Market Newsdesk

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Consumer insights platform DISQO today announced the expansion of its marketing organization to broaden and deepen industry relationships, promote its growing portfolio of solutions and to further accelerate its three-year consolidated annual growth rate of 441%. Offering access to one of the largest first-party, opt-in consumer panels in the U.S., DISQO helps researchers, agencies, brands and media companies cultivate higher quality audience insights for more confident marketing decisions.

In a year that has challenged many businesses with pandemic-related disruption, DISQO is recognized as a technology company to watch for its standout success:

• No. 253 on Deloitte’s 2020 Technology Fast 500
• No. 955 on Inc. 5000 2020
• LABJ 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2020
• Built In LA’s Top 50 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work for in LA
• Comparably’s Best Companies for Women 2020
• The Tech Tribune’s 2021 Best Tech Startups in Glendale
• Comparably’s Best Compensation Award for Small to Mid-Sized Companies 2020

To further accelerate and support this momentum, DISQO’s Co-Founder and CMO, Armen Petrosian, announced new additions to his team, including Anne Hunter, VP of Product Marketing; David Grabert, VP of Brand & Communications; and Karin Odell, Head of Demand Generation.

Hunter brings a wealth of experience from her roles as EVP of Strategy & Growth at Kantar; SVP of Advertising Effectiveness at comScore; and Head of Insights at AOL. Grabert was formerly Global Head of Marketing & Communications for GroupM, WPP’s world-leading media investment group; and prior held senior roles with Clear Channel Outdoor, Canoe Ventures and Cox Communications. Odell built her career in demand generation at B2B SaaS companies in Silicon Valley and Silicon Beach (L.A.), including roles at EZ Texting, Velocify and FirstRain. DISQO plans to grow its integrated marketing team under these new leaders.

“We founded DISQO because we saw a better way to help marketers know their consumers and create better brand experiences that drive their marketing objectives,” Petrosian said. “We’re proud of the consumer-first approach we’ve built and the recognition we’ve received. Anne, David and Karin each bring tremendous expertise in their respective fields, and each share our passion for evolving marketing with transparency and ethics that respect the consumer. They’ll help us take DISQO to new heights in 2021 and beyond.”

With a commitment to integrity and stringent anti-fraud practices, DISQO’s high-quality consumer panel is becoming a popular choice for marketing research firms and is also frequently used for audience extension by other panels. Behavioral data from DISQO is not cookie-based and thus uniquely positioned to ethically combine context and behavior for advertisers.

About DISQO

DISQO is a next-generation consumer-first insights platform that delivers unprecedented data and analytics to the market research industry. The company powers insights professionals and marketers with automated solutions that drive consumer research and improve ad effectiveness. Today, DISQO delivers an accurate and complete view of the consumer journey via technology built on the foundation of first-party research from millions of engaged consumers. By engaging consumers who choose to share their attitudes and behaviors, DISQO captures the highest quality data, empowering its clients to make confident decisions. Founded in 2015, DISQO is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and has over 160 employees.

To learn more, please visit https://www.disqo.com/.

Contact

Hollis Guerra
Blast PR for DISQO
[email protected]
805.403.0705

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Glatfelter Corporation (NYSE: GLT), a leading global supplier of engineered materials is proud to announce that it has received the “Fine to Flush” certificate from Water UK for its improved nonwoven substrate used in dispersible wipes and moist toilet tissues.

The product was independently tested by the technical experts at the Water Research Center Limited (WRc), an independent Center of Excellence for innovation and growth, who have been at the forefront of research into wet wipes and their subsequent impact on water networks. Glatfelter is now expanding its already GD4 certified portfolio to offer a full range of customized dispersible wipes substrates.

“This project is an excellent example of Glatfelter’s dynamic innovation coupled with our deep commitment to develop eco-friendly solutions that will enhance everyday life for millions of people around the world,” said Chris Astley, Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer. Glatfelter’s dispersible wipes substrates begin to disintegrate immediately when flushed and will not harm sewage systems or block pumps at water treatment stations. In addition to being fine to flush, the product is free of chemicals or binders and is 100% biodegradable.

