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Investis Digital Ranks the Top 100 Leaders in ESG Communications

Investis Digital

Investis Digital, a leading global digital communications company, announced today the publication of a 2022 ranking of the Top 100 global leaders that use digital most effectively to build their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reputations. The first-of-its-kind rankings were published in a report, The ESG 100, which offers insight into how businesses can build trust through their commitment to ESG. The rankings, based on a thorough analysis of investor relations (IR) and corporate communications websites, identified the following companies in the Top 10: 1. Unilever 2. Nestle 3. NatWest Group 4. SAP 5. Legal & General 6. BHP 7. Kingfisher Plc 8. AstraZeneca 9. Coca-Cola HBC 10. Informa To rank these leaders, Investis Digital applied its Connect.IQ proprietary tool and methodology to evaluate 1,000 websites of the leading publicly traded companies around the world. The company scored the companies along 50 ESG criteria, such as: A dedicated ESG and/or sustainability section. ESG strategy and approach, quantified. Statement of ESG principles and policies. Climate change topics and related risks. Greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, 2 & 3). Materiality assessment, quantified. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) topics. Diversity and inclusion reporting. The ESG 100 also offers insights into how businesses can more effectively share their ESG story based on Investis Digital’s own client work. For example, the report offers tips for how businesses can share their diversity/inclusion strategies on their websites. “In the age of stakeholder activism, global companies are under more pressure to share credible ESG strategies with every audience ranging from investors to their own employees, and The ESG 100 gives businesses a benchmark for what success looks like,” said Kristen Kalupski, global senior vice president of marketing at Investis Digital. “The Top 10 ESG companies consistently set clear ESG goals and share measurable progress toward meeting those goals through data-driven storytelling.” The Top 10 from the 100 best companies excelled in crucial categories such as reporting on Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions – which is especially important at a time when the world is more acutely aware of the interconnected nature of global supply chains. In addition, the leaders consistently made their ESG data downloadable and transparent, documented how well their efforts align with multiple ratings agencies and frameworks, published content that speaks to their approach with specific industry issues, stated their carbon neutral commitment and articulated a roadmap to net zero. “The leaders do more than share data,” said Kalupski. “Leaders build trust through transparency.” Grounded in its mission to create meaningful connections through digital to drive business performance, Investis Digital is committed to creating long-term value for its stakeholders through its proprietary approach called Connected Content™. As businesses update their ESG strategies, they’re also taking a closer look at how well they communicate those strategies to investors, customers, job seekers and employees who look toward corporations to play a more meaningful role in society. To read the full report, click here. Read more about Investis Digital’s work with ESG communications here. Investis Digital is a global digital communications company. Through a proprietary approach we call Connected Content™, we unite compelling communications, intelligent digital experiences, and performance marketing to help companies build deeper connections with audiences and drive business performance. A unique blend of expertise, technology and “always on” service allow clients to trust that their digital footprint and brand reputation is secure and protected 24/7 by our dedicated team of 600 digital experts across 9 global offices. To learn more, please visit www.InvestisDigital.com. Contact Details Investis Digital Kristen Kalupski +1 312-933-6714 Kristen.kalupski@investisdigital.com Company Website https://www.investisdigital.com

August 04, 2022 07:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CSG Systems International Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results

