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News Release

Investment Columnist Embarks on New Book Project to Detail the Rise and Fall of Hewlett-Packard

EAH Strategies

James K. Glassman, former investment columnist for the Washington Post and author of three books on finance, announced today that he is writing a book on the rise and decline of HP Inc., the former Hewlett-Packard Company. “Bill Hewlett and David Packard were the first great technology innovators of Silicon Valley,” said Glassman. “They founded their company in 1939 in a one-car garage at 367 Addison Avenue in Palo Alto that’s called the ‘birthplace of Silicon Valley.’ But as the Valley flourished and became the tech capital of the world, HP lost its way.” He continued: “HP was a household name long before many of today’s tech giants even existed, but today it has a market capitalization that is a mere 1% of Apple’s or Microsoft’s. How did this happen? What mistakes were made? What market trends were missed? Why did the company make terrible acquisitions? What role did the CEOs play in HP’s demise? These are just some of the questions I will investigate in this forthcoming book.” By exploring what happened to HP, Glassman’s book intends to offer lessons to entrepreneurs, business executives and investors. The book will look inside HP’s controversial business moves, such as its $25 billion purchase of Compaq in 2002 (which ZDNet called the worst tech merger in history), its 2008 acquisition of EDS for $13.9 billion (which led to a $8 billion write down), and its 2010 acquisition of Palm for $1.2 billion (which led to a $3.3 billion write off). Central to the book will be the tenures of its CEOs. These include Carly Fiorina, who was forced to resign over the disastrous Compaq merger Mark Hurd, who was booted by the board over inaccurate expense reports and sexual harassment claims; Leo Apotheker, who was replaced after a 40% drop in the company’s stock price; and Meg Whitman, who laid off tens of thousands and was recognized by Bloomberg in 2013 as the most underachieving CEO, based on stock performance. Glassman noted his surprise that other than David Packard’s own The HP Way, there have been few books about the company, its culture, and leadership. Glassman is asking former and current HP employees as well as those with knowledge of the company to contact him at jkglassman@gmail.com. Glassman, who wrote the Sunday investing column for the Washington Post for 11 years, currently writes a monthly column for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. He was formerly Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, president of the Atlantic Monthly Co., editor and co-owner of Roll Call, and host of three weekly public affairs programs on CNN and PBS. He is a former member of the Securities & Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee and was founding executive director of the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas. He is co-author of the bestseller Dow 36,000 and author of The Secret Code of the Superior Investor and Safety Net. Contact Details EAH Strategies, LLC Elizabeth Heaton Posthumus +1 202-445-9858 elizabeth@eahstrategiesllc.com

