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Provana Partners with Finexus Insurance Agency to Provide Property & Casualty Insurance Benefits to Customers

Provana

Provana, provider of the industry’s first unified platform for compliance and performance management, today announced a partnership with Finexus Insurance Agency to provide clients with greater access to property and casualty insurance offerings, including potential discounts for users of Provana’s compliance solutions. Finexus Insurance Agency, LLC is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance to collection industry companies across the country, founded by industry veteran, Katie Zugsay. Ms. Zugsay is an attorney, previously serving as Corporate Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at a top collection agency and as Client Service Executive at one of the largest insurance agencies in the country, where she helped craft bespoke coverage plans for publicly traded financial services clients. She founded Finexus to bring highly customized, top-notch service to collection agencies, helping insurers better understand the unique compliance investments agencies have already put in place. The result is right-sized insurance coverage, often at a reduced cost. “Katie’s experience within the collection industry makes her an invaluable and highly effective advocate for our compliance clients,” said Shubham Bhargava, Head of Compliance Solutions at Provana. “Her expertise will enhance the value we’re able to deliver to our users, with the goal of delivering discounted insurance rates for their adoption of Provana.” “Provana is the industry expert when it comes to compliance, and their clients deserve to be fairly compensated for adopting advanced technology that reduces their risk exposure,” said Katie Zugsay, Chief Executive Officer at Finexus. “This benefit is the first of its kind, and we’re excited to deliver innovative compliance and insurance offerings to organizations within the accounts receivables management industry.” Benefits for collection law firms Collection law firms are a top target of cyber-attacks. Finexus can help Provana’s law firm clients by maximizing quote options and minimizing declinations and restrictions from cyber carriers. This is especially timely, given the FTC Safeguard Act will likely go into effect for law firms beginning December 9, 2022. Benefits for debt buyers and collection agencies Debt buyers and collection agencies who are IPACS clients can now work with Finexus to ensure their organization, in addition to their vendors, have the necessary coverage to safeguard sensitive customer information at the right cost. About Finexus Insurance Agency, LLC Finexus helps facilitate trust and understanding between insurers and the insured, while helping clients understand the important coverages they’ve purchased. Finexus’ agent and broker team has access to an expansive list of insurance carriers who are ready to write competitively priced coverages for collection agencies, providing clients with enhanced options and negotiating leverage. Finexus focuses on property and casualty insurance coverages, including workers compensation, E&O, directors and officers, cybersecurity, crime, employment practices liability, and bonds. For more information, visit www.finexusins.com or call 1-800-831-6018. About Provana Provana is a SaaS platform that gives leaders control over process-intensive operations. We serve law firms, insurance companies, accounts receivable agencies and networked enterprises in the US market that are tightly regulated by the CFPB and other authorities. Provana is built on decades of experience in machine learning and natural language processing and helps customers manage sensitive interactions, analyze unstructured data, process personal information and ensure compliance. Provana is backed by a NYC-based Fintech PE, most recently raising funds in November 2020. Learn more at www.provana.com. Contact Details Britney Schaeffer +1 469-774-2409 britney.schaeffer@provana.com Company Website https://www.provana.com/

August 30, 2022 08:05 AM Central Daylight Time

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Government Brands Becomes “Catalis” for Transforming Government