CSG

Signed One of the Largest Telecom Wins in CSG History with New Latin American Customer Successfully Migrated ~75% of New Charter Subscribers Through Q2 2022 Returned $55 Million to Shareholders via Share Repurchases & Dividends in H1 2022 CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Financial Results: Second quarter 2022 financial results: Total revenue was $262.2 million and total non-GAAP adjusted revenue was $243.5 million. GAAP operating income was $7.3 million, or 2.8% of total revenue, and non-GAAP operating income was $36.7 million, or 15.1% of non-GAAP adjusted revenue. GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $0.17 and non-GAAP EPS was $0.84. Cash flows used in operations were ($7.7) million, with a non-GAAP free cash flow deficit of ( $17.0) million. Shareholder Returns: CSG declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.265 per share of common stock, or a total of approximately $9 million, to shareholders. During the second quarter of 2022, CSG repurchased under its stock repurchase program, approximately 360,000 shares of its common stock for approximately $22 million. “With the backdrop of a turbulent macro-economic environment, Team CSG grew first half sales bookings more than 10% year-over-year, won several exciting new customer deals, and successfully migrated approximately 75% of the new Charter subscribers, paving the way for 3.6% year-over-year growth in both revenue and non-GAAP EPS in the first half,” said Brian Shepherd, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSG. “We also encountered challenges that eroded non-GAAP adjusted operating margin more than 1% point and impacted our cash flow in the quarter which CSG leadership is already addressing with a meaningful margin improvement initiative begun in Q2 to ensure we have strong CSG-like profitability in Q3, Q4, and beyond.” Financial Overview (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages): For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Results of Operations GAAP Results: Total revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $262.2 million, a 2.8% increase when compared to revenue of $255.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. Over half of this increase is due to the revenue generated from the businesses CSG acquired in 2021, with the remaining amount attributed to the continued organic growth of CSG’s revenue management solutions. GAAP operating income for the second quarter of 2022 was $7.3 million, or 2.8% of total revenue, compared to $32.2 million, or 12.6% of total revenue, for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease in operating income can be primarily attributed to the $17 million increase in restructuring and reorganization charges. The second quarter of 2022 restructuring and reorganization charges related primarily to real estate restructurings as CSG continues to rationalize its real estate footprint to reflect a flexible work approach, and impairments related to the dissolution of CSG’s controlling interest in MobileCard, as the investment was not meeting its projected targets. GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2022 was $0.17, as compared to $0.60 for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease in GAAP EPS can be mainly attributed to the factors discussed above. Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the second quarter of 2022 was $243.5 million, a 2.1% increase when compared to non-GAAP adjusted revenue of $238.5 million for the second quarter of 2021. The increase in non-GAAP adjusted revenue between periods is due to the factors discussed above. Non-GAAP operating income for the second quarter of 2022 was $36.7 million, or 15.1% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue, compared to $39.8 million, or 16.7% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the second quarter of 2021. The decreases in operating income and operating income margin can be mainly attributed to the businesses acquired in 2021, as those businesses are operating at a lower operating margin level than CSG’s organic business and require time to realize the expected synergies, increased staffing related to recently closed large deals and upcoming projects, inflationary and supply chain pressures, and increased travel expenses. Non-GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2022 was $0.84 compared to $0.82 for the second quarter of 2021. Balance Sheet and Cash Flows Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30, 2022 were $135.0 million compared to $187.6 million as of March 31, 2022 and $233.7 million as of December 31, 2021. CSG had net cash flows from operations for the second quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 of ($7.7) million and $44.5 million, respectively, and had non-GAAP free cash flow of ($17.0) million and $37.5 million, respectively. Cash flows for the second quarter of 2022 were negatively impacted by unfavorable changes in working capital. Summary of Financial Guidance CSG is updating its financial guidance for the full year 2022, as follows: For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Conference Call CSG will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss CSG’s second quarter 2022 earnings results. The call will be conducted live and archived on the Internet. A link to the conference call is available at http://ir.csgi.com. In addition, to reach the conference by phone, call 1-888-412-4131 and use the passcode 2327393. Additional Information For information about CSG, please visit CSG’s web site at csgi.com. Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of the website. About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that are based on assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what appears in this news release. Some of these key factors include, but are not limited to the following items: CSG derives approximately forty percent of its revenue from its two largest customers; Fluctuations in credit market conditions, general global economic and political conditions, and foreign currency exchange rates; CSG’s ability to maintain a reliable, secure computing environment; Continued market acceptance of CSG’s products and services; CSG’s ability to continuously develop and enhance products in a timely, cost-effective, technically advanced and competitive manner; CSG’s ability to deliver its solutions in a timely fashion within budget, particularly large and complex software implementations; CSG’s dependency on the global telecommunications industry, and in particular, the North American telecommunications industry; CSG’s ability to meet its financial expectations; Increasing competition in CSG’s market from companies of greater size and with broader presence; CSG’s ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses or assets to achieve expected strategic, operating and financial goals; CSG’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; CSG’s ability to conduct business in the international marketplace; CSG’s ability to comply with applicable U.S. and International laws and regulations; and CSG’s business may be disrupted, and its results of operations and cash flows adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This list is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to review the additional risks and important factors described in CSG’s reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. For more information, contact: John Rea, Investor Relations (210) 687-4409 E-mail: john.rea@csgi.com CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED (in thousands, except per share amounts) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) EXHIBIT 1 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE ANALYSIS Revenue by Significant Customers: 10% or more of Revenue Revenue by Vertical Revenue by Geography EXHIBIT 2 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. DISCLOSURES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Limitations To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), CSG uses non-GAAP adjusted revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin percentage, non-GAAP EPS, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP free cash flow. CSG believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with its GAAP financial measures, provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by CSG’s management in its financial and operational decision making. CSG uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the following purposes: Certain internal financial planning, reporting, and analysis; Forecasting and budgeting; Certain management compensation incentives; and Communications with CSG’s Board of Directors, stockholders, financial analysts, and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided with the intent of providing investors with the following information: A more complete understanding of CSG’s underlying operational results, trends, and cash generating capabilities; Consistency and comparability with CSG’s historical financial results; and Comparability to similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of performance under GAAP, and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial information. Limitations with the use of non-GAAP financial measures include the following items: Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles; The way in which CSG calculates non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the way in which other companies calculate similar non-GAAP financial measures; Non-GAAP financial measures do not include all items of income and expense that affect CSG’s operations and that are required by GAAP to be included in financial statements; Certain adjustments to CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures result in the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in CSG’s financial statements in future periods; and Certain charges excluded from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures are cash expenses, and therefore do impact CSG’s cash position. CSG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement only. Additionally, CSG provides specific information regarding the treatment of GAAP amounts considered in preparing the non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles each n on-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Basis of Presentation The table below outlines the exclusions from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures: CSG believes that excluding certain items in calculating its non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding CSG’s performance and these items are excluded for the following reasons: Transaction fees are primarily comprised of interchange and other payment-related fees paid, in conjunction with the delivery of service to customers under CSG’s payment services contracts, to third-party payment processors and financial institutions by CSG. Because CSG controls the integrated service provided under its payment services customer contracts, these transaction fees are presented gross, and not netted against revenue; however, other payments companies who do not provide and/or control an integrated service present their revenue net of transaction fees. The exclusion of these fees in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted revenue provides management and investors an additional means to use to compare CSG’s current revenue with historical and future periods, as well as with other payments companies. Restructuring and reorganization charges are expenses that result from cost reduction initiatives and/or significant changes to CSG’s business, to include such things as involuntary employee terminations, changes in management structure, divestitures of businesses, facility consolidations and abandonments, and fundamental reorganizations impacting operational focus and direction. These charges are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Executive transition costs include expenses incurred related to a departure of a CSG executive officer under the terms of the related separation agreement. These types of costs are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these costs in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Acquisition-related expenses include amortization of acquired intangible assets, earn-out compensation, and transaction-related costs. Transaction-related costs, which typically include expenses related to legal, accounting, and other professional services, are direct and incremental expenses related to business acquisitions, and thus, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The total amount of acquisition-related expenses can vary significantly between periods based on the number and size of acquisition activities, previously acquired intangible assets becoming fully amortized, and ultimate realization of earn-out compensation. In addition, the timing of these expenses may not directly correlate with underlying performance of the CSG’s operations. Therefore, the exclusion of acquisition-related expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Stock-based compensation results from CSG’s issuance of equity awards to its employees under incentive compensation programs. The amount of this incentive compensation in any period is not generally linked to the level of performance by employees or CSG. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to compensation included in CSG’s results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG’s business. The convertible notes OID is the result of allocating a portion of the principal balance of the debt at issuance to the equity component of the instrument, as required under current accounting rules. This OID is then amortized to interest expense over the life of the respective convertible debt instrument. The interest expense related to the amortization of the OID is a non-cash expense, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash interest costs of CSG’s convertible notes for cash flow, liquidity, and debt service purposes. Gains and losses related to the extinguishment/conversion of debt can be as a result of the refinancing of CSG’s credit agreement and/or repurchase, conversion, or settlement of CSG’s convertible notes. These activities, to include any derivative activity related to debt conversions, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Gains or losses related to the acquisition or disposition of certain of CSG’s business activities are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Unusual items within CSG’s quarterly and/or annual income tax expense can occur from such things as income tax accounting timing matters, income taxes related to unusual events, or as a result of different treatment of certain items for book accounting and income tax purposes. Consideration of such items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. CSG also reports non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to investors in evaluating CSG’s operating performance, debt servicing capabilities, and enterprise valuation. CSG defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency transaction adjustments, acquisition-related expenses, and unusual items, such as restructuring and reorganization charges, executive transition costs, gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt, and gains and losses on acquisitions or dispositions, as discussed above. Additionally, management uses non-GAAP free cash flow, among other measures, to assess its financial performance and cash generating capabilities, and believes that it is useful to investors because it shows CSG’s cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchase its common stock, pay cash dividends, and fund ongoing operations. CSG defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less the purchases of software, property and equipment. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliations of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands): Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except percentages): (1) Restructuring and reorganization charges include stock-based compensation, which is not included in the stock-based compensation line in the tables above and following, and depreciation, which has not been recorded to the depreciation line item on the Income Statement. Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliations of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (2) For the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 26% and 17%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rates were 27.5%, for both periods. For the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 30% and 28%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rates were 27%, for both periods. (3) The outstanding diluted shares for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2022 were 31.5 million and 31.7 million, respectively, and for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021 were 32.0 million and 32.1 million, respectively. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands, except percentages): (4) Interest expense includes amortization of deferred financing costs as provided in Note 5 below. (5) Amortization on the statement of cash flows is made up of the following items for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2022 Financial Guidance Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliation of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance, is as follows: Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance, is as follows (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliation of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS as included in CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (6) For 2022, the estimated effective income tax rate for GAAP and non-GAAP purposes is expected to be approximately 26% and 27%, respectively. (7) The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding are expected to be approximately 31.6 million. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for CSG’s 2022 full year financial guidance (in thousands, except percentages): Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities is provided below for the indicated period (in thousands): Contact Details CSG John Rea +1 210-687-4409 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