March 09, 2023 11:44 AM Eastern Standard Time

COMCAST EXPANDING ITS MULTI-GIG XFINITY NETWORK THROUGHOUT PUEBLO COUNTY

Comcast Colorado

Comcast announced today it will expand its next-generation network, the Xfinity 10G Network, to serve more of Pueblo County, including Pueblo West. The company says the more than $75 million project will provide enhanced business products and services, and extend new fiber-rich highways to connect more of the existing and new homes and businesses throughout the growing Pueblo County area. This planned expansion adds to Comcast’s ongoing $1.2 billion investment in Colorado over the last three years. Construction has already begun in parts of the Pueblo West community, and people will start being able to connect with services before the Fall of 2023. With this expansion, Comcast will provide multi-gig broadband internet speeds, video, mobile, voice, home management, and business products and services. “Comcast is committed to connecting more people to what and who matters most to them,” said J.D. Keller, Senior Vice President, Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “We’re excited to bring our fast, reliable, secure network and services to more people throughout Pueblo County. Whether it’s for work, school, or entertainment, our fiber-rich, multi-gigabit network is built to meet the needs of tomorrow - today.” Once complete, Comcast, the nation’s largest provider of 1.2 Gigabit per second speeds, will give consumers throughout Pueblo West access to reliable and fast Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile service that outperforms its competitors. Comcast’s next-generation technology provides multiple layers of security that automatically detect and block hundreds of thousands of cyber events every second, providing peace of mind to consumers and businesses. “ Access to reliable internet and telecommunications services is critical to the vitality and economic growth of Pueblo,” said Jeff Shaw President/CEO from Pueblo Economic Development Corp. “Comcast is already a great service and community partner throughout our Pueblo communities, and we appreciate their investment. We value their commitment to increasing accessibility and bridging the gap to connect more people to much-needed services that will help our community and businesses thrive.” Comcast is committed to addressing digital equity in communities we serve, through Project UP, the company’s $1 billion dollar commitment to help tens of millions of people connect to the internet and build futures of unlimited possibilities. Last year, Comcast Colorado invested more than $42.6 million to help more than 260 community organizations statewide provide personalized digital skills training, offer workforce development/readiness workshops and other tech education to students, adults, and people with disabilities. Comcast supported local organizations including United Way of Pueblo County, Boys &Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, and Southern Colorado Youth Development among others. And Comcast has four Lift Zone connectivity centers at central community organizations throughout Pueblo including Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, Southern Colorado Youth Development, El Centro Del Quinto Sol Pueblo Parks and Recreation, and RMSER Community Center, to ensure more people have access to secure, reliable Wi Fi. Comcast’s community funding supports ongoing efforts to build awareness about connectivity programs like Internet Essentials and the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers eligible households up to $30/month credit, or up to $75 for households on tribal lands, for home Internet. Comcast proudly participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, and offers Internet Essentials Plus, a $29.95/month home Internet service that is effectively free for eligible households, once the ACP credit is applied. Interested customers can visit Xfinity.com/ACP or call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about this program and find out if they qualify. For more construction details and updates, visit https://colorado.comcast.com/Pueblo Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s next-generation network and Internet experience are powering homes today and into the future: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: 10 million+ Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and Ookla rated Xfinity the fastest Internet provider at the end of 2022*. Symmetrical gig speeds to the first homes are planned for later this year. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful xFi Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and business and counting. The company plans to launch a new device that is “storm-ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest xFi Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. For local businesses, Comcast Business offers a suite of connectivity, communications, networking, cybersecurity, wireless, and managed solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest-growing providers of Ethernet services. About Comcast: 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. Ookla’s Speedtest TM Market Index report shows that Xfinity delivered the fastest median download speeds to its Internet customers in Colorado for the final quarter of 2022. Once permits are obtained and construction has begun in the public rights of way, Comcast will create an online resource for residents seeking information about the network build in their neighborhood, including answers to frequently asked questions and product and service details. For more information about Pueblo County’s broadband expansion initiative please visit www.colorado.comcast.com/Pueblo About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, 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 Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

March 09, 2023 09:00 AM Mountain Standard Time

News Release

Weak regulation in Andorra is a threat to the EU financial system, according to a new report

Andorra Anti-corruption

A new report by Martin Kreutner, Dean Emeritus of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), published today, highlights significant legal and regulatory weak points in the Principality of Andorra. The report, titled “ A brief review on the Anti-Corruption & Anti-money Laundering State of Play in the Principality of Andorra”, looks at anti-corruption and anti-money laundering measures in the European microstate. Its publication comes as Andorra, along with Monaco and San Marino, enter an advanced stage of negotiations with the EU for further integration through Association Agreements. Kreutner’s report identifies several shortcomings that need to be addressed to protect the EU from allowing a “Trojan Horse” into its financial system, including: Andorra has yet to ratify influential and universal anti-corruption instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), OECD Bribery Convention and the Council of Europe’s Civil Law Convention against Corruption. Andorra lacks an independent and specialized anti-corruption body/authority, in line with international standards and requirements. Andorra has yet to fully implement crucial policies from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the MONEYVA L committee. Andorra’s banking sector faces risks from the absence of a central bank and various key regulatory legislations. Andorra’s banking and financial sector accounts for over 20% of the country’s GDP. Its banks attract large deposits from investors around the world, thanks to its low tax environment and opaque corporate laws. The sector has been steeped in scandal in recent years. Andbank, one of Andorra’s largest banks, was at the centre of a massive international tax evasion scheme revealed in the Panama Papers. The unresolved case of Banca Privada d’Andorra (BPA), which was expropriated by the government in 2015, demonstrates how the authorities mishandled money laundering allegations and may have wrongfully taken over the bank, costing the taxpayer hundreds of millions of Euros. Exposure of these regulatory shortcomings will cast an unwelcome shadow over Andorra’s leadership as the country heads to the polls for General Election next month. Martin Kreutner, the author of the report, said: “Alleged and adjudicated scandals have rocked Andorra in recent years. Understanding the state of play of the Principality’s anti-corruption and anti-money laundering architecture is critical if Andorra is to be allowed further EU integration. Improving anti-corruption and anti-money laundering regulations should be at the centre of Andorra’s agenda, especially in the upcoming elections.” To read the full report, visit: https://andorraanticorruption.com/ About the author: Martin Kreutner is Dean Emeritus of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) and an international expert in anti-corruption, compliance, anti-money-laundering, and the rule of law. He wrote the report in a personal capacity. From 2001 to 2010, Kreutner headed the Austrian federal anticorruption authority. From 2004 to 2012, he was the President of the Network European Partners Against Corruption and the EU’s European Anti-Corruption Contact Point Network (EPAC/EACN). He served as Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) from 2012 to 2019. Contact Details Martin Kreutner info@andorraanticorruption.com Company Website https://andorraanticorruption.com/

