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Velocity Global acquires Shield GEO in second growth transaction this year

Velocity Global

Company continues to scale leading global work platform Follows acquisition of iWorkGlobal in April Combined company serves more than 1,000 brands and over 7,000 supported employees this year DENVER, July 13, 2021 — Velocity Global continues to scale its leading global work platform with the acquisition of Shield GEO, an established global Employer of Record (EoR) provider. This is Velocity Global’s second acquisition this year, after it acquired iWorkGlobal in April. The company deployed capital from the $100 million growth investment from FFL Partners announced in April to complete the transaction. Terms of the deal were not announced. Velocity Global adds scale to its global work platform that simplifies the employer and employee experience. The platform combines the company’s cloud-based workforce management technology, personalized expertise, and unmatched global scale. Users access automated technology as well as partner with a dedicated experience team for individualized solutions and expertise. As the largest global EoR in 185 countries and all 50 United States, Velocity Global manages a client’s workforce by providing in-country and in-state compliance, payroll, and benefits for the supported employees. The company also offers Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors globally. “For the last seven years we built our platform to support how and where work gets done. This now allows us the strategic position to scale up to meet the accelerated demand from the shifting workforce,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “Both sides of the employment equation -- employers and employees -- fundamentally changed in the last 18 months. It’s not just about working from anywhere, it’s about how to recruit, how to retain employees, how to grow revenue, and how to manage a newly empowered work-life balance.” The “future of work” or gig economy is worth $4.5 trillion according to a 2020 report from Staffing Industry Analysts. “Velocity Global’s continued profitable organic growth sets the foundation for further scale through strategic acquisitions,” said Cas Schneller, FFL Managing Partner. “Both of the company’s recent acquisitions were of profitable, strong businesses at a time when scale is needed to match the market. Velocity Global strengthens its leadership position in the future of work.” The combined company serves more than 1,000 brands and over 7,000 supported employees this year. Velocity Global is registered in all 50 United States and continues to grow its footprint to include 50 wholly owned foreign legal entities in the most desired international markets by year’s end. “We share a proud history of organic growth, and now was the time to combine the global reach of Shield GEO with that of Velocity Global, and deliver an even greater experience that the market is demanding,” said Duncan Macintosh, Shield GEO co-founder. “This combination multiplies the growth opportunity for our team.” “We have known Ben and Velocity Global for a long time and we’ve always viewed our industry similarly, especially in terms of how we service our customers and the employees that we support for them,” said Tim Burgess, Shield GEO co-founder. “Delivering a great human-focused customer experience is important to all of us. We are excited by what our combined teams can do together.” Shield GEO is based in Hong Kong with entities in the U.K. and Australia, and a global remote team. The combined company welcomes all 75 Shield GEO employees and is led by Wright under the Velocity Global brand. Burgess and Macintosh will support the integration of Shield GEO into Velocity Global. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience through cloud-based workforce management technology, personalized expertise, and unmatched scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees in 27 countries. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

July 13, 2021 05:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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25-Year Independent Printing Business Custom Printing Converts to International Minute Press Franchise in Nampa, Idaho

