VICI Properties Receives Top Ranking in Corporate Governance Survey

VICI Properties Receives Top Ranking in Corporate Governance Survey

– VICI Board of Directors Top Ranked Amongst U.S. Companies by Casino Journal/AEOTHOS Consulting Group –

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI Properties” or the “Company”), an experiential real estate investment trust, today announced that its Board of Directors received the top ranking for a U.S. company in a study by Casino Journal / AETHOS Consulting Group with 44 out of a possible 46 points. As disclosed in the article, “In determining the effectiveness of the size and makeup of a company’s board, we looked at six attributes: total number of board members, length of term, the chairman’s background, the presence of a lead director, ratio of insiders and outsiders on the board, and the board’s diversity policy.”

“We continue to be proud of the recognition that our Board of Directors has received regarding our outstanding corporate governance, and are very honored to be recognized as the top-ranked U.S. company in the Casino Journal/AETHOS Consulting Group gaming governance study,” said James Abrahamson, Chair of the Board of Directors of VICI Properties. “We believe our strong commitment to corporate governance significantly benefits shareholders as we strive to create long-term, sustainable shareholder value.”

The results of the survey, as measured in scoring points per category, were as follows:

COMPANY

SIZE &

MAKEUP

COMMITTEE

STRUCTURE

RELATED PARTY

TRANSACTIONS

EVALUATIONS

& COMMUNICATION

COMPENSATION

POINTS

GVC Holdings

16

8

5

5

10

44

Flutter Entertainment

16

8

5

5

10

44

VICI Properties

15

10

5

4

10

44

MGM Resorts

14

10

5

5

9

43

Caesars Entertainment

14

10

0

5

10

39

Gaming & Leisure Properties

12

8

5

4

10

39

Great Canadian Gaming

10

10

5

3

9

37

Wynn Resorts

12

10

0

5

10

37

Carnival

12

9

0

5

10

36

Everi

8

10

5

4

9

36

Scientific Games Corporation

9

10

5

3

9

36

Boyd Gaming

12

10

0

3

10

35

Eldorado Resorts

12

10

0

4

9

35

Penn National

9

10

0

5

10

34

Rank Group

7

8

5

5

9

34

Twin River Worldwide Holdings

10

8

5

2

7

32

Las Vegas Sands Corp

8

10

0

4

9

31

TransAct

8

9

5

2

7

31

Daktronics

9

10

0

3

8

30

Full House Resorts

10

8

5

2

5

30

Galaxy Gaming

12

4

5

2

6

29

Golden Entertainment

9

10

0

2

8

29

Canterbury Park

9

7

5

1

4

26

MGM Growth Properties

11

3

0

4

8

26

Galaxy Entertainment

8

8

0

2

7

25

Inspired Entertainment

13

1

0

4

7

25

Churchill Downs

5

7

0

4

8

24

American Gaming Systems

7

8

0

2

6

23

Melco Resorts & Entertainment

5

10

0

2

4

21

Century Casinos

5

7

0

3

5

20

MGM China Holdings

6

3

0

4

6

19

Ainsworth Game Technology

4

6

0

3

4

17

Monarch Casino and Resort

5

5

0

2

4

16

Source: Casino Journal

The full text of the report is available at:

https://digital.bnpmedia.com/publication/?m=9749&i=683970&view=articleBrowser&article_id=3817628&oly_enc_id=9675F6219356J4D

About VICI Properties

VICI Properties is an experiential real estate investment trust that owns one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality and entertainment destinations, including the world-renowned Caesars Palace. VICI Properties’ national, geographically diverse portfolio consists of 28 gaming facilities comprising 47 million square feet and features approximately 18,000 hotel rooms and more than 200 restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Its properties are leased to industry leading gaming and hospitality operators, including Caesars, Century Casinos, Hard Rock International, JACK Entertainment and Penn National Gaming. VICI Properties also owns four championship golf courses and 34 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip. VICI Properties’ strategy is to create the nation’s highest quality and most productive experiential real estate portfolio. For additional information, please visit www.viciproperties.com.

Investors:

[email protected]

(646) 949-4631

Or

David Kieske

EVP, Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Danny Valoy

Vice President, Finance

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: New York United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Entertainment Commercial Building & Real Estate Construction & Property Destinations Travel Casino/Gaming

MEDIA:

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USA TODAY NETWORK and The Gannett Foundation Announce 2020 National Grant Recipients for “A Community Thrives”

USA TODAY NETWORK and The Gannett Foundation Announce 2020 National Grant Recipients for “A Community Thrives”

MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), and the Gannett Foundation today announced 16 non-profit organizations that will receive national grants from the company’s A Community Thrives program.

Now in its fourth year, A Community Thrives awards grants to worthy causes in communities across the U.S. to help create positive change. Supported by the Gannett Foundation, the program also enables non-profits to promote their ideas and efforts on a national platform from the USA TODAY NETWORK, inclusive of USA TODAY and Gannett’s hundreds of local media outlets, to drive further support through donations.

