Annual Changes to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced the results of the annual reconstitution of the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index (Nasdaq: NBI), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 21, 2020.

The Index is designed to track the performance of a set of securities listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market® (Nasdaq®) that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB).

The following 100 securities will be added to the Index:

EXCHANGE SYMBOL COMPANY NAME
Nasdaq ABUS Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
Nasdaq ADAP Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc
Nasdaq AKUS Akouos, Inc.
Nasdaq ALT Altimmune, Inc.
Nasdaq ALVR AlloVir, Inc.
Nasdaq ALXO ALX Oncology Holdings Inc.
Nasdaq AMTI Applied Molecular Transport Inc.
Nasdaq ANNX Annexon, Inc.
Nasdaq APLT Applied Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq APRE Aprea Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq ARCT Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.
Nasdaq ARQT Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq AVDL Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc
Nasdaq AZN AstraZeneca PLC
Nasdaq BDTX Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq BEAM Beam Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq BNTX BioNTech SE
Nasdaq CABA Cabaletta Bio, Inc.
Nasdaq CALA Calithera Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq CDXS Codexis, Inc.
Nasdaq CLVS Clovis Oncology, Inc.
Nasdaq CNCE Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq CNST Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq CRNX Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq CRTX Cortexyme, Inc.
Nasdaq FMTX Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
Nasdaq FPRX Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq FREQ Frequency Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq FULC Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq FUSN Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Nasdaq GBIO Generation Bio Co.
Nasdaq GMDA Gamida Cell Ltd.
Nasdaq HARP Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq IDYA IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq IGMS IGM Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq IMAB I-MAB
Nasdaq IMUX Immunic, Inc.
Nasdaq IMVT Immunovant, Inc.
Nasdaq INZY Inozyme Pharma, Inc.
Nasdaq ISEE IVERIC bio, Inc.
Nasdaq ITOS iTeos Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq JNCE Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq KALA Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq KALV KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq KDMN Kadmon Holdings, Inc.
Nasdaq KDNY Chinook Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq KLDO Kaleido Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq KMDA Kamada Ltd.
Nasdaq KNSA Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
Nasdaq KROS Keros Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq KRYS Krystal Biotech, Inc.
Nasdaq KZR Kezar Life Sciences, Inc.
Nasdaq LEGN Legend Biotech Corporation
Nasdaq LRMR Larimar Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq MDGL Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq MNOV MediciNova, Inc.
Nasdaq MRNS Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq MRSN Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq NK NantKwest, Inc.
Nasdaq NKTX Nkarta, Inc.
Nasdaq NLTX Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq NRIX Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq NVAX Novavax, Inc.
Nasdaq NXTC NextCure, Inc.
Nasdaq OCUL Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
Nasdaq ODT Odonate Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq ORIC Oric Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq OVID Ovid Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq PAHC Phibro Animal Health Corporation
Nasdaq PAND Pandion Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq PASG Passage Bio, Inc.
Nasdaq PCVX Vaxcyte, Inc.
Nasdaq PLRX Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq PRTK Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq PRVB Provention Bio, Inc.
Nasdaq PSTX Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq RAPT RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq RDHL Redhill Biopharma Ltd.
Nasdaq REPL Replimune Group, Inc.
Nasdaq RLAY Relay Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq RLMD Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq RNA Avidity Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq RPRX Royalty Pharma plc
Nasdaq RPTX Repare Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq RVMD Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Nasdaq SELB Selecta Biosciences, Inc.
Nasdaq SMMT Summit Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq SNDX Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq SPRO Spero Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq STRO Sutro Biopharma, Inc.
Nasdaq SURF Surface Oncology, Inc.
Nasdaq SWTX SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.
Nasdaq TCRR TCR2 Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq VIE Viela Bio, Inc.
Nasdaq VIR Vir Biotechnology, Inc.
Nasdaq VSTM Verastem, Inc.
Nasdaq VYNE VYNE Therapeutics Inc.
Nasdaq XENE Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Nasdaq ZIOP ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc
Nasdaq ZNTL Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

As a result of the reconstitution, the following 16 securities will be removed from the Index:

EXCHANGE SYMBOL COMPANY NAME
Nasdaq ADMA ADMA Biologics Inc
Nasdaq AMRS Amyris, Inc.
Nasdaq AXNX Axonics Modulation Technologies, Inc.
Nasdaq CERS Cerus Corporation
Nasdaq CRBP Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
Nasdaq EOLS Evolus, Inc.
Nasdaq EYPT EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq GLYC GlycoMimetics, Inc.
Nasdaq GRTS Gritstone Oncology, Inc.
Nasdaq LXRX Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nasdaq NVCR NovoCure Limited
Nasdaq OPTN OptiNose, Inc.
Nasdaq PRQR ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
Nasdaq QTRX Quanterix Corporation
Nasdaq SLDB Solid Biosciences Inc.
Nasdaq TECH Bio-Techne Corp

About Nasdaq Global Indexes

Nasdaq Global Indexes has been creating innovative, market-leading, transparent indexes since 1971. Today, our index offering spans geographies and asset classes and includes diverse families such as the Dividend and Income (includes Dividend Achievers), Dorsey Wright, Fixed Income (includes BulletShares®), Global Equity, Green Economy, Nordic and Commodity indexes. We continuously offer new opportunities for financial product sponsors across a wide-spectrum of investable products and for asset managers to measure risk and performance. Nasdaq also provides exchange listing, custom index and design solutions to financial organizations worldwide.

