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Laos Government to Promote Digital Transformation with Blockchain Technology

MetaBank

The Laotian government and blockchain experts held the first Ministerial Conference on Blockchain 4.0 Digital Transformation on May 26, 2023, at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The conference, chaired by Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, was attended by leaders from the main economic departments. The meeting primarily discussed how to advance the digital transformation of Laos using digital technology, and for the first time, presented the theory of Blockchain 4.0 to the world, advocating for open collaboration and global co-construction, and boosting Laos' potential to be a builder and beneficiary of the global digital world order through national digital operations. Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone stated that in order to achieve the ninth five-year plan for national economic and social development, Laos must vigorously develop and utilize blockchain technology to digitize various government tasks and apply it extensively to administrative management and public services. The Laotian Minister of Technology, Boveingkham Vongdara, said that Laos faces opportunities and challenges brought about by Industry 4.0 and needs to use blockchain technology to transform production and service methods. To promote the digital transformation of Laos, the Ministry of Technology has signed a cooperation agreement with Singapore's MetaBank, planning to establish a blockchain technology research and development center and develop talents. The conference set goals for Laos's digital economy development, including utilizing digital technology to create new fiscal revenue, increase foreign exchange reserves, reduce inflation, achieve sustainable economic growth, improve living standards, and enhance international competitiveness in the short term. The meeting also proposed the establishment of a Blockchain Technology Transformation Committee, responsible for the legal compliance and legislation related to the digital economy. Experts attending the meeting stated that blockchain technology could help developing countries achieve "leapfrog development". Building a digital nation is divided into four stages: deploying digital infrastructure, deploying cybersecurity infrastructure, supporting the digitalization of various industries, and building a "digital brain". Developing countries should focus on open collaboration, use borderless blockchain technology to attract talents, and create "netizen citizens". Professor Bill Roscoe shared his perspective, asserting that blockchain technology serves as the driving force propelling us towards a digital civilization. How can ordinary people accept or understand the digital world? It needs to be promoted through the introduction of products and services. Specifically, a controllable platform is needed to ensure that citizens, enterprises, and the government abide by laws and regulations. Blockchain can establish a very effective platform and achieve the best balance and integration between different applications and jurisdictions through the integration of new languages and technologies. "Digital civilization is the inevitable path for the future development of society, and blockchain will become the 'cornerstone' of building digital civilization." MetaBank's founder and chairman, Frank Sui, believes that blockchain technology can help developing countries "overtake on a bend". MetaBank's mission is to serve as the leading solution partner for developing countries using blockchain technology, accelerating the transformation of developing countries towards digital civilization, improving the GDP and living standards of developing countries, and building a digital civilization on the three main pillars of digital financial infrastructure, digital asset tokenization platform, and digital society. Blockchain expert Zhu Jiawei believes that the construction of a digital nation has entered the fourth stage. Developing countries should focus on open collaboration, use universal borderless technology, attract technical talents, and create "netizen citizens". When Zhu Jiawei attended the Blockchain 4.0 Conference, he discussed the construction path of a digital nation, which is divided into four levels: (1) deploying digital science and technology infrastructure, (2) deploying physical and cybersecurity facilities to safeguard the development of the digital economy, (3) supporting the digitalization of various industries to keep up with the pace of the times, (4) building a digital brain through artificial intelligence technology to realize intelligent management from cities to national level. D11 Labs co-founder Lily Zhang believes the world is in the midst of the fourth open revolution, with openness, co-construction, sharing, prosperity, and new order as keywords. Laos can use blockchain technology to gain a development advantage and achieve leapfrog development. Laos should become the first country in the world to fully transform digitally, redefine its role in the global order, gain order-setting advantages, and help improve the lives of the Laotian people. The Lao government is determined to transform through blockchain technology, demonstrating the importance of the digital economy. This conference reflects the foresight and determination of the Lao government in the development of the digital economy. The government will play a key leadership role, establish a national digital transformation committee, and promote and supervise the implementation of related policies. Laos welcomes all sectors to participate in the development of the digital economy. In the future, Laos will become a model of blockchain technology application, leading the development of the new digital society. Contact Details Jasmine +65 8302 6504 jasmine@dethings.com Company Website https://www.metabank.com.sg/

