Market Newsdesk

SEATTLE, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: RDFN) — The U.S. housing market will likely withstand a wave of foreclosures as investors and first-time homebuyers purchase these homes, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. This analysis was conducted by Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.

More than 3.3. million of U.S. homeowners will be on the hook for delinquent payments when mortgage forbearance ends. While some of those homeowners who are overleveraged or unaware of their options will contribute to a wave of foreclosures, most will be able to work with their lenders to either refinance their mortgage or sell to cash in on rising home values.

“American homeowners have gained $2 trillion dollars in home equity since the beginning of the pandemic alone, thanks to double-digit price growth driven by soaring homebuyer demand as the supply of homes for sale fell to historic lows,” said Fairweather. “And an impending wave of foreclosed homes will only make a small dent in the inventory drought. First-time homebuyers and investors will likely quickly buy up any foreclosed homes, leaving the larger housing market unimpacted. While this is good news for the housing market and economy, it highlights a growing inequality between Americans who have suffered deeply during the pandemic recession and Americans who have been largely unaffected or have even become wealthier.”

At the peak of the foreclosure crisis in 2010, the national average loan-to-value ratio was 94%,  meaning the average homeowner owed her lender nearly as much (94%) as the value of her home. As a result, many financially stressed homeowners couldn’t even afford to sell their home after paying agent fees of 6% and closing costs, so they often ended up in foreclosure. Currently the average loan-to-value ratio, among metros that report data, is 70%, meaning that the average homeowner has built 10% additional equity beyond an initial 20% down payment.

Currently the metro with the highest loan-to-value ratio is Virginia Beach at 86.2%, but that is likely due to the high volume of low-downpayment mortgages for local veterans. But because military employment has been unaffected by the pandemic, just 0.3% of homeowners say they are somewhat likely or very likely to be in foreclosure in the next two months, according to the Census Household Pulse Survey (see table in Redfin report for data on each metro).

Las Vegas has the highest unemployment rate at 14.8%, but Las Vegas homeowners have plenty of equity with an average loan-to-value ratio of 67.9%. As a result, many Las Vegas homeowners are tapping their home equity and downsizing. New listings are up 6.9% from last year, but for every seller there are buyers moving in, which has kept the housing market strong—home sales are up 9.3% from last year.

“I’ve worked with some people who are downsizing, finding something that fits their new budget,” said Redfin Las Vegas Agent Marco Di Pasqualucci. “Many have lost a job and aren’t sure if or when it’s going to come back. The common plan for these people is to take the equity out of their current home and rent something very affordable for a while. For some people, it’s a move for survival.”

Homeowners in forbearance have options to avoid foreclosure

Atlanta has the highest share of homeowners reporting they feel they are very or somewhat likely to face foreclosure in the next two months at 3.8%, and the fourth highest share of homeowners behind on mortgage payments at 13.5%.

“There was a misunderstanding in Atlanta for what the different options are for people in forbearance,” said Atlanta Redfin agent Ronisha Carson. “People didn’t know they could refinance, do a prorated monthly payment or tack it on to the end of their loan.”

“In my experience selling foreclosed properties, some people don’t take advantage of forbearance because they aren’t educated on what it entails,” said Redfin agent Gina Sapnar. “There are people who are in forbearance who don’t understand how repayment works. For some people payments are tacked on to the end of the loan, but for others it may be a large payment due immediately at the end of forbearance as a lump sum, which could be very tough for people to repay.”

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow borrowers in forbearance to defer repayment until the time the home is sold or refinanced. With record-low mortgage rates, homeowners behind on payments could theoretically refinance their mortgage debt into monthly payments lower than before the pandemic began. And if a borrower is in severe debt she may still be able to do a short sale or take advantage of cash-for-keys, where borrowers get a one-time payment to vacate their home.

Even if there is a wave of foreclosures, those foreclosed properties will have little impact on the overall housing market because there is a shortage of homes for sale—the total number of homes for sale is at a record low.

To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/Housing-Market-After-End-of-Forbearance/

About Redfin
Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered residential real estate company, redefining real estate in the consumer’s favor in a commission-driven industry. We do this by integrating every step of the home buying and selling process and pairing our own agents with our own technology, creating a service that is faster, better and costs less. We offer brokerage, iBuying, mortgage, and title services, and we also run the country’s #1 real estate brokerage search site, offering a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate. We represent people buying and selling homes in over 90 markets in the United States and Canada. Since our launch in 2006, we have saved our customers over $800 million and we’ve helped them buy or sell more than 235,000 homes worth more than $115 billion.

For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center. To be added to Redfin’s press release distribution list, email [email protected]. To view Redfin’s press center, click here.

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SOURCE Redfin

Companies expand their Quality Circular Polymers Joint Venture

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands and PARIS, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) one of the world’s largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies and SUEZ (EPA: SEV), a world leader in environmental services, today jointly announced the acquisition of TIVACO, a plastics recycling company located in Blandain, Belgium. The company will become part of Quality Circular Polymers (QCP), the companies’ existing 50/50 plastics recycling joint venture. With this transaction, QCP will increase its production capacity for recycled materials to approximately 55,000 tonnes per year.