Catalis

Government Brands, LLC, the trusted technology partner for thousands of US and Canadian government entities, has launched a rebrand as Catalis TM. Catalis is one of North America’s leading government Software as a Service (SaaS) and integrated payments providers, powering municipal, county, state, and federal governments. Government Brands was launched in late 2017 and in less than five years strategically acquired and combined more than 30 GovTech companies across the US and Canada. This rapid growth necessitates a new way to organize and brand their broad portfolio of software and payments solutions. The rebrand, which is not a corporate restructuring, is part of the company’s natural progression as it continues to grow and offer clients innovative technology and a more comprehensive suite of solutions. A recapitalization in 2021, with leading investors PSG and TPG, elevated Government Brands to “unicorn” status, with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. Rebranding is the next step of evolution toward further expansion and positioning Catalis as North America's premier software and digital payments provider to government. “This an exciting time – not only for our company but also for our customers and stakeholders,” says John Kristel, CEO of Catalis. “This rebrand reflects the evolution of our company and provides an opportunity to better communicate the wide range of best-in-class solutions we provide. We look forward to uniting our existing brands under one comprehensive citizen-first brand focused on serving government.” “Catalis” is inspired by the word “catalyst,” which describes the company’s mission: to serve as a catalyst for creating a modern digital government. Their deep expertise, proven track record, and purpose-built digital solutions empower public officials to advance government and engage citizens through technology. The company offers a wide range of technology solutions across government with a portfolio of leading SaaS solutions for Citizen Engagement, Courts, Land Records, Public Works, Tax, Regulatory & Compliance, and CAMA, and integrated systems for Payments. “The inherent complexity of government can hinder change, and no one feels this more than the people who work there: the public servants who work tirelessly to meet the needs of their citizens,” continues Kristel. “Catalis understands those challenges and provides the technology, expertise, and agility to successfully deploy modern, transformative solutions.” While the brand name has changed, Kristel assures customers that Catalis will continue to provide an unparalleled customer service experience, including an expanded range of resources and solutions to help them modernize government and engage citizens. “Our existing customers will continue to experience the same customer-centric service they have grown to know and rely on, and we’re excited to develop new partnerships at all levels of government,” says Kristel. “The rebrand to Catalis is just the next step in our progression to providing the technology and innovation to meet – and exceed – the expectations of a modern digital government.” About Catalis Catalis is the transformational SaaS and integrated payments partner powering all levels and sizes of government – municipal, county, state, and federal. With deep expertise, a proven track record, and innovative digital solutions, Catalis has empowered public servants across the US and Canada to modernize government and engage citizens. For more information, visit www.catalisgov.com. Contact Details Catalis Eric Johnson, EVP Government & Legal Affairs +1 612-309-7111 ericjohnson@catalisgov.com

August 30, 2022 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Volatus Aerospace Corp. Announces Record Second Quarter 2022 Sales of $6.6M and Provides Corporate Update