After receiving more than 900 submissions from organizations across 45 states, A Community Thrives is awarding $2.3 million in grants: $1 million in National Project Grants and $1.3 million in Local Operating Grants. The program’s crowdfunding effort through MightyCause has raised an additional $3,341,000. A total of $5.6 million will be distributed to these non-profits from the Gannett Foundation and the program’s fundraising efforts combined.

“At Gannett, we take pride in supporting community-building initiatives. Through A Community Thrives, we lend financial support to that purpose and rally communities to champion good and meaningful causes. Congratulations and best wishes to these outstanding grant recipients and their amazing projects,” said Gannett Chairman and CEO Mike Reed.

The Gannett Foundation selected the 2020 national grants recipients based on the proposed projects’ viability, sustainability, community need and community building properties and service to historically marginalized and/or under-resourced groups.

The recipients chosen for the 16 grants are as follows:

BUNKER LABS INC, Chicago, IL — $100,000

Bunker Labs empowers military-connected entrepreneurs to create valuable networks and equip these entrepreneurs with resources & tools necessary to start and grow their businesses. This grant will support the delivery of 50 virtual (or in person if possible) education programs to targeted audiences in 2021.

30,000 Feet, Roseville, MN — $100,000

30,000 Feet will establish a Black Arts Center that will be an arts and social justice tech hub for creative expression for Black children in Saint Paul to open by February 2022.

FOOD RESCUE US INC, Norwalk, CT (Project in Detroit, MI) — $100,000

The grant will fund the expansion of Food Rescue US – Detroit to support the growing number of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in Detroit and the surrounding communities.

CREIGHTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, Phoenix, AZ — $50,000

Creighton Community Foundation will build vibrant food and culinary communities in east central Phoenix to increase access to nutritious food. This will be accomplished by partnering with a Title I school to build food growing space, refurbish a community food room, operate farmer’s markets, and engage community residents in growing and consuming healthy, local food to produce 250 tons of food for 1,500 hundred families.

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO INC, Columbus, OH — $50,000

Funds will support the local Racial Equity Partnership providing racial equity training and learning exchanges to staff, board members, volunteers, and clients of health and human service organizations throughout Franklin County reaching 5000 people.

SOLAR AUSTIN, Austin, TX — $50,000

Solar Austin’s Pathways to Clean Energy Careers program will facilitate avenues for students, particularly women and people of color, to enter Austin’s clean energy sector; Solar Austin will also develop best practices for local clean energy companies to improve diversity and inclusivity in their recruitment, hiring, and retention efforts.

LSU HEALTH SCIENCES FOUNDATION IN SHREVEPORT, Shreveport, LA — $50,000

The Eat Right and Move Program will address proper nutrition and exercise to promote better health outcomes in the Hollywood Heights neighborhood of Shreveport, LA. Outcomes will include: a reduction in obesity level and a decrease in cardiovascular risk factors upon completion of the 6 month exercise program, peer health mentors and policy assessment.

ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS, Asheville, NC — $50,000

GreenWorks plans to reforest the City of Asheville by planting 50,000 trees by 2040 in partnership with businesses, local government, and private citizens. This grant will support shade tree planting, tree give away events targeting redlined, under invested communities and volunteer engagement to support these efforts.

HAVENLY TREATS, New Haven, CT — $50,000

Havenly Treats will establish a series of paid advocacy workshops focused on building organizing capacity, cultivating solidarity across refugee immigrant communities, and advancing knowledge to build the economic and political power for 6 refugee women.

CREATIVE REACTION LAB, St. Louis, MO — $50,000

CDAP’s Creative Reaction Lab will educate and train formerly incarcerated and criminal justice system-impacted Black and Latinx youth to become civic leaders using a unique equity-centered creative problem-solving framework with six apprentices.

WORDS BEATS AND LIFE INC, Washington, DC — $25,000

WBL’s Creative Employment initiative will offer courses in music production, visual/media arts, performing arts, and the humanities to under-represented students with the goal of the participants becoming active participants in the DC /national creative economy.

GARY FOOD COUNCIL INC, Gary, IN — $25,000

GFC will develop the Urban Agriculture Youth Educator and Internship program to train and certify up to 100 children aged 12-17 for the nationally recognized Junior Master Gardener program in Gary. The students will then serve as paid interns on area farms and create distribution events to provide food to 1,500 families.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO, Canton, OH — $25,000

Junior Achievement will create a virtual platform called vFairs JA that will showcase the region’s most in-demand jobs to 5,000 -7,000 North Central Ohio 7th – 12th grade students in to increase access to rewarding and successful career pathways.

MESA UNITED WAY INC, Mesa, AZ (Project in Phoenix, AZ) — $25,000

Helen Hope’s, a program of the Mesa United Way, Culver Street project will provide a transitional housing space, a safe, stable environment, for Foster360 program participants who are experiencing homelessness. The grant will support two Culver Street apartments.