May 29, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Velocity Global Announces New Product Enhancements and Technology Integrations as Demand for Global Hiring Increases

Velocity Global

DENVER, May 25, 2023 — Velocity Global, the world’s expert on work, today announced new platform updates to improve the customer experience, accelerate the hiring process, and help companies more strategically meet escalating hiring demands and complexities. In addition to a more seamless, intuitive user experience and improved onboarding management, customers will also have access to a new technology integration with leading HR platform Lever. The integration allows HR managers and leaders to hire globally faster while also giving them full visibility into the employee lifecycle without having to interface with multiple systems. These updates are rooted in years of expertise and unmatched collective experience in international hiring, global expansion, and distributed workforce management and represent ongoing investments to the company’s technology platform. They are also indicative of Velocity Global’s mission to make it easier for companies of all sizes and at any stage of growth to compliantly hire, pay, and manage talent across more than 185 countries with the click of a button. Intuitive Design and Improved Onboarding Management Velocity Global’s platform combines its industry-leading accuracy and attention to detail with speed and automation. With new enhancements that include a more intuitive design and navigation, customers will enjoy further reduced time to hire and onboard talent through a more seamless experience and increased visibility into their global workforce. Furthermore, updates to the onboarding management process streamline the quoting and employment agreement experience for hiring managers in two ways. First, customers will now have self-service options that exponentially decrease the time to extend employment contracts. Second, new contract management features save HR managers time and logistical back and forth. Customers can now leverage in-app onboarding forms, automated contract review and approvals, and secure contract signatures for a more frictionless contract management experience. 360° View of the Customer Lifecycle with Lever Leading talent acquisition platform, Lever, joins Velocity Global’s extensive ecosystem of HR platforms - including applicant tracking systems (ATS) like Greenhouse and human resources information systems (HRIS) like Namely, BambooHR, and HiBob - that allow our customers to expand their global operations with minimal administrative burden. Lever provides a unique recruitment tool that streamlines the way businesses identify, engage, and hire top candidates. By integrating seamlessly with the Velocity Global Work Platform™, HR leaders and hiring managers can scale a seamless hire-to-onboard experience globally. In addition to automating international onboarding, Lever provides a range of features for job posting, application tracking, candidate communication, and reporting. In full, Lever’s integration gives customers: Better visibility with a 360-degree view of the employee lifecycle from recruitment to compliance and HR Better analytics through a myriad of analytical staffing reports, from diversity recruitment to time to hire Increased efficiency through less copying and pasting of data from the applicant tracking system (Lever) into the Global Work Platform™ Reduced errors related to manual data entry “Having a strong track record in compliance and in-depth local expertise is non-negotiable for EOR providers. However, buyers in the fast-evolving EOR space are increasingly looking for an integrated global technology platform that provides a one-stop-shop for talent and employers,” said Jeanine Crane-Thompson, Principal HR Analyst at NelsonHall. “Enhancing the user experience through integrations with key HR technologies that cover the full employee lifecycle will be a critical differentiator for EOR providers. This provides forward-thinking HR departments with a solution to easily and quickly support broader strategic initiatives, geographic expansion, and business growth plans.” “At Velocity Global, we are driven by proactive problem-solving for our customers and providing a first class solution that handles the complexity of global employment while simultaneously being easy to use,” said Liz Li, Chief Product Officer at Velocity Global. “As the demand for hiring across borders increases, we are committed to innovating on behalf of our customers to meet this urgency and demand. This is just the beginning of what is to come. We’re excited to roll out more product enhancements and updates in the coming year, turning a global workforce into a competitive advantage for our customers.” These new product enhancements and the Lever technology integration is available today to all Velocity Global customers. For more information, visit VelocityGlobal.com. About Velocity Global Velocity Global gives you the power to build your team everywhere—combining seamless technology and local expertise in 185+ countries. We make it simple to compliantly hire, pay, and manage talent anywhere. With Velocity Global, the world is yours. Contact Details Media Contact press@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