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company"), a global leader in the drone industry, is pleased to announce its financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2022 ("Q2 2022"). The revenue increase in Q2 2022 was driven by strong organic growth, expansion into the defense segment, geographic expansion, and higher services and training revenue. The Company generated revenue of $11,437,421 in the first half of 2022. The first two quarters have seasonality for drone services and training, and the third quarter is expected to be the strongest in these segments. Key Financial Highlights: Revenue for Q2 2022 was $6,629,593, an increase of 38% over the previous quarter and a 95% increase over the same quarter prior year. Gross profit for Q2 2022 was $1,900,920 an increase of $943,968 over the same period in 2021. The increase in gross profit was due to scale in product and services activities. Volatus recorded a comprehensive loss of ($1,626,896). This was due to increased investment in human resources in the defense and integrated solutions segment, and increased advertisement and marketing expenses. The Company has experienced a gross margin of 29% representing an increase of 6% over the first quarter of 2022. Contributing to increased margins are revenue from product diversification, and higher margins from services and training. Notable Operational Accomplishments During the Quarter: Continued delivery of ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Drones to Ukraine Addition of several ISR products for defense and public safety The strategic acquisition of Canadian Air National Inc., which performs aerial pipeline inspections Launch of Latin America joint venture Introduction of Volatus AERIEPORT, an autonomous drone nesting station Signed numerous partnerships with OEMs to diversify and commercialize product offerings Announcement of a commercial training agreement with Moose Cree First Nations Appointment of Lt. General (Ret’d) The Honorable Andrew Leslie to the Board of Directors "I am pleased with the continued progress of our team as they continue to execute our plan toward a sustainable and profitable future,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “Our investments in the defense and public safety sectors are beginning to gain traction and the introduction of the AERIEPORT and other Volatus technology solutions will help drive higher margin sales in the future.” The condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three months ended June 30, 2022, and associated management discussion and analysis, are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. This news release is not in any way a substitute for reading those financial statements, including the notes to the financial statements. Webinar In conjunction with this release, Volatus investor relations will host a webinar on Tuesday, August 30 th at 4:30 PM EST at which time Glen Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, and Abhinav Singhvi, Chief Financial Officer, will review the quarterly results and major milestones with Rick Peterson, CEO of Peterson Capital, as moderator. Investors are invited to register for the webinar here. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DQE4_KNfR9CdqWJ4CEIkkQ Audio Replay Options An audio replay of the event will be archived on the Investor Relations page of the company's website here CORPORATE UPDATE The Brokered Private Placement Volatus is pleased to announce that it has engaged Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. (the “Lead Agent”) and Integral Wealth Securities Limited (“Integral”, and together with the Lead Agent, the “Agents”) on a commercially reasonable best efforts private placement for the sale of up to 1,388,888 units of the Company (the “Units”) in the Province of Quebec at a price of $0.36 per Unit (the “Offering Price”) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $500,000 (the “Offering”). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a “Common Share”) and one common share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”), with each Warrant being exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of 24 months following the issuance thereof. The proceeds derived from the sale of the Units will be used for (i) inventory purchases and increasing factory operations; (ii) R&D and capital expenditure, (iii) future acquisitions and (iv) and for working capital and general corporate purposes. In consideration of the services rendered by the Agents in connection with the Offering, the Company has agreed to pay to the Agents on the closing date a commission equal to 8% of the gross proceeds from the Offering. In addition, the Company will issue the Agents warrants (the “Agents’ Warrants”) to acquire that number of Units which is equal to 8.0% of the number of Units sold under the Offering, at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price. The compensation to the Agents on certain subscriptions on a president’s list of up to $500,000 shall be reduced to 3% Cash Commission and 3% Agents’ Warrants. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout Canada, the United States, Latin America and most recently in Europe. Operating a vast pilot network, Volatus serves commercial and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, and design, manufacturing, and R&D. Through its subsidiary Volatus Aviation, Volatus carries on the business of aircraft management, charter sales, and cargo services using piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous aircraft. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Corporation with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information 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 business plans and expectations of the Corporation; and (ii) 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 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 Corporation 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 Corporation, 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 reflects the Corporation’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 impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Corporation; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and anticipated and unanticipated costs and other factors referenced in this news release and the Circular, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Circular under the caption “Risk Factors”. Although the Corporation 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 Corporation 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. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Abhinav Singhvi +1 833-865-2887 abhinav.singhvi@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

August 29, 2022 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ready for Ron Advocates and Spokespeople Generating Tremendous Support & Amplifying Pro-DeSantis Messages