About Nasdaq

Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

Media Relations Contact

Emily Pan
(646) 637-3964
[email protected]

Issuer & Investor Contact

Index Client Services
[email protected]

The information contained above is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice, either on behalf of a particular financial product or an overall investment strategy. Neither Nasdaq, Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any recommendation to buy or sell any financial product or any representation about the financial condition of any company or fund. Statements regarding Nasdaq’s proprietary indexes are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

– NDAQG-



Annual Changes to the Nasdaq-100 Index

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced the results of the annual reconstitution of the Nasdaq-100 Index® (Nasdaq: NDX), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 21, 2020.

The following six companies will be added to the Index: American Electric Power Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEP), Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: MRVL), Match Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTCH), Okta, Inc. (Nasdaq: OKTA), Peloton Interactive, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTON), Atlassian Corporation Plc (Nasdaq: TEAM).

The Nasdaq-100 Index is composed of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market® and dates to January 1985 when it was launched along with the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index®, which is comprised of the 100 largest financial stocks on Nasdaq®. These indexes act as benchmarks for financial products such as options, futures, and funds. The Nasdaq-100 is reconstituted each year in December, timed to coincide with the quadruple witch expiration Friday of the quarter.

The Nasdaq-100 Index is the basis of the Invesco QQQ Trust (Nasdaq: QQQ) which aims to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond with the Nasdaq-100 Index performance. In addition, options, futures and structured products based on the Nasdaq-100 Index and the Invesco QQQ Trust trade on various exchanges.

As a result of the reconstitution, the following six companies will be removed from the Index: BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN), Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), Expedia Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE), Liberty Global plc (Nasdaq: LBTYA/LBTYK), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), Ulta Beauty, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULTA).

Information

For information about the six companies to be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, please visit the following respective company websites:

American Electric Power Company, Inc. – https://www.aep.com/

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. – https://www.marvell.com/

Match Group, Inc. – https://www.mtch.com/

Okta, Inc. – https://www.okta.com/

Peloton Interactive, Inc. – https://www.onepeloton.com/

Atlassian Corporation Plc – https://www.atlassian.com/

About Nasdaq Global Indexes

Nasdaq Global Indexes has been creating innovative, market-leading, transparent indexes since 1971. Today, our index offering spans geographies and asset classes and includes diverse families such as the Dividend and Income (includes Dividend Achievers), Dorsey Wright, Fixed Income (includes BulletShares®), Global Equity, Green Economy, Nordic and Commodity indexes. We continuously offer new opportunities for financial product sponsors across a wide-spectrum of investable products and for asset managers to measure risk and performance. Nasdaq also provides exchange listing, custom index and design solutions to financial organizations worldwide.

About Nasdaq

Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

Media Relations Contact

Emily Pan
(646) 637-3964
[email protected]

Issuer & Investor Contact

Index Client Services
[email protected]

The information contained above is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice, either on behalf of a particular financial product or an overall investment strategy. Neither Nasdaq, Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any recommendation to buy or sell any financial product or any representation about the financial condition of any company or fund. Statements regarding Nasdaq’s proprietary indexes are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should undertake their own due diligence and carefully evaluate companies before investing. ADVICE FROM A SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

-NDAQG-



M2 Compliance to Sponsor the LD Micro 13th Annual Main Event

Los Angeles, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — M2 Compliance (“M2”), a leading SEC registered filing agent, and financial printer will be sponsoring the LD Micro Main Event, a premier virtual investor event. The conference is scheduled for December 14th – 15th, 2020.

Powered by LD Micro’s new Sequire Virtual Events platform, this year’s Main Event will feature an entirely new, more expansive format to support the 3 million members of the financial community who have been invited to attend, including institutional investors, equity analysts, family offices and high net worth investors. Also new this year, each company presentation will be followed by an in-depth Q&A session hosted by a select panel of investors and analysts.

M2 is the most disruptive provider in the industry and is the only firm to offer a truly unlimited fixed cost EDGAR XBRL/iXBRL program ($4,995 per year) for all your SEC filings including but not limited to: Annual & Quarterly Reports (10-K, 10-Q’s, 40-F, 20-F), Material Events (8-K, 6-K), Proxy Statements (14A, 14C), Prospectuses (424B3, 424B4, 424B5), Registration Statements (S-1, S-3, S-4, S-8, F-1, F-3, F-4). The UNLIMITED program has NO LIMITATIONS and includes all SEC form types for both EDGAR & XBRL/iXBRL.

M2 clients have completed over 2 Billion dollars in transactions under our UNLIMITED program.

M2 has grown to represent over 1,200 public companies in the past ten years and has filed over 60,000 files to-date with the SEC. With more than 135 employees and significant investments in regulatory technology, M2 can deliver a truly dedicated service and the most efficient drafting 24/7. M2 has a dedicated “IPO Team” with over 30 years of collective experience to support the preparation of more complex registration work; all IPO-related filings are included in the UNLIMITED PROGRAM.


https://m2compliance.com/videos/M2-Overview.mp4

For more information, visit M2compliance.com or call (310) 402-2681.

 



Renren Announces Appointment of New Auditor

PR Newswire

BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) (“Renren” or the “Company”), which operates a premium used auto business in China through its subsidiary Kaixin Auto Holdings (NASDAQ: KXIN) as well as several U.S.-based SaaS businesses, today announced the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP (“MarcumBP”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective December 9, 2020.

The appointment of MarcumBP was made after a careful and thorough evaluation process and has been approved by Renren’s board and audit committee.