“This latest investment in QCP supports LyondellBasell’s ambition to produce and market 2 million tons per year of recycled and renewable source-based polymers by 2030. Extending the plastics lifecycle through recovery, recycling and reuse not only eliminates waste but also produces a product with a lower CO² footprint,” said Richard Roudeix, Senior Vice President Olefins & Polyolefins, Europe, LyondellBasell. “This innovative approach is key to unlocking additional value from existing plastics while addressing brand owners’ needs for sustainable products.”

“We are thrilled to take a step forward with our long-term partner LyondellBasell. With the new acquisition, we will together speed up the use of quality circular polymers in Europe and support industrial manufacturers’ efforts to reach their environmental targets,” commented Jean-Marc Boursier, SUEZ Group COO. “It also confirms SUEZ’s ambition to become the world leader in environmental services by 2030.”

The TIVACO facility operates five production lines capable of processing approximately 22,000 tonnes of recycled plastic per year. This acquisition builds on the companies’ 2018 acquisition of QCP, a plastics recycling company in Geleen, the Netherlands which is capable of processing approximately 35,000 tonnes of material per year. Today, recycled materials from QCP can be found in consumer products including Samsonite’s S’Cure ECO luggage collection.

QCP is committed to ending plastic waste in the environment. The joint venture leverages the two partners’ respective strengths. SUEZ will utilize its leading-edge technology solutions in sorting and recycling to improve the preparation of materials to be recovered at QCP. LyondellBasell will apply its long-standing leadership in innovative plastic production technology, vast experience in product development and deep knowledge of important end markets such as consumer goods, where the company has a strong presence.

Both SUEZ and LyondellBasell are members of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global, cross-value chain non-profit organization committed to ending plastic waste in the environment. The Alliance brings together a diverse network of resources and expertise to create and scale innovative solutions around the world.

Cautionary statement
The statements in this presentation relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. When used in this presentation, the words “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, market conditions, the business cyclicality of the chemical, polymers and refining industries; our ability to develop and advance plastic grades that advance sustainability and the circular economy; and our ability to increase our production volumes of products made by recycling or with renewable feedstocks. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” sections of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

About QCP
Quality Circular Polymers (QCP) provides brand owners and plastics convertors with polymers of high and consistent quality based on used plastics. Reliable supply, integration, leading technologies and innovative recipes enable QCP to push the circular plastics industry to the next level. More information can be found at www.QCPolymers.com.

About LyondellBasell
LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road, and ensuring the safe and effective functionality in electronics and appliances. LyondellBasell sells products into more than 100 countries and is the world’s largest producer of polymer compounds and the largest licensor of polyolefin technologies. LyondellBasell offers a circular product portfolio that provides customers with solutions to increase recycled plastic content in their applications with high quality mechanically recycled polymers. In 2020, LyondellBasell was named for the third consecutive year to Fortune magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.” More information about LyondellBasell can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com.

About SUEZ
Since the end of the 19th century, SUEZ has built expertise aimed at helping people to constantly improve their quality of life by protecting their health and supporting economic growth. With an active presence on five continents, SUEZ and its 90,000 employees strive to preserve our environment’s natural capital: water, soil, and air. SUEZ provides innovative and resilient solutions in water management, waste recovery, site remediation and air treatment, optimizing municipalities’ and industries’ resource management through “smart” cities and improving their environmental and economic performance. The Group delivers sanitation services to 64 million people and produces 7.1 billion m3 of drinking water. SUEZ is also a contributor to economic growth, with more than 200,000 jobs created directly and indirectly on an annual basis, and a provider of new resources, with 4.2 million tons of secondary raw materials produced. By 2030, the Group is targeting 100% sustainable solutions, with a positive impact on our environment, health and climate. SUEZ generated total revenue of €18.0 billion in 2019.

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SOURCE LyondellBasell Industries

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC), a precision therapy company focused on genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy, today announced data from six oral and poster presentations highlighted at the virtual 62^nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. These data demonstrate the company’s broad efforts to understand the disease burden, accelerate the diagnosis and transform the treatment of systemic mastocytosis (SM).

“The medical needs in systemic mastocytosis are significant and urgent, and our presentations at the ASH annual meeting demonstrate our efforts to help address these challenges in collaboration with disease experts and the patient community,” said Andy Boral, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Blueprint Medicines. “AYVAKIT, an investigational precision therapy for the treatment of SM, is the only potent KIT D816V inhibitor to show a high complete remission rate in advanced SM, as well as improvements in mast cell burden, disease symptoms and quality of life in non-advanced SM. With this foundation of unprecedented clinical data, we continue to build momentum toward bringing AYVAKIT to patients. Later this month, we plan to submit a supplemental new drug application to the FDA for AYVAKIT for advanced SM, and we continue to globally enroll the registrational PIONEER trial for non-advanced SM.”