March 09, 2023 06:50 AM Eastern Standard Time

Legal & General’s new report on Women in the U.S. Gig Economy finds income disparity, multiple roles, worry about financial future

Legal & General

- Lowest pay bracket: 58% are women; Highest pay bracket: 68% are men - Earning over $100K a year in gig work: 18% are female, 28% are male - 71% of female gig workers say their biggest worry is their financial futue - Just 8% of women surveyed have a pension plan A special International Women’s Day report in a broad new study sponsored by Legal & General Group ( LGEN, LGNNY ), U.S. Gig Economy Special Report: Tasked With Both Childcare and Earning, Women Fall Behind Their Male Counterparts, was released today. The report continues narrating original research on the changing U.S. workforce and the reluctance of so many to enter into traditional employment. The study looks into the diversity and differences as well as the shared traits of this group of workers, along with the tradeoffs they make in favor of flexibility. This special report in the data-rich U.S. Gig Economy study, Tasked With Both Childcare and Earning, Women Fall Behind Their Male Counterparts, explores several areas of gender disparity between the male and female freelance workers who were surveyed. The sample comprised 47 percent women, who largely make their living in lower-paid sectors such as Beauty & Heath, Media/Writing and Online/App Services—this, in contrast to the highest paid, mostly male sector, IT. Across all categories of respondents, whether paid per project, per hour, per week or per month, the pay gap between men and women was 32 percent on average, and as much as 45 percent in median average pay per month. The study found that female gig workers are far more likely than males to prioritize their children and other family caregiving responsibilities ahead of the stability and future financial security offered by the full-time, office-based work model. They also worry far more than men do about the long-term financial outlook their choice entails. Verbatim responses received ahead of the survey from female gig workers show a more realistic and stoic outlook on their financial prospects than their male counterparts, including their projected income at retirement and their ability to weather unforeseen financial crises such as a loss of income or a major home or car repair. “The value of women in the workforce becomes increasingly obvious, even as more and more American women find themselves turning to working independently as the only way to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities in their lives. This study shines the light on some key areas that are ripe for reparation in the U.S. labor space, notably more equitable pay and better social and financial safety nets for women. Employers looking to get this hard-working contingent back to the office should additionally address women’s evident need for flexibility, as they pick up many other family and householder duties. The private sector can and should lead the way in improving their lot.” Sir Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive, Legal & General Group Female gig workers’ biggest concern is their long-term financial future Legal & General’s study looks at the complex and multifaceted societal and financial factors behind independent work, including what is missing for many to feel secure in life and society. Seven out of 10 women in this study worried about a lack of job security and predictability of income, as well as not having access to group retirement plans and other benefits. “Globally, women are at far greater risk of poverty in their old age than are men, and U.S. policymakers are taking notice of this fact. We’re seeing proposed legislation, for example, that would tie federal funding for business growth to the provision of affordable childcare and other benefits meant to empower the workforce. Still, there is a substantial bridge for employers to cross when considering the critical reasons that female workers, in particular, are choosing flexibility over financial security. We hope our research goes some way toward creating a basis for positive change.” John Godfrey, Director of Levelling-Up, Legal & General Group Future segments of this research will look in depth at gig workers’ outlook and financial situation around retirement planning; what it would take to get gig workers to go back to the traditional workplace; and a closer look at the pandemic fallout for gig workers. To receive a pdf of any of these reports, please email Meir Kahtan/MKPR at mkahtan@rcn.com. About the Study Legal & General undertook proprietary research into the attitudes and changes U.S. gig workers are experiencing in relation to their work situations and financial outlook. The U.S. Gig Economy research was compiled using original survey data from 1044 U.S.-based workers aged 18 to 60 who are neither students nor retired, and who earn at least 60% of their income from gig work. The data was collected via online survey fielded to individuals sample sourced from YouGov’s US panel. The Legal & General-designed survey was scripted and hosted on Gryphon, YouGov’s proprietary survey scripting platform, and the field work took place between August 19 and 31, 2022. Key demographics such as age, gender and region were allowed to fall out naturally. 20 questions were designed to understand facts about earnings, drivers of and barriers to gig working, financial product ownership & financial capacity when coming across adverse situations, and future expectations of being involved in the gig economy. Verbatim comments were captured by Legal & General in research carried out in June 2022. About Legal & General Group Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with over £1.4 trillion ($1.7 trillion) in total assets under management* of which a third is international. We also provide powerful asset origination capabilities. Together, these underpin our leading retirement and protection solutions: we are a leading international player in pension risk transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. Through inclusive capitalism, we aim to build a better society by investing in long-term assets that benefit everyone. *as of December 31, 2021 The information contained in this press release is intended solely for journalists and should not be relied upon by private investors or any other persons to make financial decisions. Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations, LLC Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/

