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Ukrainian critical minerals for British technologies: BGV presented Ukraine's mining potential in London

BGV Group Management

On March 26, one of the largest investment companies in Ukraine - BGV Group Management presented at the highest level in London opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine in the field of mining. BGV’s founder, Gennadii Butkevych, as well as its management team were invited to join British parliamentarians, members of the House of Lords and state ministers to participate in an official event on investment in Ukraine, which took place in the Houses of Parliament. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss British-Ukrainian partnership in the field of critical minerals mining, which will help the United Kingdom to develop advanced technologies and promote the transition to clean energy. The event was attended by Lord Martin Callanan - Under Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Green Investment at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Bob Seely MP. Representatives of Ukrainian business were also present. In its speech, the BGV team noted three main areas of development in the British-Ukrainian bilateral partnership: FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE MINING POTENTIAL OF UKRAINE Ukraine has all the prerequisites to become one of Britain’s main suppliers of critical minerals crucial for advanced technologies and the green energy transition. 117+ types of minerals have been discovered across Ukraine’s rich subsoil. In particular, the country has reserves of 22 out of 30 raw materials resources that have been identified as critical by the EU. Ukrainian lands have significant deposits of beryllium, zirconium, titanium, rare earths and others, and graphite reserves in Ukraine are among the largest in the world. Many Ukrainian deposits are located on Europe’s doorstep, which provides profitable logistics with low transport costs. INSURANCE OF RISKS War risks insurance is currently an extremely necessary tool for protecting foreign investments in Ukraine. In 2023, Britain set an example to the whole world by unlocking insurance coverage for exporters of Ukrainian grain through the Ukrainian Black Sea corridor. Private British investments in the Ukrainian economy, in particular in raw materials projects, also need a similar effective insurance mechanism. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has already started to provide war risks insurance guarantees in Ukraine from the Trust Fund for the Support of the Reconstruction and Economy of Ukraine. Opportunities for trade insurance in Ukraine and investments in local projects are also provided by America (USDFC and USAID), Japan (NEXI), Poland (Kuke), Germany (administered by PricewaterhouseCoopers) and others. INVESTMENTS IN MINING The BGV team called on British business to increase investment activity within the mining industry in Ukraine. During his speech in the Houses of Parliament, Serhii Voitsekhovskyi emphasized that BGV is ready to become a reliable partner of British investors and companies in the field of critical minerals. BGV Group and Gennadii Butkevych as its founder have already invested more than 100 million dollars in Ukrainian mining projects in 8 years to help Ukraine emerge as a leader in global critical minerals. In particular, two main mining projects of BGV Group Management were presented at the event. THE BALAKHIV PROJECT, the BGV team has currently completed all laboratory and pilot tests of graphite, which is widely used in battery production, identified the enrichment technology and is designing a production complex. In 2025, the company plans to start construction of one of the largest graphite production complexes in Europe, the potential capacity of which will be 50 thousand tons of high-quality graphite concentrate per year, of which 19 thousand tons are suitable for the production of spherical graphite. This, the company’s experts note, will cover a significant part of the EU market needs. PERZHANSK COMPLEX BERYLLIUM DEPOSIT, Serhii Voitsekhovskyi also presented to the participants of the meeting details of BGV’s hydrometallurgical tests and assessment of reserves according to international standards. Next year, in 2025, the BGV team plans to complete work on the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the search of potential strategic investors for the project. In conclusion, the representatives of Gennadii Butkevych's BGV investment group emphasized that cooperation with Ukraine in the field of critical minerals can provide Britain with a powerful raw material base for the development of a number of technologies and innovations in medicine, the automotive industry, computer technologies, lasers, navigation, telecommunications devices, the aerospace industry and many others. What is no less important: it will also help to avoid raw material dependence of European countries on Chinese critical minerals. The event was organized by CEO Club and Bob Seely MP. Contact Details BGV Group Management Press Contact +380 44 277 1430 press@bgv.com.ua

April 03, 2024 02:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Shareholder Group and Gender Ideology Opponent to Press Disney on Discrimination at Company’s Annual Meeting