Pure Pathologic Response (PPR) Measures Reduction and Elimination of Mast Cell Burden in Advanced SM, and Significantly Correlates with Improved Overall Survival (OS)

The IWG-MRT-ECNM response criteria (IWG criteria) are the current clinical and regulatory standard for evaluating treatment response in patients with advanced SM, and are primarily based on the resolution of organ damage. With the development of a potent and selective KIT D816V inhibitor, new PPR criteria were established by global SM experts in collaboration with Blueprint Medicines to measure objective reductions and elimination of neoplastic mast cells at the pathological and molecular level. These assessments are used in routine clinical practice, making the criteria more practical in the real-world setting.

In the Phase 1 EXPLORER trial, 53 patients with advanced SM were treated with AYVAKIT and evaluable for response per modified IWG criteria as of a data cutoff of May 27, 2020. The overall response rate (ORR) was 75 percent, and the rate of complete remission with full or partial hematologic recovery (CR/CRh) was 36 percent per modified IWG criteria, consistent with previously reported data. In the same population, the ORR was 77 percent and the CR/CRh rate was 47 percent per PPR criteria. Twenty-five percent of patients had a molecular CR/CRh, with no measurable evidence of residual KIT D816V mutation in the blood or bone marrow. Importantly, patients with a PPR response at six months had significantly improved OS (p=0.013). In the EXPLORER trial, AYVAKIT was generally well-tolerated, and safety data were consistent with previously reported results.

“For patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis, our primary treatment goals are to rapidly reduce their mast cell burden, improve quality of life, and importantly, prolong survival,” said Jason Gotlib, M.D., M.S., Professor of Medicine, Hematology, at the Stanford Cancer Institute and an investigator on the EXPLORER trial. “To advance clinical research, it is important to establish objective measures of response that correlate with clinically significant outcomes and can be broadly incorporated into medical practice. The development of pure pathologic response criteria is a promising approach for assessing treatment response to avapritinib and its impact on survival, and clinically validates the role of KIT D816V inhibition in advanced mast cell disease.”

Highly Sensitive Blood-Based Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) Test Detects KIT D816V Mutation in 95% of Patients

Registry data have shown a median delay of nine years from symptom onset to diagnosis in patients with non-advanced SM,¹ highlighting the need for new diagnostic tools.

In Part 1 of the PIONEER trial of AYVAKIT in patients with non-advanced SM, the sensitivity of ddPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) KIT D816V testing was evaluated. As of a data cutoff of December 27, 2019, in all 39 enrolled patients who received testing, a blood-based ddPCR test identified the KIT D816V mutation in 95 percent of patients, compared to 28 percent of patients evaluated by an NGS test performed on bone marrow aspirates. In addition, the ddPCR-based KIT D816V test was more sensitive compared to measurements of serum tryptase (77 percent) and bone marrow mast cells (90 percent) using standard World Health Organization diagnostic criteria. These results highlight the clinical value of blood-based, ddPCR-based KIT D816V testing as a confirmatory diagnostic tool to facilitate identification of patients with non-advanced SM, and a non-invasive screening tool for identifying patients with suspected advanced SM that requires a confirmatory bone marrow biopsy.

SM Patients Reported Worse Physical Functioning and Mental Health Compared to Historical Data for Patients with Lung and Colorectal Cancer

SM is characterized by unpredictable, severe and life-threatening complications despite best supportive care. To better understand the burden of disease, Blueprint Medicines is collaborating with clinical experts on the TouchStone survey, a study of adults with SM (n=56), and allergists/immunologists (n=60) and hematologists/oncologists (n=59) who care for patients with SM.

The TouchStone survey showed that SM symptoms have a profound impact on patients’ daily functioning, mental health, and ability to work or perform usual activities. Compared to prior research on colorectal and lung cancer patients, participants reported worse physical functioning and mental health based on the 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12) questionnaire, a valid and widely used health status measure. More than half of patients (54 percent) reported reduced hours at work, and 32 percent filed for medical disability due to their SM. Respondents cited the use of multiple over-the-counter and prescription medications, and frequent visits to physician specialists and the emergency department to manage their SM. In a one-year period, 30 percent of participants reported going to the emergency room at least once for anaphylaxis.

Healthcare providers broadly recognized the high disease burden in SM. A majority reported that non-advanced SM patients under their care feel depressed or discouraged, and limit their activities due to pain or discomfort. For healthcare providers, the most important treatment goals for advanced and non-advanced SM are improved progression-free survival and OS, and better quality of life.

Copies of Blueprint Medicines data presentations from the ASH annual meeting are available in the “Science—Publications and Presentations” section of the company’s website at www.BlueprintMedicines.com.

About SM

SM is a rare disease driven by the KIT D816V mutation. Uncontrolled proliferation and activation of mast cells result in chronic, severe and often unpredictable symptoms for patients across the spectrum of SM. The vast majority of those affected have non-advanced (indolent or smoldering) SM, with debilitating symptoms that lead to a profound, negative impact on quality of life. A minority of patients have advanced SM, which encompasses a group of high-risk SM subtypes including aggressive SM, SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm and mast cell leukemia. In addition to mast cell activation symptoms, advanced SM is associated with organ damage due to mast cell infiltration and poor OS.