August 03, 2022 02:01 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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A New Country for Bitcoin Mining Officially Opens Its Doors

Benzinga

In 2018, the Armenian government entrusted ECOS to create and manage a Free Economic Zone to support the development of high technologies and the blockchain industry in the country. Learn more about FEZ here. Today, the company maintains more than 250,000 users that use cloud mining and hosting services worldwide, and now you can become a part of the ECOS mining ecosystem! An end-to-end infrastructure was built on the territory of the data center, including a service center, warehouses and regular supplies of spare parts, armed guards and a staff of servicemen located on the territory 24/7. ECOS data center receives an additional 60 MW of clean, affordable and stable electricity from high-voltage networks, which makes it possible to claim almost 100% up-time electricity. The new plot can accommodate more than 20,000 mining devices on an area of ​​ 2.2ha, with the potential to expand to an additional 200MW. Moreover, the optimal temperature of this region allows to eliminate problems with overheating without additional expenses - the average annual temperature in Hrazdan is 4.8°C. Also, we have to mention ECOS end-to-end service: The company takes full care and responsibility for the purchase of mining equipment from Bitmain, on behalf of our clients or simply helps to move from other data-centers to ECOS, the company's employees test, install and maintain equipment 24/7 and you can watch and control your assets directly from the mobile app. This is a really good opportunity to earn passive income with ECOS hosting and manage it with two clicks on your smartphone. Your earnings on mining are not so easy? Let’s check out all the benefits of here. “We have come a long way from legalizing mining in Armenia to launching our own energy infrastructure that is ready for scaling. We want to offer our partners simplicity in everything: from launching your mining business on our data-center to daily monitoring of the result in the application without leaving your home” — said Ilya Goldberg, managing partner of ECOS. — “Our bundled product is made to serve both institutional and retail clients from any part of the world.” Armenia patronizes the blockchain / mining sector and has allowed the creation of FEZ with unique conditions such as 0% income tax and 0% VAT, 0% import and export duties, 0% property and real estate taxes for the next 25 years, which allows our partners to receive maximum revenue on capital. At present days due to the lack of stable and affordable electricity in the world and the constantly changing legal requirements, ECOS services are extremely relevant, the company said. Crypto winter is coming to an end and now is the best time to start mining. Historically, it is most profitable to invest in cryptocurrencies during such periods. If you have not yet started earning on bitcoin mining, then start now with ECOS hosting! This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 03, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Mortgage Financiers & Crypto Securities Reclaim Their Spots As Most Actively Traded Securities On OTC Markets In June