HOMELESS CHILDRENS PLAYTIME PROJECT INC, Washington, DC — $25,000

The Playtime Project works towards a long- term goal of increasing resiliency in children experiencing homelessness, thereby helping to break the cycle of chronic family homelessness. The grant will support the expansion of its child centered play program to a short-term family housing site in Ward 8 in Washington, DC and will pilot a program at the Rolark, a family shelter, to serve up to 100 children.

BETTER TOGETHER – FLOURISH NOW, Naples, FL — $25,000

Better Together provides temporary housing and support services to families needing foster care with the end-goal of family re-unification. The program will expand to serve 150 additional children with temporary foster host families and wrap-around support services.

For more information, visit A Community Thrives.

About A Community Thrives

A Community Thrives is a grantmaking and crowd-funding program from the USA TODAY NETWORK and is part of the Gannett Foundation. A Community Thrives supports non-profit organizations with projects focused on community building and, together with consumers, has helped to contribute more than $12 million since 2017.

About USA TODAY NETWORK

USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co, Inc. (NYSE:GCI), is the largest local-to-national media organization in the country, powered by our award-winning newsrooms and marketing solutions business. With deep roots in local communities spanning the U.S. with more than 250 local media brands, plus USA TODAY, we engage more than 140 million people every month through a diverse portfolio of multi-platform content offerings and experiences. For more information, visit www.gannett.com.

For Media Inquiries:

USA TODAY NETWORK

Hayley Hoefer, 504-339-2425

PR and Corporate Communications Manager

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Louisiana Ohio Indiana Illinois North Carolina Florida District of Columbia Connecticut Virginia Missouri Minnesota Arizona Texas Michigan United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Teens Children Publishing Communications Philanthropy Family Fund Raising Consumer Foundation

MEDIA:

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Freeport-McMoRan Sites Awarded The Copper Mark for Responsible Production Practices

Freeport-McMoRan Sites Awarded The Copper Mark for Responsible Production Practices

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) is pleased to announce the Copper Mark has been awarded to its first three sites: the Cerro Verde mine in Peru, the El Abra mine in Chile and the Atlantic Copper smelter and refinery in Spain. The Copper Mark is a new, comprehensive assurance framework that promotes responsible production practices and demonstrates the industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is the first and only framework developed specifically for the copper industry and enables each site to demonstrate to customers, investors, final manufacturers and other stakeholders their responsible production performance.

FCX initially signed a letter of commitment in September 2020 to commence the application process for six of its operating sites, with the first three being awarded today. The company has plans to validate all of its operating sites against the Copper Mark requirements.

Richard C. Adkerson, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased to announce our first three sites have been awarded the Copper Mark. As an early adopter of the Copper Mark assurance framework, we are committed to responsible production practices across our global operations. Freeport is foremost in copper, a metal which plays an essential role in the technologies necessary to support global decarbonization, to advance reliable electrical grids, telecommunications and transportation to connect and advance society. We are dedicated to supporting this progress by supplying the global economy with responsibly produced copper.”

To receive the Copper Mark, copper producers must be assessed independently against a comprehensive set of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria on a site-by-site basis. The framework currently is focused on copper producers at the beginning of the supply chain, but it intends to include fabricators in the coming years with the goal of establishing a chain of custody for the entire supply chain.

The Copper Mark was originally founded and developed by the International Copper Association (ICA), of which FCX is a member, in conjunction with various stakeholders including financial institutions, commodities exchanges, Nongovernmental Organizations, Original Equipment Manufacturers, and copper fabricators. The Copper Mark now is an independent entity and builds on the advice of its multi-stakeholder advisory council.

To learn more about the Copper Mark visit www.coppermark.org. To learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals visit https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

FREEPORT: Foremost in Copper

FCX is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. FCX operates large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum. FCX is one of the world’s largest publicly traded copper producers.

FCX’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; and significant mining operations in North America and South America, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in Arizona and the Cerro Verde operation in Peru.

By supplying responsibly produced copper, FCX is proud to be a positive contributor to the world well beyond its operational boundaries. Additional information about FCX is available on FCX’s website at “fcx.com.”

Cautionary Statement:This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical facts, such asplans to validate all operating sites against the Copper Mark requirements. The words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “targets,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “to be,” ”potential,” “assumptions,” “guidance,” “future” and any similar expressions are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.

FCX cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, expected, projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that can cause FCX’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in FCX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, each filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as updated by FCX’s subsequent filings with the SEC.

Investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions upon which FCX’s forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after the forward-looking statements are made. Further, FCX may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. FCX cautions investors that it does not intend to update forward-looking statements more frequently than quarterly notwithstanding any changes in its assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience or other changes, and FCX undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Financial Contacts:

Kathleen L. Quirk

(602) 366-8016

David P. Joint

(504) 582-4203

Media Contact:

Linda S. Hayes

(602) 366-7824

KEYWORDS: Arizona Chile Peru United States South America North America Spain Europe

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Mining/Minerals Natural Resources

MEDIA:

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Jennifer Smith Joins Brightcove as Chief Marketing Officer

Jennifer Smith Joins Brightcove as Chief Marketing Officer

Global Leader in Video Strengthens Executive Team as Industry Continues to See Exponential Growth

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV), the global leader in video for business, today announced that Jennifer Smith has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In her new role, Smith joins the senior leadership team to lead Brightcove’s marketing functions, including demand generation, product marketing, and marketing communications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201210005540/en/

Jennifer Smith, Brightcove Chief Marketing Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

Jennifer Smith, Brightcove Chief Marketing Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

“With the ever-increasing need for companies to digitally improve their customer and employee engagement, video is at a defining moment,” said Jeff Ray, Brightcove’s Chief Executive Officer. “As we enter 2021 we continue to see increased demand that we believe will only continue to rise. Jennifer’s vast knowledge, experience, and leadership within the high-tech industry will help expand Brightcove’s presence across global markets.”

Smith is an international marketing executive who brings more than 20 years of experience in global technology companies to Brightcove. She is recognized for her leadership skills in go-to-market strategy and has a proven track record of making improvements across product, sales and marketing for public and private companies. Most recently, she served as CMO at Alfresco Software (recently acquired by Hyland), where she led the transformation of the company’s positioning from technology vendor to platform solution provider, managing all aspects of marketing.

“Brightcove has been an integral part of the video industry for 15 years, having developed award-winning technology used by organizations around the globe,” said Smith. “As communication continues to evolve and thrive in the digital world, storytelling with video will be even more paramount to companies. I am thrilled to join the Brightcove team as we embark on the next chapter of growth. With innovation at its core and a focus on exceptional service to world-class customers, Brightcove is positioned to thrive, while we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in video.”

Smith holds a BA Upper Class Degree in Business Management from Brunel University Business School in London. Currently, she serves as President of The CMO Club’s Boston Chapter, and is an Executive Board Member on Evanta’s CMO Summit.

About Brightcove

When video is done right, it can have a powerful and lasting effect. Hearts open. Minds change. Creativity thrives. Since 2004, Brightcove has been helping customers discover and experience the incredible power of video through its award-winning technology, empowering organizations in more than 70 countries across the globe to touch audiences in bold and innovative ways.

Brightcove achieves this by developing technologies once thought impossible, providing customer support without parallel or excuses, and leveraging the expertise and resources of a global infrastructure. Video is the world’s most compelling, exciting medium. Visit www.brightcove.com for more information. Video That Means Business.™

Meredith Duhaime

Sr. PR Manager, Brightcove

[email protected]

603-785-8518

or

Chris Royal

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Audio/Video TV and Radio Marketing Communications Consumer Electronics Technology Entertainment

MEDIA:

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Jennifer Smith, Brightcove Chief Marketing Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

Abell Pest Control Surprises Employees with $400,000 Gift for This Holiday Season

As well as another $10,000 donated to food banks to help relieve hunger

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today Abell Pest Control announced that it is giving every Abell employee in North America a $500 gift, taxes paid, to incentivize spending in their communities in support of local businesses this holiday season. In addition to that, Abell Branches in both Canada and the U.S. will be contributing another $500 per branch to local food banks to help meet the needs of individuals experiencing food insecurity.

“Here at Abell, we hear every day from our employees and our customers how COVID-19 has impacted their businesses, the community, and their lives,” said John Abell, President, Abell Pest Control. “We wanted to do something to thank and support not only our employees but our neighbourhoods. This is our way of making the season a little brighter for everyone.”

Abell employees in Branches across North America, will receive cheques by special delivery this week. The company is encouraging people to pay it forward by spending the money in local businesses in their communities this holiday season. “Communities are the cornerstone of our company and we hope to inspire people to support and do what they can to help businesses weather the pandemic storm,” added Abell.

Food banks across North America have been severely impacted by the pandemic this year and hundreds of thousands of people need emergency food support. Abell is proud to announce that Branches in Canada and the United States will donate $500 to food banks in their local communities to help those in need.

“We are happy to do what we can to help food banks who are experiencing a drop in donations and an increase in use as a result of COVID-19,” said Abell. “We hope this donation shows our commitment to the communities where we live, work, and play.”

Abell Pest Control is a North American leader in pest control, hygiene, and disinfection services offering businesses and homeowners effective, safe, and dependable solutions since 1924. To learn more about Abell visit: www.abellpestcontrol.com

For more information contact:
Eliana Pasquariello, Abell Pest Control, [email protected]



ADT Acquires Tech Startup CellBounce

CellBounce
3G-
t
o-4G
radio
c
onversion
s
olution
c
ertified
f
or
u
se on AT&T
n
etwork

ADT
to
deploy c
ustomer
-installable conversion solution for 3G
s
unset
expected to minimize the
need for in-person,
required
upgrades

BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ADT (NYSE: ADT) has closed its previously announced acquisition of technology company CellBounce following thorough testing of its proprietary 3G-to-4G radio conversion technology, which is now certified for use on AT&T’s 4G cellular network. The user-installable device is expected to reduce the need for technicians to perform the required upgrade in many customer homes before the 3G network sunset. The device also will be made commercially available to third parties, allowing the larger security industry to benefit from this cost-saving radio conversion technology.