MarcumBP will replace KPMG Huazhen LLP (“KPMG”) as Renren’s independent registered public accounting firm. Renren’s decision to change its auditor was not the result of any disagreement between Renren and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

About Renren Inc.

Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) operates a premium used auto business in China through its subsidiary Kaixin Auto Holdings (NASDAQ: KXIN) as well as several US-based SaaS businesses. Renren’s American depositary shares, each of which currently represents forty-five (45) Class A ordinary shares, trade on NYSE under the symbol “RENN”.

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. Renren may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Renren’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F, the 6-K referred to above and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Renren does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renren-announces-appointment-of-new-auditor-301190906.html

SOURCE Renren Inc.

Kaixin Auto Holdings Announces Appointment of New Auditor

BEIJING, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaixin Auto Holdings (“Kaixin” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: KXIN) today announced the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP (“MarcumBP”) as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective December 9, 2020.

The appointment of MarcumBP was made after a careful and thorough evaluation process and has been approved by Kaixin’s board and audit committee.

MarcumBP will replace KPMG Huazhen LLP (“KPMG”) as Kaixin’s independent registered public accounting firm. Kaixin’s decision to change its auditor was not the result of any disagreement between Kaixin and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

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. Kaixin may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Kaixin’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. 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 statement, including but not limited to the following: our goals and strategies; our future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the social networking site market in China; our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our services; our expectations regarding the retention and strengthening of our relationships with used auto dealerships; our plans to enhance user experience, infrastructure and service offerings; competition in our industry in China; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Kaixin does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations
Kaixin Auto Holdings
Tel: +86 (10) 8448-1818
Email: [email protected]



Heritage Cannabis Announces Change of Auditor

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HERITAGE CANNABIS HOLDINGS CORP. (CSE: CANN) (OTCQX: HERTF) (“Heritage” or the “Company“) today announced that it has accepted the resignation of its auditor MNP LLP (“Former Auditor“) as of December 8, 2020 and that the board of directors of the Company has appointed Davidson & Company LLP (“Successor Auditor“) as the Company’s auditor effective December 8, 2020, until the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

There were no reservations or modified opinions in the Former Auditor’s audit reports for the Company. There are no “reportable events” (as the term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102“)) between the Company and the Former Auditor.

In accordance with NI 51-102, the notice of change of auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the board of directors of the Company and filed on SEDAR.

Additionally, the Company has appointed Umar Syed as Corporate Secretary of Heritage, effective December 8, 2020.

About Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp.

Heritage is a vertically integrated cannabis provider that currently has two Health Canada approved licensed producers, through its subsidiaries Voyage Cannabis Corp. and CannaCure Corp. both regulated under the Cannabis Act Regulations. Working under these two licenses, Heritage has two additional subsidiaries, Purefarma Solutions, which provides extraction services, and a Medical Services Division which is focused on cannabis based medical solutions. In the U.S., Heritage operates under Opticann Inc., a Colorado based oral and topical cannabinoid company with the rights to exclusively sell CBD and CBG products made with the patented VESIsorb® drug delivery system for optimized absorption and stability. As the parent company, Heritage is focused on providing the resources for its subsidiaries to advance their products or services to compete both domestically and internationally.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HERITAGE CANNABIS HOLDINGS CORP.

“Clint Sharples”

CEO

Contacts

Corey Herscu for Heritage Cannabis
[email protected]
Tel: 416-300-3030

or

Kelly Castledine
[email protected]
Tel: 647-660-2560


The Canadian Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



XPeng Announces Closing of Follow-On Public Offering and Full Exercise of the Underwriters’ Overallotment Option

XPeng Announces Closing of Follow-On Public Offering and Full Exercise of the Underwriters’ Overallotment Option

GUANGZHOU, China–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
XPeng Inc. (“XPeng” or the “Company”, NYSE:XPEV), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (“Smart EV”) company, today announced the closing of its underwritten follow-on offering of 55,200,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing two Class A ordinary shares of the Company, at a public offering price of US$45.00 per ADS. The number of ADSs issued at closing included the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase 7,200,000 additional ADSs from the Company. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by the Company, were approximately US$2.5 billion.

The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering for (i) research and development of its Smart EVs and software, hardware and data technologies, (ii) sales and marketing and expansion of sales and service channels and super charging network, as well as the expansion of its footprints in the international markets, (iii) potential strategic investments in core technologies of Smart EV, and (iv) general corporate purposes, including working capital needs.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as the joint bookrunners for the offering.

The Company’s registration statement on Form F-1 relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus forming part of the effective registration statement. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained by contacting:

(1) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department at 11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629, United States of America, or by calling 1-800-221-1037, or by email at [email protected];

(2) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, United States of America, or by calling 1-866-803-9204;

(3) BofA Securities, Inc., NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, United States of America, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by calling +1 (800) 294-1322 or by email at [email protected]; and

(4) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, via telephone: 1-800-831-9146 or via email at [email protected]

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About XPeng

XPeng Inc. is a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers in China. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology and data, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers’ mobility experience, XPeng develops in-house its full-stack autonomous driving technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrification/electronic architecture. XPeng is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and San Diego. The Company’s Smart EVs are manufactured at plants in Zhaoqing and Zhengzhou, located in Guangdong and Henan provinces, respectively. For more information, please visit https://en.xiaopeng.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States 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. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPeng’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. 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 statement, including but not limited to the following: XPeng’s goal and strategies; XPeng’s expansion plans; XPeng’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, China’s EV market; XPeng’s expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPeng’s expectations regarding its relationships with customers, contract manufacturer, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPeng’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and XPeng does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For Investor Enquiries:

IR Department

XPeng Inc.

