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Apple Shareholder Demands More Transparency on China; Seeks Removal of Tim Cook, Al Gore from Board of Directors

National Legal & Policy Center

Ahead of Apple Inc. ’s annual meeting on March 10, National Legal and Policy Center is calling upon its fellow shareholders in the company to support its proposal to provide greater transparency about its risks of doing business in China, and to join the organization to oppose the reelections of CEO Tim Cook and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to the board of directors. NLPC is sponsoring a “Communist China Audit” resolution at the meeting, which seeks an annual report to shareholders that addresses “the nature and extent to which corporate operations depend on, and are vulnerable to, communist China….” The item is Proposal No. 6, found on page 82 of Apple’s proxy statement. NLPC’s response to the Apple board’s opposition to its proposal was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in mid-February. NLPC also reported to the SEC last month its opposition to the reelections of Cook and Gore to the company’s board of directors. An excerpt from NLPC’s filing on Cook says: Since taking over as CEO in 2011, Mr. Cook has failed numerous times to live up to what he says are Apple’s ethical standards, and he has made multiple strategic mistakes that have cost the company billions of dollars. These include labor rights failures, privacy violations, and overreliance on China. But he is shielded from accountability, in part because of his position on Apple’s board. He should be removed as a director so the proper chain of command can be restored. An excerpt of NLPC’s filing on Gore states: Mr. Gore has held a position on Apple’s board since 2003, despite having no relevant experience in technology or core business functions. His primary benefit to the board is his supposed climate change expertise. However, Mr. Gore’s public reputation is inconsistent with his track record, his carbon-intensive lifestyle, and his actual investments. Instead, he has used his public advocacy as a tool for personal enrichment. In addition, his political activism poses to Apple a reputational risk that is not worth his limited skillset. “It may be counterintuitive for shareholders to ‘upset the Apple-cart’ with our proposed changes, since the company is always among the highest valued in the world,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “But Corporate America is slow to recognize the threat from China, just like companies were caught by surprise by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and had to scramble to exit suddenly.” “We don’t want to see a repeat if the saber-rattling communist government actually attacks Taiwan,” Chesser added. “Tim Cook was blindsided by China’s ‘zero COVID’ crackdowns last year and Apple’s holiday sales suffered greatly as a result, so he needs a ‘time-out’ while the board monitors his leadership further. And at this point Al Gore is a cartoon caricature who is routinely mocked and scorned – he needs to go as well.” ### 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. 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

March 01, 2023 12:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

Part 5 of Legal & General’s new study on the U.S. Gig Economy analyzes the relationship between freelancing and free-thinking and the independent mindset that drives independent workers

Legal & General

- 1 in 5 respondents say they could not work in a corporate setting - 61% say working when they want is the most important consideration - 56% say doing the work they want to do is the main benefit - 40% of gig workers have life insurance, including those with partners and children - Just 2% say they want to leave the gig economy as soon as possible A fifth segment of a broad new study sponsored by Legal & General Group ( LGEN, LGNNY ), U.S. Gig Economy, Part 5: Gig Workers’ independent mindset opposes corporate team-think, was released today. The report continues narrating original research on the changing nature of work in the U.S., people’s relationship to it, and what employers should be thinking about in order to attract back talent. The study looks into shared traits manifested by this group of workers notwithstanding the tradeoffs they sometimes make in order to maintain their independence. This fifth report in the data-rich study, Gig Workers’ independent mindset opposes corporate team-think, explores some of the attitudes common to the gig working mindset, and how they often find themselves bucking the tide of traditional employment even amid the challenge of labor-related legislation such as California’s AB5 and New York State’s S2052. With more than half (53 percent) of study respondents saying that not having a boss is the main benefit of gig work—a figure that rises to 63 percent among non-office workers—there is a sense of purpose and moral choice as much as necessity among many freelancers. The study found that the vast majority of gig workers have long since made their peace with earning most of their living working independently. Verbatim responses received ahead of the survey paint a picture of fierce, sometimes humorous independence, and in some cases a libertarian point of view. Controlling what work they do and when they work, and negotiating their own pay, are highly valued aspects of being able to work this way. “Even as we see companies developing a sense of purpose beyond profit, a large percentage of American gig workers have been reflecting this trend in microcosm. When it comes to how they earn their living, they land hard on the side of purpose, individualism and free thinking. With the ranks of freelancers growing, large employers will clearly have to take a good hard look at what they are offering their salaried workers beyond a steady paycheck. The labor environment is changing, and the private sector, increasingly looking to be agile, needs to change with it.” Sir Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive, Legal & General Group Gig workflow sometimes at odds with government intervention Legal & General’s study looks at the complex and multifaceted societal and financial factors behind independent work, including the implications of recent government policy initiatives and gig workers’ attitudes toward them, as well as what is still missing for many to feel secure in life and society. “U.S. policymakers are taking notice of the growing gig economy and are clearly trying to enact changes intended to protect these workers from exploitation. It will be interesting to see the balance that needs to be achieved between offering a safety net to this worker population, while maintaining those same freedoms that motivated them to work independently in the first place. We hope our research can help inform this conversation, even as we progress toward better social and financial safety nets.” 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. Notes to editors 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. 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 ( LGEN, LGNNY ), 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 01, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