NLPC

National Legal and Policy Center, an investor in The Walt Disney Company, and healthcare accountability group Do No Harm, will present a shareholder proposal at the iconic media and entertainment corporation’s annual meeting on April 3. The measure asks the company to investigate its discriminatory pay and benefits policies – specifically addressing where employees affected by gender-switching advocacy have been psychologically or medically harmed, without providing remedial care – and reporting to shareholders why such compensation gaps exist at an allegedly tolerant company. Speaking at the Disney meeting in support of the proposal will be Chloe Cole, patient advocate for Do No Harm, who has testified before legislative bodies nationwide in opposition to gender ideology and its destructive health consequences. Ms. Cole will address the company’s board of directors, including beleaguered CEO Robert Iger, and tell her story about her difficulties in finding medical care and insurance coverage in her efforts to “de-transition,” after trying earlier in her life to switch from the biological sex she was born with. Ahead of the Disney meeting, NLPC released a one-minute video to highlight the shareholder proposal. The corporate and government watchdog also filed a white paper with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month to more fully explain the necessity for the company to investigate its discriminatory policies. “Disney has been so proud about its 100-percent score on the Corporate Equality Index, designed by the pro-LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Campaign, which requires companies to cover sex change treatments in their health insurance offerings,” said Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. “Now we call upon Mr. Iger to lead the way for Corporate America to provide equal care for those who have suffered physical harm as a result, and who want bodily restoration. Besides the damage they have suffered, they are also discriminated against.” As NLPC points out in its shareholder proposal, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission considers failure to provide equivalent pay and benefits based on categories including “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” as discriminatory. Even the Securities and Exchange Commission agreed with NLPC that de-transitioning individuals fit under such classifications when considering unfairness in corporate compensation practices. In its opposition statement (p. 104 at link) to the proposal, Disney alleges that NLPC is just trying to “generate attention” with a “narrow focus…to advance a limited agenda.” “Disney acts as if people like me don’t exist,” said Chloe Cole. “I intend to make sure the board and Mr. Iger hear that the company’s irrational gender ideology policies are actually destructive, and that I am a victim of policies like it. De-transitioners like me are not going away. With the numbers of LGBTQIA+ workers at the company who have sought ill-advised sex changes, you can bet that litigation over deception, and discriminatory benefits policies, won’t be far behind.” You can read NLPC’s shareholder proposal at its website. Learn more about Do No Harm at its website. ### 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, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life 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

April 01, 2024 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

U.S. Ferrosilicon Producers File Petitions to Stop Unfairly Traded Imports from Russia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Brazil

U.S. Ferrosilicon Producers

CC Metals and Alloys, LLC (“CCMA”) and Ferroglobe USA, Inc. (“Ferroglobe”), representing all American ferrosilicon production, today filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) and U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) alleging that unfairly priced and subsidized ferrosilicon imports from Russia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Brazil are causing material injury to U.S. industry. The antidumping and countervailing duty petitions detail unfair trade practices to sell ferrosilicon at less than fair value and allege dumping margins of up to 212%, as well as numerous subsidies. The petitions detail the extensive injury suffered by the U.S. industry and its workers, and request relief in the form of special duties on all associated imports. “The onslaught of dumped imports from these countries over the last three years has caused serious harm to the U.S. industry, its workers, and the communities in which we operate,” said Marco Levi, Chief Executive Officer of Ferroglobe PLC. “A successful outcome in these cases will allow us to get back to work on a level playing field.” “American producers can compete with anyone in the world, as long as we’re all playing by the same rules,” said Chris Cobb, CCMA’s plant manager. “Bringing these cases allows us to protect our colleagues, employees, and communities. Fortunately, our country’s trade laws are set up to support fair trade. On behalf of our employees, customers, and colleagues, we look forward to seeing those laws enforced and those who violate our laws held accountable.” The cases filed today cover all types of ferrosilicon, regardless of chemistry, grade, or physical form. After today’s filing, Commerce will initiate its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations by April 17, 2024, and the ITC is expected to make a preliminary injury determination by May 13, 2024. About the CCMA and Ferroglobe CCMA traces its roots back to 1949, when it was founded as a producer of large-volume commodity ferroalloys for the steel industry in Calvert City, Kentucky. Today CCMA is an ISO 9001 certified leading manufacturer of more than 40 different products including 18 different ferrosilicons and more than 20 different magnesium ferrosilicon inoculants, high purity, 3%-9% magnesium and proprietary alloys. CCMA ships over 100,000 metric tons of finished product annually from our manufacturing facility in Calvert City, KY via barge, rail and truck. Ferroglobe is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Ferroglobe PLC, a world-leading producer of ferrosilicon, silicon metal, and manganese-based alloys, serving a customer base across the globe in dynamic and fast-growing end markets, such as solar, automotive, consumer products, construction and energy. Through its subsidiaries, Ferroglobe owns metallurgical manufacturing facilities and other operations in Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Indiana, Florida and Kentucky. For more information, visit https://www.ccmetals.com/ and https://www.ferroglobe.com/ Contact Details EAH Strategies, LLC Elizabeth Heaton +1 202-445-9858 elizabeth@eahstrategiesllc.com