March 08, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) Selects NowSecure as Mobile App Security Solutions Provider for State Entities

NowSecure

NowSecure, the recognized expert in standards-based mobile app security and privacy, is pleased to be awarded a Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) contract to offer a full suite of mobile app security software, DevSecOps solutions, pen testing and training courseware for Texas public sector organizations to secure the mobile apps they build, buy and use. This award makes these solutions available to education institutions, state and local government agencies, public safety organizations, healthcare institutions, qualifying non-profits, and additional public entities across the state of Texas. Consumers, organizations and government agencies are transitioning to mobile first, as 69% of all digital traffic and time is spent in mobile versus web apps. Yet, mobile app security is slow to keep pace with the rate of innovation, as the NowSecure MobileRiskTracker™ shows more than 85% of mobile apps have security and privacy vulnerabilities that violate OWASP industry standards and 70% leak personal data. Employees of governmental agencies depend on commercial apps in their daily roles and build them for their citizen services, positioning them at the forefront of the constantly changing mobile app threat landscape. The state of Texas has taken steps to address this risk for its employees and citizens, as evident by The Texas Cybersecurity Act. As part of this legislation, each state agency is required to submit biennial data security plans and perform risk assessments and penetration testing of the mobile apps that process any personal and confidential information to ensure that the privacy of individuals is protected and the confidentiality of information processed by the agency’s mobile app is preserved. “As Texas state agencies continue to mobilize their operations, they need to ensure they are protecting the security and privacy of their employees as well as their fellow Texans,” said Jeff Miller, VP of Public Sector at NowSecure. “We are honored to bring over a decade of experience in mobile app security to help keep governmental entities in Texas safe and secure from the ever evolving mobile threat landscape.” Only NowSecure can provide Texas agencies with the industry’s only full suite of security and privacy solutions to secure the mobile apps the build and use, including: NowSecure GovAppDB™ and Threat Assessment Service for federal regulatory mobile security app compliance NowSecure Supply Chain Risk Management for mobile app supply chain vetting of security, compliance and privacy risks NowSecure Academy free training courseware for dev and security teams NowSecure Mobile Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS) for continuous automated security testing and expert pen testing to deliver the frequency, depth and coverage NowSecure Platform for automated security testing for mobile apps as they are built Built on a foundation of standards and automation, NowSecure empowers organizations to deliver the most secure mobile apps faster and continuously monitor their mobile app supply chains for risk at a lower cost. Dozens of state and federal agencies from the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Department of Justice to the intelligence community trust NowSecure to assess the security and privacy of mobile apps, train developers about secure coding, pinpoint risks in the mobile app supply chain and achieve NIAP compliance. Learn more about NowSecure Solutions for Government here. About NowSecure: As the recognized experts in mobile security and privacy, NowSecure protects the global mobile app economy and safeguards the data of millions of mobile app users. Built on a foundation of standards, NowSecure empowers the world’s most demanding private and public sector organizations with security automation to release and monetize 30% faster, reduce testing and delivery costs by 30% and reduce appsec risk by 40%. Only NowSecure offers a full solution suite of continuous security testing for DevSecOps, mobile app supply-chain monitoring, expert mobile pen testing as a Service (PTaaS) and training courseware. NowSecure actively contributes and supports the mobile security open-source community, standards and certification including OWASP MASVS, ADA MASA, NIAP and is recognized by IDC, Gartner, Deloitte Fast 500, and TAG Cyber. Contact Details Hannah LaCorte +1 202-240-7611 press@nowsecure.com Company Website https://www.nowsecure.com/