i2Coalition Launches Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative to Promote Industry Best Practices

Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative

The initiative is an international, industry-led consortium of web data collectors focused on strengthening public trust of the web scraping industry, and developing principles that will lead to greater accountability Web data aggregators (“web scraping”) gather available data from around the Internet; enabling consumer confidence, commercial innovation, and community safety. To drive further awareness of and public trust in this crucial digital ability, the Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) has announced the launch of the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative (EWDCI). This international, industry-led, and member-driven consortium of web data aggregation business leaders is focused on encouraging dialogue and improving digital peace of mind for consumers and companies. By establishing the EWDCI, the i2Coalition seeks to foster cooperation within the data aggregation industry and build a framework to establish an open, participatory process around the development of legal and ethical web scraping provider principles that will lead to greater accountability. The EWDCI is actively seeking more members of the data scraping field dedicated to establishing best practices to join and help shape the initiative’s early efforts. “The public deserves digital peace of mind, and ‘scraping’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word when it is done responsibly, but responsibility needs defining,” said Christian Dawson, the i2Coalition’s Executive Director. “As with any industry in these early stages, it has a unique opportunity to have a hand in how it is developed and perceived.” The web data aggregation industry is young and growing, and the founding members of the EWDCI are committed to serve as the voice of this emerging industry. This means collaboratively building public trust in the practice of data aggregation, promoting ethical guidelines, and helping businesses make informed data aggregation choices. Founding EWDCI members include five companies: Coresignal, Oxylabs, Smartproxy, Rayobyte, and Zyte. Web scraping enables business innovation and competition, provides consumer benefits—including serving accurate information and comprehensive pricing—and facilitates thorough data analysis for academic and public safety purposes. Some noteworthy use cases include: E-commerce price intelligence, including up-to-the-minute comparative information on same-item pricing across the internet Jobs and real estate listing aggregation Social listening and brand monitoring Alternative data for investment decision-making Businesses performing a thorough review of consumer trends and competitor companies worldwide to best position themselves for success Companies scanning the Internet data for illicit uses of their intellectual property Businesses confirming validity of marketing spend via ad verification Data aggregation companies supplying pro-bono scraped data to academic researchers, providing them vast data stores for essential research To properly provide these benefits to consumers, companies, and the public at large, data aggregators need to follow ethical practices. Such dedication will serve to further understanding of the data aggregation practice and process, and further the adoption of this technology. Key to this is a safe and community-minded application of aggregation, and therefore a positive reputation for the practice and its practitioners. The i2Coalition is the leading voice for businesses that build the internet, and has spearheaded the creation of similar efforts to create standardized industry benchmarks—such as the VPN Trust Initiative, which determined and promoted best practices for that vital industry. “The EWDCI aims to reach companies with this message of ethical data aggregation, as well as to educate consumers at large and legislators worldwide in the interest of informed, empowered action,” said Dawson. “This will promote industry-led stewardship of important—and already widely adopted—technology in the interest of solving any present challenges and setting the industry up for forthcoming success.” To learn more about the EWDCI, please visit www.ethicalwebdata.com. To become a member, please email Hilary Osborne. To learn more about the i2Coalition, please visit www.i2Coalition.com. About The Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative The Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative (EWDCI) seeks to foster cooperation in the web data collection and aggregation industry and leverage collective first-hand knowledge and insights to advocate for beneficial technical standards and business best practices regarding the aggregation of data. The EWDCI is dedicated to serving as the voice of the industry, collaboratively strengthening public trust in the practice of Data Aggregation, promoting ethical guidelines, and helping businesses make informed data aggregation choices. About the i2Coalition The Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition) is the leading voice for web hosting companies, data centers, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related tech. The i2Coalition works with Internet infrastructure providers to advocate for sensible policies, design and reinforce best practices, help create industry standards, and build awareness of how the Internet works. The i2Coalition also spearheaded the creation of the VPN Trust Initiative, which determined and promoted best practices for that vital industry. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://ethicalwebdata.com/