May 25, 2023 11:32 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Asure Software's (NASDAQ: ASUR) Impressive Q1 2023 Financial Results Raise Guidance and Analyst Estimates For 2023

Spotlight Growth/ASUR

In the dynamic landscape of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, one company stands out with its impressive financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. Asure Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR) has kicked off 2023 with a bang, delivering a stellar first quarter that not only surpassed expectations but also set the stage for an exciting year ahead. Let's delve into the details of Asure's Q1 2023 financial results, its strategic partnerships, and the bullish response from Wall Street analysts. ASUR Financial Highlights Asure reported revenue of $33.1 million for Q1 2023, marking a 36% increase from the same period in the previous year. The company's recurring revenue also saw a substantial rise, reaching $28.0 million, up 22% from Q1 2022. The company's net income stood at $0.3 million, a significant improvement from the previous year's first quarter, showing a $3.4 million increase. EBITDA was reported at $6.8 million, up $4.3 million from Q1 2022, and adjusted EBITDA was $8.2 million, up $4.8 million from the same period in the previous year. Gross profit for the first quarter was $24.4 million, a 58% increase from Q1 2022. Non-GAAP gross profit was $25.7 million, with a margin of 78%, compared to $16.7 million and a margin of 68% in Q1 2022. Business Developments and Partnerships Asure has been actively expanding its business operations and partnerships. The company has partnered with Harbor Compliance to simplify federal, state, and local tax registrations and business licensing. This initiative, powered by AsureMarketplace, aims to reduce administrative burdens for customers by providing a seamless solution for tax payroll registration and compliance with multi-state entity registration requirements. In addition, Asure has announced an integration with ZayZoon to provide on-demand wages to employees of Asure’s payroll customers. This collaboration allows employees of small businesses to access their earned wages instantly, promoting financial wellness and providing their employers with a distinct competitive advantage for recruitment and retention. Raised Financial Targets and Guidance Asure has also raised its financial targets and guidance for 2023, reflecting the company's confidence in its growth trajectory. The company's first-quarter results, characterized by a 36% year-over-year revenue growth and strong gains in operating margins, are the result of targeted sales initiatives and the positive reception of increased offerings in AsureMarketplace. ASUR Chairman and CEO, Pat Goepel, stated that the company is investing in the business to enhance the differentiation of its solutions by introducing new products and improving user experiences. The company plans to continue working with current and prospective clients to remain intentional with the integrations that they release. ASUR: Analysts Bullish Response To The Strong Quarter Wall Street analysts have been very active with their updates after Asure’s Q1 2023 financial results. The company now holds a total of seven "strong buy" ratings and an average twelve-month price target of $19.83, which implies an additional upside of over 53% from its current price. Here is a breakdown of each analyst's rating and price target for ASUR: Vince Collicio of Barrington reiterated his “buy” rating with a $17.00 price target Joshua Reilly of Needham reiterated a “buy” rating with a $20.00 target Eric Martinuzzi of Lake Street assigned shares with a “buy” rating and a $19.00 target Bryan Bergin of TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” with a $19.00 price target Richard Baldry of Roth MKM maintains a “buy” rating with the most bullish price target of $25.00 An analyst from Northland Securities initiated the stock with a “buy” and a $19.00 target Jeff Van Rhee of Craig-Hallum continues to maintain a "buy" rating and has a $18.00 price target Conclusion The first quarter of 2023 has been a period of significant growth and expansion for Asure Software, Inc. The company's financial results demonstrate a strong performance with substantial increases in revenue, net income, and gross profit. Asure's strategic partnerships and integrations, such as those with Harbor Compliance and ZayZoon, are expected to further enhance its service offerings and customer experience. The company's raised financial targets and guidance for 2023 reflect its confidence in its growth trajectory and the effectiveness of its targeted sales initiatives. Asure's commitment to investing in its business and enhancing its solutions is a promising sign for its future. The bullish response from Wall Street analysts further underscores the positive outlook for ASUR. With seven "strong buy" ratings and an average twelve-month price target indicating a potential upside of over 53%, the consensus is that Asure is well-positioned for continued success. In conclusion, Asure Software's impressive Q1 2023 financial results, strategic business developments, and positive analyst coverage paint a picture of a company on a strong upward trajectory. As Asure continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it is poised to further solidify its position as a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management software solutions. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated four thousand dollars cash by Asure Software for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The Post " Asure Software's (NASDAQ: ASUR) Impressive Q1 2023 Financial Results Raise Guidance and Analyst Estimates For 2023 " First Appeared On Spotlight Growth. Contact Details Asure Software, Inc. Spotlight Growth info@spotlightgrowth.com