March 28, 2024 04:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

FeganScott Managing Partner Elizabeth Fegan Named to Inaugural 2024 Forbes Top 200 Lawyers List

FeganScott

FeganScott Managing Partner Elizabeth Fegan has been named one of Forbes’ Top 200 Lawyers. Forbes debuts this inaugural list to recognize lawyers who are leaders in their fields, hold impressive track records in their specialties, and are highly respected by their peers and clients. Since co-founding FeganScott in 2019, Fegan has established herself as a powerful force in a wide range of legal issues, including complex multidistrict litigation involving consumer fraud and privacy, sex abuse, and identity theft, among others. “It is an honor to be included among such distinguished peers on the Forbes Top 200 Lawyers List,” said Fegan. “I have dedicated my career and my firm’s resources to securing justice for those who have been wronged and holding the powerful to account. I am grateful for the recognition of our work and thankful that my clients trust me.” Under Fegan’s leadership, FeganScott has developed a sterling reputation for leading complex class action cases. Recently, Fegan was appointed to serve as counsel for the class members represented in the landmark multibillion class action settlements against major chemical companies— 3M, DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva. The combined $13.6 billion in settlements resolve claims that the companies contaminated the nation’s drinking water served by public water systems across the United States with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” The firm also recently announced preliminary approval of a settlement in its class action lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia on behalf of vehicle owners who claimed the automobile manufacturers sold millions of vehicles that do not contain a standard safety component to prevent car theft. The settlement is valued at more than $200 million. In its groundbreaking work in representing survivors of sexual abuse, FeganScott secured a jury verdict in February of more than $10 million for ten customers of a popular Lancaster, Ohio, holistic health spa who claimed a former massage therapist sexually abused them during visits to the spa. As with all Forbes lists, the Top 200 Lawyers List was compiled based on rigorous research and evaluation. Despite coming from different backgrounds, specializations, and geographic regions, all the lawyers on the list share a reputation for integrity and notable accomplishment. About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of consumer fraud, data privacy, 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 feganscottpr@firmani.com Company Website https://feganscott.com

March 27, 2024 10:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Change Is Needed In The Moving Industry – Here’s How Muvr.io Is Revolutionizing It