“We are very pleased the teams at ADT, AT&T, and CellBounce successfully created and certified an innovative solution to an industry-wide challenge that alleviates the need to send technicians into customers’ homes,” said Jim DeVries, President and CEO of ADT. “The CellBounce solution is expected to be a key part of our customer upgrade strategy in 2021.”

“By minimizing the need for in-home technician visits, CellBounce will help make the migration from 3G as seamless as possible,” said Robert Boyanovsky, vice president of Mobility and Internet of Things, AT&T.

First announced earlier this year, CellBounce is a plug-and-play conversion technology designed to solve one of the home security industry’s biggest logistical and financial challenges in the next year and a half. Many home security customers with 3G radios in their security panels can receive and utilize the CellBounce device, similar to a smart plug, by simply plugging it in to a power outlet near their security panel to enable continued cellular connection well beyond the 3G sunset.

The technology operates by converting 3G signals to communicate on AT&T’s 4G network, and the device can be plugged into a standard home power outlet. The CellBounce unit is equipped with a UL compliant battery back-up, that provides continuity for up to 24 hours in the case of power failure.

ADT worked closely with the CellBounce engineering team for over a year to ensure the solution works seamlessly. CellBounce has been tested and certified to support ADT customers and has received ETL and FCC certifications. ADT plans to deploy the device to ADT customers and offer it for sale to other security providers in early 2021. In addition, ADT is working on solutions to leverage the technology in other industries impacted by the 3G sunset.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

ADT has made statements in this press release and other reports, filings, and other public written and verbal announcements that are forward-looking and therefore subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are, or could be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided thereunder. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, our successful deployment of a commercially viable CellBounce solution; industry and consumer acceptance of such solution; cost effectiveness of such solution; successful integration of our acquisition of CellBounce; successful post acquisition implementation of the CellBounce solution; and other matters. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. ADT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements can be identified by various words such as “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “continue,” “propose,” “seeks,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “might,” “goals,” “objectives,” “targets,” “planned,” “projects,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. ADT cautions that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of ADT’s control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this press release, including among others, risk factors that are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein.

ABOUT ADT

ADT is a leading provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions serving consumer and business customers through more than 200 locations, 9 monitoring centers, and the largest network of security professionals in the United States. The company offers many ways to help protect customers by delivering lifestyle-driven solutions via professionally installed, do-it-yourself, mobile, and digital-based offerings for residential, small business, and larger commercial customers. For more information, please visit www.adt.com or follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Paul Wiseman
[email protected]
561-356-6388



Acquisition Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim for NBE-Therapeutics Marks First Major Biotech Exit for PPF Group

  • €1.18 billion acquisition provides for significant returns to PPF Group as NBE’s largest shareholder
  • SOTIO, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, and a member of PPF Group, continues development of two ADC products under the collaboration with NBE

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PPF Group, an international investment group, today announced the signing of a binding agreement to sell its stake in NBE-Therapeutics to Boehringer Ingelheim. NBE-Therapeutics is using its proprietary iADC™ platform to develop potential best-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. The lead program NBE-002, an iADC targeting ROR1, entered the Phase 1 clinical testing in 2020.

The transaction is worth up to €1.18 billion, and is comprised of an upfront payment to NBE’s shareholders as well as contingent clinical and regulatory milestones. Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

PPF Group initially invested into NBE four years ago, and was NBE’s largest shareholder at the time of the acquisition.

NBE-Therapeutics, as part of Boehringer, will remain at its campus in Basel, Switzerland and will continue to support the existing partnership with PPF-owned SOTIO on SOTIO’s two preclinical-stage ADC programs, SO-N102 and SO-N107. SOTIO is focused on developing clinical stage immuno-oncology therapeutics and directing the biotechnology investments of PPF.

“We’d like congratulate the NBE team on this major achievement and express our sincere gratitude to everybody who supported this journey over the last years,” said Jens Hennecke, Ph.D., chief business officer of SOTIO and a member of the board of directors of NBE. “From the beginning, we have been excited about the prospect of NBE’s iADC platform. This landmark acquisition, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, provides an important validation for our approach and points to the significant value of our two ADC candidates, SO-N102 and SO-N107. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NBE-Therapeutics to advance SO-N102 into the clinics by the end of 2021 and continue the preclinical activities for SO-N107.”  

Ladislav Bartoníček, shareholder of PPF Group, added, “We are excited for the future of NBE-Therapeutics as part of Boehringer Ingelheim. Boehringer will now use its expertise and commitment to oncology research to realize the potential of the iADC platform to create best-in-class ADC therapies for the benefit of patients. This acquisition validates our business model of investing into companies with potentially game-changing platforms and products.”  