Minuteman Press International Inc

Mike Cutler started selling print out of his garage in 1996. Over the next 25 years, Mike built a successful printing business that averaged over $1 million in gross sales over the past 5 years. Mike shares his experience in attempting to sell his independent printing company Custom Printing on his own for six to eight months and reveals how Minuteman Press International was able to step in to help him successfully sell the business. History of Custom Printing Mike says, “Custom Printing was a true family business I built from the ground up. I learned the printing trade through my father, who was a line and typesetter dating back to the 1950s. After starting the business in 1996, I quickly out-grew my garage and opened my first retail location in 1998. At the time, my specialties were thermography, offset printing, and stationery (envelopes and forms). By 2006, we out-grew the original location and expanded to a 6,000 sq. ft. facility. Between 2006 and 2014, I completed eight acquisitions to expand my business. The companies I acquired were in the areas of large format printing and signs, lithography, trophies, and reprographics.” Mike continues, “In 2015, we expanded even more, giving us 8,200 sq. ft. of space to work with. When the pandemic hit in 2020, we actually excelled and recorded our biggest sales year operating as an essential business. At the time of the sale, we had nine full-time employees and some part-time staff. Our 5-year average was $1.2 million in yearly sales.” Selling the Business By June 2020, Mike decided that it was time to sell Custom Printing. At first, he was asking different colleagues and people he knew. However, Mike quickly realized that this wasn’t going to be easy. He says, “I tried to sell the business that I worked so hard to build for six to eight months on my own. I was also preparing to let it go at a very undervalued price as I couldn’t find the right people to buy the business and I found many of them were time-wasters and tire-kickers. On top of that, when I consulted with a business broker, they were asking me for 10% off the top of the sale, and they also wanted a percentage of my lease agreement.” After experiencing these challenges on his own, Mike turned to Minuteman Press International to help sell his printing business. “One of the franchisees I knew locally in Idaho referred me to Chris Jutt, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President. After our first phone call, I felt confident that Chris had the ability, drive and connections to make this dream a reality for me. Our meetings were always super easy going and comfortable. Chris took all the pressure off of me and said to focus on my successful business and he would do the rest. That is just what he did.” Before meeting with Minuteman Press International, Mike even went as far as to get a professional valuation of his printing business. He shares, “When I knew I was going to be selling, I made sure to get the shop ready. I made sure my financials were in proper order, I kept up with equipment maintenance and repairs, and I kept running and growing my business. Just to get a valuation of my business, I spent $3,000 to get it done professionally. Minuteman Press International did this for free and came up with the same number. That really impressed me and reassured me that the sale of Custom Printing was in capable hands.” “We set a price for my independent printing business that was significantly higher than I anticipated, and Chris Jutt recommended some terms. Within one week, I had several very interested parties. Chris found the perfect people to purchase my business – James and Sheryl Wisler – that will continue what I started some 25 years ago. Minuteman Press International knew that the most important things to me were my long-term employees, my clients, and the reputation I had worked so hard to build. Chris found buyers that valued the same things. He and the entire team at Minuteman Press International delivered on all of my expectations and exceeded in most of them. Looking back, if I knew this was going to be this easy, I would have contacted him years ago.” -Mike Cutler, independent print operator, Custom Printing (now International Minute Press, Nampa, Idaho ) Transition to New Owners After the sale of his business, Mike quickly realized how beneficial it was to have the team at Minuteman Press International assist with all aspects of the transition to the new owners. He shares, “At first, I was apprehensive about how the transition would go. I was immediately relieved when I saw how Minuteman Press International took the reins to teach and train James and Sheryl. We are only two and a half weeks into the transition phase, and already I feel like I am not needed as much as I thought I would be. My employees are in great hands, my clients are being taken care of, and James and Sheryl are doing a fantastic job.” He adds, “The entire team both here locally and at their corporate headquarters has been phenomenal. No matter who I’ve talked to or worked with during this entire process, everyone has been professional as well as instrumental in making this happen. It’s a win-win situation all around.” “The smooth transition has reassured me that it was the right move to sell my business with Minuteman Press International. They have the right plan, the right experience, and everyone has been incredible to the very last detail. In my acquisition experience, nothing has ever been as easy as this. I had everything to gain and nothing to lose, and there were absolutely no hiccups along the way. I would easily rate my experience as 10/10.” -Mike Cutler Advice to Other Sellers When asked what advice he would give to other print shop owners looking to sell, Mike answers, “Don’t even waste your time trying to do this yourself. When you try to sell on your own, there are so many bottleneck issues and you will likely undervalue your business. I couldn’t find the right buyers on my own and I had to spend too much time to meet with people repeatedly while still running my own business.” Mike concludes, “Minuteman Press International alleviated the bottlenecks and came forward with qualified buyers who were ready to write the check for the right price. I am 100% satisfied beyond my expectations. This was a total team effort by everyone, and they all came through for me.” Contact Minuteman Press International today for a free valuation at no obligation and learn more about how we can help you sell your printing business at no cost to you. Call us at 1-800-645-3006 or visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 12, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Ethics & Compliance Initiative Presents the Carol R. Marshall Award to Blair C. Marks of Lockheed Martin

