition and fees collected at K-12 schools for the fall semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, and deferred revenue collected from our colleges for the fall semester of 2020.

First Nine Months 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Net revenues for the first nine months of 2020 decreased by 8.0% to US$52.8 million from US$57.4 million in the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily from fewer boarding and other ancillary services provided for K-12 schools as result of temporary COVID-19-related campus closures in the first half of 2020, and fewer services provided at the Company’s tutoring centers, training offices and college campuses. This was partially offset by the revenue from NewSchool which was acquired in the period.
  • Gross profit for the first nine months of 2020 decreased by 40.5% to US$11.6 million from US$19.5 million in the same period of 2019. Gross profit margin was 22.0%, compared with 34.0% for the first nine months of 2019. The decreases in gross profit and margin were mainly attributable to the decrease in net revenues from CP&CE Programs.
  • Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2020 decreased by 1.9% to US$30.4 million from US$31.0 million for the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower expenditures due to the temporary suspension of operations at training offices and tutoring centers in the period as a part of the national pandemic containment efforts, as well as stringent expense controls to improve operating efficiency, and partially offset by NewSchool’s operating expenses.
  • Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was US$10.9 million, or US$0.25 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$12.3 million, or US$0.28 per basic and diluted share, for the first nine months of 2019.

On October 5, 2020, the Company completed a registered direct offering of 1,507,538 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”, representing 3,015,076 Class A Ordinary Shares), at a purchase price of $3.98 per ADS. The Company also issued to investors registered warrants to purchase up to an aggregate amount of 603,016 ADSs (representing 1,206,032 Class A Ordinary Shares). Net proceeds from this offering were approximately US$5.2 million.

The Company’s financial and operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 can also be found on its Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the third quarter and first nine months of 2020 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.7896 as of September 30, 2020; all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the third quarter and first nine months of 2019 are based on the effective exchange rate of 7.1477 as of September 30, 2019; all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2019 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.9618 as of December 31, 2019. The exchange rates were according to the middle rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 15 out of the 34 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
Tel: +86-10-6206-8000

The Piacente Group | Investor Relations
Tel: +1-212-481-2050 or +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: [email protected] 

 

 

 


AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.


UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)


As of September 30,


As of December 31,


2020


2019


US$


RMB


RMB


ASSETS


Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

12,677

86,072

157,600

Restricted cash

2,006

13,621

Short term investments, available for sale

26,898

182,629

57,487

Short term investments, held to maturity

4,419

30,000

31,000

Accounts receivable, net

3,616

24,549

17,939

Amounts due from related parties

907

6,159

2,318

Prepaid and other current assets, net

23,150

157,177

133,296

Total current assets

73,673

500,207

399,640


Non-current assets:

Property and equipment, net

21,603

146,678

157,463

Land use rights, net

254

1,726

1,759

Intangible assets, net

8,168

55,458

56,607

Goodwill

3,787

25,710

60,353

Deferred tax assets, net

538

3,653

10,195

Operating lease right-of-use asset

38,704

262,787

257,361

Finance lease right-of-use asset

884

6,000

6,450

Other non-current assets, net

12,429

84,388

70,971

Total non-current assets

86,367

586,400

621,159


Total assets

160,040

1,086,607

1,020,799


LIABILITIES


Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings  *

2,948

20,013

Deferred revenue  *

37,906

257,368

165,111

Accounts payable  *

2,284

15,500

14,718

Accrued and other liabilities  *

27,277

185,203

192,957

Income taxes payable, current  *

27,060

183,729

180,715

Amounts due to related parties  *

718

4,876

1,971

Operating lease liability, current  *

7,459

50,642

53,512

Total current liabilities

105,652

717,331

608,984


Non-current liabilities:

Income taxes payable, non-current  *

5,094

34,589

32,152

Operating lease liability, non-current  *

34,723

235,756

216,067

Total non-current liabilities

39,817

270,345

248,219


Total liabilities

145,469

987,676

857,203


EQUITY


Preferred shares

(US$ 0.003 par value;1,666,667 shares
  authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of
  December 31, 2019 and September 30,
  2020) 