May 25, 2023 05:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Charge Against Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Dropped

National Legal & Policy Center

Today, Peter Flaherty, Chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center issued the following statement: "The trespassing charge has been dropped, but I never should have been arrested. Nor should I have been handcuffed, fingerprinted, brought to jail, and detained for three hours. Berkshire Hathaway’s silencing of me is an ominous precedent for the rights of shareholders in public companies that cannot be allowed to stand. I did not just wander into the Berkshire shareholders meeting, nor did the incident occur during a question-and-answer session. I was a scheduled speaker, whose name appeared on the agenda, to speak in support of Proposal #8 for an independent chair. The proposal appeared in the proxy and for weeks shareholders had been voting on it. It was the subject of a detailed proxy memo we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21. As far as I know, the arrest of a shareholder during a proposal presentation has never before occurred at the annual meeting of a public company in the United States. Shareholder activists of the past such as Wilma Soss (the basis for the Carol Burnett “cleaning lady” character) and Evelyn Y. Davis often challenged and certainly annoyed CEOs, but their microphones were never cut and they were certainly never arrested. I have spoken at the annual meetings of dozens of public companies over the past 19 years. My demeanor at the Berkshire meeting was no different from any other. There was no reason to throw me out except that I came too close to the truth. Additional revelations about Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein since the meeting confirm the importance of the issue I sought to raise, namely the reputational risk to Berkshire Hathaway by having one individual hold both the Chairman and CEO positions, especially if that person is so closely identified with particular causes and personalities. The whole point of the shareholder proposal process is to allow shareholders critical of management an avenue to change corporate policy. To simply silence and arrest a shareholder who disagrees with management stands the whole concept of having public shareholders on its head. If Warren Buffett thinks that since he owns 15% of Berkshire shares, that he can act with impunity, he is mistaken. Shareholders have rights, and I intend to enforce mine." Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 24, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shareholder to Demand Greater Transparency from McDonald’s, Walmart About Business Risks in China