Ethics & Compliance Initiative

The Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI), the global non-profit organization that empowers organizations to build and sustain cultures of integrity, has presented its prestigious Carol R. Marshall Award for Innovation in Corporate Ethics to Blair C. Marks, Vice President of Ethics and Business Conduct for Lockheed Martin Corporation. Each year, the Marshall Award is presented to an ethics and compliance practitioner whose achievements exemplify the leadership and innovative practices modeled by the late ECI Fellows Chair Carol R. Marshall. Annually, ECI issues a call for nominations from the public. The recipient is selected by an independent committee of practitioners who represent the ethics and compliance industry. "Blair stood out among the nominees for the award this year,” said Patricia J. Harned, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ECI. "For the first time in the history of the award, an entire ethics & compliance leadership team nominated their supervisor because of her creativity, dedication and concern for others.” Marks is responsible for ensuring the application of the company’s values across all aspects of operations. Her leadership has elevated Lockheed Martin’s Ethics and Compliance Training, which is recognized as a gold standard across the aerospace industry, according to Leo S. Mackay, Jr., Senior Vice President of Ethics and Enterprise Assurance for Lockheed Martin. Mackay said that Marks and her team guarantee that every employee and company associate complete this annual training. And, in 2020, she ensured that training was rapidly adapted to a myriad of transformational issues. Marks also has led the development of supply chain mentoring programs that have aided dozens of the company’s suppliers to optimize their own ethics efforts. “The men and women of Lockheed Martin congratulate Blair C. Marks on receiving the Carol R. Marshall award,” said Mackay. “Blair strives to grow our culture of integrity and consistently works to promote ethics, questioning the status quo and asking how we can continue to improve. I look forward to seeing how she continues to fortify our ethics culture and help the company live up to its core values.” ECI is the leading provider of independent research about workplace integrity, ethical standards and compliance practices. Every year, through this award program, the organization remembers and honors Carol R. Marshall for her innovative approach to applying ethics and compliance programs and her countless hours of service to non-profit organizations in the industry. Marks represents Lockheed Martin on the board of the American Red Cross, National Capital Region. She also has served on the Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering advisory board, the Women in Engineering advisory board and the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center’s board. She’s a past president of Women of Reform Judaism and serves on the boards of the Union for Reform Judaism and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. “Carol Marshall was the embodiment of leadership and innovation, and she was a mentor to many in the ethics & compliance profession,” Harned said. “In many ways, Blair displays those same qualities, making her a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.” The 2021 Marshall Award was funded through a grant by Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman is a proud sponsor of the Carol Marshall award for Innovation in Corporate Ethics,” said Courtney Wallize, Corporate Director of Ethics and Business Conduct at Northrop Grumman. “Carol Marshall exemplified collaboration and advancement in the field of ethics and compliance in the business environment. I was excited to learn that Blair won the award this year. In the 10+ years I have known Blair, I can attest that she embodies these same attributes. She is a phenomenal peer who uplifts and inspires us all.” For more information about the award and past winners, visit www.ethics.org/about/awards. ### About the Ethics & Compliance Initiative The Ethics & Compliance Initiative is a non-profit organization based in Vienna, Va. that empowers organizations to build and sustain cultures of integrity. Established in 1922, ECI is the leading provider of independent research and resources that help leaders build and sustain high-quality programs that foster respectful and safe workplaces. For more information about ECI, please visit www.ethics.org. Contact Details Ethics & Compliance Initiative Florence Sumaray +1 571-480-4425 florence@ethics.org Company Website https://www.ethics.org

July 08, 2021 03:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar Takes Home Top Prize in 2021 Fortress Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today received more industry accolades as it was named a winner in network security by the Business Intelligence Group for its innovative Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CSaaS) offering as part of the 2021 Fortress Cybersecurity Awards. The Fortress awards program identifies and rewards the world’s leading companies and products that are working to keep data and electronic assets safe among a growing threat from hackers. “2021 is rapidly becoming the toughest year for cybersecurity professionals and as our reliance on networks continues to accelerate, our identities and data have quickly become global currency, so security is more important than ever,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer at the Business Intelligence Group. “We are proud to recognize all of our winners and finalists who are on the frontlines of the effort to prepare, defend and respond to this growing threat.” Cyvatar’s proprietary ICARM method guarantees proper installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, and maintenance for every Cyvatar technology solution so that organizations actually achieve better protection and resilience from their investments And because Cyvatar’s method is continuous, it protects against attack vectors that haven’t even surfaced yet. “It’s continued validation of our unique CSaaS model that industry peers recognized Cyvatar again for exceptional leadership and innovation,” said Cyvatar Co-Founder and Chief Product and Strategy Officer Craig Goodwin. “As the first subscription-based CSaaS company to deliver effortless, affordable cybersecurity, we enable our members to protect confidential information with the people, processes, and technology essential to ensure they get value from their security tools, from conception and strategy to implementation and maintenance. No other provider delivers holistic security at price points that work for any size customer and guaranteed value that allows customers to cancel anytime.” Cyvatar CSaaS levels the playing field by democratizing cybersecurity and making the best protection accessible and affordable for every size organization, even if they have no cybersecurity expertise in-house. If your organization needs award-winning cybersecurity, Cyvatar can help. About Cyber Defense Magazine With over 5 Million monthly readers and growing, and thousands of pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information for B2B and B2G with our sister magazine Cyber Security Magazine for B2C. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at CYVATAR.AI and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Cyber Defense Magazine April Palanca +18338449468 Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