Ready for Ron

Ready for Ron, a draft committee encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President is seeing growing momentum as the only credible organization working to draft, and elect, Ron DeSantis as President in 2024. Ready for Ron launched an advertising and grassroots mobilization effort in late May to help convince Ron DeSantis he has the support to win the Presidency in 2024. The PAC also filed an official Advisory Opinion Request with the Federal Election Commission to ask if it may share the names of Draft petition signers with Governor DeSantis to convince him to run. A series of op-eds from the past few weeks show the significant and growing support DeSantis has throughout the country among grassroots activists and donors: Ed Rollins, Ready for Ron Senior Strategist wrote in Real Clear Politics, “…With a commitment to defending the rights of parents, getting inflation and government spending under control, and solving the problems the radical left causes, DeSantis can unify the grassroots activists and his volunteers and donors. Undeterred by bullies and the woke mob alike, he is listening and putting people first every step of the way. No class warfare – only common ground…” Lilian Rodrigues Baz, Ready for Ron’s Chief Legal Counsel wrote in The Washington Times, “…From Florida to the blue states north and west, America is ready for Mr. DeSantis. He will make America great again, carrying on the Trump tradition and inspiring hope in our country yet again. It can’t come soon enough…” Autry Pruitt, CEO of New Journey PAC wrote in the Western Journal, “…From pro-business economics to anti-wokeism, DeSantis innately recognizes the fight before Republicans in 2022 and 2024. He has routinely clashed with left-wing reporters and liberal Democrats, recognizing that one cannot realistically turn enemies into friends — not in today’s America. Along those lines, DeSantis is not afraid to dismiss radical bureaucrats who make states like Florida less free or less safe…” Shaun McCutcheon a Free Speech advocate and successful Supreme Court plaintiff, wrote in TownHall, “…Even conservatives like me, who love Trump, see DeSantis as the real alternative with a proven track record of standing up for American values. As Governor, he defended the rights of parents and got government spending under control, solving the big problems the Biden administration creates…” “We are excited to see our efforts paying off. Support for Ron DeSantis continues to grow, despite increasing attacks from the Left, and his base is solid,” stated Lilian Rodríguez-Baz. “We are building the biggest grassroots movements ever, and with support growing like this, it will happen even quicker than anticipated.” “We are 100 percent committed to drafting and electing Ron DeSantis in 2024. Ron DeSantis is the best choice to carry the America first agenda forward,” Ed Rollins said. Ready for Ron continues its TV and online advertising efforts to engage Americans to sign the petition at www.ReadyForRon.com to Draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with a ‘Ready for Ron’ spokesperson or advocate, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

August 29, 2022 12:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Swindon, England Reopens Doors After Flooding and Fire

Minuteman Press International Inc

Minuteman Press in Swindon, England has reopened its physical location at 19-21 Newport Street (Ground Floor – Newport House). After suffering water damage from flooding in July of 2021 and electrical fire damage in October of 2021, owner James Beckwith and his team continued to operate and serve clients as repairs were being made. James shares, “The community has been fantastic, we officially remained open the whole time taking orders from the website and emails, as well as keeping our phone lines open. We have had nothing but positive comments and folks telling us they are so happy we are back open. Some customers have commented that though they had to go elsewhere for a time, the quality of the print and the quality of the service just didn’t compare to what they received when working with us.” During this critical time and leading to the reopening of their facility, James was grateful to be part of the Minuteman Press franchise family, who stepped in and provided crucial support in many areas. James says, “Mark Jones (UK South Regional VP) and Richard Myers (local field rep) and Duncan Diesel (at MPIHQ) have been invaluable to us. I routinely spoke with Duncan on equipment decisions when ours was being replaced as well as marketing ideas and technical help with Minuteman Press FLEX software and the new website. Richard has been out to see us during the time we had no premises to work up a plan once we were back open and he has been out since opening to assist with production processes and marketing ideas. Mark Jones was always at the end of the phone if we needed advice on anything. He was very key in us making the decision to stay in our current premises when we were investigating moving locations.” Being part of the Minuteman Press system also enabled James to receive vital support from choice vendors like Xerox. James states, “I want to particularly give a shout out to Xerox. They were amazing throughout the entire process. The Xerox kit was always the most expensive shop item and there were lots of negotiations on price to replace the two Versants that were damaged. They ultimately gave us the opportunity to acquire the Xerox Iridesse and offline booklet maker to match the requirements from the two previous Versants while keeping the insurance company happy on cost. Xerox also gave me near free reign of their Uxbridge HQ where I was allowed to run one particular job on their presses every month for six or seven months.” Today, with the repairs finished, new equipment in place and new signage installed, James is excited about the upgrades that have been made to the business. He says, “Our offices and production area have been refurbished, and we can now provide more services than before.” James continues, “We now have totally new kit, and because it is so versatile, we can offer more options than before, with an even faster turnaround. The new Xerox Iridesse is a full production press allowing us more and faster capabilities as well as improved image quality over our previous presses.” He adds, “Even our booklet-making capacity has improved. Whereas before, making a large number of booklets could take several hours, we can now produce up to 3,000 booklets in an hour.” James further explains the benefits of the new equipment installed at Minuteman Press in Swindon: “The Iridesse is absolutely amazing. The image quality is second to none. The job that I would run at Xerox HQ was a monthly magazine run for a local village. 1050 copies, ranging from 20 – 32 pages each month. On our Versants, the job would take 6 – 8 hours. Now the entire job takes us about 2 hours!” We were able to update our Duplo 615 to the 618 and that piece of kit is a dream. Touch screen, easy to configure and very dependable. We replaced our SureColour T5200 with the same model, however now we have the large format scanner which was one area we were sorely lacking. Customers would routinely come in with paper plans looking to get copies or scans and we would have to turn them away, now we can handle the full job for them. We replaced our HP Latex 330 with the Latex 335 that has the Print & Cut feature. We couldn’t be happier with the decision. We are still getting our feet wet with the Print & Cut, but so far we are producing work on all the new kit.” Minuteman Press in Swindon also plans to re-add dye sublimation and add a self-service area for walk-in customers who need a simple print job. James says, “This is really ideal if someone wants a return label printed, for example. We always offered this kind of service for customers, but soon they will be able to do it on a DIY basis.” James concludes, “We are happy to be back in our new and improved facility, and we are excited to continue to welcome back our clients. We are so thankful for them and all of the help we’ve received from our community and MPIHQ, and now we are ready to serve our clients better than ever before.” For more information about Minuteman Press in Swindon, visit https://minuteman.com/uk/locations/england/swindon/ To learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and to see Minuteman Press franchise reviews, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.co.uk or https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