National Legal & Policy Center

As shareholders are set to attend annual meetings over the next week for McDonald’s Corporation and Walmart Inc., National Legal and Policy Center will ask fellow investors to support its proposals to provide greater transparency about the companies’ risks of doing business in China. NLPC will present “Communist China Risk Audit” proposals at the meetings, which seek reports to shareholders that address “the nature and extent to which corporate operations depend on, and are vulnerable to, communist China….” The McDonald’s proposal is No. 7 on Page 93 of the company’s proxy statement. For Walmart, NLPC’s proposal is No. 11 on Page 116 of its proxy statement. Both companies oppose NLPC’s proposals. In response, NLPC filed rebuttals at the Securities and Exchange Commission in support of its resolutions to be considered at the McDonald’s meeting, to be held May 25, and at Walmart’s meeting, scheduled for May 31. Read NLPC’s SEC filing for McDonald’s here, and for Walmart here. NLPC’s report to the SEC on McDonald’s outlines some of the risks inherent in doing business in China, and notes: McDonald’s 2023 first quarter [report] states that “(financial) results reflected strong operating performance across the (International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate) segment, led by Brazil and China.” China is a clear driver of McDonald’s business performance, making its reliance on China a critical risk, as there are a number of factors that could harm the company The United Nations calls on companies to “provide information that is sufficient to evaluate the adequacy of an enterprise’s response to the particular human rights impact involved.” If McDonald’s is being “guided” by this principle and is already discussing significant risk exposures using “robust risk management program,” then a report…should be easy to deliver and provide investors with meaningful insights. An excerpt of NLPC’s filing for Walmart states: The magnitude of its risk in China is not comparable to the general business risks (already) disclosed by Walmart, many of which are indistinguishable from the disclosures made by other public companies. China-specific risks are present across many parts of Walmart’s business… Walmart has invested a considerable amount in its Chinese infrastructure. Thus, potential disruptions due to political, economic, regulatory, or health issues could negatively impact Walmart’s investments in the region. China is McDonald’s second-largest market, with more than 5,000 restaurants representing nearly 13 percent of its total locations. The communist nation is Walmart’s fourth-largest market, behind the United States, Central America, and Canada, with 365 stores representing nearly seven percent of its international locations. “Considering the extent of revenue generated and supply chain that is dependent on China, McDonald’s and Walmart owe their shareholders more transparency and specificity about their respective risks in the extensive amount of business they do there,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “Between human rights atrocities and Chairman Xi Jinping’s saber-rattling against Taiwan, the feasibility of continuing operations there may be tenuous. We urge their boards of directors to disclose more.” Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 24, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

‘Ready for Ron’ Now ‘Ready to Win’

Ready for Ron

For more than a year, Ready for Ron, an independent group working to Draft Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, actively built support for his candidacy. A petition with more than 250,000 signatures (and a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission to share it) tens of thousands of TV and online ads, along with millions of phone calls, mail pieces, and emails, and a grassroots and coalitions program has done its job - Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to soon announce he’s running for President. With Governor DeSantis about to become an official candidate, Ready for Ron is changing its name to ‘Ready to Win’ to reflect its singular mission to nominate and elect Ron DeSantis to win in 2024. “We spent an entire year running thousands of TV ads, millions of mailings, and tens of millions of online, email, and social connections to drive the narrative – Ron DeSantis will be our next President,” stated Ed Rollins, Ready to Win’s Chief Political Strategist. “We built an infrastructure. We completely changed the discussion. With a quarter million petition signers calling for him to run we are thrilled that we see our goal achieved - Ron DeSantis entering the Presidential race. He may well be the only leader who can defeat Joe Biden.” In addition to its outreach and engagement initiatives, Ready for Ron worked with Impact Social to analyze the online and social media discussion in relation to Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump among swing voters. The data clearly and consistently shows Ron DeSantis can beat Joe Biden, and Donald Trump simply can’t. Additional data research with multiple vendors covering more than 19 million voters affirms these findings. “Winning the nomination and the general election requires us all to work together to build this movement and save our nation,” stated Ready to Win Counsel, Dan Backer. “Our groundbreaking research debunked the bad polling plaguing Republicans for more than eight years. Using cutting edge massive data monitoring proves what everyone already knows - Donald Trump’s supporters are loyal and loud, but confined to only a sliver of the population that cannot grow. Moderate, swing, and independent voters are not coming back to Trump, ever, and he cannot possibly win the general Election – Ron DeSantis can.” “Voters young and old both know Governor DeSantis has a proven track record of standing up for America’s values. He is committed to defending the rights of parents, getting inflation and government spending under control, and solving the problems the radical left is causing. He dares to say no to the bullies, no matter how powerful they may seem. He can deliver safe streets, sane schools, and a soaring economy,” stated Gabriel Llanes, Executive Director of Ready to Win. “DeSantis is much more than a politician with savvy instincts; he is a public servant through and through. No ego to get in the way because he is about results.” “We will continue our ground-up grassroots efforts in key primary states, doing the hard work to train and mobilize a volunteer army to nominate, and elect, our next great American president,” Rollins continued. We feel DeSantis is well prepared to be the candidate to win the Republican nomination and beat President Biden. We are officially, Ready to Win!” ### For more information or to schedule an interview with a Ready to Win spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com. Contact Details Ready to Win Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