Debilitating symptoms associated with SM, including anaphylaxis, maculopapular rash, pruritis, brain fog, fatigue and bone pain, often persist despite treatment with a number of symptomatic therapies. Patients often live in fear of attacks, have limited ability to work or perform daily activities, or isolate themselves to protect against unpredictable triggers. Currently, there are no approved therapies that selectively inhibit D816V mutant KIT.

About AYVAKIT (avapritinib)

AYVAKIT (avapritinib) is a kinase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations. For more information, visit www.AYVAKIT.com. This medicine is approved in Europe under the brand name AYVAKYT® for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring the PDGFRA D842V mutation.

AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT is not approved for the treatment of any other indication, including SM, in the U.S. by the FDA or in Europe by the European Commission, or for any indication in any other jurisdiction by any other health authority.

Blueprint Medicines is developing AYVAKIT globally for the treatment of advanced and indolent SM. The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to AYVAKIT for the treatment of advanced SM, including the subtypes of aggressive SM, SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm and mast cell leukemia.

Blueprint Medicines has an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with CStone Pharmaceuticals for the development and commercialization of AYVAKIT in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Blueprint Medicines retains development and commercial rights for AYVAKIT in the rest of the world.

About Blueprint Medicines

Blueprint Medicines is a precision therapy company striving to improve human health. With a focus on genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy, we are developing transformational medicines rooted in our leading expertise in protein kinases, which are proven drivers of disease. Our uniquely targeted, scalable approach empowers the rapid design and development of new treatments and increases the likelihood of clinical success. We have two approved precision therapies and are currently advancing multiple investigational medicines in clinical and pre-clinical development, along with a number of earlier-stage research programs. For more information, visit www.BlueprintMedicines.com and follow us on Twitter (@BlueprintMeds) and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding plans, timelines and expectations for interactions with the FDA and other regulatory authorities; plans and timelines for submitting a supplemental new drug application to the FDA for AYVAKIT for the treatment of advanced SM; expectations regarding the potential benefits of AYVAKIT in treating patients with SM; and Blueprint Medicines’ strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, business plans and focus. The words “aim,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Blueprint Medicines’ business, operations, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, including Blueprint Medicines’ ongoing and planned research and discovery activities, ability to conduct ongoing and planned clinical trials, clinical supply of current or future drug candidates, commercial supply of current or future approved products, and launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products; Blueprint Medicines’ ability and plans in establishing a commercial infrastructure, and successfully launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products, including AYVAKIT and GAVRETO™ (pralsetinib); Blueprint Medicines’ ability to successfully expand the approved indications for AYVAKIT and GAVRETO or obtain marketing approval for AYVAKIT and GAVRETO in additional geographies in the future; the delay of any current or planned clinical trials or the development of Blueprint Medicines’ current or future drug candidates; Blueprint Medicines’ advancement of multiple early-stage efforts; Blueprint Medicines’ ability to successfully demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its drug candidates and gain approval of its drug candidates on a timely basis, if at all; the pre-clinical and clinical results for Blueprint Medicines’ drug candidates, which may not support further development of such drug candidates; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials; Blueprint Medicines’ ability to develop and commercialize companion diagnostic tests for its current and future drug candidates; and the success of Blueprint Medicines’ current and future collaborations, partnerships or licensing arrangements, including Blueprint Medicines’ global collaboration with Roche for the development and commercialization of GAVRETO. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Blueprint Medicines’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Blueprint Medicines’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other filings that Blueprint Medicines has made or may make with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Blueprint Medicines’ views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Except as required by law, Blueprint Medicines explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. 

Reference

¹ Jennings SV, Slee VM, Zach, RM, et al. Patient Perceptions in Mast Cell Disorders. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2018;38(3):505-525.

Trademarks

Blueprint Medicines, AYVAKIT, AYVAKYT, GAVRETO and associated logos are trademarks of Blueprint Medicines Corporation.

 

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SOURCE Blueprint Medicines Corporation

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. (NYSE: RGT) (the “Fund”) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved amended terms for its previously announced conditional cash tender offer.

The Fund is now offering to purchase for cash up to 50% of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of October 12, 2020 (the “Shares”) at a price per Share equal to 100% of the Fund’s net asset value per Share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately following the expiration date for the offer. The tender offer will now expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 21, 2020, unless extended. None of the other material terms and conditions of the tender offer will change. The Fund will file an amendment to the Schedule TO it previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to reflect the amended terms described herein.

The closing of the tender offer remains contingent on the Fund’s stockholders approving a new investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Royce Investment Partners (“Royce”)¹. The Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund (the “Meeting”) at which such investment advisory agreement will be considered is currently scheduled to be held on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. As previously announced, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format and will be accessible solely by means of remote communication.