In addition to the company’s dispersible wipes that are Fine to Flush, Glatfelter produces a full portfolio of substrates for everyday use ranging from personal and home, including baby wipes, moist toilet tissues, and household surface wipes, to industrial applications for cleaning and sanitizing wipes.

About Glatfelter

Glatfelter is a leading global supplier of engineered materials. The Company’s high-quality, innovative and customizable solutions are found in tea and single-serve coffee filtration, personal hygiene and packaging products as well as home improvement and industrial applications. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the Company’s annual net sales approximate $925 million with customers in over 100 countries and approximately 2,500 employees worldwide. Operations include eleven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Philippines. Additional information about Glatfelter may be found at www.glatfelter.com.

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today highlighted the key milestones it achieved in 2020 as part of its transition from LIBOR (formally the London Interbank Offered Rate) to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR). Freddie Mac made significant progress across the enterprise in support of this important effort for the industry. Among its most recent achievements, in November, the company for the first time began purchasing and securitizing single-family adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans tied to SOFR.

“Freddie Mac’s 2020 actions continued to prepare us for the future cessation of LIBOR,” said Freddie Mac Interim President Mike Hutchins, executive sponsor of the company’s LIBOR transition effort. “This was a complex project across the firm with an aggressive set of objectives.”

Through external engagement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae and other parties, including participation on the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) and its working groups, Freddie Mac also launched new SOFR-indexed offerings and announced the discontinuation of LIBOR-indexed products.

“As an active member of the ARRC and many of its subcommittees, we worked with the industry to understand how different conventions of overnight SOFR can be used in our products and offerings,” said Ameez Nanjee, Vice President, Asset Liability Management and Freddie Mac’s official representative to the ARRC.

Although recent proposals in the United Kingdom indicate that LIBOR’s cessation date may be extended from the end of 2021 to mid-2023, Freddie Mac remains committed to preparing for a transition to alternative reference rates as soon as practical. The company plans to cease purchasing LIBOR-based products by December 31, 2020 and will continue developing liquidity in SOFR-based products. Freddie Mac will share additional information about its LIBOR transition efforts and milestones once the relevant U.K. parties have announced their final plans for LIBOR’s cessation.

Key accomplishments for 2020 included:

Single-Family

• Announcing that December 31, 2020 is the last date for LIBOR-indexed ARM purchases for mortgages originated on or before September 30, 2020.
• Enabling single-family lenders to start underwriting SOFR-indexed ARMs and seller/servicers to sell and securitize Single-Family SOFR ARM mortgages.

Multifamily

• Quoting SOFR-indexed Multifamily Loans, with $647 million funded to date, and more than $11.2 billion in the firm pipeline.
• Launching SOFR-indexed Small Business Loans with $1.2 billion in the pipeline.    

Capital Markets

• Ending issuance of LIBOR-indexed floating rate unsecured debt that matures beyond the end of 2021
• Issuing more than $144 billion in SOFR-indexed debt to date.
• Launching SOFR-indexed CMOs, with $1.2 billion of issuance to date.
• Announcing the end of LIBOR-indexed collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) issuance.
• Settling the first SOFR-based Single-Family Credit Risk Transfer transaction, a $1.1 billion STACR REMIC.
• Transitioning discounting for all derivatives (both cleared and bilateral books) from Effective Federal Funds Rate (EFFR) to SOFR discounting rate.
• Adhering to the ISDA Protocol in escrow, demonstrating our continued commitment to a transition from LIBOR to SOFR.

These achievements were in addition to the 2019 launch of Multifamily Floating Rate K-Deals, including a class with a SOFR-indexed coupon, and Freddie Mac’s engagement in the SOFR derivatives markets.

More information about the LIBOR transition is available on Freddie Mac’s LIBOR Transition website, which hosts the LIBOR Transition Playbook and answers to frequently asked questions.

Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we’ve made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance system for homebuyers, renters, lenders, and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com, Twitter @FreddieMac, and Freddie Mac’s blog FreddieMac.com/blog.