May 23, 2023 02:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Endowments and Pensions Continue to Post Gains, but Exposure to Private Markets Pushes Many Below Their Performance Benchmarks, According to Projections from MPI

Markov Processes Inc.

Rebounds in the public markets helped college endowments and public pensions to post gains over the first three quarters of the 2023 fiscal year, as exposure to private equity and especially to venture capital caused the median performance of each group to trail their key benchmarks, according to proprietary projections from Markov Processes International, Inc. (“MPI”), a leading independent FinTech provider of software and services for analyzing investment performance and risk. The estimates are generated by the MPI Transparency Lab, a one-of-a-kind data hub for endowment and pension performance. The Lab provides a wealth of information on performance and risk of the largest U.S. endowments and public pensions. “With most pensions and endowments reporting their results only once a year, outsiders rarely have an appreciation of their intra-year volatility,” said Michael Markov, co-founder and chief executive officer of MPI. “This is unfortunate. As our estimates show, tracking performance on a quarterly or more frequent basis allows us to assess where they stand in relation to their benchmarks and why. This is important to so many constituencies.” Among major college endowments, MPI estimates that the University of Pennsylvania is leading among Ivy League schools with 3.91% returns, with Columbia University being close second, tracking with a 3.55% estimated return. Princeton University and Harvard University are expected to trail other Ivies with returns close to zero. Overall, MPI estimates the median Ivy League endowment return so far in FY2023 is 1.9%. By contrast, the Global 70/30 Benchmark, which is the standard benchmark for endowment performance, is up 6.1% for the same three-quarter period. Private market exposure continued to be a drag on results. To estimate performance, MPI used the recently released Cambridge Associates’ Private Benchmarks preliminary estimates for the 4 th quarter of 2022. The CA Venture Capital index was down -7.31% for the quarter and CA Private Equity Index was up 0.62%. The CA Real Estate index return is -0.56% for the quarter. "Even though private benchmark data is not available for the first quarter of 2023, we expect them to slide further given rising interest rates, depressed valuations, and increased bankruptcy rates in early 2023," Markov said. “However, we decided to use conservative estimates of zero return for private equity and venture capital for the most recent quarter. Private markets propped up endowment returns last fiscal year, but our estimates show that those funds more exposed to public equities are outperforming their peers currently, and the gap might widen even further during this quarter.” The situation was the same for U.S. public pensions. MPI Transparency Lab estimates pensions have median return of 5.2% for the three quarters of 2023 fiscal year. The Oklahoma TRS has the highest return of 8.2%, with Georgia TRSGA being close second. Performance of the Global 60-40 benchmark, the key benchmark for pensions, was 5.8%, with a -6% loss in the third quarter of 2022, a 6.6% gain in the fourth quarter of 2022, and a 5.6% gain in the first quarter of 2023. This swing mirrors pension performance. As with endowments, the difference in performance rested with the balance between public and private market exposure. The lowest FY2023 estimated performers – state employees’ pensions of Oregon (0.6% estimated return), Pennsylvania (1.2%) and Washington (1.8%) – all had reported the highest performance last fiscal year, largely because of their outsized allocations to private assets. “Knowing how an endowment or pension is doing quarter by quarter and why not only serves to satisfy one’s curiosity,” Markov noted. “Rather, it prepares beneficiaries so that they are not caught by surprise at the year-end by the results. In addition, we see the main value of this feature in providing pension CIOs valuable datapoints about their narrow set of close peers.” For additional information on MPI’s proprietary data, visit the Transparency Lab. For further information, contact MPI at +1 (908) 608-1558 or info@markovprocesses.com. About MPI Markov Processes International Inc. (MPI) is a leading provider of solutions for investment research, analysis and reporting to the global wealth and investment management industry. MPI works with more than 200 client organizations, including pensions and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, global wealth management firms, institutional consultants, regulators, investment advisors and asset managers. Rooted in the principles of transparency, objectivity, and efficiency, MPI takes an innovative approach to problem solving in the areas of fund analysis, risk management, asset allocation, and reporting to ensure that its clients have the tools to succeed in ever-more-crowded markets. Follow us on Twitter @MarkovMPI and connect with us on LinkedIn. Contact Details For MPI info@markovprocesses.com Company Website https://www.markovprocesses.com/