Class A O
rdinary shares

(US$0.003 par value; 66,666,667 and
  66,666,667 shares authorized, 38,858,199
  and 38,895,700 shares issued and
  outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and
  September 30, 2020, respectively)

108

731

730


Class C O
rdinary shares

(US$0.003 par value; 8,333,333 and 8,333,333
  shares authorized, 4,708,415 and 4,708,415
  shares issued and outstanding as of
  December 31, 2019 and September 30,
  2020, respectively)

13

90

90

Additional paid-in capital

516,868

3,509,330

3,508,745

Statutory reserve

620

4,210

20,185

Accumulated deficit

(505,202)

(3,430,122)

(3,371,815)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

2,420

16,429

6,341


Total Ambow Education Holding Ltd.’s equity

14,827

100,668

164,276

Non-controlling interests

(256)

(1,737)

(680)


Total equity

14,571

98,931

163,596


Total liabilities and equity

160,040

1,086,607

1,020,799

*  All of the VIE’s assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of
consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets.

 

 

 


AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.


UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)


For the nine months ended September 30,


For the three months ended September 30,


2020


2020


2019


2020


2020


2019


US$


RMB


RMB


US$


RMB


RMB


NET REVENUES

 Educational program and 
  services

52,742

358,098

409,367

16,560

112,439

126,729

Intelligent program and 
  services

52

352

1,193

40

269

(173)

Total net revenues

52,794

358,450

410,560

16,600

112,708

126,556


COST OF REVENUES

 Educational program and 
  services

(40,898)

(277,683)

(265,454)

(15,518)

(105,359)

(92,934)

Intelligent program and 
  services

(345)

(2,340)

(5,818)

(130)

(882)

(1,109)

Total cost of revenues

(41,243)

(280,023)

(271,272)

(15,648)

(106,241)

(94,043)


GROSS PROFIT

11,551

78,427

139,288

952

6,467

32,513


Operating expenses:

Selling and marketing

(5,576)

(37,861)

(40,778)

(2,011)

(13,655)

(15,607)

General and administrative

(18,739)

(127,230)

(140,510)

(6,331)

(42,987)

(48,116)

Research and development

(656)

(4,456)

(1,555)

(259)

(1,758)

(1,087)

Impairment loss

(5,405)

(36,699)

(38,754)

(5,405)

(36,699)

(38,754)

Total operating expenses

(30,376)

(206,246)

(221,597)

(14,006)

(95,099)

(103,564)


OPERATING LOSS

(18,825)

(127,819)

(82,309)

(13,054)

(88,632)

(71,051)


OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)

Interest income

1,053

7,150

3,343

444

3,015

1,823

Foreign exchange gain (loss),
  net

5

31

46

(1)

(4)

45

Other income (loss), net

124

840

193

(105)

(712)

7

Gain from deregistration of
  subsidiaries

584

3,967

1,279

10

70

Gain on disposal of
  subsidiaries

111

752

111

752

Gain on the bargain purchase

5,932

40,273

Gain on sale of investment
  available for sale

365

2,477

422

209

1,421

3

Total other income

8,174

55,490

5,283

668

4,542

1,878


LOSS BEFORE INCOME
  TAX AND NON-
  CONTROLLING
  INTEREST

(10,651)

(72,329)

(77,026)

(12,386)

(84,090)

(69,173)

Income tax expense

(353)

(2,399)

(11,032)

(114)

(776)

(3,634)


NET LOSS

(11,004)

(74,728)

(88,058)

(12,500)

(84,866)

(72,807)

Less: Net(loss)/income
 attributable to non-
 controlling interest

(153)

(1,040)

(269)

(49)

(332)

4


NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE
  TO ORDINARY
  SHAREHOLDERS

(10,851)

(73,688)

(87,789)

(12,451)

(84,534)

(72,811)


NET LOSS

(11,004)

(74,728)

(88,058)

(12,500)

(84,866)

(72,807)


OTHER
  COMPREHENSIVE
  INCOME, NET OF TAX

Foreign currency translation
    adjustments

1,581

10,731

(3,267)

354

2,403

(93)

Unrealized gains on short term
    investments

  Unrealized holding gains
    arising during period

224

1,518

1,238

85

578

538

  Less: reclassification
    adjustment for gains
    included in net income

318

2,161

489

220

1,493

37

Other comprehensive income
    (loss)