MEDIA CONTACT: Fred Solomon

703-903-3861

[email protected]

INVESTOR CONTACT: Ameez Nanjee

571-382-4090

WISeKey upgrades its WISeCoin blockchain technology with AI capabilities and integrates
physical and digital world in terms of value

AI takes the role of adaptive decision engine, offers meaningful insights to better understand objects and processes, and makes autonomous decisions based upon machine learning scripts

ZUG, Switzerland – December 17, 2020 – WISeKey International Holding (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading cybersecurity IoT company, today announced that its WISeCoin blockchain technology has been upgraded with AI capabilities.  AI allows the integration of physical world (objects, places and people) with digital world (software and analytics), creates meaningful insights and makes autonomous decisions based upon machine learning scripts.

 WISeCoin AG is a Special Purpose vehicle created by WISeKey in Zug to build the infrastructure for secure intra-object interactions and transactions using AI and blockchain. WISeKey applied and received regulatory clearance from Swiss financial market regulator, FINMA to issue a Security Token Offering (STO) in 2018.  The launch of this project is now scheduled for 2021 coinciding with the launch of Swiss Digital Exchange (SDX) in Switzerland by SIX Group (https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-digital-stock-exchange-branches-out-into-singapore/46210156).

Switzerland is one of several countries exploring the promised advantages of distributed ledger technology (DLT), a digital system closely related to blockchain. This would allow company shares and a range of other financial assets to be created and traded more efficiently. The plan is for WISeCoin AG issue a Token Offering in compliance with applicable Swiss law in 2021.

WISeCoin AG was formally established in August 2018 to secure the blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) world, which due to its continuously increasing size and complexity, is constantly vulnerable to cyber threats. WISeCoin AG benefits from the WISeKey architecture as the first and only vertically integrated platform combining proprietary cybersecurity software and secure microcontrollers designed to protect connected devices against evolving cyber threats.

Through its infrastructure, WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be the first mover in bringing legally enforceable transactions, certified by globally recognized WISeID and EIDAS accreditations, to blockchain.

To accelerate the pace of the implementation, WISeCoin AG was established to manage all blockchain initiatives and operations of WISeKey. With a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, WISeCoin’s mission is to pave the way for the daily use of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies in the IoT sector through blockchain.

Powered by WISeKey Semiconductors and secured by WISeKey Root of Trust (“RoT”) and Public Key Infrastructure (“PKI”), WISeCoin offers connected objects the ability to identify and authenticate each other, initiate, and then complete secure transactions.

Each connected object is equipped with WISeKey’s Secure Element consisting of a tamper resistant silicon chip, called VaultIC184. The state-of-the-art secure microcontroller, which can be easily integrated in any object by the manufacturer, is offered as a provisioning service to transfer the burden of device personalization to WISeKey’s secure Personalization Center. It is a next-generation technology designed from the ground up to be the data and value transfer layer for the Machine Economy.

The integration of arago into the WISekey platform upgrades the WISeCoin clockchain with AI capabilities by allowing the connection between the physical and digital world in terms of value. AI takes the role of adaptive decision engine, offers meaningful insights to better understand object behaviors and processes and makes autonomous decisions upon machine learning scripts.

Furthermore, the WISeCoin project will benefit from the recent joining  of WISeKey to Hyperledger, the multi-venture, multi-stakeholder effort hosted by the Linux Foundation. Hyperledger is an open source community focused on developing a suite of stable frameworks, tools and libraries for enterprise-grade blockchain deployment.

WISeKey’s technology supports an ecosystem of connected devices and creates a secured platform to help these devices become intelligent and trusted, able to identify, authenticate and verify each other, gather and analyze data and then safely share with other devices. As a pioneer of blockchain technologies, we are committed to continue our journey of creating cutting-edge applications designed to solve peoples’ problems, transform businesses and create a better world.”