[email protected]

Jenny Cai

The Piacente Group

+1-212-481-2050 or +86-10-6508-0677

[email protected]

For Media Enquiries:

Marie Cheung

XPeng Inc.

+852 9750 5170 / +86 1550 7577 546

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: China Asia Pacific

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Automotive Manufacturing Manufacturing Automotive Alternative Vehicles/Fuels

MEDIA:

Steel Connect Reports First Quarter Financial Results

Steel Connect Reports First Quarter Financial Results

First Quarter 2021 Highlights

  • Net revenue totaled $169.9 million, as compared to $225.2 million in the prior year
  • Net (loss) income for the quarter was $(3.6) million, as compared to $4.8 million in the prior year
  • Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders was $(4.1) million, as compared to $4.3 million in the prior year
  • Adjusted EBITDA* was $22.5 million, as compared to $22.8 million in the prior year
  • Net cash provided by operating activities was $25.7 million
  • Free Cash Flow* totaled $24.7 million
  • Total debt was $378.0 million; Net Debt* totaled $280.9 million

SMYRNA, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Steel Connect, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: STCN) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended October 31, 2020.

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31,

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

(in thousands)

Net revenue

 

$

169,934

 

 

$

225,153

 

Net (loss) income

 

(3,551

)

 

4,792

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders

 

(4,088

)

 

4,256

 

Adjusted EBITDA*

 

22,536

 

 

22,843

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin*

 

13.3

%

 

10.1

%

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

25,727

 

 

22,410

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

1,059

 

 

4,072

 

Free cash flow*

 

24,668

 

 

18,338

 

*

See reconciliations of these non-GAAP measurements to the most directly comparable GAAP measures included in the financial tables. See also “Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements” below for the definitions of these non-GAAP measures.

“In the face of the challenges presented by the global pandemic, our employees have shown resiliency and creativity as they have continued to deliver for our customers during this unprecedented time,” said Warren Lichtenstein, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “In the first quarter, we were able to partially offset our decreased revenue, restructuring costs, and an unfavorable change in accrued taxes with tight cost controls, as well as customer and product rationalization, at both IWCO Direct and ModusLink. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on our highest-return priorities to generate sustainable long-term value for all stakeholders.”

The Company continues to evaluate the global risks and the slowdown in business activity related to COVID-19, including the potential impacts on its employees, customers, suppliers, and financial results. The severity of the impact on the Company’s business for the remainder of calendar 2020 and beyond will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, the extent and severity of the impact on the Company’s customers and suppliers, the continued disruption to the demand for our businesses’ products and services, and the impact of the global business and economic environment on liquidity and the availability of capital, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, COVID-19 required temporary closures of certain of ModusLink’s facilities. Additionally, although IWCO Direct operated as an essential business, it had reduced operating levels and labor shifts due to lower sales volume. As of the date of this earnings release, all of the Company’s facilities were open and able to operate at normal capacities.

To help mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company initiated cost reduction actions, including waiver of board fees, hiring freezes, staffing and force reductions, Company-wide salary reductions, bonus payment deferrals and temporary 401(k) match suspension. The temporary waiver of board fees and Company-wide salary reduction actions taken in the prior fiscal year were fully restored prior to the beginning of the current fiscal year. The Company continues its focus on cash management and liquidity, which includes reduction of discretionary spending, aggressive working capital management, strict approvals for capital expenditures and other actions. The Company will evaluate further actions if circumstances warrant.

Recent Developments

Non-binding Expression of Interest

On November 19, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) received a preliminary, non-binding expression of interest (the “Expression of Interest”) from Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (“Steel Holdings”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock not already owned by Steel Holdings or its affiliates for a combination of cash and Steel Holdings 6% Series A Preferred Units, which would imply a value per share of common stock in the range of $0.65 to $0.72 per share. The Expression of Interest was filed as an exhibit to a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by Steel Holdings and certain of its affiliates on November 19, 2020. The Board has established a special committee comprised solely of independent directors (the “Acquisition Proposal Special Committee”) authorized to retain independent legal and financial advisors and to review, evaluate, negotiate and approve or disapprove the Expression of Interest, and to explore alternative strategies or transactions. As set forth in the Expression of Interest, the proposed transaction will be subject to the approval of the Acquisition Proposal Special Committee, as well as a non-waivable condition requiring approval of a majority of the shares outstanding of the Company not owned by Steel Holdings and its affiliates and related parties. The Board resolutions establishing the Acquisition Proposal Special Committee expressly provide that the Board will not approve the proposed transaction contemplated by the Expression of Interest or any alternative thereto without a prior favorable recommendation by the Acquisition Proposal Special Committee.

No decision has yet been made with respect to the Company’s response to the Expression of Interest or any alternatives thereto. The Board cautions that it has only received a proposal, which does not constitute an offer or proposal capable of acceptance and may be withdrawn at any time and in any manner. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement will be executed or that the transaction proposed in the Expression of Interest or any other transaction will be approved or completed. The Company is not obligated to disclose any further developments or updates on the progress of the proposed transaction until either the Company enters into a definitive agreement or the Acquisition Proposal Special Committee determines no such transaction will be approved.