In connection with the amendment of the tender offer terms, the Fund entered into a voting agreement that covers Saba Capital Management, L.P. and certain of its associated parties (collectively, “Saba”) (the “Agreement”). The Agreement provides, among other things, that Saba will vote its Shares “FOR” the new investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Royce.

The tender offer is being made on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Fund’s tender offer statement on Schedule TO, as amended from time to time. Fund stockholders should read all tender offer documents carefully as they contain important information about the tender offer. Fund stockholders can obtain a free copy of the relevant tender offer documents at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by calling Innisfree M&A Incorporated, the Fund’s information agent, toll-free at (877) 456-3442. This press release is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell Shares and is not a prospectus, circular, or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of Shares.

About Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.

Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose Shares are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. common stocks (generally market caps up to $10 billion).

For further information on The Royce Funds℠, please visit our web site at: www.royceinvest.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release is not an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Fund. This letter may contain statements regarding plans and expectations for the future that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking and can sometimes be identified by the use of words such as “plan,” “expect,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “possible,” “continue” and other similar terms and phrases, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of the Fund, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additionally, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Additional information concerning such risks and uncertainties are or will be contained in the Fund’s filings with the SEC, including the Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders on Form N-CSR for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund’s Semiannual Report to Stockholders on Form N-CSRS for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020, and subsequent filings with the SEC. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Fund does not undertake any responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement.

Media Contact

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher: Lucas Pers 212-355-4449

Important Disclosure Information

¹Royce & Associates, LP is a Delaware limited partnership that primarily conducts its business under the name Royce Investment Partners and has served as the Fund’s investment adviser since the Fund’s inception.

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SOURCE Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.

BOSTON, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Stealth BioTherapeutics Corp (Nasdaq: MITO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction, today announced the appointment of Eve E. Slater, M.D., F.A.C.C., to the Company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Slater is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology and brings considerable experience from the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Slater has served as Senior Vice President for Worldwide Policy, Pfizer, Inc., Assistant Secretary for Health in the US Department of Human Services, and Senior Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Development, and SVP of External Policy of Merck and Co.

“Eve has helped change the face of medicine and new drug development in our country, from the bedside, where she still dedicates time to regular patient care, to industry and national public health policy leadership,” said Reenie McCarthy, CEO of Stealth. “We are thrilled to welcome Eve to our Board of Directors, where her passion for patients, scientific curiosity and regulatory acumen will help inform the development of elamipretide and our broader platform of mitochondrial targeted therapeutics.”

“Eve is a highly accomplished cardiovascular medical expert and an experienced executive who successfully ushered a prodigious development pipeline through worldwide approvals,” said Gerald Chan, Sc.D., Chairman of the Board of Stealth. “Her medical, clinical development, regulatory, and business experience augment the expertise of our Board. We are extremely fortunate to attract a professional of Eve’s caliber to help guide the future growth of Stealth.”

Dr. Slater was the Senior Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Development, and SVP of External Policy at Merck and Co., where she worked for over 19 years. Many of Merck’s drugs, including statins, vaccines, and HIV/AIDS medicines received worldwide regulatory approval during her tenure. She was a member of the U.S. Keystone National Policy Dialogue on HIV, and the NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council. As Assistant Secretary for Health, she was the first woman to hold this Senate-confirmed position, with special contributions in women’s health, biosecurity, and electronic health record standards.

Dr. Slater is currently Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she has taught for over 35 years. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Vassar College and an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed her residency and cardiology training at the Massachusetts General Hospital where she was the first woman Chief Resident in Medicine, and later led the Hypertension Unit, as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

“After collaborating with Stealth and its advisors on the company’s rare cardiomyopathy development efforts over the past year, I am enthusiastic about the potential of mitochondrial targeted therapeutics to treat both rare metabolic cardiomyopathies and the broader range of debilitating diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction,” said Dr. Slater. “I am delighted to join the Board and look forward to working with Stealth’s leadership team to deliver on the company’s mission to improve the lives of patients living with serious diseases of mitochondrial dysfunction.”