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Moving your belongings, picking up Marketplace purchases, and moving large amounts of storage or home waste just got easier thanks to Muvr.io. The on-demand moving app company is setting out to revolutionize an industry known for customer and worker dissatisfaction. Vying to be the Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) of moving, Muvr offers customers transparent pricing, quality service and on-demand booking, all through its easy-to-use mobile app. Users pick the date for the move and number of boxes, and Muvr takes it from there. Muvr is also trailblazing in worker satisfaction. It treats its drivers and movers fairly, paying them a competitive rate and letting them choose when and how much they work. The positive impact there, then flows on to benefit clients. It’s something founder Rico Suarez, a professional mover for years, says wasn’t always afforded workers in the moving industry. “In the early days of my career as a young and ambitious mover, I experienced firsthand the harsh realities of an industry where workers were often taken advantage of and undervalued,” says Suarez. “I toiled tirelessly, dedicating long hours and immense physical effort to help people move their cherished possessions, only to be met with low pay, little care, and an overall lack of respect. This was a turning point for me.” Out of that frustration, Suarez launched Muvr in 2023 and hasn’t looked back. From customers to workers, here’s how Muvr is disrupting the moving industry with its on-demand service. People Keep On Moving Muvr’s disruptive business model in the moving industry comes at a good time. Even after many people left cities during the pandemic, people are continuing to move within the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans move 11.7 times in their lifetime. The $21 billion plus industry is expected to continue growing for the foreseeable future. Beyond the U.S., Muvr also sees a substantial opportunity to disrupt the moving industry. Currently, however, the moving industry is known for questionable service and outright scams. Murky pricing enables companies to hit consumers with unforeseen fees for anything from an extra pickup to additional insurance. People are fed up and are looking for better service and Muvr wants to deliver that by providing customers with full pricing transparency through the app. Muvr’s pricing structure is clear, reasonable and free from hidden costs or surprises. Customers know exactly how much the move will cost them. From booking to paying and tracking, everything is at consumers’ fingertips, erasing the worry and stress that usually comes with moving. This commitment to transparency extends to the company’s gig workers, who are provided with detailed information about their compensation and job assignments. That, says Muvr, sets it apart and should ensure loyalty among its gig workers, as well as retainment of the best movers, which is also important to the success of an on-demand service. Less turnover means more dependability in the services it offers. Its Service Is Resonating The strategy is paying off. Despite being in the early stages of its business, Muvr is already profitable and is optimistic about its growth potential. It runs a lean business, ensuring it is achieving operational efficiency. It also goes beyond moving between apartments, homes and offices. Customers can also hire Muvr for same-day delivery of purchases from any store in its service area. The delivery is backed by Muvr’s multi-million dollar insurance policy. Users can further use Muvr to deliver couches, softs, dressers and other big items purchased through online marketplaces like OfferUp, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and many others. Muvr will go 150 miles outside of its service area to pick up an item. Then there’s Muvr’s junk removal service. With just a few taps on a smartphone, customers can book a team of two insured and vetted independent movers who will come to their location, remove their furniture and take it to a disposal or donation center. Not only does Muvr save customers time and effort, it is also an eco-friendly solution for removing unwanted furniture. Rather than dumping your old furniture in a landfill, Muvr movers will work to find a disposal or donation center that can recycle or repurpose it. To learn more about the services Muvr offers in the moving industry click here. Diversifying In The Marketplace By saturating the dynamic market with its on-demand services, Muvr ensures that its revenue stream remains diversified. That protects its revenue and provides several areas of future growth. Currently, it is operating across California, but it plans to replicate the business model in markets across the country and eventually internationally. It helps that Muvr is growing organically through word of mouth, which not only helps keep costs down but is a testament to the viability of its business model. Satisfied customers are spreading the word because they like the service. They are also following CEO Suarez on Facebook and Instagram at substantial rates. Muvr is shaking up the moving industry and aiming to be the Uber of its industry. For big and small investors it potentially provides a unique way to get in on a company that is trailblazing and transforming an industry urgently in need of change. To learn more about how Muvr is disrupting the moving industry, click here. Featured photo courtesy of Muvr.io. Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

March 27, 2024 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Timothy Applegate Elected as Board Chair Elect for National Contract Management Association

National Contract Management Association

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), dedicated to advancing the contract management profession, proudly announces the appointment of Timothy Applegate as its Board Chair for Program Year 2026, that begins July 1, 2025. A retired Colonel in the United States Air Force, Mr. Applegate brings over 36 years of acquisition and contracting expertise to the role. Mr. Applegate is currently a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service and Director of the Acquisition Management and Integration Center at Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC), where he is responsible for overseeing a total acquisition portfolio exceeding $20 billion. A devoted member of NCMA since 1992, an NCMA Certified Professional Contract Manager™ (CPCM™) certificant, Board Member (2018- 2021 and 2023-2024), and Board Advisor (2021-2022), Mr. Applegate is a dedicated and long-standing champion of NCMA and the role it plays in the advancement of the contract management profession. "It is a privilege to serve alongside such esteemed colleagues and I look forward to working with the NCMA's dedicated members and partners,” said Mr. Applegate. Kraig Conrad, CEO of NCMA, added, "Tim's wealth of experience and expertise is truly invaluable to meet our strategic objectives. Over the past six years, he has been instrumental in fostering the growth and evolution of our association through his dedicated service. I am eager to collaborate with him to advance our Common Language Initiative and expand our partnerships to elevate the profession with international standards.” With Mr. Applegate assuming the role of Board Chair-Elect, NCMA is poised to further enhance its programs and standards, ensuring that practitioners receive unparalleled support and opportunities for professional development and certification. The entire NCMA community eagerly looks forward to the transformative leadership that Mr. Applegate will bring to the organization. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – www.ncmahq.org – has grown as a professional society whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. Contact Details National Contract Management Assocation Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org

March 26, 2024 06:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Adin Avertising Technology Announces AI-Based Approach to Digital Media Planning - Adin.Ai