Notes for Editors
PPF Group invests in multiple market segments including financial services, telecommunications, media, biotechnology, real estate and mechanical engineering. PPF Group’s growth rests on the development of traditional and new industries, the building of modern infrastructure, the digital economy and linking up Czech talent and capabilities with global opportunities. PPF Group’s reach spans from Europe to North America and across Asia. The Group owns assets worth EUR 44 billion and employs 98,000 people globally (as at 30 June 2020). PPF pays income taxes in each of 25 countries in which it operates and generates profit.

www.ppf.eu

www.twitter.com/ppfgroup

www.linkedin.com/company/ppf



SOTIO

is shaping the future of cancer immunotherapies by translating compelling science into patient benefit. SOTIO’s robust clinical pipeline includes a differentiated superagonist of the attractive immuno-oncology target IL-15, a platform to streamline personalized active immune cell therapies and a new generation of potent and stable antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). SOTIO is a member of the PPF Group. For more information, please visit the company’s website at sotio.com. SOTIO is a registered trademark of SOTIO a.s. in selected countries.

Contact:  
PPF SOTIO
Jitka Tkadlecová Richard Kapsa
PPF Group Spokeswoman Head of Communication
T +420 224 174 704 T +420 224 174 448
[email protected] [email protected]



James S. Shannon Transitions to Chairman of the Board of Directors for MannKind

Kent Kresa, former Chairman, will continue to serve as a Director

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MannKind
Corporation
(N
asdaq
:
MNKD) today announced that James S. Shannon, M.D., MRCP (UK) has been named the new Chairman of the Board of Directors effective December 9, 2020. Kent Kresa, the former Chairman of the Board, will continue to serve on MannKind’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

“Kent has done an incredible job leading the Board – as Chairman for the last four years and as Lead Independent Director for an additional five years prior to that,” said James Shannon. “As Al Mann’s successor, Kent helped continue Al’s mission of addressing the unmet needs of patients with diabetes and other serious illnesses. Since joining the Board in 2004, Kent has contributed significantly to the Company’s progress and he will certainly continue to do so. We are grateful for his leadership and we look forward to continuing to benefit from his experience.”

Dr. Shannon served on the Board from February 2010 until April 2012 then rejoined the Board in May 2015. Dr. Shannon is a recognized pharmaceutical industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership positions. He served as the Chief Medical Officer for GlaxoSmithKline from 2012 -2015 and prior to this, served as Global Head of Pharma Development for Novartis AG based in Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Shannon is trained in Medicine and Cardiology and received his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Queen’s University of Belfast and is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He currently serves on the boards of several companies including Horizon Therapeutics, Kyowa Kirin, Immodulon Therapeutics Limited, ProQR Therapeutics NV, and myTomorrows.

“I would like to thank Kent for our partnership during my time with MannKind,” said Michael Castagna, Chief Executive Officer of MannKind. “He has been a great mentor, for which I will be forever thankful. Having James as Kent’s successor speaks to the caliber of our Board. James’ keen insight and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry will be invaluable as we continue to advance the pipeline and focus on developing innovative medicines for both endocrinology and orphan lung diseases.”

About Mann
Kind
Corporation

MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) focuses on the development and commercialization of inhaled therapeutic products for patients with endocrine and orphan lung diseases. MannKind is currently commercializing Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, the Company’s first FDA-approved product and the only inhaled ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin in the United States, where it is available by prescription from pharmacies nationwide. MannKind is headquartered in Westlake Village, California, and has a state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Danbury, Connecticut. The Company also employs field sales and medical representatives across the U.S. For further information, visit www.mannkindcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon MannKind’s current expectations. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties detailed in MannKind’s filings with the SEC. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer to MannKind’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 as well as MannKind’s other filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and MannKind undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Company Contact:

818-661-5000
[email protected]



Beam Global to Present at The 13th Annual LD Micro Main Event Conference

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM, BEEMW), the leading provider of innovative sustainable technology for electric vehicle (EV) charging, outdoor media and energy security, today announced that its CEO, Desmond Wheatley, will be presenting at the 13th annual LD Micro Main Event investor conference on Tuesday, December 15 at 12:20 p.m. EST.

“The LD Micro Main Event investor conference provides a high-quality opportunity to describe the value and growth opportunities that Beam continues to create,” said Beam Global CEO, Desmond Wheatley. “I’m looking forward to updating the investment community on our progress and our plans. By all accounts 2021 is set to be an excellent year for the electrification of transportation and I believe that it will be an excellent year for Beam Global.”

Register here:


ve.mysequire.com/

The Main Event will feature a new and unique format, with companies presenting for 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A by a panel of investors and analysts.

“The time has finally come to do something different in the virtual conference world. Let’s see if we can pull off something that can be enjoyed by both executives and investors alike,” stated Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD, now a wholly owned subsidiary of SRAX, Inc.

The Main Event will take place on December 14th and 15th, exclusively on the Sequire Virtual Events platform.

View Beam
Global’s
profile


here


.

Profiles powered

by LD Micro

About
Beam Global

Beam Global is a Cleantech leader that produces innovative, sustainable technology for electric vehicle (EV) charging, outdoor media, and energy security, without the construction, disruption, risks and costs of grid-tied solutions. Products include the patented EV ARC™ and Solar Tree® lines with BeamTrak™ patented solar tracking, and ARC Technology™ energy storage, along with EV charging, outdoor media and disaster preparedness packages.