MidCap Credit Facility

On December 9, 2020, ModusLink entered into a First Amendment to its MidCap credit agreement (“Amendment No. 1”) by and among ModusLink, certain of ModusLink’s subsidiaries identified on the signature pages thereto, and MidCap as lender and agent.

Amendment No. 1 amends the MidCap credit agreement to permit special cash dividends to be made on or prior to July 31, 2021 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million (the “Special Distributions”). Payment of the Special Distributions will eliminate the availability of the general dividend basket for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021. In addition, Amendment No. 1 incorporates a new minimum liquidity financial covenant, which requires that the sum of excess availability under the MidCap credit agreement and the amount of qualified cash and cash equivalents of the borrower is not less than $3.0 million until the earlier of July 31, 2021 or the date on which the borrower has either distributed the maximum amount of the Special Distributions or waived the ability to make further Special Distributions. Among other things, Amendment No. 1 also increases the percentage of eligible accounts included in the borrowing base from 50% to 75% and amends the condition for borrowing of revolving loans after the effective date of Amendment No. 1 to require evidence that specified availability (the sum of excess availability and the difference between the borrowing base and the aggregate revolving loan commitments) is not less than $3.0 million prior to giving effect to any such borrowing.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the First Quarter Ended October 31, 2020 and 2019

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

(unaudited, in thousands)

Net revenue:

 

 

 

Products

$

105,708

 

 

$

133,003

 

Services

64,226

 

 

92,150

 

Total net revenue

169,934

 

 

225,153

 

Cost of revenue

129,466

 

 

180,907

 

Gross profit margin

23.8

%

 

19.7

%

Selling, general and administrative

26,858

 

 

22,227

 

Amortization of intangible assets

6,535

 

 

7,277

 

Interest expense

7,823

 

 

9,169

 

All other expenses (income), net

1,999

 

 

(574)

 

Total costs and expenses

43,215

 

 

38,099

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

(2,747

)

 

6,147

 

Income tax expense

804

 

 

1,355

 

Net (loss) income

$

(3,551

)

 

$

4,792

 

Net Revenue

Total net revenue for the first quarter ended October 31, 2020 decreased $55.2 million, or 24.5%, as compared to the same period in the prior year. During the three months ended October 31, 2020, net revenue for the Direct Marketing segment decreased by approximately $27.3 million, primarily driven by lower volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by a higher average price per package mailed. Within the Direct Marketing segment, the decrease in net revenue was primarily associated with customers in the financial, MSO and insurance industries. Within the Supply Chain segment, net revenues decreased by approximately $27.9 million. This decrease in net revenue was primarily driven by: (1) lower volume associated with clients exiting in the computing and consumer electronics markets and (2) lower volume with the Company’s largest client in the computing market, which is expected to shift later in the current fiscal year.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue for the first quarter decreased $51.4 million, or 28.4%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to decreased material and labor costs in both the Direct Marketing and Supply Chain segments.

The increase in gross profit margin during the first quarter is attributable to a change in customer mix, our focus on customer rationalization to improve profitability, as well as cost reduction initiatives in both segments to offset the impact of COVID-19.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter increased $4.6 million, or 20.8%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to an increase in accrued taxes and restructuring related expenses, partially offset by a decrease in employee related costs, sales and marketing, and other expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangibles assets for the first quarter decreased $0.7 million, or 10.2%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, due to lower amortization expense with respect to our customer relationships intangible asset.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the first quarter decreased $1.3 million, or 14.7%, as compared to the same periods in the prior year, due to lower variable interest rates on outstanding debt.

All Other Expenses (Income), Net

All other expenses (income), net for the first quarter decreased $2.6 million, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to foreign exchange losses in the Supply Chain segment in the current year.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense for the first quarter decreased $0.6 million, 40.7%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, due to lower taxable income in foreign jurisdictions as compared to the prior year.

Additions to Property and Equipment (Capital Expenditures)

Capital expenditures for the first quarter totaled $1.1 million, or 0.6% of net revenue, as compared to $4.1 million, or 1.8% of net revenue, for the same period in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter decreased $0.3 million, or 1.3%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to reduced operating income in the current quarter, excluding the impact of adjustments to certain tax liabilities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of October 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $104.5 million. As of October 31, 2020, ModusLink and IWCO Direct had a readily available borrowing capacity of $1.2 million and $25.0 million, respectively, under their credit facilities.

As of October 31, 2020, total debt outstanding was $378.0 million, which was comprised of a $370.5 million term loan due December 15, 2022 and a $14.9 million 7.50% Convertible Senior Note due March 1, 2024, less associated unamortized discounts and issuance costs.

About Steel Connect, Inc.

Steel Connect, Inc. is a diversified holding company with two wholly-owned subsidiaries, IWCO Direct Holdings, Inc. and ModusLink Corporation, that serve the direct marketing and supply chain management markets, respectively.

IWCO Direct delivers highly-effective data-driven marketing solutions for its customers, which represent some of the largest and most respected brands in the world in markets such as insurance, financial services, and multiple system operators (cable or direct broadcasting satellite TV systems). Its full range of services includes strategy, creative and execution for omnichannel marketing campaigns, along with one of the industry’s most sophisticated postal logistics programs for direct mail. Through its Mail-Gard® division, IWCO Direct also offers business continuity and disaster recovery services to protect against unexpected business interruptions, along with providing print and mail outsourcing services. IWCO Direct was named one of the largest direct mail production providers in North America, with the largest platform of continuous digital print technology and a growing direct marketing agency service. IWCO Direct’s solutions enable customers to improve customer lifetime value, which, in turn, has led to longer customer relationships. The company is ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS) certified through BSI, reflecting its commitment to data security.