About Stealth

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria, found in nearly every cell in the body, are the body’s main source of energy production and are critical for normal organ function. Dysfunctional mitochondria characterize a number of rare genetic diseases and are involved in many common age-related diseases, typically involving organ systems with high energy demands such as the heart, the eye, and the brain. We believe our lead product candidate, elamipretide, has the potential to treat both rare metabolic cardiomyopathies, such as Barth, Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies and Friedreich’s ataxia, rare mitochondrial diseases entailing nuclear DNA mutations, such as POLG-related disorders, as well as ophthalmic diseases entailing mitochondrial dysfunction, such as dry age-related macular degeneration and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. We are evaluating our second-generation clinical stage candidate, SBT-272, for rare neurodegenerative disease indications following promising preclinical data in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. We have optimized our discovery platform to identify novel mitochondria-targeted compounds, including SBT-259, the SBT-550 series of compounds, and other compounds which may be nominated as therapeutic product candidates or utilized as scaffolds to deliver other compounds to mitochondria.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking include statements about the anticipated completion of the registered direct offering. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Stealth BioTherapeutics’ beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “expect,” “hope,” “plan,” “potential,” “possible,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “project,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Stealth BioTherapeutics may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including: Stealth BioTherapeutics’ ability to obtain additional funding and to continue as a going concern; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Stealth BioTherapeutics’ product candidates and future product candidates; the preclinical and clinical results for Stealth BioTherapeutics’ product candidates, which may not support further development and marketing approval; the potential advantages of Stealth BioTherapeutics’ product candidates; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. FDA, the EMA or other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites and publication review bodies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of preclinical studies and clinical trials of Stealth BioTherapeutics product candidates; Stealth BioTherapeutics’ ability to obtain and maintain requisite regulatory approvals and to enroll patients in its planned clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; competitive factors; Stealth BioTherapeutics’ ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing; and general economic and market conditions. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Stealth BioTherapeutics’ most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, as well as in any future filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, Stealth BioTherapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Investor Relations
Stern Investor Relations
Janhavi Mohite, 212-362-1200
[email protected] 

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SOURCE Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc.

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — With the holiday season in full swing, Pizza Hut is crossing cooking off the to-do list by delivering the ultimate gift: the Triple Treat Box. With three courses in one festive wrapped box, this is by far the easiest holiday decision you will make all season.

Arriving just in time for the holidays, each Triple Treat Box features a three-in-one meal, packed with two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks and 10 – that’s right, TEN – Cinnabon® Mini Rolls.¹ Pizzas are available on Hand-Tossed and Thin ‘N Crispy®, or get Original Pan® crust for a little extra. This festive, three-layer holiday package will arrive hot at your doorstep in time to satisfy all cravings at the dinner table. You’ll have visions of cheese, parmesan dusted breadsticks, and frosted cinnamon swirls dancing in your head.

“The Triple Treat Box is the gift that keeps on giving this holiday with 2 pizzas, 5 breadsticks, and 10 delicious Cinnabon mini rolls,” said George Felix, chief marketing officer, Pizza Hut. “We know the holiday season can get busy, so let Pizza Hut take care of dinner so you can focus on spending time with the people you love.”

The Triple Treat Box is now available for a limited time at traditional Pizza Hut locations nationwide, starting at $20.99.² As always, fans can opt for contactless delivery, carryout or curbside pickup.³ Click here to find your nearest Pizza Hut location.

Since March 2020, Pizza Hut has served more than 24 million contactless digital orders and welcomed several million new and re-engaged customers to their Hut Rewards loyalty program. Stay up to date on all things Pizza Hut by following along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Pizza Hut® 
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), has more restaurant locations in the world than any other pizza company. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., Pizza Hut operates nearly 18,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. With easy order options including the Pizza Hut app, mobile site, and Amazon and Google devices, Pizza Hut is committed to providing an easy pizza experience – from order to delivery – and has Hut Rewards, the Pizza Hut loyalty program that offers points for every dollar spent on food any way you order.

Now more than ever, restaurants have an important role in helping to safely feed families. As the largest pizza brand in the U.S. by store count, Pizza Hut is committed to doing its part. To help keep team members and customers safe, customers can get their favorite Pizza Hut pizza via three contactless offerings: curbside pickup, delivery, or carryout. Additionally, restaurant locations are working to implement new health and safety procedures including advising guest-facing team members to wear single-use personal protective gear, pizza box safety seals, pre-shift temperature checks, and counter shields to increase protection between customers and employees.

Pizza Hut is also the proprietor of The Literacy Project, an initiative designed to enable access, empower teachers and inspire a lifelong love of reading. The program is rooted in the foundation set by the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program, which is the longest-running corporate supported literacy program, impacting more than 14 million students each year. Pizza Hut is the Official and Only Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and NCAA®.

For more information about Pizza Hut, visit www.pizzahut.com or www.pizzahut.com/c/content/sitemap.   

Contact:
Brett LeVecchio, Pizza Hut
972.338.6730 / [email protected]

¹ Cinnabon® and the Cinnabon® logo are registered trademarks of Cinnabon Franchisor SPV LLC ©2020 Cinnabon Franchisor SPV LLC
² Prices higher in some locations. Exclusions apply. Additional charge for Original Pan crust, extra cheese and additional toppings. Product availability, combinability of discounts and specials, prices and participation may vary.
³ Our team members do their best to accommodate contactless, curbside and other instructions, but availability may vary, and is not guaranteed. Delivery areas, charges and minimums vary. Delivery charge is not a driver tip.  

 

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SOURCE Pizza Hut, Inc.

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Bantec, Inc. (OTCPINK: BANT) (“Bantec” or the “Company”), Bantec, Inc., a product and services company, announces that Bantec signed an agreement with Connective Earth to assist Bantec in its exporting and importing efforts.  

Michael Bannon, Bantec’s Chairman and CEO, stated: “Our agreement specifies that Connective Earth will identify and introduce us to foreign entities that can purchase products from Bantec Sanitizing.  In addition, Connective Earth will identify and introduce us to foreign entities that can supply Bantec with personal protective equipment and sanitizing products that can be sold here in the United States.”   