August 26, 2022 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Talon Wall Holdings Files $150 Million Defamation Claim Against Reflection Window & Wall

Talon Wall Holdings, LLC

Talon Wall Holdings LLC and their related entities, Chicago Heights Glass Inc. and Entekk Group LTD, longstanding national leaders in commercial high-rise façade construction, recently filed a $150 million defamation counterclaim against Reflection Window & Wall, LLC (RWW) and its director of curtain wall, Joel J. Phelps, who formerly worked for Talon Wall. Talon Wall Holdings, LLC and the related entities had sued the defendants in 2021 for patent infringement, a case that has yet to be resolved. In the interim, RWW filed a lawsuit and published a press release that questioned the safety of Talon Wall®, a patented and revolutionary exterior aluminum and glass wall construction system for commercial buildings. Talon Wall Holdings LLC and the entities refute the RWW allegations and have filed the defamation claims in response. The counterclaim states that RWW “baselessly alleges that the Talon Wall System is not fire safe,” and “in an effort to compete through the courts rather than the marketplace” alleges that the Talon Wall entities committed “fraud.” The counterclaim calls the RWW allegations a “far-reaching and illogical conspiracy” and alleges that, in fact, the “Talon Wall System utilizes the same Window Wall Fire Safe Structure” as all the window wall systems that RWW and other façade manufacturers have been installing for decades, and which RWW has asserted “are known for exceeding fire safety objectives.” According to the counterclaim, “the Talon Wall System has been stringently evaluated by experts on fire safety through the process of approval for large projects throughout the country, and through third-party engineering judgments (including third-party fire testing).” The counterclaim further states that the “Talon Wall System meets or exceeds project specifications with class-leading thermal, structural, air, acoustic, seismic and water performance. It does not require field-applied acoustical, fire-safing insulation, mullion wraps, or fire sealant at floor slab interfaces. It does not require layout or presetting of unit anchors at mounting locations to floor slabs.” In fact, the Talon Wall System has been approved for use by multiple building departments for projects throughout North America, including in Chicago, New York, Denver, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Nashville, New Jersey, and Virginia, among others. It has also been awarded five United States patents. The counterclaim also alleges that RWW’s July 7, 2022, press release made numerous false statements about Chicago Heights Glass that constitute defamation, commercial disparagement, and slander. The claim further alleges that Phelps, now employed by RWW, breached his fiduciary duty to his former employer by disseminating confidential documents and that they “misquoted and misrepresented ASTM standards in an effort to scare monger and create suspicion when [they] knew that all test requirements were met and passed by the Talon Wall System.” The counterclaim attaches 26 certified engineering judgments and fire test reports for Talon Wall projects, which contradict RWW’s claims that Talon Wall is unsafe. A May 20, 2018, engineering judgment was actually directed to Phelps while he was employed by Entekk as its vice president. Phelps left Entekk in June 2020 to join RWW as its director of curtain wall. He helped RWW design a curtain wall system known as UWALL, which sparked the original patent infringement suit by Talon Wall. The counterclaim seeks damages of $150 million and asks the court to direct RWW and Phelps to retract all defamatory communications and false statements, enjoin them from making further defamatory statements, and disgorge profits from all unlawful activity. Chicago Heights Glass, Inc., a privately owned specialty subcontracting firm, and Entekk Group LTD, a privately owned specialty design and manufacturing firm, are both located in the southern Chicago suburbs and specialize in large commercial construction projects. More information on the company is available at www.chicagoheightsglass.com and www.entekk.com. The original patent infringement lawsuit and the recently filed counterclaim can be downloaded here and at www.LawsuitPressRelease.com. Contact Details LawsuitPressRelease.com John P. David +1 888-859-6637 john@LawsuitPressRelese.coom