Spark Metro PR

In an era marked by challenges in transparency and efficiency, Adin.Ai disrupts the traditional media planning sector by emerging as a beacon of innovation, transforming the landscape of media planning through its AI-based advertising intelligence platform. With unparalleled precision and strategy, Adin.Ai revolutionizes planning processes across TV and digital platforms. The Visionary Team Behind Adin.Ai's Success At the helm of Adin.Ai's ground-breaking platform is an esteemed team of industry pioneers, led by the renowned entrepreneur Serhat Gurcu, a five-time honoree on the Fortune 40 Under 40 list. Partnering with Gurcu is Prof. Altan Cakır, a luminary in data science and artificial intelligence. Together with other esteemed founding partners, including visionary 2 CTOs, a PhD holder, a rising star female co-founder in media, and another female co-founder who is one of the Fast Company Female Founders for 3 years in a row, Adin.Ai stands poised at the forefront of the industry. Innovative Technology Drives Enhanced Transparency Adin.Ai's integration of AI and blockchain technology ensures an unprecedented level of transactional transparency. Through Adin.trust, each transaction is securely recorded, instilling advertisers with the confidence needed to invest in their media planning strategies. Industry Recognition and Collaborative Ventures Fast Company's recognition of Adin.Ai on both its Most Innovative Companies and Startup 100 lists underscores the company's impact. Additionally, AWS lauds Adin.Ai's proactive adoption of emerging cloud and AI technologies, particularly its utilization of generative AI, a testament to Adin.Ai's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. The collaboration between Adin.Ai and AWS engineers has resulted in a unique amalgamation of different AWS modules, harmoniously working together to enhance Adin.Ai's capabilities. With AWS's validation of its technology and an upcoming collaboration with KPMG, Adin.Ai is primed to further its influence on global media transparency. Stellar Financial Performance Foreshadows Success In its Proof of Concept (POC) year, Adin.Ai generated an impressive revenue of 300K USD, setting a robust foundation for its future endeavors. Subsequently, in its first official year, the company achieved an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of 2.4M USD, alongside a Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) of 200K USD. Notably, 70% of this revenue was generated in Turkey, a testament to Adin.Ai's resilience amid currency fluctuations. Additionally, the company reported 11 M USD Billings in its first year, indicating strong growth and market demand for its innovative solutions. Explosive Growth in Competitive Markets Adin.Ai's strategic focus on expansion across Europe and the UK has yielded exceptional results, with a staggering 700% growth compared to the previous year. This exponential growth underscores Adin.Ai's strong business model and the burgeoning demand for innovative AI solutions in media planning. Rapid Expansion and Global Ambitions With its remarkable revenue achievements and unprecedented growth rate, Adin.Ai is poised to emerge as the preeminent interface for advertisers worldwide. The company's sights are set on further expansion and solidifying its status as a USA-established company, with Istanbul serving as the operational hub for the Europe, UK, and EMEA region, and London as the headquarters for Europe. This strategic positioning, coupled with global acclaim, sets new benchmarks for excellence in the industry. Adin.Ai is strategically positioned to shape the future of advertising, where AI-based decisions redefine the landscape. Client Success Stories Adin.Ai's transformative impact is evident through the success stories of its clients. A FINTECH company from Spain achieved a remarkable 30% reduction in Cost Per Acquisition, while the largest private bank in Turkey witnessed a substantial 70% increase in Viewability. Additionally, a fashion company from the UK experienced a significant 64% boost in Return on Ad Spend (ROAS), and a gaming company from the Netherlands successfully mitigated display ad fraud by 52%. These results underscore Adin.Ai's commitment to driving tangible outcomes for its clients across diverse industries. Adin.Ai as the AI-Based Digital Advertising Platform for Enterprise Advertisers: Maximize Ad Return up to 5X; Minimize Effort up to 100X. With Adin.Ai, advertisers gain access to a cutting-edge platform that maximizes ad returns up to 5 times while minimizing effort up to 100 times. Our revolutionary AI-driven approach to digital media planning empowers advertisers to achieve unparalleled success in their campaigns. For further insights into Adin.Ai's journey and services, visit www.adin.ai Founders of the Company: Serhat Gürcü: LinkedIn Profile Prof. Altan Çakır: LinkedIn Profile Selin Ergin: LinkedIn Profile Halil Faruk Deniz: LinkedIn Profile Özgün Akın: LinkedIn Profile Seden Gürcü: LinkedIn Profile SOURCE: Adin.Ai Contact Details Adin.ai Seden Gurcu +90 533 476 96 49 Seden@adin.ai Company Website https://adin.ai/