The company develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced renewably energized products that save customers time and money, help the environment, empower communities and keep people moving. Based in San Diego, the company produces Made in America products. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbols BEEM and BEEMW (formerly Envision Solar, EVSI, EVSIW). For more information visit https://BeamForAll.com/, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter.

About LD Micro/SEQUIRE

LD Micro began in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource to the microcap world. What started as a newsletter highlighting unique companies, has transformed into the pre-eminent event platform in the space. For more information, please visit ldmicro.com.

The upcoming Main Event will be highlighting a new format that will benefit both executives and the investors tuning in from all over the globe.

In September 2020, LD Micro. Inc. was acquired by SRAX, Inc., a financial technology company that unlocks data and insights for publicly traded companies. Through its premier investor intelligence and communications platform, Sequire, companies can track their investors’ behaviors and trends and use those insights to engage current and potential investors across marketing channels. For more information on SRAX, visit srax.com and mysequire.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results.

Investor Relations:

Kathy McDermott
[email protected]
+1 858-799-4583

Media Contact:

The Bulleit Group
[email protected]
+1 415-742-1894

Source: Beam Global via LD Micro



BeyondSpring Announces New Positive PROTECTIVE-2 Phase 3 Registrational Trial Results at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

– The plinabulin + pegfilgrastim combination reduces the incidence of
profound neutropenia
(ANC < 0.1 x 10E9 cells/L) by
53 % vs. pegfilgrastim alone

– The plinabulin + pegfilgrastim combination reduces the odds of having
febrile neutropenia by 41% vs. pegfilgrastim alone, based on reduction of profound neutropenia

– Posters
p
resented at
the
2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BeyondSpring (the “Company” or “BeyondSpring”) (NASDAQ: BYSI), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative cancer therapies, today announced the new data from its Phase 3 PROTECTIVE-2 Study 106 demonstrating that plinabulin in combination with pegfilgrastim offers greater protection against chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) than the standard of care, pegfilgrastim alone. The study not only met the primary and key secondary objectives, as previously disclosed on Nov. 16, 2020, but also demonstrated that the combination was 53% more effective than pegfilgrastim alone in reducing the incidence of profound neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count or ANC < 0.1 x 10E9 cells/L), 21.6% vs. 46.4%, respectively, p=0.0001, in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy with TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide). Profound neutropenia (PN) is a well-known risk factor to increase the rates of infection, febrile neutropenia (FN), and hospitalization among patients undergoing chemotherapy. Of clinical importance, the combination has shown to reduce the odds of having FN by 41% in comparison to pegfilgrastim, based on reduction of profound neutropenia.

“It is clinically meaningful to reduce FN risk by 41% in the combination, compared to pegfilgrastim alone, which is the only major breakthrough advancement in CIN prevention in the last 30 years. The CIN protection from plinabulin added to pegfilgrastim, particularly in the first week of chemotherapy when 75% of CIN-related complications occur before the effect of pegfilgrastim kicks-in in Week 2, fills the treatment gap in current standard of care,” said Douglas Blayney, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Stanford Medical School, and global PI for the plinabulin CIN studies. “The combination of plinabulin with pegfilgrastim represents a major advancement in offering protection against CIN, with the potential to reduce FN risk, in the care of cancer patients.”

The data were presented via a poster at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS): “Superior and Clinically Meaningful Protection Against Profound Neutropenia with the Plinabulin/Pegfilgrastim (Plin/Peg) Combination versus Peg In Breast Cancer Patients Receiving TAC Chemotherapy.” Profound neutropenia, an exploratory endpoint representing the most severe form of CIN, is associated with significant risk to patients and may require antibacterial or antifungal prophylaxis [Flowers JCO 2013]. It is attributed to both febrile neutropenia (48%) and infection (50%) [Bodey Cancer 1978]. In BeyondSpring’s PROTECTIVE-2 studies, patients with profound neutropenia had close to nine times the risk of FN compared to patients with no profound neutropenia. The new data presented at SABCS included:

  • 53% reduction in
    profound neutropenia
    i
    ncidence
    : combination (21.6%) vs. pegfilgrastim alone (46.4%), p=0.0001;
  • 50% reduction in m
    ean duration of
    profound neutropenia
    : combination (0.3 day) vs. pegfilgrastim alone (0.6 day), p= 0.0004;
  • The combination reduces the odds of FN by 41% vs. pegfilgrastim alone, due to its ability to reduce patients’ exposure to profound neutropenia.

This trial is a global, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded study in patients with breast cancer undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy with TAC (docetaxel at 75 mg/m2, doxorubicin at 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide at 500 mg/m2) for the evaluation of protection against CIN, comparing plinabulin (40 mg) in combination with pegfilgrastim (6 mg) in 111 patients to pegfilgrastim alone (6 mg) in 110 patients. On Day 1, they received TAC and plinabulin or placebo, and on Day 2, they received pegfilgrastim. Topline data from the Protective-2 Phase 3 trial were reported on November 16, 2020 highlighting that the study met its primary endpoint as well as key secondary endpoints.