1,487

10,088

(2,518)

219

1,488

408


TOTAL
  COMPREHENSIVE
  LOSS

(9,517)

(64,640)

(90,576)

(12,281)

(83,378)

(72,399)

Net loss per share – basic and
  diluted

(0.25)

(1.69)

(2.02)

(0.29)

(1.94)

(1.67)

Weighted average shares used
  in calculating basic and
  diluted net loss per share

43,583,448

43,583,448

43,496,848

43,595,871

43,595,871

43,512,447

 

 


AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.


UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY


(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)


Attributable to Ambow Education Holding Ltd.’s Equity


Retained


Accumulated


 Class A Ordinary


Class C Ordinary


Additional


Earnings


other


Non-


shares


shares


paid-in


Statutory


(Accumulated


comprehensive


controlling


Total


Shares


Amount


Shares


Amount


capital


reserves


deficit)


income


Interest


Equity


RMB


RMB


RMB


RMB


RMB


RMB


RMB


RMB


Balance as of January 1,
  2020


38,858,199


730


4,708,415


90


3,508,745


20,185


(3,372,409)


6,341


(680)


163,002

Share-based compensation

238

238

Issuance of ordinary shares 
  for restricted stock award

12,500

0

(0)

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

433

433

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
  taxes

154

154

Net income/(loss)

6,039

(412)

5,627


Balance as of March 31,
  2020


38,870,699


730


4,708,415


90


3,508,983


20,185


(3,366,370)


6,928


(1,092)


169,454

Share-based compensation

242

242

Issuance of ordinary shares
  for restricted stock award

12,500

1

(1)

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

7,895

7,895

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
  taxes

118

118

Deregistration of
  subsidiaries

(15,473)

15,473

Net income/(loss)

4,807

(297)

4,510


Balance as of June 30,
  2020


38,883,199


731


4,708,415


90


3,509,224


4,712


(3,346,090)


14,941


(1,389)


182,219

Share-based compensation

239

239

Issuance of ordinary shares
  for restricted stock award

12,501

0

(0)

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

2,403

2,403

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
  taxes

(915)

(915)

Deregistration of subsidiary

(16)

(16)

Disposal of subsidiaries

(133)

(502)

502

(133)

Net loss

(84,534)

(332)

(84,866)


Balance as of
  September 30, 2020


38,895,700


731


4,708,415


90


3,509,330


4,210


(3,430,122)


16,429


(1,737)


98,931


Balance as of January 1,
  2019


38,756,289


728


4,708,415


90


3,507,123


20,149


(3,271,838)


8,305


(1,786)


262,771

Share-based compensation

872

872

Issuance of ordinary shares
  for restricted stock award

28,646

1

(1)

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

(2,428)

(2,428)

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
  taxes

75

75

Net loss

(23,756)

(93)

(23,849)


Balance as of March 31,
  2019


38,784,935


729


4,708,415


90


3,507,994


20,149


(3,295,594)


5,952


(1,879)


237,441

Share-based compensation

266

266

Issuance of ordinary shares
  for restricted stock award

19,097

0

(0)

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

(746)

(746)

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
  taxes

173

173

Addition of noncontrolling
  interests resulting from
  new subsidiaries

502

502

Net income (loss)

8,778

(180)

8,598


Balance as of June 30,
  2019


38,804,032


729


4,708,415


90


3,508,260


20,149


(3,286,816)


5,379


(1,557)


246,234

Share-based compensation

244

244

Foreign currency translation
  adjustment

(93)

(93)

Unrealized gain on
  investment, net of income
   taxes

501

501

Net (loss) / income

(72,811)

4

(72,807)


Balance as of
  September 30, 2019


38,804,032


729


4,708,415


90


3,508,504


20,149


(3,359,627)


5,787


(1,553)


174,079

 

 

 


Discussion of Segment Operations


(All amounts in thousands)