March 07, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Claravine Named As Category Leader in Data Management Software by GetApp

Claravine

Claravine, The Data Standards Company, has been placed on GetApp’s Category Leaders Report for the Data Management Category. Category Leaders are designed to help businesses evaluate which software products may be right for them. Claravine was ranked on the list for stellar performance for its platform The Data Standards Cloud, which empowers marketing data owners to create data integrity globally, providing consistent and quality information to optimize business outcomes. Claravine empowers a proactive approach to marketing measurement by activating data standards across people and technology – bridging the silos that limit speed and decisions. Used by Fortune 1000 companies such as Carhartt and Under Armour, Claravine’s collaborative user interface and strategic integrations with top marketing and advertising platforms enables global organizations to define, apply and connect standards across their ecosystem for faster decisions, greater agility and increased return-on-investment for their digital advertising dollars. "We’re grateful to kick off another year with continued positive recognition from our customers and for the performance of our platform,” said Verl Allen, CEO of Claravine. “With the big shifts in the digital advertising and marketing ecosystem, we are a leader among the companies that are helping marketers with the transition to increased use of first-party data, new measurement techniques and attribution models, as well as targeting strategies. We strive to take the drama out of our customer’s marketing data and deliver the best experience possible.” With an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, Claravine has been a top-rated product on GetApp. Category Leaders is published on GetApp, the recommendation engine for businesses that need to make the right software choice. Category Leaders rankings highlight top-ranked North American software products based on ratings from end-users in five key areas: ease of use, value for money, functionality, customer support, and likelihood to recommend. Claravine also recently won the 2022 AdExchanger Awards for Best Data Technology and was recognized as a 2022 AdExchanger Programmatic Power Player and a cool vendor in the 2022 Gartner Cool Vendors in Marketing Data and Analytics report. About Claravine Claravine is The Data Standards Company. We help brands and agencies deliver on the promise of modern marketing by standardizing taxonomies, naming conventions, and metadata across all digital experiences. That’s why a quarter of the Fortune 100 use our platform, The Data Standards Cloud, to define, apply and connect standards across their ecosystem for faster decisions, greater agility, and increased ROI. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Maggie Stasko maggie@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.claravine.com/

March 07, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Growfin raises $7.5M led by SWC Global as it helps enterprises drive 33% efficiency in cash flow