February 28, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

The Midtown Group Ranks No. 99 on Inc. Magazine’s List of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

The Midtown Group

Inc. magazine today revealed that The Midtown Group is No. 99 on its fourth annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Mid-Atlantic list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Mid-Atlantic private companies, based in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Mid-Atlantic economy’s most dynamic segment–its independent small businesses. “We are honored to be recognized by Inc. Regionals as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America," said Helen Stefan Moreau, President and CEO of The Midtown Group. "Our growth is fueled by our team's love for what they do, their unwavering dedication, and the trust our clients have placed in us to provide top-notch staffing solutions. This recognition is a testament to their hard work and our commitment to delivering exceptional service and driving innovation in the staffing industry. " Founded in 1989, The Midtown Group has grown significantly over the years, expanding its services and geographic reach to become a trusted partner to organizations of all sizes. Launched as a staffing firm, the innovative company now offers a full spectrum of staffing solutions with an emphasis on always offering top-notch customer service. “This year’s Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America’s off-the-charts growth companies. They’re disruptors and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you’ll be hearing about for years to come,” said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. magazine. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Mid-Atlantic, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/mid-atlantic. About The Midtown Group The Midtown Group (Midtown) is a certified small, woman-owned business that provides temporary staffing and professional services across 34 states. Over the past 33 years, Midtown has evolved from a staffing firm to an organization capable of providing full service solutions. We make a tireless effort to meet and exceed the requirements of our clients and candidates in an ever-changing market. Currently, we manage more than 1,500 candidates and more than 140 clients across the nation. We’re recognized as one of the best staffing firms in DC, as a perennial winner of the “Best Place to Work” award by Washingtonian, The Washington Business Journal, and Inc Magazine. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals Methodology The 2023 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2019 and 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. Contact Details The Midtown Group Colleen Gallagher, OnWrd & UpWrd +1 315-447-2331 cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com Company Website https://themidtowngroup.com/

February 28, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

CleverTap’s Fintech Benchmark Report: Only 1 in 5 users that install fintech apps sign up within week one

CleverTap

CleverTap, the modern integrated retention cloud, released its Industry Benchmark Report for Fintech Apps 2022. As fintech apps continue to grow more popular, the number of players vying for market share has increased. This has subsequently reduced customer retention and “stickiness” for any one brand. Therefore, today more than ever, it is crucial that fintech companies find ways to drive customer “stickiness” by engaging users in effective ways that eventually drive transactions and fuel growth. The report reflects data collected from Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, Middle-East, and North America. The report gives marketers a truly holistic view of key metrics within the fintech app landscape.It also spans a wide variety of fintech apps, including, but not limited to, mobile payment apps, cryptocurrency, and block chain services, along with banking and insurance among others. These insights will not only serve as a helpful starting point for developing successful engagement strategies, but also assist in understanding how an app fares in comparison to global averages. Some of the key metrics in the report include: Install to sign-up rate: Only 1 in 5 users that install fintech apps (21%) end up signing up within the first week. Average time to sign-up: 70% of the users that sign-up, do so within 75 seconds of launching the app for the first time. Sign-up to conversion rate: 95% of newly signed-up users make at least one financial transaction in the first month. Average time to convert: 76% of newly signed-up users move from onboarding to deeper-in-the-funnel engagement within an average of 7 days. Session frequency: On average, fintech app users launch their app around 11 times a month. Average repeat transaction rate for new users: 15% of newly signed-up users complete more than one transaction in the first week. Average click-through rate for push notifications: On average, 9% of Android users and 6% of iOS users will click on and interact with push notifications. Average click-through rate for in-app notifications: The click-through rate for in-app notifications is 24%, that’s about 3 times more than that of push notifications. Average email open rate: 34% users open emails sent by fintech companies Average Stickiness Quotient: Fintech apps enjoy a stickiness quotient of 22%, that indicates nearly one-quarter of MAUs consistently return to their fintech apps “The fintech industry has seen exponential growth in the last few years. Given the relentless competition within the space, fintech platforms need to step up their Omnichannel engagement efforts to better retain customers,” said Jacob Joseph, VP-Data Science, CleverTap. “The benchmark metrics laid out in our report provide a great starting point for growth marketers looking to develop effective marketing strategies. They will be able to compare numbers against global averages and pinpoint which aspects they are excelling at and which areas could use some attention or innovation.” 95% of new fintech users complete a monetary transaction in the first month. This shows that while users see value in fintech apps, it’s important to adopt customized user engagement strategies to boost retention on the platform. Today there is a real need for fintech brands to bake-in effective marketing strategies within their apps. Users will remain responsive as long as the experience is engaging and seamless. The benchmark report helps fintech apps understand how to build successful mobile communication campaigns, and also allows growth marketers to discover areas that require greater focus. The report can be downloaded here. About CleverTap CleverTap is the World's #1 Retention Cloud that helps app-first brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and lifetime value. It's the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep-segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product. The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ - the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale. CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Gojek, Electronic Arts, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa Johns, and Tesco. Backed by leading investors such as Sequoia India, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