Benzinga

Reflecting the expected conditions of a bear market, many of the world’s indices saw a decrease in price throughout June. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY), for example, declined 8.26% in June, a very similar decline to the one seen in April. The SPY’s maximum decline since its peak in January is 24%, falling within the standard definition of a bear market. The Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ: ONEQ) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA: DIA) displayed similar weakness, showing declines of 8.7% and 6.78%, respectively, in June. Despite the decline in market indices and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), OTC Markets Group Inc. ’s (OTCQX: OTCM) regulated markets experienced a slight increase in total monthly dollar volume, recording $45.2 billion in June compared to $44.5 billion in May. Additionally, the operator saw former cryptocurrency and mortgage financiers return to the helm of the Most Actively Traded Securities list on two of its regulated markets. Both the OTCQX Best Market and the OTCQB Venture Market maintained a significant international presence, with over half of the top most-traded securities across both markets composed of international operators. Crypto Reclaims The Helm Of The OTCQX Best Market Most-Active Securities The OTCQX Best Market recorded $9 billion in trading volume in June, a decrease from May’s $11 billion. Despite the decrease in volume, former leaders have begun to reclaim their place among the Most Active Securities list. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: GBTC), for example, has reclaimed its spot as the most-traded security on the OTCQX Best Market, followed by May’s leader Roche Holding AG (OTCQX: RHHBY) and Grayscale Ethereum Trust (OTCQX: ETHE). Additionally, the OTCQX’s top 10 most-active securities experienced a slight reshuffle in June, welcoming Experian PLC (OTCQX: EXPGY) and Tesco PLC (OTCQX: TSCDY) in place of AXA SA (OTCQX: AXAHY) and Sprott Physical Uranium Trust Fund (OTCQX: SRUUF). International operators, once again, maintained a strong presence on OTCQX, comprising 23 of the top 30 securities, down from 24 in May. France’s BNP Paribas SA (OTCQX: BNPQY) and Germany’s Infineon Technologies AG (OTCQX: IFNNY) and adidas AG (OTCQX: ADDYY) were again on the OTCQX top 10 most-active securities, while Mexico’s Wal-Mart De Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCQX: WMMVY) and Australia’s Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (OTCQX: FSUGY) made it among June’s top 30 most-active securities. Other notable movers: Danone (OTCQX: DANOY) claimed fourth place on the OTCQX’s list of most-traded securities, experiencing a 160% change in trading volume from last month. The OTCQB Venture Market Welcomes Back Mortgage Financiers The OTCQB Venture Market recorded $603 million in trading volume in June, a decline from May’s $896 million figure. June introduced two new entities to the OTCQB’s Top 10 Most-Traded Securities list. Biotech operator CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: CYDY) and aerospace and defense company Applied Energetics Inc. (OTCQB: AERG) represent the new faces on the list. Similar to May, the OTCQB Venture Market witnessed a number of novelties in June. In addition to two new companies, all three of the top most-traded securities in the market changed. Mortgage financiers Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) and Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) reclaimed their positions as the first- and third-most traded securities and Lake Resources (OTCQB: LLKKF) claimed its spot as the second most-traded security. All three former “Most Active Top 3s” – Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc. (OTCQB: NWBO), Sysorex Inc. (OTCQB: SYSX) and Netlist Inc. (OTCQB: NLST) – remain on the OTCQB’s Venture Market Top 10 Most Active Securities list, potentially hinting at sustained investor interest. Twelve international securities landed a spot among the top 30 most-traded securities. Of these 12 securities, eight are Canadian, two are Australian, one is English, and one is from Hong Kong. Other notable movers: Wiki Soft Corp. (OTCQB: WSFT) climbed to 12th place in the most-active group and recorded a $6.6 million rise in trading volume compared to last month. Sharing Economy International Inc. (OTCQB: SEII) experienced a $3.7 million increase in trading volume compared to May, climbing to 19th place on the OTCQB’s Top 30. The OTCQX And OTCQB Top 10 Below are the top 10 most actively traded securities on the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market in June. OTCQX Top 10: OTCQB Top 10: This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

August 03, 2022 02:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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“Place & Purpose,” Video Podcast Series With Greg Sarris and Obi Kaufmann, Explores How the Ancient Natural World Connects to Modern California