WISeKey’s blockchain-based solutions aim to override the need for a central authority by distributing information previously held in a centralized repository across a network of participating nodes. While blockchain is not owned by one individual or organization, anyone with an internet connection (and access, in the case of private blockchains) can make use of it, help maintain and verify it. When a transaction is made on a blockchain, it is added to a group of transactions, known as “blocks.” Each block of transactions is added to the database in a chronological, immutable chain. Each block is stamped with a unique cryptographic code, which ensures that records are not counterfeited or changed. The blockchain approach lacks legal validity in most jurisdictions, which only recognize the digital signatures as equally valid that manuscript signatures when generated using traditional PKI technology.

Earlier this year, WISeKey established the Trust Protocol Association (the Association) aiming to create a new Trust Protocol for the Internet by combining traditional Cryptographic Trust Models with permissioned blockchain transactions through strong authentication provided by the OISTE WISeKey RoT, a new Global Trust platform and an ecosystem of governmental, technology and business partners, each representing a certification node with the possibility of having multiple certifications nodes per country.

The combination of RoT with blockchain generates a new Trust Protocol in order to allow the blockchain to scale trusted transactions with embedded security, ensuring that each transaction submitted to the blockchain is digitally signed using keys that are trusted by the RoT and combining a vertical trust process verified by a reputable Third Trusted Party with the inherent decentralized trust provided by the blockchain.

This dual Trust Model solves one of the biggest challenges for the internet, which is to bridge the currently fragmented trust domains including existing, incompatible national RoTs used by many governments. By combining RoT with blockchain, our innovative Trust Protocol enables a wide range of use cases and business models that simply are not possible with using just current blockchain-based solutions.

About WISeKey

WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems for people and objects using Blockchain, AI and IoT respecting the Human as the Fulcrum of the Internet. WISeKey Microprocessors Secures the pervasive computing shaping today’s Internet of Everything. WISeKey IoT has an install base of over 1.5 billion microchips in virtually all IoT sectors (connected cars, smart cities, drones, agricultural sensors, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, computers, mobile phones, crypto tokens etc.).  WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be at the edge of IoT as our semiconductors produce a huge amount of Big Data that, when analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can help industrial applications to predict the failure of their equipment before it happens.

Our technology is Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey’s Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust (“RoT”) provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com.

Press and investor contacts:

WISeKey International Holding Ltd
Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
Chairman & CEO
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
[email protected]        

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)
Contact:  Lena Cati
The Equity Group Inc.
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
[email protected]

Disclaimer:
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VisitPay, the leader in patient financial engagement, was officially rated today as a standout patient financial engagement platform in the latest report from KLAS: Patient Financial Experience 2020. The report closely examined two pillars of the patient financial experience market — engagement platforms along with financing services — to compare vendors in customer satisfaction, capabilities and patient benefits.

“This report is the first to deeply explore an important solution category: fostering a positive patient financial experience,” said Mac Boyter, Research Director and report author at KLAS. “Providers we spoke with told us that VisitPay brings unique consumer finance expertise to the healthcare industry, and is a standout performer due to the strength of its technology and high overall customer satisfaction.”¹

The report determined that VisitPay’s messaging capabilities are superior, with the company rated highest compared to all vendors analyzed for customized messaging based on patient behavior.² Health systems note that VisitPay “has worked extensively to supply them with messaging tools that cover every scenario and has helped them optimize these tools, which they describe as adaptable and functional”.³

In the interest of driving dynamic and meaningful industry-wide change, VisitPay focuses on meeting the needs of large, enterprise healthcare providers. Of those surveyed, VisitPay was the only organization to have respondents solely from large organizations⁴, emphasizing its intent to deliver the broadest impact to patient and provider financial health.

VisitPay also came in at the No. 1 spot for supporting integration goals.⁵ KLAS notes that this high score is a result of the platform’s single sign-on functionality, enabled by interoperability and optimization with existing EMRs, with customers saying “the VisitPay platform has increased patient satisfaction and reduced cost to collect by consolidating bills and thus reducing patient pain points.”⁶

“With over a quarter million Intermountain and SelectHealth members already using VisitPay, and the platform’s deep integration with our My Health+ digital patient portal, VisitPay is a key part of our systemwide consumerism strategy going forward,” said Todd Craghead, Vice President of Revenue Cycle for Intermountain Healthcare.