March 26, 2024 11:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAVEX 2024 Global Incident Management Benchmark Study Reveals Significant Third-Party Reporting to Companies

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, has released its 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report. The annual benchmark report offers valuable insights into workplace culture, analyzing trends from 1.86 million global reports spanning thousands of organizations that together employ more than 50 million employees. Amid a record number of tips to the SEC and a burgeoning DOJ whistleblowing program, NAVEX’s comprehensive analysis sheds a critical light on the state of workplace environments worldwide, guiding organizations toward program improvement. "NAVEX remains the gold standard in risk and compliance data analytics, continually innovating our benchmarks to enhance corporate compliance programs and offer business leaders insights into the trending risk areas for their organizations," says NAVEX Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Carrie Penman. "This year's report introduces crucial third-party reporting insights, highlighting an organization’s need to adopt internal and external reporting avenues to bolster integrity, foster accountability and equip the organization to tackle emerging challenges effectively.” This year’s analysis of the data revealed several key themes and notable findings, including: Report volume and case substantiation reach milestones. Internal reporting programs saw a record level of use as measured by NAVEX’s Reports per 100 Employees metric. In addition, the Substantiation Rate metric reached an all-time high, meaning more reports were received and more were found to be true. Report volume, and the substantiation rates of the reports received, are two of the most highly watched metrics in the annual NAVEX publication. To see both reach the highest levels ever is good news. For those with trusted and effective internal reporting programs, this added up to greater visibility into the trends of risk, ethics and culture playing out in their organizations’ operations – real-time intelligence to inform business decision-making. In 2023, organizations received a median 1.57 Reports per 100 Employees across their internal reporting systems, exceeding the previous record of 1.47 set in 2022. More organizations (23%) received five or more Reports per 100 Employees, making this population the largest in the NAVEX data set. And while year-over-year values fluctuated, every size of organization – from the smallest companies to enterprises with over 100,000 employees – has seen report volumes rise comparing 2021 and 2023. At 45%, the overall median share of substantiated or founded reports in 2023 reached an 11-year high. Third parties more likely to report business integrity and financial misconduct issues. In a first for this report, NAVEX analyzed its database by both employees and third-party reporters. Its analysis shows these two groups are distinct across several metrics, highlighting the insight organizations see by promoting their reporting programs internally and externally. Third parties as a group delivered a far greater median share of reports related to Business Integrity matters than employees in 2023 (50% versus 17%). Encompassing topics like conflicts of interest, vendor issues, fraud, global trade and human rights, this category of issues can manifest in various elements of a supply chain. Third-party reporters also showed twice the median share of Accounting, Auditing & Financial Reporting reports as employees in 2023 (10% versus 4.5%). Story emerging on accounting-related reporting – internally and externally. Accounting-related reports -- while lower in overall percentage of reports received internally by organizations at a median of 4.3.% in 2023 -- often receive an outsized share of attention due to potential for regulatory action and the well-publicized bounty program offered by the SEC and its Office of the Whistleblower. The SEC's program is witnessing unprecedented growth in tips and generously rewarding valuable information. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is launching a similar initiative. Specifically, reports related to Accounting, Auditing, and Financial reporting: Showed the longest time between when an incident was observed and when it was reported to the organization By a large margin, were least likely to be reported anonymously Comprised an outsized share of cases for organizations that receive very few Reports per 100 Employees – meaning while these organizations received well below the benchmark number of reports, they had a much more significant percentage of accounting-related reports Experienced the longest time to investigate and close the case Had among the highest median Substantiation Rates, at 50% Were most likely to cause an employment separation event as a result of a substantiated case Accounted for twice as many of the reports submitted by third parties than those submitted by employees Small increase in report volume shows big payoff in healthy report mix. A diverse array of topics, inquiries, and allegations in internal reporting indicates a robust program. NAVEX’s findings reveal that even minor efforts to promote internal reporting significantly improve the mix of report types received. For instance, in organizations with the lowest report volume, only 8.7% of reports pertain to HR, Diversity, and Workplace Respect. However, in the next tier, this proportion jumps to 36.3%. This trend persists across different report volumes, emphasizing the importance of fostering a reporting culture. A varied mix of report types signifies trust in internal reporting to address a broad spectrum of issues. Even a slight increase from minimal reporting yields a more comprehensive and insightful flow of reports. "With NAVEX's integrated data platform, companies gain unparalleled risk signal data that empowers them to foster healthier workplace cultures, helping them achieve outcomes that matter most,” explains NAVEX Chief Product Officer A.G. Lambert. "Data isn't just numbers; it's the compass guiding organizations toward success and ensuring they stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of risk and compliance." Additional notable findings include: Workplace behaviors and discord were clearly visible in the data as more organizations return to office environments. As is always the case in these reports, workplace behaviors and other human resources related matters are by far the highest percentage of reports received by organizations. Workplace Civility matters continued to increase in prominence in 2023, representing a median of 18% of reports and the highest median reporting rate in 2023. This was followed by Discrimination, at a median 12%, Harassment, at a median 7.1%, then Retaliation at a median of 2.0%. The HR, Diversity and Workplace Respect category overall has seen a multi-year increase in its median share of all reports (from 50% in 2021 to 55% in 2023). These figures underscore the growing importance of fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. Highlighting the seriousness with which organizations are taking reports received, more substantiated reports (18%) resulted in separation from employment in 2023, up significantly from 14% in 2022 and 12% in 2021. The share of reports resulting in no action – effectively the opposite end of the outcome spectrum – fell from 17% in 2022 to 14% in 2023. Nearly nine out of 10 reports of Imminent Threat to a Person, Animals or Property were substantiated in 2023 highlighting the importance that reporters possess the training, knowledge, tools and trust that promote rapid reporting of dangerous issues. This need is made even greater by a new California workplace violence prevention law expected to take effect this year that includes requirements for reporting, incident management and training around this issue. For more insights on the 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report, join Jane Norberg, Arnold & Porter partner and former chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower, Keith Thomas, FedEx corporate integrity & compliance lead counsel, Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk & compliance officer, and Anders Olsen, NAVEX senior data scientist, for an informative webinar where they will discuss the results of this year’s analysis in detail. Watch the webinar here. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details Navex Global scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://navex.com