Greg Sarris

“Place & Purpose” debuts Thursday, August 4, live from the backcountry of Sonoma Mountain. The first in a series of monthly live events, hosts Greg Sarris and Obi Kaufmann will explore the passing seasons and reflect on whether or not so many patterns of the past are unraveling in wake of a fast-approaching future. Sarris and Kaufmann are storytellers for whom the chaos of the modern world is tempered by a deep connection to land, home and community. “We recognize that today’s society seems as challenged to remember the things it should, as it is to let go of the things that no longer serve,” stated Sarris. “We’re excited to explore the great opportunities for all of us to consider where our place and purpose fits into the larger natural world,” said Kaufmann. About the Series: “Place & Purpose” With Greg Sarris and Obi Kaufmann Length: 1 hour More info and link to the event: http://www.placeandpurpose.live About the Hosts: Greg Sarris is the author of “Becoming Story,” the anthology “Keeping Slug Woman Alive: A Holistic Approach to American Indian Texts,” the novel “Watermelon Nights,” and scripts for screen and stage including HBO’s “Grand Avenue.” He is Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and is a Distinguished Chair Emeritus in Native American Studies at Sonoma State University. Obi Kaufmann is an American naturalist, writer, and illustrator. He is the author of “The California Field Atlas,” a guide to the state's ecology and geography. The book features hundreds of his watercolor paintings of maps, wildlife and other aspects of nature. Other works include “The State of Water: Understanding California's Most Precious Resource,” “The Forests of California,” “The Coasts of California” and “The Deserts of California.” ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Brianne Miller +1 650-575-7727 brianne@landispr.com Company Website https://www.placeandpurpose.live/

August 03, 2022 08:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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A SUMMER SNAPSHOT OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRENDS

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/9s0kNEPgHg4 The heat is on as parents prepare to help their kids get to the head of the class for the upcoming school year. With pandemic issues still top of mind, they continue to seek fun ways to engage with their children, including vacation time, playtime, and sweet treats. Back-to-school shopping also remains a top priority with eighty-four percent of consumers expecting to see an increase in prices for popular items like clothing, school supplies, and electronics. The National Retail Federation finds this will likely lead to a hyper-focused approach to spending, including comparative online shopping, scouting out deals, and using more coupons. Bethany Braun-Silva has a summer snapshot of back-to-school trends, including the latest way for students to take notes and retain information. SWEET REWARDS: The start of a new school year can be stressful — not only for parents but for kids, too. Braun-Silva has one special and sweet way to reward and keep kids motivated as they head back to school, and it’s with something everyone loves: chocolate. For the first time in the U.S., Cinnabon has swapped the cinnamon for chocolate with its new Chocolate BonBites. “They taste fantastic,” says the lifestyle expert, adding, “These bite-sized rolls — filled with ooey-gooey chocolate and topped with chocolate and cream cheese frosting — make the perfect after-school snack and are available for a limited-time either in Cinnabon bakeries or through delivery, which is super convenient for a parent on the go. Get them before they’re gone!” The brand is offering an exclusive offer: a FREE 4-count of Chocolate BonBites with any purchase of $15 or more by using the code CHOCOLATE in the Cinnabon app today. For more information, visit https://www.cinnabon.com/?utm_medium=pr Direct link: https://www.cinnabon.com/?utm_medium=pr Social media handles: Facebook.com/cinnabon Instagram.com/cinnabon TikTok.com/@cinnabon Twitter.com/cinnabon Hashtags: #ChocolateBonBites, #chocolate LEARN WHILE TRAVELING: With remote schooling still an option in a few regions, families are exploring new destinations with special travel deals and in-suite virtual learning essentials. Braun-Silva mentions that there are ways to incorporate hybrid schedules into late summer and early fall travel plans. Learning remotely is one educational trend expected to continue for the first part of the upcoming school year. The lifestyles expert says now is a great time for parents to blend vacation season and at-home schooling together. Braun-Silva highlights how family getaways are an opportunity for kids to catch up on early reading assignments at the pool or on the beach, adding, “In my family, we even play spelling games and go over the times table. It helps make learning fun.” Braun-Silva admits environment plays an important part when choosing a destination, accommodations, and family activities. She says, “Howard Johnson by Wyndham is perfect! They have hundreds of locations, really fun mid-century modern rooms that my kids adore—plus free Wi-Fi—perfect for working or learning remotely. They offer a free light breakfast and a great rewards program, Wyndham Rewards.” Travelers can book now and earn a free night after just two stays. For more information, go to HoJo.com. Direct Link: HoJo.com Social media handles: Facebook - www.facebook.com/hojo Instagram - @HoJo Hashtags: #GoHappyGoHoJo STEALS & DEALS: Twenty-five percent of back-to-school shoppers have already begun with an uptick projected over the next two months. Braun-Silva says the coming weeks are all about finding the steals and deals. One helpful way to save time and money is by using the PayPal Honey desktop extension—an online shopping tool that helps discover deals and cash back. She points out that it is trusted by millions, and automatically searches for available coupons and applies the best working ones at checkout. This extension also helps find offers featuring Cash Back. Customers are able to redeem points for cash and other rewards h on eligible purchases, so they can take their money further while shopping for all their back-to-school needs. “It’s fast and seamless to install the PayPal Honey extension on your desktop in just a few clicks,” says Braun-Silva, “You can start saving on many of your favorite sites from tech to fashion to school supplies. PayPal Honey gives you the confidence you’re shopping smart and it’s the perfect way to find great deals for back-to-school” For more information, visit joinhoney.com. Direct link: https://www.joinhoney.com/explore STUDY ANYWHERE, ANYTIME: It has been found that writing notes by hand helps with focus, memory, and understanding information. That’s something Five Star® gets and has an innovative way to turn handwritten notes into a digital study tool. The lifestyles expert says the Five Star® Study App makes it easier for students to study anywhere, anytime. “It’s very user-friendly,” she points out, adding “The triangles on the left side of the paper allow the app to ‘flag’ important notes to turn them into digital flashcards, and the four corners enables scanning.” This is the evolution of how students consume and retain information. They get all the tried-and-true benefits of handwritten notes from compatible Five Star products and then turn them into a personal study aid. Find the Five Star study app in the Apple or Google Play app store and learn more at FiveStarBuiltStrong.com. For more information, visit fivestarbuiltstrong.com Direct link: https://www.fivestarbuiltstrong.com/notetaking-study-app/ Social media handles: Facebook: @FiveStar Instagram: @meadfivestar Twitter: @meadfivestar Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