July 07, 2021 11:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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‘Forge Ahead’ podcast provides inside look at future of work

Velocity Global

Hosted by Velocity Global founder and CEO Ben Wright Features conversations with forward-thinking business and tech leaders Debut episode with “Shark Tank’s” Robert Herjavec “ Forge Ahead,” a new podcast uniquely focused on the future of work through insights from forward-thinking business leaders, launched today. Hosted by Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO, “Forge Ahead” explores how the world embraces and overcomes challenges of new ways of working, from remote work to distributed teams. The debut episode is a conversation with Robert Herjavec, founder and CEO of global cybersecurity firm, Herjavec Group, and a lead investor on the Emmy Award-winning show, “Shark Tank.” “Now is the perfect time for these conversations about how people want to work, and how us as business leaders must blaze a new path,” said Herjavec. “My conversation with Ben allowed me to look inward at what I’ve learned. One topic we touched on was that the true driver of remote work is that customers now accept it like never before. Employees have proven able to embrace remote work, and the tech tools have been available, but now that the customer cadence is not disrupted, we’ll never look back.” “In ‘Forge Ahead’ we go beyond the buzzwords and get inside the heads of business leaders who shape the future of work,” said Wright. “Robert is the first of many leaders I am humbled to learn from as listeners get to hear his personal story and how he runs a business.” “Forge Ahead” will release a new episode every two weeks on leading podcast platforms. In subsequent episodes, Wright speaks with thought leaders such as USA Today’s “Gratitude Guru” Chris Schembra, and 6-time PGA TOUR champ Billy Horschel. Listeners will hear a mix of personal stories and actionable insights from successful leaders so they are prepared to embrace the future of work. Ben Wright founded Velocity Global in 2014 and applies two decades of experience supporting companies’ global business growth and remote teams. As the largest Employer of Record in 185 countries and all 50 United States, brands rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to employ a compliant workforce without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities or state registrations. Listen and subscribe to the “Forge Ahead” podcast at forgeaheadpodcast.com, or search for it on leading podcast platforms including Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its platform helps companies compliantly employ distributed teams and expand internationally through best-in-breed technology, global expertise, and scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 700 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Named a "Leader" in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global offers additional services including Immigration, Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Founded in 2014, Velocity Global has hundreds of employees in 16 countries. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global Eli Rice +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

July 06, 2021 07:02 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Comcast Establishes 50 WiFi-Connected Lift Zones in Houston and Surrounding Areas

Comcast Houston

As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast today announced it has equipped 50 locations in Houston and surrounding areas with free WiFi enabled Lift Zones. Working with its network of nonprofit partners, Comcast is providing robust WiFi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help students get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. This initiative provides free connectivity inside partner community centers for the next three years. “We are proud to partner with community organizations across Houston and surrounding areas and equip them with free internet service to provide safe, fast, and reliable connectivity,” said Ralph Martinez, regional senior vice president, Comcast Houston. “The COVID-19 crisis put many at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and Internet adoption programs to support them. We hope these Lift Zones will help those who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to effective distance learning at home.” Each Lift Zone location will be outfitted with a robust WiFi solution, powered by Comcast Business, at no cost. The sites are equipped with a combination of Comcast Business’ award-winning Business Internet, WiFi Pro and SecurityEdge solutions; customized based on the size and unique connectivity needs of each location. Some of the Houston and surrounding area community organizations that have established Lift Zones in their respective facilities include Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, the City of Houston, and the City of Galveston. A full list of Comcast Lift Zones in Houston and surrounding areas, can be found here. Earlier this year, Comcast announced a $1 billion commitment over ten years in continued support of digital equity, including its Lift Zones initiative, which aims to establish WiFi-connected safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers nationwide for students and adults by the end of 2021. Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect approximately 10 million low-income people to the Internet at home since 2011, including almost one million Texans. 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 over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Misha McClure +1 832-547-6783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