“It is well recognized that CIN is directly related to chemotherapy’s ability to kill rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, fast dividing neutrophils in the bone marrow are adversely affected regardless of the chemotherapy type. As a result, we believe these outcomes are universally applicable to any chemotherapy, and are independent of cancer types,” added Gordon Schooley, Ph.D., BeyondSpring’s Chief Regulatory Officer. “As both the U.S. FDA and China NMPA recently awarded BeyondSpring’s Plinabulin CIN program with Breakthrough Therapy Designation status based on the interim phase 3 data of PROTECTIVE-2, and the Company now completing the PROTECTIVE-2 trial with positive and consistent results to the interim, we are well on track to submit our NDA for CIN in Q1 2021. The improved CIN prevention benefit of the Plinabulin/G-CSF combination would have the potential for CIN prevention of the myelosuppressive effects of different chemotherapeutic agents in millions of patients with multiple tumor types.”

Ramon Mohanlal, M.D., Ph.D., BeyondSpring’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Research and Development concluded, “Plinabulin represents a new treatment paradigm for CIN prevention, an area wherein G-CSF has established efficacy, but with short-comings due to its delayed onset of action, next day dosing requirement, bone pain induction, and platelet count reduction. Plinabulin has a fast onset mechanism of action, without causing relevant bone pain or thrombocytopenia, and can be given on the same day as chemotherapy. Plinabulin added to G-CSF offers superior prevention of CIN, and has the potential to avoid life-threatening infections and to improve short-term and long-term survival. Plinabulin’s anticancer activity from its immune-enhancing mechanism of action, together with its CIN preventive effects, has the potential to become a universal add-on to anti-cancer treatments in general.”

The above data are available on BeyondSpring’s website in the Posters section.

About Plinabulin

Plinabulin, BeyondSpring’s lead asset, is a differentiated immune and stem cell modulator. Plinabulin is currently in late-stage clinical development to increase overall survival in cancer patients, as well as to alleviate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN). The durable anticancer benefits of Plinabulin have been associated with its effect as a potent antigen-presenting cell (APC) inducer (through dendritic cell maturation) and T-cell activation (Chem and Cell Reports, 2019). Plinabulin’s CIN data highlight the ability to boost the number of hematopoietic stem / progenitor cells (HSPCs), or lineage-/cKit+/Sca1+ (LSK) cells in mice. Effects on HSPCs could explain the ability of Plinabulin not only to treat CIN, but also to reduce chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and increase circulating CD34+ cells in patients.

About CIN

Patients receiving chemotherapy typically develop chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN), a severe side effect that increases the risk of infection with fever (also called febrile neutropenia, or “FN”), which necessitates ER/hospital visits. The updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines expanded the use of prophylactic G-CSFs, such as pegfilgrastim, to include not only high- risk patients (chemo FN rate>20%), but also intermediate-risk patients (FN rate between 10-20%) to avoid hospital/ER visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The revision of the NCCN guidelines effectively doubles the addressable market of patients who may benefit from treatment with plinabulin, if approved, to approximately 440,000 cancer patients in the U.S. annually. Plinabulin is designed to provide protection against the occurrence of CIN and its clinical consequences in week 1, for early onset of action after chemotherapy. CIN is the primary dose-limiting toxicity in cancer patients who receive chemotherapy treatment.

About BeyondSpring 
BeyondSpring is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative cancer therapies. BeyondSpring’s lead asset, plinabulin, a first-in-class agent as an immune and stem cell modulator, is in a Phase 3 global clinical trial as a direct anticancer agent in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Phase 3 clinical programs in the prevention of CIN. The U.S. FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to plinabulin for concurrent administration with myelosuppressive chemotherapeutic regimens in patients with non-myeloid malignancies for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN). BeyondSpring has strong R&D capabilities with a robust pipeline in addition to plinabulin, including three immuno-oncology assets and a drug discovery platform using the protein degradation pathway, which is being developed in a subsidiary company, Seed Therapeutics, Inc. The Company also has a seasoned management team with many years of experience bringing drugs to the global market. BeyondSpring is headquartered in New York City.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “design,” “may,” “future,” “estimate,” “predict,” “objective,” “goal,” or variations thereof and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on BeyondSpring’s current knowledge and its present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors including, but not limited to, difficulties raising the anticipated amount needed to finance the Company’s future operations on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all, unexpected results of clinical trials, delays or denial in regulatory approval process, results that do not meet our expectations regarding the potential safety, the ultimate efficacy or clinical utility of our product candidates, increased competition in the market, and other risks described in BeyondSpring’s most recent Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this release and BeyondSpring undertakes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as otherwise required by law.

Media Contacts

Investor Contact:

Ashley R. Robinson
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+1 617-430-7577
[email protected] 

Media Contact:

Darren Opland, Ph.D.
LifeSci Communications
+1 646-627-8387
[email protected]