February 27, 2023 02:51 PM Eastern Standard Time

HomeRoots Partners with Kuehne+Nagel to streamline Transportation and Fulfilment Options for Customers

Homeroots

FEB 27, 2022 – HomeRoots, a B2B e-commerce furniture and home decor platform, announced today that it has formed a partnership with Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s largest freight forwarding company. This partnership will allow HomeRoots’ customers to purchase competitive container and air freight services that include a comprehensive one-stop solution to quoting, booking, and tracking freight services. This partnership will help facilitate HomeRoots need for speed in getting goods to market, but also helps HomeRoots offer low carbon shipment options for a more sustainable future. “Our customers, especially mid-size independent hoteliers expect more efficient ways to purchase Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment. They want a B2B online experience that is just like shopping for their own homes. Collaborating with HomeRoots allows Kuehne+Nagel to take a boutique logistics service offering to next level, while increasing opportunities for HomeRoots beyond the typical retail business.” says Holger Altvater; Global Head of Hospitality Logistics. Gil Bar-Lev, CEO of HomeRoots said that “HomeRoots' partnership with Kuehne-Nagel puts the two companies ahead of the competition. There are very few selling platforms that provide logistics solutions on such a scale. The opportunity to work with Kuehne-Nagel is exciting for multiple reasons. HomeRoots' partners will be able to benefit from efficient logistics solutions via Kuehne+Nagel solid network, its leading market position and sustainable product portfolio.” This also allows manufacturers and factories that did not have the capabilities or the know-how, to enter the U.S. market. Conversely, Kuehne+Nagel existing customers who are currently importing furniture and home décor items will can collaborate with an even larger sector of customers that includes HomeRoots ever growing U.S. based sales channel of customers. According to Reuters, 70% of U.S. economic activity results in merchandise derived from ocean container shipments. Many of these shipments are plagued with difficulties, delays, and lack of transparency that make international exchange difficult. Bar-Lev said “Our goal is for our customers who order containers to be able to do so by adding items to their cart on the HomeRoots platform and completing checkout like the end consumer ordering grocery items. The existing process which is highly complex and high touch will be completely transformed. This is a real game-changer.” “Kuehne+Nagel allows us to bring direct access to the next evolution of premier freight service and options to our customers and suppliers” said Diane Narwid, VP of Merchandising from HomeRoots. We relish the opportunity to help ease the pain points our customers and factories might be experiencing in terms of getting goods safely, quickly, and competitively into the US. This partnership will play a valuable role in allowing HomeRoots to be the ultimate one-stop-shop for B2B online sales of furniture and home decor products, but also open doors to additional industry and logistics brokering opportunities. About Kuehne+Nagel With over 80,000 employees at almost 1,300 locations in over 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics companies. Its strong market position lies in sea logistics, air logistics, road logistics and contract logistics, with a clear focus on integrated logistics solutions. About HomeRoots HomeRoots is the market leader in B2B sales of Furniture, Home Decor, Rugs, & Lighting products. HomeRoots offers an ever-growing e-catalog of products IN STOCK and ready to ship to your location or direct to your customer. HomeRoots customers range from interior designers and hospitality projects to small and large e-commerce/brick and mortar retailers. HomeRoots mission is to offer an unparalleled breadth of assortment at competitive pricing and to make the B2B online shopping experience as easy as the B2C online shopping experience. For more information, please visit https://www.homeroots.co/ Contact Details HomeRoots Diane Narwid +1 862-203-8249 contactus@homeroots.co Company Website https://www.homeroots.co/