May 22, 2023 10:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shareholder to Address Censorship Policies at Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta

National Legal & Policy Center

Following the exposure by the “Twitter Files” reports that revealed the extent to which malicious government agencies colluded with Big Tech to censor content, a shareholder in three Silicon Valley corporations will present proposals in the coming weeks to address their suppression of speech. National Legal and Policy Center – which owns stock in Amazon, Alphabet (parent of Google and YouTube) and Meta (parent of Facebook) – will sponsor proposals at each company that request transparency about requests they have received from U.S. government officials to “take down” content from their platforms. Amazon’s annual meeting is on Wednesday, May 24; Meta’s is on May 31, and Alphabet’s is on June 2. “As we’ve learned since Elon Musk took over Twitter, there is an epidemic of unconstitutional government censorship of speech in our country, and Big Tech has welcomed the opportunities to be their enforcers,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project, who will present the proposals at the companies’ respective meetings. “It is vital, as public companies, that Alphabet, Amazon and Meta act in the country’s interest and disclose who in the federal government is making these improper – and most of them probably illegal – requests, and divulge what they have asked to be removed from their platforms.” The Amazon and Meta proposals seek an itemization of the requests the companies have received from federal government. The Alphabet proposal asks for a report about the extent its censorship policies and practices have on the fiduciary health of the company. The text of NLPC’s proposal for a “Risk Audit on Content Censorship” for Alphabet’s 2023 annual meeting follows: RESOLVED: Shareholders request that Alphabet Inc. (“Company”) issue a report at reasonable cost – omitting proprietary or legally privileged information – reviewing the vulnerabilities of its enforcement of Google’s and YouTube’s Terms of Service related to content policies, and assessing the risks posed by content management controversies related to issues such as election interference, freedom of expression, and inequitable application of policies, and how they affect the Company’s finances, operations, and reputation. SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Evidence has accumulated over many years that show Alphabet Inc.’s platforms discriminate against disfavored speech, interfered in elections, and is undeniably prejudiced. Major examples include: In leaked Company emails, employees discussed using “ephemeral experiences” to change users’ views. Back in 2016, the Company’s chief financial officer said, “we will use the great strength and resources and reach we have” to advance Google’s values. Consequentially, senior research psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein found that – based on 1.5 million search experiences his team aggregated in 2020 – that the Company’s manipulations could have shifted up to six million votes to Joe Biden. A study of voter outreach by 2020 political candidates, conducted by North Carolina State University’s Department of Computer Science, found that Google’s Gmail “marked 59.3% more emails from [conservative] candidates as spam compared to the [progressive] candidates.” The Republican National Committee claimed that Gmail sent more than 22 million of its emails to spam during a critical fundraising period in the 2022 election cycle. The Company has incurred a lawsuit and a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission due to the alleged suppression. A Media Research Center analysis of the most tightly contested 2022 U.S. Senate races found that ten of 12 Republican candidates’ campaign websites (83%) appeared far lower (or did not appear at all) on page one of Google’s organic search results, compared to their Senate Democratic Party opponents’ campaign websites. In addition to the above examples, the Company is the target of a credible, major lawsuit by the states of Missouri and Louisiana, based on extensive evidence that the Company violated users’ First Amendment rights. Shareholders need to know whether the Company is engaged in unconstitutional censorship, and whether the Company exercises its content moderation in violation of its Terms of Service, opening the Company to liability claims by victims. Shareholders also need to know whether the Company is failing to disclose these potential liabilities as material risks in its public filings. There is currently no single source providing shareholders the information sought by this resolution. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with Paul Chesser, contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or drene@nlpc.org. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