ModusLink is a leader in global supply chain business process management, serving clients in markets such as consumer electronics, communications, computing, medical devices, software, and retail. ModusLink designs and executes critical elements in its clients’ global supply chains to improve speed to market, product customization, flexibility, cost, quality, and service. These benefits are delivered through a combination of industry expertise, innovative service solutions, and integrated operations, proven business processes, an expansive global footprint, and world-class technology. ModusLink also produces and licenses an entitlement management solution powered by its enterprise-class Poetic software, which offers a complete solution for activation, provisioning, entitlement subscription, and data collection from physical goods (connected products) and digital products. ModusLink has an integrated network of strategically located facilities with sites in various countries, including numerous sites throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

– Financial Tables Follow –

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

 

October 31,

2020

 

July 31,

2020

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

104,522

 

 

$

75,887

 

Accounts receivable, trade, net

79,898

 

 

93,072

 

Inventories, net

14,829

 

 

15,354

 

Funds held for clients

12,468

 

 

18,755

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

24,683

 

 

20,475

 

Total current assets

236,400

 

 

223,543

 

Property and equipment, net

74,871

 

 

79,678

 

Goodwill

257,128

 

 

257,128

 

Other intangible assets, net

128,728

 

 

135,263

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

52,165

 

 

56,140

 

Other assets

7,065

 

 

7,420

 

Total assets

$

756,357

 

 

$

759,172

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

70,539

 

 

$

70,002

 

Accrued expenses

116,994

 

 

111,380

 

Funds held for clients

12,468

 

 

18,755

 

Current portion of long-term debt

5,572

 

 

5,527

 

Current lease obligations

13,960

 

 

14,318

 

Other current liabilities

29,188

 

 

29,950

 

Total current liabilities

248,721

 

 

249,932

 

Convertible note payable

8,346

 

 

8,054

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

364,037

 

 

365,468

 

Long-term lease obligations

39,976

 

 

43,211

 

Other long-term liabilities

12,203

 

 

8,509

 

Total liabilities

673,283

 

 

675,174

 

 

 

 

 

Contingently redeemable preferred stock

35,180

 

 

35,180

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

47,894

 

 

48,818

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities, contingently redeemable preferred stock and stockholders’ equity

$

756,357

 

 

$

759,172

 

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

Fav (Unfav)

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

Products

$

105,708

 

 

$

133,003

 

 

(20.5

)%

Services

64,226

 

 

92,150

 

 

(30.3

)%

Total net revenue

169,934

 

 

225,153

 

 

(24.5

)%

Cost of revenue

129,466

 

 

180,907

 

 

28.4

%

Gross profit

40,468

 

 

44,246

 

 

(8.5

)%

Gross profit margin

23.8

%

 

19.7

%

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

26,858

 

 

22,227

 

 

(20.8

)%

Amortization of intangible assets

6,535

 

 

7,277

 

 

10.2

%

Total operating expenses

33,393

 

 

29,504

 

 

(13.2

)%

Operating income

7,075

 

 

14,742

 

 

(52.0

)%

Total other expense

(9,822

)

 

(8,595

)

 

(14.3

)%

(Loss) income before income taxes

(2,747

)

 

6,147

 

 

(144.7

)%

Income tax expense

804

 

 

1,355

 

 

40.7

%

Net (loss) income

(3,551

)

 

4,792

 

 

(174.1

)%

Less: Preferred dividends on redeemable preferred stock

(537

)

 

(536

)

 

(0.2

)%

Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders

$

(4,088

)

 

$

4,256

 

 

(196.1

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net (loss) earnings per share attributable to common stockholders

$

(0.07

)

 

$

0.07

 

 

 

Diluted net (loss) earnings per share attributable to common stockholders

$

(0.07

)

 

$

0.06

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares used in:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per share

61,893

 

 

61,401

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

61,893

 

 

86,006

 

 

 

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Segment Data

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

(In thousands)

Net revenue:

 

 

 

Direct Marketing

$

105,708

 

 

$

133,003

 

Supply Chain

64,226

 

 

92,150

 

 

$

169,934

 

 

$

225,153

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

Direct Marketing

$

4,937

 

 

$

11,203

 

Supply Chain

5,151

 

 

6,510

 

Total segment operating income

10,088

 

 

17,713

 

Corporate-level activity

(3,013

)

 

(2,971

)

Total operating income

7,075

 

 

14,742

 

Total other expense

(9,822

)

 

(8,595

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

$

(2,747

)

 

$

6,147

 

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP Measures

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliations:

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Net (loss) income

$

(3,551

)

 

$

4,792

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

(20

)

 

(16

)

Interest expense

7,823

 

 

9,169

 

Income tax expense

804

 

 

1,355

 

Depreciation

5,780

 

 

5,589

 

Amortization of intangible assets

6,535

 

 

7,277

 

EBITDA

17,371

 

 

28,166

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic consulting and other related professional fees

63

 

 

 

Executive severance and employee retention

 

 

310

 

Restructuring and restructuring-related expense

1,181

 

 

 

Share-based compensation

188

 

 

176

 

Loss on sale of long-lived assets

3

 

 

30

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

10

 

Unrealized foreign exchange losses, net

2,061

 