August 25, 2022 01:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shareholder’s Group Demands Morningstar Correct Inaccuracies in Report on ESG Proposals

National Legal & Policy Center

Last week, influential financial ratings and research firm Morningstar reported its findings in its proxy season analysis of a so-called “anti-ESG explosion” of shareholder resolutions at the annual meetings of several major corporations. Without contacting National Legal and Policy Center about its 25 proposals this year, Morningstar mischaracterized them as measures antithetical to the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) emphasis that has been widely embraced by Corporate America. “In its apparent zeal to denigrate NLPC’s participation in the shareholder process, Morningstar dismissed the fact that nearly all of our resolutions addressed governance issues – that’s right, the “G” in “ESG,” said Paul Chesser, director of the Corporate Integrity Project for NLPC. “That makes them pro -ESG!” Indeed, NLPC’s proposals at various times have been proposed in the past, with very similar language, by progressive shareholders who would be identified as “pro-ESG.” Of NLPC’s 25 proposals, six of them sought to split the Chairman and CEO roles; Eleven of them sought greater charitable donation disclosure; Four of them sought greater lobbying expenditure disclosure; and one sought greater board diversity. The other three also could have been proposed by progressives: One sought transparency from Alphabet about requests it received from the government to remove content from its platforms, and two of them addressed human rights and slave labor (Disney and General Motors). “What about any of these proposals makes them ‘anti-ESG?’” Chesser wondered. “Why is good, transparent governance ‘pro’ when progressives present the idea, but ‘anti’ when conservatives present it? Morningstar can’t even point to anything in our resolutions’ supporting statements that screams ‘conservative’ or ‘anti-ESG.’” Puzzlingly, Morningstar unintentionally admitted that NLPC’s proposals were really pro -ESG, by reporting, “Many of the [NLPC] proposals found language and phrasing that the Securities and Exchange Commission finds acceptable by copying earlier approved pro-ESG proposals.” Morningstar also stated that one of NLPC’s many proposals – to split the Chairman and CEO roles – was “reasonable, and many players, Morningstar Sustainalytics included, recommended that investors vote for the proposal.” Nonetheless Morningstar – in its overall effort to paint the resistance to “woke” corporate policies as a failure – misled its readers, subscribers, and the business media about the nature of NLPC’s resolutions. Worse – and without contacting NLPC to learn more about its proposals – Morningstar smeared NLPC by characterizing its intentions as “disingenuous” and “insincere.” “If shareholders had approved any of our resolutions and the companies implemented their measures, they would not have done so in a way that was advantageous for political conservatives or so-called ‘anti-ESG’ advocates – because that’s not what we asked for in our resolutions,” Chesser said. “Greater transparency and accountability represent good governance for all customers and investors — and again, these are measures sought many times in the past by progressive shareholders.” Chesser added that Morningstar is not the objective research and ratings company -- influencing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments -- that many consider it to be. The finance firm is being investigated by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, under the state’s consumer protection and anti-“Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” laws. “I suspect what really upsets Morningstar and ESG advocates is that we have shown up on what they regarded as their conquered turf at annual shareholder meetings,” Chesser said. “I’m sure they don’t like the competition.” Chesser characterized the proxy season overall as a first-step for conservatives, and noted that nearly all “pro-ESG” resolutions presented to shareholders over the past several years have been rejected also. Nonetheless the progressive shareholders have won the overall “battlefield” by showing up year after year, by virtue of pro-ESG sympathizers overtaking the boardrooms and executive suites of every major corporation. “Morningstar hoped we would be demoralized by the failure of our resolutions to pass, and I’m sure they wish we would just go away,” Chesser said. “But we are just getting started. See you next year!” ### 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