For the nine months ended September 30,


For the three months ended September 30,


2020


2020


2019


2020


2020


2019


US$


RMB


RMB


US$


RMB


RMB


NET REVENUES

K-12 Schools

27,360

185,766

203,214

8,685

58,966

52,256

CP&CE Programs 

25,434

172,684

207,346

7,915

53,742

74,300

Total net revenues

52,794

358,450

410,560

16,600

112,708

126,556


COST OF REVENUES

K-12 Schools

(17,670)

(119,972)

(128,887)

(6,692)

(45,430)

(38,794)

CP&CE Programs 

(23,573)

(160,051)

(142,385)

(8,956)

(60,811)

(55,249)

Total cost of revenues

(41,243)

(280,023)

(271,272)

(15,648)

(106,241)

(94,043)


GROSS PROFIT

K-12 Schools

9,690

65,794

74,327

1,993

13,536

13,462

CP&CE Programs 

1,861

12,633

64,961

(1,041)

(7,069)

19,051

Total gross profit

11,551

78,427

139,288

952

6,467

32,513

 

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SOURCE Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

HubSpot Announces $20 Million Commitment to Social Impact Investing

The company’s first allocation of those funds is a $12.5 million investment in LISC’s Black Economic Development Fund

PR Newswire

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — HubSpot, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, announced today that it has committed $20 million to social impact investing. The company’s first allocation of those funds is a $12.5 million investment in the Black Economic Development Fund, which supports Black-led financial institutions, community centers, anchor institutions, and business transactions. The Fund is managed by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), one of the nation’s largest community development financial institutions.

“Earlier this year, we committed to help dismantle systemic racism through meaningful, long-term change. We chose four key pillars – introspection, investment, inclusion, and impact – to guide that work,” said Brian Halligan, co-founder and CEO of HubSpot. “Our goal in investing in the Fund is to support Black communities and foster economic empowerment. We’re proud to join LISC and our fellow investors in this effort to help close the racial wealth gap.”

“This capital will help build a stronger future for Black businesses, families and communities, and fuel a more broadly shared prosperity throughout the country,” said George Ashton, managing director of LISC Strategic Investments, the organization’s fund management arm. “With this investment, HubSpot is leveraging its assets to help make the American economy work better for everyone.”

HubSpot joins PayPal, Netflix, Costco, Square, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Aflac as fellow investors in the Black Economic Development Fund, which closed today at $175 million. As part of LISC’s Project10X initiative, the Fund will provide capital to Black-led banks, institutions, and businesses and expand economic opportunity in the communities they serve. LISC expects to begin making investments from the Fund in early 2021 in the form of bank deposits, bridge financing, and other financing to Black-led businesses, financial institutions, and anchor institutions.

Today’s news follows HubSpot’s recent announcement that it has partnered with the Howard University School of Business to establish a Center for Digital Business, a new multipurpose space that will facilitate education, collaboration and innovation among students, faculty, staff and business leaders.

Learn more about the Black Economic Development Fund here or email [email protected]. To learn more about HubSpot’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, and belonging, please visit www.hubspot.com/diversity.

About HubSpot
HubSpot (NYSE: HUBS) is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform that provides software and support to help businesses grow better. The platform includes marketing, sales, service, and website management products that start free and scale to meet our customers’ needs at any stage of growth. Today, more than 95,000 customers across more than 120 countries use HubSpot’s powerful and easy-to-use tools and integrations to attract, engage, and delight customers.

Named Glassdoor’s #1 Best Place to Work in 2020, HubSpot has been recognized for its award-winning culture by Great Place to Work, Comparably, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Inc., and more. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA with offices in Dublin, Ireland; Singapore; Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Berlin, Germany; Bogotá, Colombia; Paris, France; Ghent, Belgium; San Francisco, CA; and Portsmouth, NH.

Learn more at www.hubspot.com.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hubspot-announces-20-million-commitment-to-social-impact-investing-301194696.html

SOURCE HubSpot

RYU Apparel Interview to Air on Bloomberg International on the RedChip Money Report

PR Newswire

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – RYU Apparel Inc. (TSXV:RYU) (OTC:RYPPF) (FWB: RYAA) (“RYU” or the “Company“), a creator of award-winning urban athletic apparel, is pleased to announce an interview with its Chairman and CEO, Cesare Fazari, will air on The RedChip Money Report television program. The RedChip Money Report airs in 100 million homes on Sundays at 6 p.m. local time in every country in Europe on Bloomberg International. 