Growfin

The prevailing economic conditions with a looming recession, correcting valuations and a tough fundraising environment have meant companies are zooming in on optimizing their cash flow to establish a sustainable growth pathway. Helping these companies get a focussed lens, fintech startup Growfin is today announcing a $7.5M Series A funding round to provide real-time visibility and predictability in cash flow for modern CFOs. The funding round was led by Singapore’s SWC Global with participation from existing investors 3one4 Capital and angels including CFOs and other industry leaders. This funding round comes hot on the heels of 8x growth in customer numbers over the last 12 months during which time Growfin has helped businesses collect $1B in account receivables (AR). Notable customers include Intercom, Locus, Mindtickle among others who have been able to boost their cash flow by 33% month on month by collecting their AR on time or faster. Globally, AR numbers for B2B businesses equate to $125 Trillion every year and 30% of this remains outstanding every month, presenting Growfin with a substantial opportunity to serve. Modern CFOs are struggling to get to grips with visibility and predictability in their cash collection cycle from customers, many of whom still rely on spreadsheets to solve this problem. Growfin has built a unique finance CRM that solves these challenges for finance and revenue teams. With its automation, collaboration tools and real-time collection tracking capabilities, it helps finance, sales and customer success teams connect in one place to handle customer relationships during the payment process and improve efficiency in collecting payments. It seamlessly integrates with any ERP (which connects invoices with payments) and CRM systems (which connect leads to sales) to drive faster payment collections from customers, improving the cash flow and the financial health of businesses. Founded in 2021 by Aravind Gopalan and Raja Jayaram, both second time (exited) founders, had been plagued by a lack of cash flow constraints in their previous ventures and sought to remedy this. They launched Growfin publicly in March 2022 having run focus groups of over 200 finance professionals from around the world to build the product. Aravind Gopalan, Co-founder and CEO at Growfin commented: “Getting paid and getting paid on time have been challenges as long as commerce has existed for businesses of all sizes. Managing receivables and collecting payments are often complex and compound even more as companies grow. Despite the growth of ERPs and CRMs such as Salesforce and Netsuite, I’ve understood that 90% of finance teams still manage their AR processes outside these tools, typically on spreadsheets or in-house databases. We are building a tool that is purpose-built for managing AR by integrating with the ERPs and CRMs, replacing all these spreadsheets and botched systems” “Growfin enables anyone concerned with invoice payment, including the customer, to collaborate in one place where they all see the same information and help solve payment issues faster. This collaboration-first approach will offer better efficiencies and greater transparency and build trusted relationships between customers and businesses towards collecting B2B payments faster.” “Over the last year, I have met with countless CFOs and two key observations stick in my mind. They have major concerns about the accuracy of the data informing their cash flow positions and twinned with this, they are anticipating their company numbers will come under increased scrutiny in 2023 from their boards and investors owing to current market conditions. Growfin is solving these headaches for CFOs.” Supporting the Growfin insights and proposition, a recent Gartner report found that CEOs and CFOs of tech companies feel underprepared for the current economic downturn and 78% have invested in automation and cash flow visibility to build the CFO tech stack to navigate the downturn. Additionally, prominent VCs like a16z and Redpoint ventures have also been calling for the modernization of the CFO tech stack as the way forward. Tuck Lye Koh, Founding Partner at SWC Global added: “Growfin’s AI-powered system is poised to disrupt how businesses collect their invoice payments by sitting on top of ERP systems like Netsuite and Microsoft dynamics that dominate the industry. Globally they have over 100,000 customers and now finance teams beholden to these systems will be able to plug in Growfin to get a deeper and wider eye into their financial well-being with real-time cash-flow efficiency and forecasting. Aravind and Raja are young yet very experienced and we're excited to be a part of their journey”. Growfin will make significant investments in its tech stack and product range in 2023, expanding its offering from a Finance CRM to an all-in-one integrated cash solution that will enable B2B enterprises to streamline and manage cash flow to enhance its product's predictive AI capabilities. This evolution will help businesses optimize their working capital and drive growth. About Growfin Growfin is a SaaS fintech platform that provides a Finance CRM system to help fast-growing B2B companies optimize their working capital by accelerating payment collections from customers and improving cash flow efficiency. Their AI-based system provides real-time visibility and predictability in accounts receivables, streamlining the process and improving cash inflows. Notable customers include Intercom, Fourkites, Mindtickle, Darwinbox, and Quick Dry Restoration. About SWC Global Founded in 2021, SWC Global is a venture capital firm based in Singapore. SWC is an affiliate of a leading multi-billion venture capital firm based in Asia, invested in some of Asia's leading companies, including over 40 unicorns and 12 decacorns. SWC invests in founders to help them build disruptive technologies or business models in emerging megatrends. For more information, please visit https://www.swcglobal.com/ Contact Details Growfin Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.growfin.ai/