August 22, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Fullintel Appoints Angela Dwyer as Head of Insights

Fullintel, LLC

Fullintel, a leading media monitoring and media intelligence service, is proud to announce it has appointed Angela Dwyer, a leader in the global PR measurement industry, as its new Head of Insights. A former senior vice-president at NYC-based PR agency Lippe Taylor and senior project manager at PRIME Research (now Cision), Angela has spent years developing and implementing advanced media metrics – such as the Hypatia Gravity Score – to help improve the effectiveness of PR campaigns and media outreach. She’s also actively involved in the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC). Building on Fullintel’s Award-Winning Media Measurement Foundation “Fullintel has mastered a cost-effective, human-curated media monitoring approach,” explains Dwyer, “along with a great analysis foundation in terms of Fullintel’s Media Impact Score and PredictiveAI™ crisis module. I want to continue adding to that by customizing the approach for each client based on a range of factors, such as drivers of recall, predictors of how someone might think about your brand, or even different audience drivers depending on the client’s goal.” Angela’s addition builds on Fullintel’s growing momentum in the PR measurement industry, culminating in the company winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards at the 2021 AMEC Awards for media measurement. “Angela is one of the most talented senior members of the global measurement community, period. We’re extremely proud to have her join our team,” said Fullintel President Andrew Koeck. “We look forward to providing our clients across healthcare, tourism, retail, aviation, and other industries with even more impactful and actionable insights, based on our ever-evolving measurement program and new products such as PredictiveAI.” Improving Measurement Standards For Communicators Angela is a regular on several industry committees and boards, including the International Public Relations Measurement Commission. She’s also set to join other media measurement experts in hosting the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Master Class, a strategic playbook for communicators featuring eight live and interactive sessions from Sept. 19, 2022 to April 18, 2023. About Fullintel: Fullintel combines best-in-class technology with expert content curation to deliver the most relevant, cost optimized media monitoring, daily news briefs, and media analysis possible. Our analysts curate print, online, social media, broadcast, and influencer opinions in real time compiled by technology, supplemented and verified by humans. Where technology alone fails, your dedicated analyst has you covered. Fullintel has offices in Cambridge, Mass., Ottawa, Ont. and Nagercoil, India. Contact Details Fullintel Samuel Chen +1 339-970-8005 schen@fullintel.com Company Website https://fullintel.com/

August 17, 2022 10:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Family Pleads for ASIRT to Actively Investigate Death of Alberta Man Who Died in RCMP Custody