In the exclusive interview, Fazari discusses the Company’s strong foundation, accomplished team, and his plans to build a $1 billion dollar brand. 

To view the interview segment, please visit: https://youtu.be/P-88NMcGXSQ

“The RedChip Money Report” delivers insightful commentary on small cap investing, interviews with Wall Street analysts, financial book reviews, as well as featured interviews with executives of public companies.

About RYU Apparel

RYU Apparel (TSXV:RYU, OTC:RYPPF, FWB: RYAA), or Respect Your Universe, is an award winning urban athletic apparel and accessories brand engineered for the fitness, performance and lifestyle of the athletic man and woman. Designed without compromise for fit, comfort, and durability, RYU exists to facilitate optimal human performance. For more information, please visit the RYU website at: http://ryu.com

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of RYU, such as statements the launching a golf apparel division, booming golf industry, future sales of golf apparel or cutting edge design from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: (i) adverse market conditions, including conditions arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise; (ii) an inability to renew the RYU brand, implement strategic objectives and regain profitability; (iii) failing to meet target revenue projections as anticipated; (iv) failing to enter into the anticipated consulting arrangement and (v) the inability to complete the planned re-opening of the its store or the piloting of the “RYU Studio” concept. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, RYU does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. 

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SOURCE RYU Apparel Inc.

Hapbee Announces Additions to Advisory Board

PR Newswire

New Advisors Bring Decades of Entrepreneurial Experience

Wellness Market Insight

(TSXV: HAPB)

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Hapbee Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: HAPB) (Hapbee or the “Company“), a wellness technology company developing the revolutionary Hapbee wearable, is pleased to announce Mr. Jim Kwik and Mr. Kevin Harrington have joined the Company’s Advisory Board.

“Jim and Kevin are both brilliant entrepreneurs that have demonstrated an ability to transform cutting-edge concepts into high-growth business ventures,” said Scott Donnell, Chief Executive Officer of Hapbee. “Their insights will no doubt be of value to Hapbee as we aim to increase our profile in the wellness space and establish our technology as a wearable of the future.”

Advisory Board Additions


Jim Kwik

Jim Kwik is the founder of Kwik Learning and a world expert in speed-reading, brain performance, memory improvement, and accelerated learning. After becoming learning-challenged due to a childhood brain injury, Jim created several strategies to dramatically improve his mental performance. Today, Jim uses cutting-edge learning techniques coupled with an entertaining presentation style to help top actors, athletes, and executives unlock their true capabilities. He has been a speaker and trainer for numerous top organizations such as Nike, Zappos, SpaceX, GE, Virgin, NYU, and Harvard University, and is the New York Times Bestselling Author of “Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life.”


Kevin Harrington

An entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience, Kevin Harrington is most famous for his role as an original Shark on the hit ABC show Shark Tank. He is also the Inventor of the Infomercial, As Seen On TV Pioneer, co-founder of the Electronic Retailers Association and co-founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Twenty of Kevin’s companies have each reached $100 million in revenue, and his work with business ventures has led to more than $5 billion in global sales and more than 500 products launched.

About Hapbee

Hapbee is a wearable magnetic field technology company that aims to help people choose how they feel. Powered by patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE®) technology invented and licensed by EMulate Therapeutics, Inc., Hapbee delivers low-power electromagnetic signals designed to produce sensations such as Happy, Alert, Focus, Relax, Calm and Sleepy.

You can learn more about how Hapbee works at www.hapbee.com/science

Forward-Looking Information Disclaimer

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Any statements about Hapbee’s business plans or its upcoming development targets – including development of the Hapbee smartphone app, manufacturing and shipping for the Indiegogo campaign, research and development of new signals and the Company’s pursuit of a public listing – are all forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve its goals.

Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, changes in legislation and regulations, increase in operating costs, equipment failures, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, litigation, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants and fees charged by service providers. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in Hapbee prospectus dated October 26, 2020, a copy of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, there be no assurance that the listing of the common shares of the Company will occur. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.

For more information, visit: www.hapbee.com .

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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SOURCE Hapbee Technologies Inc.