May 22, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Techspace Takes off-sites, on-site, with their Berlin Event Spaces

Techspace

Techspace, the office space provider for change-makers with tech at the heart of what they do, houses some of tomorrow’s household technology names. Most notably some of their member alumni include unicorns such as GoStudent, Trade Republic and Flink. As part of their latest move to cater to the new world of hybrid working, Techspace has begun looking at using its mix of spaces and amenities to cater to the ever-changing needs of its member base. As part of this, Techspace has adapted its offering to build packages for teams running company “off-sites", by bringing them “on-site”. By repurposing its event spaces at The Vault at Eiswerk and The Annex at Kreuzberg, Techspace is able to offer members and clients two stunning spaces that adapt to any and all types of team get-togethers. Whether you call them "All Hands", "Company updates" or "Team Days" the in-built flexibility that comes with Techspace’s hub buildings allows clients to leverage the amenities on-site and, in turn, build the right experience for their employees. Whether that’s arriving for coffee in the Members’ Café, creating break-out focus rooms by booking meeting rooms, or setting up audio-visual (A/V) to ensure hybrid events are inclusive when dialling in international colleagues, Techspace has the plug and play solution. As Phil Ellis, Marketing Director at Techspace, comments, “Over the last 18 months many companies have embraced hybrid working and, in turn, reduced the size of their HQ. The dispersed nature of hybrid means there’s a novelty in bringing the whole company together, and now more than ever, it makes sense for teams’ to book their off-site... on-site!” Techspace understands the workplace is fast becoming part of the experience economy, and sets its sights on designing ‘A la carte’ packages which are designed to make team’s next "All in Day" an experience they will remember. More information about Techspace’s Berlin event spaces can be found below. The Vault At 51-60 sq m, The Vault is a multi-use room that immediately makes an impact. WIth its flexible and adaptable design, The Vault is perfect for a wide range of event styles and formats, as clients can choose between theatre, conference, classroom and workshop style. Truly, The Vault is a dream space, perfect for team away days in a private setting. Generously equipped with state-of-the-art AV and 98 inch 4K TV, The Vault boasts a range of furniture options, making this multi-use room ideal for any gathering of ~15 to ~50 guests. Guests can also enjoy the EIS Cafe and member's lounge at Techspace Eiswerk, serving coffee, soft drinks and snacks, as well an outdoor area with picnic tables and ping pong. The Annex The Annex is a 150m² private venue based at the Techspace Kreuzberg location. The Annex is able to accommodate 50 seated and 100+ standing guests, and is provided complete with a kitchenette and presentation equipment, making the latest addition to Techspace’s Berlin offering ideal for All-in Days, workshops and networking, Everything you need to run a successful event is on hand. From audio equipment, to big screens and breakout spaces. Clients can also make the most of the terrace with 4 picnic tables, ping pong and a swing! Giving guests the opportunity for some outdoor downtime and vitamin D between event sessions. The Annex is ventilated, with a range of additional catering and staff services on offer by request. Techspace Kreuzberg is also blessed with superb connections via the U8 on U Moritzplatz. A short walk to the East brings you to some of the best bars and restaurants in the area, including one of our favourite bars, Café Luzia. Both locations offer high, lofty ceilings full of natural light, and are in stunning buildings picked as much for their characterful charm as their practical features. Berlin, a city with a long history of innovation and design, is a rapidly growing hub of Germany’s tech sector, making these two venues ideally located for your next company team day. Contact Details Techspace Phil Ellis phil@techspace.co

May 15, 2023 06:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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