July 06, 2021 05:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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PCMA v. WEHBI AMICUS BRIEF ADVOCATES FOR STATE REGULATION OF PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER INDUSTRY

Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions

The Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of physician and patient advocacy organizations dedicated to exposing the role the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry has on rising prescription drug costs was joined by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and American Pharmacies in filing an amicus brief in PCMA v. Wehbi. The case, currently being argued in the 8 th Circuit, Court of Appeals is a challenge to a North Dakota law designed to regulate abusive practices by the PBM industry. The brief prepared by Daniel Geyser of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP on behalf of ATAP, COA and American Pharmacies may be found here. Following a ruling by the United States Supreme Court in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association ( where ATAP also filed an amicus brief ), many states have begun to explore regulating the PBM industry to lower costs and increase access to therapies. That case resulted in a unanimous 8-0 decision where the Justices agreed that states have the right to impose regulations on PBMs. Despite setbacks in legislatures and the courts, the PBM industry continues to raise challenges to state regulation of their practices and seeks to avoid accountability. ATAP has been an active advocate for patients in a variety of federal and state battles to amplify the voices of patients and physicians – especially as it relates to exposing PBM abuses and their impact on patients’ access to therapies (medications) needed in their treatment. Dr. Robert Levin, ATAP’s President stated, “We see first-hand how the PBM industry drives up costs and interferes with medical care. Doctors, patients, legislators and regulators are all saying, ‘enough is enough’ and fighting back. We appreciate the opportunity to argue on behalf of patients and defend our obligation to them as the Courts once again weigh in on regulating this rogue industry.” “Oncologists remain troubled by the negative impact PBMs have on patient care and role they play in driving up costs,” said Kashyap Patel, MD, president of COA and a practicing medical oncologist at Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates in Rock Hill, South Carolina “PBMs are directly responsible for the loss of patient access to affordable, potentially life-saving medications for cancer and other serious diseases. COA is proud to share our voice and support to effort in North Dakota and nationwide to stop PBM abuses.” “PBMs have used their outsized market power to raise community pharmacies costs of operation,” explained Miguel S. Rodriguez, General Counsel at American Pharmacies. “PBMs operate in secrecy and routinely fail to pass along any savings to patients. It is time to shine a light on and regulate this industry.” American Pharmacies is a nation-wide independent pharmacy cooperative that routinely advocates on behalf of independent pharmacies and the patients they serve. ATAP, COA, and American Pharmacies argue in the brief that: “…PBMs engage in harmful practices that impair optimal patient care, distort the free market, and impose serious costs on every major stakeholder in 5 the healthcare industry. States are ideally positioned to attack PBM misconduct; the regulation of healthcare is a traditional state function, and States routinely address market inefficiency and abuse, just as North Dakota did…” “We are optimistic that the Courts will see through the previously hidden profit motives of the PBM industry,” said Dr. Angus Worthing of the American College of Rheumatology, an ATAP member organization. “With each new state law combined with other actions at the federal level, patients, physicians, and policy makers now have the power to effect meaningful change.” “The Courts will surely see, like we all do, that patients are suffering under a system preventing them from obtaining medicine they need – at prices they can afford,” said Dr. Michael Schweitz of the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, an ATAP member organization. “The PBM industry profits significantly off rebates and other schemes while interrupting the provider-patient relationship. It is time to do what is right and allow policymakers to stand up and do the right thing.” “The profit motivations from the PBM industry impact real people in dangerous ways,” Dr. Levin continued. “ATAP members are on the front lines of medical care. We see the struggles and confusion that patients are put through by this completely unnecessary middleman industry. They deserve better – they deserve the truth – not dangerous interference from policies motivated only by profit.” ATAP is working in many states to force the PBM industry to disclose rebate data and encourage transparency and reporting requirements for all entities involved in the prescription drug supply chain – PBMs, insurers, and manufacturers. ### For more information, or to schedule an interview with an ATAP spokesperson please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357. Please visit http://www.atapadvocates.com ATAP's mission is to address prescription drugs costs and patient access to affordable treatment by regulating PBM practices and reforming the drug industry through educational outreach and grassroots advocacy initiatives at both the state and federal level. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website http://www.atapadvocates.com