About Connective Earth

Connective EARTH, through family offices, provides strategic development and capital advisory services to ESG, Impact and Clean Technology Companies.

Connective Earth Website: Connective Earth

About Bantec Sanitizing

Bantec Sanitizing, a division of Bantec, provides a variety of products and services to aid facility managers, safety professionals, and maintenance personnel combat a multitude of airborne and surface hazards.

Bantec Sanitizing: https://bantec.store/

About Bantec

Bantec, Inc, a product and services company, through its subsidiaries and divisions sells to facility managers, engineers, maintenance managers, purchasing managers and contract officers who work for hospitals, universities, manufacturers, commercial businesses, local and state governments and the US government. Our difference that matters consists of establishing lifelong customer and supplier friendships, responding immediately to our customers’ needs, and providing products and services through a highly technically trained, motivated, and incentivized workforce.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections of matters that affect revenue, operating expenses, or net earnings; projections of growth; and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Such forward-looking statements are generally qualified by terms such as: “plans, “anticipates,” “expects,” “believes” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or qualified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. These factors are discussed in greater detail in our Form 10 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:


Michael Bannon Chairman & CEO
[email protected] 
(203) 220-2296 

 

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SOURCE Bantek Inc.

MONTREAL, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Tecsys Inc. (TSX: TCS), an industry-leading supply chain management and omnichannel commerce software company, reports sustained performance and demand for its suite of supply chain solutions serving the healthcare, retail and third-party logistics industries. Heading into the holiday season, a notoriously busy time for supply chain organizations, Tecsys posts a seventh consecutive quarter of record revenue, buttressed by a 142% increase in SaaS revenue. Contributing to this SaaS momentum are major platform extensions and cloud migrations. The company continues to expand headcount quarter over quarter to support new business.

Among the notable bookings this quarter, Tecsys closed new business with two international automakers, one of Canada’s largest healthcare 3PLs, as well as continued booking penetration across multiple customers and industries by equipping them with the agility to adapt to a dynamic market.

“The demand for Tecsys software has proven resilient because our software makes supply chains resilient,” says Peter Brereton, president and CEO of Tecsys. “A multitude of point solutions have seen their ups and downs, but our end-to-end approach has shown vigor throughout, and continues to attract new business. Our solutions are about flexibility, which is especially important these days. New lockdown? Home delivery and curbside pickup. Retail slowdown? Micro-fulfillment and dark stores. PPE shortage? Disaster relief emergency warehouse solutions with low-training onboarding. Our customers have needed to twist and turn to keep up with the changing supply chain landscape, and we’ve been there to offer them support and resiliency.”

Brereton continues, “The exciting thing that’s happening at Tecsys is companies are realizing end-to-end supply chain agility trumps all. From retail to 3PL to healthcare, it’s not about predicting the future, it’s about being nimble enough to react to challenges and disruptions as they emerge without missing a beat. This has been our ethos for a long time, but now we’re firing on all cylinders as we flex that ‘agility’ muscle.”

About Tecsys
Tecsys is a global provider of supply chain solutions that equip the borderless enterprise for growth. Organizations thrive when they have the software, technology and expertise to drive operational greatness and deliver on their brand promise. Spanning healthcare, retail, service parts, third-party logistics, and general wholesale high-volume distribution industries, Tecsys delivers dynamic and powerful solutions for warehouse management, distribution and transportation management, supply management at point of use, retail order management, as well as complete financial management and analytics solutions. Tecsys’ shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TCS. For more information on Tecsys, visit www.tecsys.com.

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SOURCE Tecsys Inc.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions, is offering three additional educational webinars focused on the critical role indoor environments play in public health and safety. These sessions continue Carrier’s A Healthier Future Starts Indoors webinar series that launched in July and dive more into the critical role that fire safety and security play in creating healthy and safe buildings.

Dr. Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Carrier’s scientific advisor, will share deeper insights on the nine foundations of healthy indoor environments for homes and buildings.

Upcoming A Healthier Future Starts Indoors webinars include:

• 
  Enhancing Occupant Safety and Security in Today’s Buildings
   (December 15, 2020, 10:00 a.m. EST) will help building owners, consultants, and facility, IT, EH&S and security managers and directors understand the steps they can take now to make progress toward a healthier building through applying incident management technologies, reducing touch points, leveraging screening solutions, and achieving a better holistic experience through systems integration.
• 
  Building a Modern Healthy Home
   (January 20, 2021, 10:00 a.m. EST) will feature approaches for constructing and enhancing homes that create environments for healthy living based on whole-home indoor air quality and fire prevention. This session will provide useful insights for home builders, contractors, emergency response professionals and DIY experts.
• 
  Why Fire and Life Safety Plans Are Critical to Healthy Buildings
   (January 28, 2021, 10:00 a.m. EST) will address how to increase the value of two often overlooked elements of a healthy building infrastructure. Building owners, facility managers, IT directors and managers, operations and maintenance personnel, safety directors and managers, security officers and human resources leaders are encouraged to attend.