March 26, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Surety and Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) Names Ryan C. Work President & CEO

SFAA

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America’s (SFAA) board of directors is pleased to announce that, after an extensive search, Ryan C. Work has been named the trade association’s next President & CEO. “With Ryan’s in-depth trade association management experience and background in developing and managing strategic outreach and policy programs before Congress, the Administration, and various federal and state regulatory agencies, the board is confident in his ability to lead the association successfully,” said Robert Murray, SFAA Board Chairman and Head of Surety, Zurich. “His hands-on experience will allow him to quickly engage on issues impacting the future of the surety and fidelity industry, particularly with key legislative, regulatory and procurement leaders,” continued Murray. Before joining SFAA, Ryan was Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA), where he led advocacy and political activities on self-insurance, stop-loss, and captive insurance issues. Prior to SIIA, Ryan was Senior Director of Government and Regulatory Policy for S&P Global, representing brands including Standard & Poor’s, Platts, J.D. Power, and BusinessWeek. Ryan has served in several senior staff positions within the U.S. Congress, including as Legislative Director for Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), current Chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Katherine Harris (FL) and in various staff roles with the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means and the Office of the Speaker of the House. “I am honored to be named President and CEO and working to advance SFAA’s value to our members, expanding our advocacy efforts, and building a strong team in support of maintaining SFAA’s reputation as one of the most influential insurance legislative organizations in the states and Washington D.C.,” said Ryan. “I look forward to collaborating with the SFAA Board, Executive Committee, membership and staff to enlist support for issues and programs critical to the industry's success,” added Ryan. Ryan resides in Alexandria, VA and is a graduate of Penn State University. The Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing all surety and fidelity industry segments. We promote the value of surety and fidelity bonding and its vital protections through advocacy, outreach, promotion, and education. The more than 425 member companies write 98 percent of surety and fidelity bonds in the U.S. SFAA is licensed as a rating or advisory organization in all states, and state insurance departments have designated it as a statistical agent for the reporting of fidelity and surety experience. www.surety.org Contact Details Peter Roth +1 703-401-0676 proth@surety.org Company Website https://surety.org/

March 25, 2024 09:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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