July 02, 2021 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Elizabeth Fegan, notable advocate for sex-abuse survivors and lead attorney in the Harvey Weinstein litigation issued the following statement on the recent development in the Bill Cosby case:

FeganScott

“I have spent a large portion of my legal career representing survivors of sexual assault, helping them hold their perpetrators accountable long before #MeToo became a rallying cry. “In my years, I’ve seen rulings and decisions handed down by courts veer away from justice, often driven by arcane legal arguments. Today’s ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will make even the most rule-bound of us question it with incredulity. At the end of the day, rulings like this mean survivors of sexual abuse will be less willing to step forward, afraid that the legal system is stacked against them. “The fact that a DA’s initial decision not to prosecute Cosby can have preclusive effect on future claims is deeply disheartening. It is equally vexing that current laws will likely prohibit other victims from pursuing Cosby for civil claims because of statute of limitation issues. “I hope that this judicial breakdown will empower victims’ advocates to bring change to the laws that prohibit survivors from holding sexual predators accountable.” About Beth Fegan: Elizabeth Fegan is a Chicago-based attorney and founder of FeganScott, a law firm that represents survivors of sexual assault, abuse and harassment. Fegan led the legal battle against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein on behalf of a group of survivors. Contact Details Mark Firmani feganscottpr@firmani.com Company Website https://feganscott.com

June 30, 2021 01:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time

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FeganScott Founding Partner Elizabeth A. Fegan Named to Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s Top 50 Women in Law Awards and Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer Guide

FeganScott

FeganScott’s founding partner and managing member Elizabeth A. Fegan was recently named to the to the Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s Top 50 Women in Law Awards and to the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer guide. Recognized for her mentorship and promotion of women in the profession, the Top 50 Women in Law Award highlights Fegan’s success in the legal community as an example of leadership. Lawdragon’s annual guide offers a curated list of attorneys who are notable for their experience, results and impact on the legal community. This is the third year Fegan has received an honor in the plaintiff consumer category – a distinction that is only awarded to the top 500 attorneys in each category throughout the country. “It is always an honor to be recognized among colleagues as we work to improve the lives of our clients and effect large-scale change,” said Fegan. “I consider it a privilege to represent clients who are standing up against injustice, and it’s encouraging to see so many attorneys recognized for this shared commitment.” Fegan leads the firm on major cases surrounding sexual abuse, consumer fraud and data privacy violations, including cases against TikTok, the makers of Roundup and Zantac, and the NCAA. Recently, the firm filed a federal class action lawsuit filed against an Illinois charity, claiming the organization is profiting by pulling Kenyan children from their families to be marketed as orphans to well-meaning American donors. Passionate about supporting victims of sexual assault, abuse and harassment, Fegan also served as co-lead counsel in the class action lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein and in several class actions that seek to advocate for survivors of systemic sexual abuse. Fegan co-founded FeganScott in 2019, creating the national class-action law firm that serves as a powerful ally for survivors, consumers and small businesses. Collectively, the firm’s attorneys have successfully recovered $1 billion for clients nationwide. “These awards are a testament to the dedication and commitment of our firm as a whole, and I am honored to represent our work,” added Fegan. Evaluated by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer Women’s Advisory Board and chosen by the CDLB & CL selection committee, Fegan’s nomination comes as part of the second annual iteration of the Top 50 Women in Law award. Lawdragon uses a combination of peer nomination, journalistic research and editorial vetting to curate the list of honorees in each category. Being listed among Lawdragon’s 500 denotes the wider influence of attorneys’ work, legal approach, and arguments. About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of consumer fraud, sexual abuse, and discrimination. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran, class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Contact Details Mark Firmani +1 206-466-2700 feganscottpr@firmani.com Company Website https://feganscott.com

June 30, 2021 11:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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