 

190

 

Other non-cash losses (gains), net

304

 

 

(94

)

Adjustments related to certain tax liabilities

1,365

 

 

(5,945

)

Adjusted EBITDA

$

22,536

 

 

$

22,843

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

169,934

 

 

$

225,153

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

13.3

%

 

10.1

%

Free Cash Flow Reconciliation:

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

25,727

 

 

$

22,410

 

Additions to property and equipment

(1,059

)

 

(4,072

)

Free cash flow

$

24,668

 

 

$

18,338

Net Debt Reconciliation:

 

October 31,

2020

 

July 31,

2020

Total debt, net

377,955

 

 

379,049

 

Unamortized discounts and issuance costs

7,457

 

 

7,863

 

Cash and cash equivalents

(104,522

)

 

(75,887

)

Net debt

280,890

 

 

311,025

 

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company uses EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net Debt, non-GAAP financial measures, to assess its performance. EBITDA represents earnings (loss) before interest income, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) excluding net charges related to interest income, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, strategic consulting and other related professional fees, executive severance and employee retention, restructuring and restructuring-related expense, share-based compensation, (gain) loss on sale of long-lived assets, impairment of long-lived assets, unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses, net, other non-cash (gains) losses, net, adjustments related to certain tax liabilities and (gains) losses on investments in affiliates. The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less additions to property and equipment, and defines Net Debt as the sum of total debt, net, prior to reductions for unamortized discounts and issuance costs, less cash and cash equivalents.

We believe that providing these non-GAAP measurements to investors is useful, as these measures provide important supplemental information of our performance to investors and permit investors and management to evaluate the operating performance of our business. These measures provide useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding our operating results as they exclude certain items whose fluctuation from period-to-period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating results of our business. We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in internal forecasts and models when establishing internal operating budgets, supplementing the financial results and forecasts reported to our Board of Directors, determining a component of certain incentive compensation for executive officers and other key employees based on operating performance, determining compliance with certain covenants in the Company’s credit facilities, and evaluating short-term and long-term operating trends in our core business segments. We use Free Cash Flow to conduct and evaluate our business because, although it is similar to cash flow from operations, we believe it is a useful measure of cash flows since purchases of property and equipment are a necessary component of ongoing operations, and similar to the use of Net Debt, assists management with its capital planning and financing considerations.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures assist in providing an enhanced understanding of our underlying operational measures to manage our core businesses, to evaluate performance compared to prior periods and the marketplace, and to establish operational goals. Further, we believe that these non-GAAP financial adjustments are useful to investors because they allow investors to evaluate the effectiveness of the methodology and information used by management in our financial and operational decision-making. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be computed in the same manner as similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Some of the limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA include:

  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect historical capital expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
  • other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

In addition, Net Debt assumes the Company’s cash and cash equivalents can be used to reduce outstanding debt without restriction, while Free Cash Flow has limitations due to the fact that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures and excludes the Company’s remaining investing activities and financing activities, including the requirement for principal payments on the Company’s outstanding indebtedness.

See reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures included in the financial tables of this release.

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions designed to protect the tax benefits of the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards by preventing certain transfers of our securities that could result in an “ownership change” (as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code). Pursuant to the tax plan and subject to certain exceptions, if a stockholder (or group) becomes a 4.99-percent stockholder after adoption of the tax plan, certain rights attached to each outstanding share of our common stock would generally become exercisable and entitle stockholders (other than the new 4.99-percent stockholder or group) to purchase additional shares of the Company at a significant discount, resulting in substantial dilution in the economic interest and voting power of the new 4.99-percent stockholder (or group). In addition, under certain circumstances in which the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination after an non-exempt stockholder (or group) becomes a new 4.99-percent stockholder, each holder of a right (other than the new 4.99-percent stockholder or group) would then be entitled to purchase shares of the acquiring company’s common stock at a discount. For further discussion of the Company’s tax benefits preservation plan, please see the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this release that are not historical facts are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to, but not limited to, information with respect to a proposed transaction between the Company and Steel Holdings. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, those with respect to the Company’s goals, plans, expectations and strategies set forth herein are forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: client or program losses; fluctuations in demand for our products and services; general economic conditions and public health crises (such as the ongoing coronavirus outbreak); demand variability with clients to which the Company sells on a purchase order basis rather than pursuant to contracts with minimum purchase requirements; risks inherent with conducting international operations; the Company’s ability to execute on its business strategy and to achieve anticipated synergies and benefits from business acquisitions, including any cost reduction plans and the continued and increased demand for and market acceptance of its services, which could negatively affect the Company’s ability to meet its revenue, operating income and cost savings targets, maintain and improve its cash position, expand its operations and revenue, lower its costs, improve its gross margins, reach and sustain profitability, reach its long-term objectives and operate optimally; increased competition and technological changes in the markets in which the Company competes; failure to realize expected benefits of restructuring and cost-cutting actions; difficulties integrating technologies, operations and personnel in accordance with the Company’s business strategy; loss of essential employees or an inability to recruit and retain personnel; the Company’s ability to preserve and monetize its net operating losses; failure to settle disputes and litigation on terms favorable to the Company; failure to maintain compliance with NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements; the Company’s ability to repay indebtedness and potential adverse effects from the phase-out of LIBOR; and the Company’s ability to negotiate and consummate the proposed transaction with Steel Holdings. For a detailed discussion of cautionary statements and risks that may affect the Company’s future results of operations and financial results, please refer to the Company’s filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2020. These filings are available on the Company’s Investor Relations website under the “SEC Filings” tab.

All forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future results, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor Relations Contact

Jennifer Golembeske

914-461-1276

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Tennessee United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Supply Chain Management Marketing Online Retail Retail Communications Technology Software

MEDIA:

Shift4 Payments: As Merchants Persevere Throughout the Fall, Transaction Volumes Show Continuing Impact of COVID-19

Shift4 Payments: As Merchants Persevere Throughout the Fall, Transaction Volumes Show Continuing Impact of COVID-19

Despite an October in which transaction volumes exceeded seasonal expectations, November transaction volumes reveal the impact of the ongoing pandemic

ALLENTOWN, Pa. & LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions, has revealed that the month-over-month change in U.S. merchant transaction volumes from October to November dipped more than in previous years as merchants and consumers contend with recent spikes in COVID-19 transmission and renewed health and safety restrictions. Nonetheless, Shift4’s data indicate that transaction counts in October reached totals that exceeded the expected seasonal decline.

The anticipated seasonal decline heading into the fall is often most discernable in the month-over-month change from October into November, where historical data indicates merchants may expect an average 5% drop in monthly transaction volume. However, this year’s data—posted daily on shift4cares.com—reveals a decline of 10% from October to November, suggesting that the typical seasonality of merchant transaction volume is being compounded by the recent nationwide rise in virus infection rates. Only two states—Hawaii and Florida—fared better than the historical average in month-over-month transaction volume change. As a state largely dependent on tourism, Hawaii proved to be a particular bright spot with a month-over-month transaction growth of 5% that bucked the nationwide trend. At the other end of the spectrum, however, Wyoming, Maine, and Vermont had greater than 25% month-over-month declines in transaction counts.

Despite this year’s pandemic-impacted decline from October to November, Shift4’s data reveals a silver lining in the transaction volume trends throughout the fall, particularly with regards to October’s stronger-than-expected showing. According to Shift4 historical data, merchant transaction volume in years prior to 2020 has typically exhibited a seasonal decline of 4% as businesses move from the peak of summer into October. However, Shift4’s 2020 data indicate that U.S. merchants this year experienced only a 1% decrease in the number of transactions processed during this time.

While the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly continues to present challenges, Shift4’s end-to-end payment volume continues to grow year over year as merchants continue to seek out innovative commerce technology. November end-to-end payment volume increased 13% compared to the previous year.

“Despite our positive YOY end-to-end volume growth and outperformance relative to industry statistics, it is quite clear that rising COVID cases, state restrictions, and cooler climates exacerbated the typical seasonal declines in payment volume,” said Jared Isaacman, Founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments. “I do think it’s important to recognize the struggle and resilience of small business owners as they continue to persevere through incredibly challenging circumstances. As we move through the winter months and with positive vaccine developments, it’s hard not to be optimistic that the end is near.”

About Shift4 Payments

Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company’s technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, ecommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more. With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com.

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Nate Hirshberg

Vice President, Marketing

Shift4 Payments

[email protected]

James McCusker

Managing Director

Solebury Trout

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Nevada Pennsylvania United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Retail Health Technology Infectious Diseases Other Retail Software

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Sale of Shares By Dollarama Insiders

PR Newswire

MONTREAL, Dec. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Dollarama Inc. (TSX: DOL) (“Dollarama” or the “Corporation”) announced today that two insiders, namely GRI Investments Inc., a private corporation controlled by the Rossy family, and The Rossy Foundation, have agreed to sell respectively 875,000 and 1,625,000 common shares of Dollarama in block trades to a financial institution, representing an aggregate of 2,500,000 common shares of Dollarama.

Once the trades are settled, GRI Investments Inc. will hold 4,264,614 common shares and The Rossy Foundation will hold 7,959,723 common shares, representing, in aggregate, 12,224,337 common shares or approximately 3.9% of the Corporation’s total number of common shares issued and outstanding.

Proceeds from the sale of shares by The Rossy Foundation will be used to fund existing commitments to charitable organizations. The decision by GRI Investments Inc. to sell a portion of its holdings in Dollarama was made for financial diversification purposes. Trades are expected to close on or about December 15, 2020.

About Dollarama

Dollarama is a recognized Canadian value retailer offering a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items both in-store and online. Our 1,333 locations across Canada provide customers with compelling value in convenient locations, including metropolitan areas, mid-sized cities and small towns. Select products are also available, by the full case only, through our online store at www.dollarama.com. Our quality merchandise is sold at select, fixed price points up to $4.00.

Dollarama also owns a 50.1% interest in Dollarcity, a growing Latin American value retailer. Dollarcity offers a broad assortment of consumable products, general merchandise and seasonal items at select, fixed price points up to US$3.00 (or the equivalent in local currency) in El Salvador and Guatemala and up to the equivalent of US$4.00 in local currency in Colombia through its 240 conveniently-located stores.

About The Rossy Foundation

The Rossy Foundation is a Montreal-based private foundation that was established in 2004. Its mission is to contribute to civil society and to improve the lives of Canadians with a focus on cancer care, mental health, civic engagement, education and the arts. It is committed to supporting the vibrancy of Montreal and also funds charitable organizations across Canada and internationally within its areas of focus.

www.dollarama.com

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sale-of-shares-by-dollarama-insiders-301191509.html

SOURCE Dollarama Inc.