August 03, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Steve Krull at Leading Entrepreneurs of the World

1BusinessWorld

Contact Details 1BusinessWorld Media Enquiries +1 212-220-6677 info@1businessworld.com Company Website https://1businessworld.com

August 02, 2022 05:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Doceree Partners with Tealium to Enrich Precision Targeting of Healthcare Professionals

Doceree

Doceree, a global platform building unprecedented solutions for HCP programmatic marketing with proprietary data tools, announced today a partnership with Tealium, the world’s largest independent customer data platform (CDP), to advance the capabilities to collect, collate and analyze data sets to elevate the proficiency of precision targeting within Doceree’s platform. Data is crucial to target healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the life sciences category, and so the collaboration unifies the targeting solution afforded to marketers via Doceree’s platform with the utilization of Tealium’s various data connectors. In addition, the integration advances the structure of data analytics from messaging campaigns to embolden marketers to decipher real-time metrics to obtain actionable data which can be implemented towards communications on the most relevant online channel. “Our partnership with Tealium unlocks a first-rate CDP for our partners that empowers them to better segment their data to optimize their communication strategies,” said Thomas Shea, Chief Revenue Officer (North America), Doceree. “Marketers will gain access to an exhaustive data collection tool to bring metrics together to incorporate holistic data-driven insights on target audiences to generate effective messages at the optimal moments during an HCP’s digital workflow.” The utilization of real-time data assets between the organizations illustrates the digital journey of audiences for marketers to recognize the ideal moments for interactions to target HCPs across online platforms. Furthermore, Doceree will join the Tealium Integrations Marketplace to expand the digital communication offerings to life sciences organizations within Tealium’s ecosystem. Tealium’s interface will now enable users to easily create and execute campaigns with Doceree’s programmatic solutions. “As the latest innovative technology offering in our marketplace, Doceree provides our client base with data-driven solutions that are singularly focused on supporting life sciences companies,” says Jay Calavas, Tealium’s Chief Innovation Officer. “By aligning with Doceree, we expand data-first analytics to unify and measure the impact of virtual exchanges cultivated within an online healthcare setting.” About Doceree Doceree is a global platform building unprecedented solutions for healthcare professional (HCP) programmatic messaging with proprietary data tools. It facilitates messaging between life sciences brands and HCPs through an extensive global network of digital endemic and point-of-care platforms to programmatically deliver personalized communications to HCPs and transparent marketing campaign metrics at scale. To learn more, visit doceree.com. About Tealium Tealium connects customer data – spanning web, mobile, offline, and IoT devices — so brands can connect with their customers. Tealium’s turnkey integration ecosystem supports more than 1,300 client-side and server-side vendors and technologies, empowering brands to create a unified, real-time customer data infrastructure. Tealium’s customer data solutions encompass tag management, an API hub, a customer data platform with machine learning, and data management solutions that make customer data more valuable, actionable, and secure. More than 850 businesses worldwide trust Tealium to power their customer data strategies. For more information, visit www.tealium.com. Contact Details Doceree Kanchan Dass kanchan.dass@doceree.com Doceree Richard Krueger richard.krueger@doceree.com Company Website https://doceree.com/us/