Hartzler Family

For the second time in less than a year and a half, an Alberta man has died while in custody of the Grande Prairie RCMP. Despite evidence to suggest the matter should be under ASIRT’s purview, a decision has been made to allow a specialty unit within the Grande Prairie RCMP to investigate and control the case. On June 3, 2022, Addison Hartzler called 911 requesting help for what he believed to be a break and enter at his residence. The family was told that RCMP officers arrived at the scene and failed to find evidence that a break and enter had occurred; the RCMP then made the decision to take Addison into custody for public mischief – within nine minutes of arrival at his residence. The family believes Addison was taken into custody unlawfully since the Criminal Code of Canada requires officers to have reasonable grounds, to prove that a false report was made intentionally and that there was an “intent to mislead.” According to information provided by the RCMP, Addison’s behaviour indicated that EMS or a doctor should have assessed him prior to being detained. The officers who arrested Addison said he "was either unwilling to provide his name, or was unable to provide his name, and therefore, they were holding him in order to identify him when he was willing to provide his name to the charge." In a phone conversation with Addison’s family after the incident, the RCMP indicated Addison was acting in a psychotic and delusional manner. “It is our view that, given his alleged state of health, Addison was unlawfully detained and that the RCMP failed to provide the necessaries of life,” says Addison’s father, Gregory Hartzler. “We believe these system failures resulted in Addison’s untimely death.” According to the RCMP, at no point was Addison assessed by EMS or a doctor. Additionally, Information received from a request to Alberta Health Services under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act indicates that Addison was last seen alive at 9 a.m. – more than two hours before RCMP placed the request for EMS. The EMS report indicated that Addison was “obviously dead” and had been for some time. The family has serious concerns regarding the two-hour gap between when Addison was last seen alive and when EMS was called. “Due to the circumstances surrounding his death, we believe there was gross negligence in respect to the care provided to Addison while in custody of the Grande Prairie RCMP and their staff, and that an internal investigation by the RCMP is neither appropriate nor adequate,” continues Hartzler. “As a result, we implore the Government of Alberta to direct ASIRT to handle the investigation.” ASIRT is an arm’s length, independent team created under Alberta’s Police Act toinvestigate situations where Alberta police may have caused serious injury or death or when significant allegations of police misconduct have been made. According to an email exchange between the Hartzler family lawyer and Mr. Marlin Degrand, an assistant deputy minister for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General who was the executive director of the Government of Alberta’s Law Enforcement Oversight Branch at the time, it appears the decision to have the RCMP investigate instead of ASIRT was in part due to capacity issues at ASIRT. In his email Mr. Degrand stated he directed the RCMP to oversee the investigation, “…taking into consideration the tasking events recently given to ASIRT.” In further communications between Mr. Degrand and the family, Mr. Degrand indicated that, “Because there was no report of confrontation with police, and no indication of negligence on behalf of the police, I directed that the RCMP should retain carriage of the investigation”. “It is unfathomable that the Government of Alberta does not believe there to be negligence when evidence from EMS states that my son was ‘obviously dead’ and had been for a substantial period of time,” says Hartzler. According to RCMP policy, members must “check prisoner[s] frequently and at irregular intervals to ensure their security and well-being. The intervals are to be no more than 15 minutes apart. These checks must be physical checks, not a check of the CCVE.” “It’s disappointing to see an agency set up by the Alberta Government as a police agency ‘watch dog’ is simply too over tasked and underfunded to actively investigate the death of an individual in police custody. It is suspicious this case is being treated differently than a recent case with seemingly similar circumstances,” adds Hartzler. The RCMP are under investigation for a similar death in custody that occurred on February 8, 2021, at the same detachment. ASIRT is actively investigating that incident. “Albertans should be aware of the RCMP and Government of Alberta’s gross negligence and ASIRT’s apparent capacity issues to investigate the death of an individual while in police custody,” continues Hartzler. “By bringing attention to this issue, we hope to prevent a similar situation from happening to another Albertan family. No one should die alone, in fear – especially while police custody.” Contact Details CIPR Communications Peter Pilarski, President +1 403-462-1160 peter@ciprcommunications.com

August 17, 2022 09:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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