Importantly, KLAS found that “VisitPay customers feel the vendor’s tools enable them to offer patients a variety of payment options, leading to increased collections”.⁷ This result is proving critical in today’s dire economic climate as the healthcare industry grapples with financial implications from COVID-19, a recession and more.

“We are honored to be ranked a clear category leader,” said Kent Ivanoff, CEO and co-founder of VisitPay. “This report validates our strategy of working exclusively with large enterprise health systems, delivering a unique combination of technology and consumer finance expertise that builds patient and member loyalty.”

The KLAS findings come on the heels of major partnership momentum for VisitPay. Since August, health systems including Geisinger, Riverside, ProHealth Care and WellSpan have joined other major systems such as Henry Ford and Intermountain Healthcare in partnering with VisitPay as they recognize the platform for its superior patient payment options and finance tools.

To download the full KLAS report, please go to: https://www.visitpay.com/executive-reports/klas-report-patient-financial-experience-2020/

About VisitPay

Founded in 2010, VisitPay is the leader in patient financial engagement. The company’s third-generation cloud-based platform is used by the nation’s largest and most innovative health systems to deliver transparency, choice, and control to patients managing healthcare payments and transactions. Through VisitPay, patients can access a comprehensive accounting of their financial obligations, as well as critical health plan and healthcare information, via a health system-branded portal. VisitPay’s proprietary analytics tailor consistent and fully compliant financing options that meet the unique needs of patients and their families, creating a simplified billing experience that drives both higher payment rates and improved patient satisfaction scores. VisitPay’s investors include Norwest Venture Partners, Flare Capital Partners, and Ascension Ventures.

Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Visit our Company Blog to access case studies, thought leadership, and news.

Media Contact

Natalie Pacini
Highwire PR for VisitPay
415-335-7641 ext. 43
[email protected]

^{_______________________________________________
1} KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 5

² KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 5

³ KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 5

⁴ KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 5

⁵ KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 24

⁶ KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 23

⁷ KLAS, Patient Financial Experience (2020) p. 5

ALAMEDA, Calif., Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jitterbit, the API transformation company, today announced it has named Mihir Shah Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy, a key business development role as the company looks to sustain and build upon its significant growth. A 15-year veteran in the enterprise and private equity space, Shah has extensive experience in the data management segment, having worked with organizations of various sizes, as well as outstanding deal-making credentials.

Shah most recently served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Magnitude Software, where he helped grow the business by three times in size and profitability via acquisitions over a three-year period. Since leaving Magnitude Software in May, Shah worked as an advisor to Audax Private Equity (“Audax”) for its investment in Jitterbit.

“Mihir comes highly recommended from board members, investors, and C-level executives due to his past experiences and the results he has delivered throughout his career,” said George Gallegos, CEO at Jitterbit. “We are excited to add an experienced veteran with a track record of scaling businesses by up to 400% through various M&A growth levers.”

“It’s a great time to join Jitterbit due to its leadership position in the fast-growing iPaaS segment, a market with multiple dimensions for growth including highly attractive adjacent markets and scaling through consolidation,” Shah said. “Audax’s recent investment in the company has created flexibility of capital structure, creating ideal conditions for Jitterbit to supercharge and accelerate its organic growth by exploiting inorganic growth opportunities.”

Before his four-year stint at Magnitude Software, Shah worked as an operating executive at Golden Gate Capital and also spent three years at Aspect Software, where he was Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy. Before that he spent nearly six years at IBM, where he worked as a Managing S Consultant and an M&A executive. He is a graduate of University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

About Jitterbit, Inc.

Jitterbit, the API transformation company, makes it quicker and easier for businesses to exploit data from any source, empowering them to rapidly innovate and make faster, more effective decisions. The Jitterbit Harmony API integration platform and API360 solutions enable companies to quickly connect SaaS, on-premises, and cloud applications and instantly infuse intelligence into any business process. To learn more, visit www.jitterbit.com or follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @Jitterbit.

Contact:
[email protected]