March 07, 2023 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Naples, FL Shares Growth Strategies, Overcomes Hurricane Ian

Minuteman Press International Inc

David Ogden purchased the Minuteman Press franchise in Naples, Florida, in January 2021. In the two years since the purchase, David has successfully grown the business by expanding high-demand products and services as well as the key acquisition of independent printing business Sunbelt Printing in September 2022. David says, “The resulting sales growth in business after bringing Minuteman Press and Sunbelt Printing together is over 400% year-over-year.” Around the same time as the acquisition and planned relocation to a new 4,100 sq. ft. facility, Hurricane Ian hit Florida on September 28, 2022. David shares, “What an experience. I purchased Sunbelt Printing and found a new building to move into. The movers were scheduled to get us moved on September 28, 2022. It turns out it was the same day Hurricane Ian hit the Naples/Ft. Meyers area. Needless to say, the move was postponed, and all of our original planning was out the window. Finding contractors to get the electricity where we needed it and all the other moving parts involved had to be reorganized and rescheduled.” David continues, “We did it, and it took more time and patience than I expected, but we finally succeeded and are now in our 4,100-square-foot facility. We have grown really fast since the move and the acquisition, so it’s a good thing we were able to overcome Hurricane Ian and complete the move.” Today, Minuteman Press in Naples is located at 771 Airport Rd. N., Units 4 & 5, Naples, FL 34104. Journey from Cairo, Egypt to Naples, FL David Ogden first moved to Naples in 2013. He shares, “I owned a printing company in Cairo, Egypt, while my family and I lived there. When we left in 2013 and moved to Naples, I still owned the printing company in Egypt, and my brother-in-law took over day-to-day management. Today, I own Minuteman Press in Naples as well as two other companies not in the printing industry.” As someone with experience in the printing industry and as a business owner, David explains why he chose to join the Minuteman Press franchise family: “I chose Minuteman for several reasons. First, it was an existing franchise and a ‘fixer-upper.’ I also liked the company's history, the clear and present franchise support, and of course, their capped royalty structure. Finally, I knew from the day I started the training program for new owners with Mike Jutt and Pete Taglino that I had made the right decision and Minuteman Press was the right franchise brand for me.” David continues, “I did my homework before buying Minuteman Press in Naples, and I talked to many existing owners. All of them agreed the support received from Minuteman Press International was outstanding. After purchasing the business and when the paper supply chain issues occurred, it shook me at first. But then I had a great conversation with our Regional VP Larry Trimble, who helped put it in perspective and provided guidance. From that day forward, I have taken the ‘failure is not an option’ approach, and it has worked out great. I have fantastic support from our regional rep Mark Geller, and Larry Trimble. They are part of our team, know my business well, and are part of our success.” 3 Keys to Growing the Business David highlights the following three key ways he has grown the business over the past two years: Providing high-demand products and services, including direct mail. “ We have a large direct mail customer that does 6-10K pieces of first-class mail per day with us. We also have many smaller customers that do various-size mailings and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) postcards. Mailing is about 20% of our business and a fast growth area, and so we are investing in direct mail even further with new equipment.” Listening to clients and meeting their needs. “I make time to meet and talk to customers at our front desk. I always ask new customers, ‘What other kind of printing do you use?’ About 70% of the time, I discover new potential business. For example, our very large direct mail customer came from asking that one simple question, which added $30K per month in new revenue.” Learning from other owners by attending the Minuteman Press World Expo. “I learned a great deal at the Minuteman Press World Expo last year and took those ideas back to my team. As a result, we have increased a lot of central facility work, which has benefited our business's overall mix. One of the best takeaways from the Expo was the President’s Million-Dollar Owners panel, where successful owners from all across Minuteman Press answer questions from other franchisees. I sat and listened to every one of them talking about buying independent printers and merging them into their own businesses. I decided then and there to go home and buy another printer. Six weeks later, I purchased Sunbelt Printing.” Acquisition of Sunbelt Printing The acquisition of Sunbelt Printing certainly proved to be a huge boost for Minuteman Press in Naples. David shares, “Minuteman Press sends out regular mailings to independent printers asking them if they have a plan to retire or have an exit strategy, and they explain the benefits of selling their business with the help of Minuteman Press International. The owner of Sunbelt Printing was looking to sell and was ready to retire. After many meetings with that owner and weeks of negotiating, I bought Sunbelt Printing and merged that business into my existing business. Both were about equal in revenue per month at the time of the merger, and as I said previously, the resulting growth in business after bringing the two together is over 400% year-over-year.” David continues, “Our regional rep Mark Geller helped coordinate and execute the merger of the two businesses. He also helped us with specialty contractors to get equipment like large cutters moved and re-installed. In addition, Mark regularly helps me train new employees.” What’s next for David Ogden and Minuteman Press in Naples? David answers, “We are excited to keep serving our clients with high quality printing, marketing, and mailing services. I love building relationships with our customers and look forward to continuing to grow together. I’m also in talks with another independent printer about buying their business. We will see where that leads us.” Minuteman Press in Naples is located at 771 Airport Rd. N., Units 4 & 5, Naples, FL 34104. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/fl/naples/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 06, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Volatus Aerospace Secures Annual Recurring Contract to Expand Pipeline Corridor Surveillance in Eastern Canada