August 02, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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A Million Dollars Will ‘Level Up’ Thousands of Houston Area Residents Out of Digital Divide

Comcast Houston

If you’ve ever played a popular 80’s video game, then you know about the disadvantages your character has right out of the gate. You can’t jump as high or as far, and it’s easier to lose the level and have to start all over again. But in the first few seconds, there’s usually always a chance to ‘level up’ your character. Instantly, you can jump higher and farther, run faster and if you encounter an enemy, you still have another chance at winning the level. There are thousands of Houston area residents who — from a digital perspective — aren’t ‘leveled up” and therefore struggle to participate in the digital economy. Some Houstonians still don’t know how to surf the web, write emails or create a resume. Others don’t even have a reliable and fast internet connection in their homes. The digital divide is still big. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Communities Survey, one in ten households, or 687,086 households, in the greater Houston area do not have an internet subscription or do not have a computer. They want to ‘level up’, and they are about to get it. Comcast, the Houston area’s largest internet service provider, is giving more than one million dollars this year to local organizations that help students, adults and people with disabilities ‘level up’ their computer, career development and tech education skills. The million-dollar investment will also support ongoing efforts to build awareness about low-cost or no-cost connectivity programs like Internet Essentials and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). “These investments are a part of Comcast’s ongoing efforts to make a real difference in southeast Texas by giving families an opportunity to thrive in this digital age,” Ralph Martinez, Comcast Houston’s Regional Senior Vice President, said. “The Internet is where life happens. It allows students to expand their educational aspirations and it empowers parents to explore better job openings so they can ultimately deliver a better quality of life for their families.” So far, Comcast has given grants to eight Houston area organizations. More announcements will be made later this year. United Way | Funding will be used to provide tech experts (Digital Navigators) to help people in need of digital skills training. BakerRipley | Funding will support computer skills, software, email and internet safety training for low-income adults in the Houston area. Comp-U-Dopt | Funding will support students participating in Early Adopters, STEAM Team and Learn2Earn, which brings technology education to area youth. Comp-U-Dopt will also use the funding to provide tech experts (Digital Navigators) to help people in need of digital skills training. Easter Seals of Greater Houston | Funding will support the development of a curriculum for people with disabilities to help them successfully learn to use digital technology to gain and maintain employment. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston | Funding will help high school students gain technical and leadership skills through the Workforce Readiness Program. AAMA | Funding will be used to purchase technology and equipment to support students through the training program at the Work and Learn Center, with an emphasis on digital literacy and design. Dress for Success | Funding will be used to provide Houston-area women with the resources needed to obtain long-term employment through access to job readiness training, digital skills workshops, computers and mobile labs. AVANCE-Houston | Funding will support adult literacy program and continue to build pathways to economic mobility for families in the community. “We are passionate about doing our part to help close the digital divide and committed to helping establish a more equitable foundation for learning, working and succeeding,” Martinez said. Comcast remains steadfast in its efforts to connect people to moments that matter, to connect families to opportunities in Southeast Texas. For more than a decade, the company has offered Internet Essentials to help low-income Americans access reliable, high-speed internet. Comcast is now a proud champion of the federal government’s new Affordable Connectivity Program. ACP gives qualifying households up to $30 towards their monthly internet bill. With ACP, Comcast’s Internet Essentials internet service is free. As more Houston area residents get the ‘level up’ they need, just like in their gameplay, they will have more chances to keep advancing—better jobs, better education, innovation, opportunities and yes, more fun and better gaming. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on connectivity, aggregation and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Houston Steve Campion +1 832-920-2001 Steve_Campion@comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

August 02, 2022 08:40 AM Central Daylight Time

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