February 27, 2023 11:38 AM Eastern Standard Time

Shareholders Call Out JPMorgan Chase for Aiding & Abetting Jeffrey Epstein While De-Banking Conservatives

National Legal & Policy Center

Following the disclosures released last week that megabank JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“Chase”) knowingly allowed sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to maintain accounts with which he made multiple payments to his victims – collectively exceeding $1 million – two shareholder groups are pointing out hypocrisy at the bank, and are calling upon it to implement transparency measures and to disclose its policies about whom it does and doesn’t provide services to. According to information in a federal lawsuit by the government of the Virgin Islands against Chase, as early as 2006 the bank’s Global Corporate Security Division flagged “[s]everal newspaper articles... that detail the indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in Florida on felony charges of soliciting underage prostitutes.” According to a report by LawAndCrime.com, four years later Chase’s risk management division raised questions in an internal email about fresh accusations against Epstein. “See below new allegations of an investigation related to child trafficking – are you still comfortable with this client who is now a registered sex offender[?]” The concerns were dismissed and Epstein’s accounts at Chase remained open. Both National Legal and Policy Center and the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research own stock in Chase, and have introduced shareholder proposals ( NLPC’s, FEP’s ) that address different aspects of the company’s troubling practice of closing accounts of conservatives without warnings or honest explanations. In their respective proposals, both NLPC and FEP cite past examples where Chase has “de-banked” activists and organizations, including the nonprofit National Committee for Religious Freedom, which “proactively defend(s) the constitutional rights of religious freedom” for “all Americans.” The NCRF was founded by Sam Brownback, the former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Ambassador Brownback also served honorably as a Congressman, U.S. Senator, and Governor for the state of Kansas. Chase shuttered NCRF’s account and since then provided false explanations, and then stonewalled about the reasons for the closing. Only now, Chase is asking the Securities & Exchange Commission to let it exclude both proposals ( NLPC, FEP ) from being presented at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders, in an attempt to evade accountability for its discriminatory de-banking practices. “This is evil; Chase let the cash flow to aid and abet Jeffrey Epstein’s sick and disgusting global sex trafficking operation,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “But they shut down its services to a praiseworthy and respectable initiative by an upstanding public servant, and want to hide the reasons for it all from shareholders. The bank is obviously embarrassed and it should be.” “Chase is a too-big-to-fail bank, so it gets to keep its profits, while all taxpayers – not just leftwingers – backstop its losses,” said Scott Shepard, Director of FEP. “Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon talks a good game about recognizing the folly of woke corporate governance, apparently without realizing that that’s how his shop is run. After these Epstein revelations, it’s time for Congress and the states to investigate Chase and to bar it from doing business until it ends its petty partisan discrimination.” Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. The National Center for Public Policy Research, founded in 1982, is a non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think-tank. Ninety-four percent of its support comes from individuals, less than four percent from foundations and less than two percent from corporations. It receives over 350,000 individual contributions a year from over 60,000 active recent contributors. Contributions are tax-deductible and may be earmarked for the Free Enterprise Project. Sign up for email updates at https://nationalcenter.org/subscribe/. Follow us on Twitter at @FreeEntProject and @NationalCenter for general announcements. To be alerted to upcoming media appearances by National Center staff, follow our media appearances Twitter account at @NCPPRMedia. Media Contacts: Judy Kent, NCPPR, Director, Media Relations 703-477-7476 or JKent@NationalCenter.org Jackie Jones, NCPPR, Media Relations Consultant 316-644-9538 or Jackie@TruthPR.com ### 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

February 23, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Trust & Will Raises Strategic Investment Round to Help More Families Leave a Legacy