“The events of the past year unquestionably elevated awareness of the importance of healthy indoor environments,” said Isis Wu, vice president, Global Marketing, Strategy & Product Management, Carrier. “Our webinars are intended to illuminate ways in which critical stakeholders and decision makers can optimize building and home health, safety and efficiency to instill occupant confidence that the environment is safe and secure.”

The content of the webinars is intended to educate home builders and contractors, building owners and managers, facility and security managers, IT professionals and safety directors, in addition to retailers, homeowners and end consumers, among others about ways to enhance building health and safety as the world reimagines the spaces of the future.

Interested participants must register in advance for each webinar using the provided links.

To learn more about the solutions available to improve the overall health of indoor environments, visit http://www.corporate.carrier.com/healthybuildings.

About Carrier

As the leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions, Carrier Global Corporation is committed to making the world safer, sustainable and more comfortable for generations to come. From the beginning, we’ve led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit Corporate.Carrier.com or follow Carrier on social media at @Carrier.

Contact:

Stephanie Duvall

[email protected]

860-614-0783

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SOURCE Carrier Global Corporation

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, today announces its collaboration with Encina Development Group (“Encina”), a leading provider of solutions to produce renewable chemicals, to develop a long-term relationship enabling the production of circular, recycled polypropylene (PP).

Encina’s technology is able to produce renewable chemicals made from post-consumer plastic and the company is targeting to break ground on a new facility in the second half of 2021. Once completed, the facility is targeted to process 175,000 tons of plastic waste, converting it into more than 90,000 tons of recycled chemicals per year.  The plant will be designed to expand to 350,000 tons of incoming plastic waste in future phases.  Encina’s new facility will leverage its proprietary technology that economically extracts chemicals from plastic through catalytic pyrolysis. The process utilizes mixed plastics from post-consumer sources, which are currently costly to recycle and often destined for landfills.

As part of the collaboration, Braskem will work closely with Encina to develop the necessary logistics, product quality and certifications for a recycled propylene feedstock that Braskem will use in the production of recycled PP materials in applications such as food packaging, consumer and hygiene products. The parties announce today their intent to develop a formal supply agreement prior to the project’s financing approval in 2021.

Mark Nikolich, Braskem America CEO, states, “Encina’s technology and this important project will divert thousands of tons of hard-to-recycle plastic from landfills. As the North American leader in polypropylene, Braskem is actively looking to purchase sustainable propylene feedstock that will allow us to increase both recycled and renewable-sourced products in our portfolio – as stated in our new Circular Economy commitments.  This agreement is an important step in our next phase of growth as a company, aimed at realizing our vision of a carbon neutral circular economy and helping our clients meet their aggressive recycled content goals in the years to come.”

“We are very pleased to be working towards implementing our circular solution that directly addresses the global challenges of plastic waste we all see,” said David Schwedel, Executive Director, Encina. “Braskem is a market leader and deeply committed to sustainability, and we are thrilled to be working with their sustainability team to make a significant change in the end-of-life for plastics.”

Braskem is strongly committed to a world where nothing is wasted and everything is transformed. Recently, Braskem announced its new commitment to a Carbon Neutral Circular Economy, with clearly stated targets for growing their I’m green™ recycled products portfolio to sales of 300,000 tons by 2025 and 1 million tons by 2030.  Also, earlier this year Braskem became a founding member and funding partner of the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, an initiative of The Recycling Partnership with a focus on increasing U.S. curbside recycling access for polypropylene and ensuring PP is widely recovered and reused. Braskem is also a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. 

To learn more about Braskem’s commitment to a carbon neutral circular economy visit: https://www.braskem.com/usa/news-detail/braskem-affirms-commitment-to-circular-economy-and-to-achieve-carbon-neutrality-by-2050.  

ABOUT ENCINA

Encina Development Group implements solutions to produce renewable chemicals from waste plastics in the circular economy. Encina’s advanced and proprietary technology converts mixed plastic wastes into a traceable, renewable source of industrial base chemicals and fuels. The company is committed to resolving one of today and tomorrow’s greatest environmental challenges. For more information please visit: www.encina.com 

ABOUT BRASKEM

With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company’s almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improve people’s lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare and hygiene, among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico and Germany, and net revenue of R$52.3 billion (US$13.2 billion), Braskem exports its products to clients in more than 100 countries.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and operations in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit www.braskem.com/usa.  

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on our management’s current view and estimates of future economic and other circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, including Braskem’s commitments to sustainability. The words “commits,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans” and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the implementation of operating, financing and other strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of our management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.  Please refer to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC, as well as any subsequent filings made by us pursuant to the Exchange Act, each of which is available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov), for a full discussion of the risks and other factors that may impact any forward-looking statements in this presentation.

Braskem on social media:                                  

www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal 
www.linkedin.com/company/braskem 
www.twitter.com/BraskemSA 

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SOURCE Braskem