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Canadian Air National Inc., has signed a 3-year master service agreement with a leading pipeline operator to provide pipeline right-of-way asset and environmental monitoring throughout Ontario. The agreement, signed on March 2nd, is estimated to generate revenues of up to $5M over the next three years with margins within historical norms for jobs of this nature. Volatus Aerospace provides data gathering and analysis services to the oil and gas sector through its subsidiaries Canadian Air National and Synergy Aviation. In total, the Company provides pipeline right-of-way surveillance services across Canada from Kitimat, British Columbia to Ottawa, Ontario. Combined with weekly patrols on an annual basis, the Volatus Group patrols over 1,600,000 kilometers of pipeline. “Light aircraft and helicopters remain the most common solution for pipeline monitoring, but drones are the future,” says Glen Lynch CEO of Volatus. “We are enhancing our competitive advantage by introducing drones and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft in the months and years ahead to supplement and replace conventional aircraft. This will save our clients money, make processes safer, and reduce green-house gas emissions.” “Our oil and gas clients need reliable data,” added Ben Ruszkowski, Vice President of Business Development at Volatus' subsidiary Synergy Aviation. “We provide them with cost effective, environmentally friendly, and high-quality data solutions to protect their right-of-way assets and the environment using our proprietary technology.” According to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), 840,000 kilometres of pipelines safely transport liquids, such as natural gas, and crude oil, across Canada. The requirements for maintaining pipelines are heavily regulated by Provincial and Federal authorities. Regular aerial surveillance is a key method of compliance and protection used to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate environmental hazards and potentially dangerous conditions such as pipeline leaks and erosion, encroachment by vegetation, or third-party activities like construction, digging, and plowing. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout North America and growing into Latin America and globally. Volatus serves civil, public safety, and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, as well as R&D, design, and manufacturing. Through our subsidiary, Volatus Aviation, we are introducing green and innovative drone solutions to supplement and replace traditional aircraft and helicopters for long-linear inspections such as pipeline, energy, rail, and cargo services. Volatus is committed to carbon neutrality; the fostering of a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace; and responsible governance. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the anticipated benefits of, and estimated revenue to be generated by, the master service agreement; (ii) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (iii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs of management as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the anticipated benefits and revenues of the master service agreement to the Company; the commercialization of drone flights beyond visual line of sight and potential benefits to the Company; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and including, but not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Information Form under the section “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Rob Walker +1 204-955-2647 rob.walker@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

March 06, 2023 07:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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