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform, has raised a new round of strategic investments from leading financial institutions, including Amex Ventures, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, SEI Ventures, and USAA. This financing builds on previous investment rounds, with more than $48 million raised since the company’s founding in 2017. Trust & Will plans to use the new capital to scale operations and further integrate with leading financial institutions. “We’re in turbulent times as macroeconomic trends continue to impact the tech sector at large, so raising capital in this environment is truly remarkable. We’re honored to have Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures double down on their first investment from 2020 and welcome SEI Ventures, USAA, and Amex Ventures to the Trust & Will family,” said Cody Barbo, Founder and CEO of Trust & Will. “Our team is fully aligned on using this capital to further lean into our mission and help even more families leave their legacy in the years to come.” Nearly 60% of American adults do not have a will or trust. Trust & Will provides an easy and secure way to create estate plans and settle estates online, with the ability to customize legal documents that adhere to individual state and county guidelines. The company recently launched Trust & Will Probate in October 2022, streamlining probate and estate settlement with affordable options. “Trust & Will is transforming the digital creation and updating of trust and wills, helping reduce friction for families to create a plan that fits their lives' needs and fulfills their legacies," said Russ Kliman, Global Head of SEI Ventures. "We're excited to extend our strategic partnership with this investment in Trust & Will, and we look forward to working with their leadership team as they deliver solutions that help provide a seamless wealth management experience." “Estate planning is an essential pillar of sound consumer financial wellness. Yet today, the process is complex, antiquated, and expensive. Trust & Will is modernizing the estate planning industry with a simple, fast, and affordable way to set up an estate plan online,” said Margaret Lim, Managing Director at Amex Ventures. “We are excited to invest in the growth of Trust & Will and to explore opportunities to partner with them.” "It's an honor to work alongside the Trust & Will team,” said Craig Schedler, Managing Director of Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. “We look forward to continuing to support them on their journey as they grow into market leaders in their space, providing critical support to families and individuals with easy-to-use trust and estate products.” “At USAA, we’ve made it our mission to empower our members – America’s military families – to achieve financial security,” said USAA VP of Corporate Development Nathan McKinley. “Estate planning is a critical but often neglected part of financial security. Trust & Will is pioneering better solutions for consumers, and we’re excited to be a part of that.” About Trust & Will Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. To learn more, visit trustandwill.com. About SEI® SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) delivers technology and investment solutions that connect the financial services industry. With capabilities across investment processing, operations, and asset management, SEI works with corporations, financial institutions and professionals, and ultra-high-net-worth families to solve problems, manage change and help protect assets—for growth today and in the future. As of Dec. 31, 2022, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.2 trillion in assets. For more information, visit seic.com. About USAA Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. or more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com. Contact Details Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

February 23, 2023 08:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

Association of Professional Builders Releases 2023 Trend Forecast for Custom Builders & Remodelers

Association of Professional Builders

The Association of Professional Builders (APB), a leading business coaching service for custom home builders, with members in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, today shared a 2023 trend forecast for custom builders and remodelers. Despite many issues that plagued 2022 including supply chain delays, labor shortages, low unemployment rates, high inflation, interest rate rises and builder burn out, optimistically, two of the biggest findings in the forecast indicate that 58% of builders still delivered homes on time and are operating in the black. Builders reported 2022 as a record year for revenue and most importantly, their net profits were up. Many builders also reported signing contracts at record margins during the last quarter of 2022 even as the market softened. The forecast comes ahead of APB’s upcoming annual 2023 State of the Residential Construction Industry (SORCI) Report, which will come out in March and detail key insights from over 1,000 residential home builders operating in the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. “We are pleased to see that builders are turning record revenues and net profit margins as it hasn’t always happened this way, even with less economic turbulence,” said Russ Stephens, co-founder, APB. “We’re seeing builders get smarter about how to operate their companies. They are turning more profitable as a result of a better understanding of their finances, implementing better technology, and putting in place better sales and marketing processes.” Residential home builders should be encouraged by these signs and continue to understand how to remain profitable, no matter their company structure. APB cited a slower sales cycle in 2023 and emphasized the importance of builders implementing a structured approach to their selling. APB noted in particular that builders must understand how their sales will affect their margins. Builders who do not are often forced to drop their prices in order to win jobs, which can then in turn create a long-lasting domino effect that will ultimately impact their bottom line. For more information and to access additional resources and insights, please visit https://associationofprofessionalbuilders.com. To pre-order a copy of the 2023 SORCI Report, please visit: https://go.associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/sorci-download. # # # ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS The Association of Professional Builders is a leading business coaching service for custom home builders in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It provides tested and proven systems for builders to scale and succeed, based on data, experience, and results. For more information, visit: https://associationofprofessionalbuilders.com. ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS The Association of Professional Builders is a leading business coaching service for custom home builders in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It provides tested and proven systems for builders to scale and succeed, based on data, experience, and results. Contact Details The Hoyt Organization Alyson Campbell +1 310-373-0103 acampbell@hoytorg.com Company Website https://associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/

February 23, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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