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IGEN provides 2022 Year-End Results and 2023 Progress Updates

iGen Networks Corp.

McapMediaWire -- IGEN Networks Corporation (OTC: IGEN ) (CSE: IGN ), a leading innovator of solutions for the consumer automotive, fleet management, and supply-chain industries, today provides unaudited 2022 fiscal year-end financial results along with progress updates on key initiatives for 2023: For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized revenues of $318,016 an 18% increase from the previous year. Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, totaled $903,048 a decrease of $2,670,235 or 75%, from total expenses reported for 2021. Excluding stock-based compensation expense to our directors, operational expenses increased by 4% year-on-year. Total deferred revenue balance for year ended December 31,2022 was approximately $291,000 of which $136,000 will contribute to 2023 revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had a net loss of $907,598 (or ($0.00) per basic and diluted share) compared with a net loss of $3,428,937 (or ($0.00) per basic and diluted share) in 2021. Included in the net loss of $907,598, is $301,360 of other income related to the Company's gain on settlement of debt recognized in 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company saw a net decrease in cash of $64,429. Cash used in operating activities was $978,056, an increase in cash used of 2% from the $962,960 net cash used in 2021. This was offset by net financings of $543,746 raised via private placements. During fiscal-year 2022, the Company shifted marketing focus from automotive dealerships to Credit Unions supported by Federal subsidy programs offering higher profit margins along with monthly and annual re-occurring revenues. Following the contract award for fleet management services granted by a major New York State County, the Company expanded its commercial asset management platforms with the integration of Prolog sourced technologies, a world leader in supply-chain and logistics consulting services. In addition to the renewed focus on Credit Unions and Government markets, IGEN filed Patent-Pending 17/850,250 to expand its patent portfolio to approximately 40 patent claims. Neil G. Chan, CEO of IGEN stated, "For 2023 our priorities and focus will be to leverage our exclusive channel relationships with the Association of Credit Unions Executives of Puerto Rico (ASEC), the County Executives of America, Michigan Credit Union League Service Corporation (MCULSC), and Hyperion Partners, a Master Agent for several wireless carriers in the US. We will also aggressively protect our patents along with a comprehensive review of the insurance industry and all major insurers who are billing their customers through measurement of driver behavior and performance." Intellectual Property Portfolio – as we complete our due diligence of the insurance industry and major insurers who are using driver scores as actuarial metrics for billing, protecting IGEN's patent rights will be the company highest priority in 2023. IGEN's intellectual property portfolio will focus on normalizing the "big data" elements that influence driving habits along with correcting gross errors in assessing driver performance and driver behavior. Reducing what the insurance industry refers to as "rating-errors" is the single biggest opportunity for insurance companies. With an estimated $8B of annual rating-errors attributed to demographics and historical driver data rather than actual driver data, IGEN technologies and patents will improve the accuracy of measuring driver performance and risk. With close to 40 patent claims as part of Patent No. 11,037,378 and Patent-Pending 17/850,250, IGEN's patent portfolio defines the "big data" elements essential for accurate measurements, regardless of the data source. Whether originating from mobile phones, third-party GPS devices installed in vehicles or directly from video cameras and sensors integral to electric vehicles (EV), accumulated data from a minimum of 1M access points will contribute to significant improvements in accuracy and measurement of driver performance. Consumer Product Brand focus for 2023 will market CUTrak and FamilyShield services to Credit Unions and their members through certified organizations representing specific regions across the US – namely the Association of Credit Union Executives of Puerto Rico (ASEC), comprised of approximately 90 Credit Unions and 1M members. In addition, with the successful deployment in the Upper Peninsula region, Michigan Credit Union League Service Corporation (MCULSC) is expected to expand CUTrak services amongst its members that represent approximately 80 Credit Unions located in seven districts. For each Credit Union program participant in 2023, revenue contributions are estimated to range from $48K to $120K annually per branch depending upon the number of car loans granted during the fiscal period. Commercial Fleets and Asset Management Brands Medallion GPS and Medallion PRO will be sold through our partnership agreements with Hyperion Partners and the County Executives of America (CEA). IGEN's recent award to provide Fleet Management Services to New York State Counties offers opportunity for Counties and State governments to manage their self-insured vehicles. Initial deployment for the first major County in New York State was completed in late 2022. Subsequent deployments with Counties in New York State are being finalized along with newly enlisted members for 2023. The opportunity base for IGEN Commercial Fleet Services with the CEA is estimated at 12,000 active commercial vehicles with a target market share of 30% for fiscal year 2023. About IGEN Networks Corporation IGEN Networks Corporation provides software solutions and consulting services for the consumer automotive, asset management, and supply-chain industries. The solutions enable customers to mitigate risk, improve driver safety, and increase productivity. IGEN is a fully reporting company in both Canada and the United States. It is publicly traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol IGEN, and listed on the CSE under the symbol IGN. For more information, please visit: www.igennetworks.net Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities law. The terms and phrases "goal", "commitment", "guidance", "expects", "would", "will", "continuing", "drive", "believes", "indicate", "look forward", "grow", "outlook", "forecasts", "intend", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by IGEN in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that IGEN believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to statements regarding investment liquidity, financing options and long term goals of the Company, general economic conditions, IGEN's expectations regarding its business, customer base, strategy and prospects, and IGEN's confidence in the cash flow generation of its business. Many factors could cause IGEN's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to competition; IGEN's reliance on key personnel; IGEN's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; and difficulties in forecasting IGEN's financial results, particularly over longer periods given the rapid technological changes, competition and short product life cycles that characterize the mobile application industry. These risk factors and others relating to IGEN that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in the under the heading "Risk Factors" in IGEN's periodic filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on IGEN's forward-looking statements. IGEN has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact: IGEN Networks Corporation Neil G. Chan info@igennetworks.net 1(855)912-5378 Contact Details IGEN Networks Corporation info@igennetworks.net Company Website https://www.igennetworks.net/

April 03, 2023 07:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Foresight Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd.

"Our focus in 2022 was on early adopters and commercialization, leading to 3 commercial agreements with industry leaders. We intend to continue this trend going forward in 2023 and start realizing our advanced technology to revenues" Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd., an innovator in automotive vision systems (Nasdaq and TASE: FRSX) (“Foresight” or the “Company”), today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2022. Foresight ended the full year of 2022 with revenues of $550,000 and with $26.5 million in cash, cash equivalent, restricted cash and short-term deposits. The Company reported a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) operating loss of $17.5 million which is approximately a 10% increase from the GAAP operating loss of $15.9 million reported for the full year 2021. Foresight reported a GAAP net loss of $3.8 million for the fourth quarter 2022, compared to a GAAP net loss of $3.7 million for the fourth quarter 2021, and a non-GAAP net loss of $3.4 million for the fourth quarter 2022, compared to a non-GAAP loss of $3.3 million for the fourth quarter 2021. Fourth Quarter Corporate Highlights: ● Foresight Signs Commercial Agreement with SUNWAY-AI for up to $51 million: In November, Foresight announced the signing of a joint development and supply agreement with SUNWAY-AI Technology Co., Ltd., a global Chinese manufacturer of components for autonomous and unmanned intelligent vehicles. The deal may yield up to $51 million in revenue over the contractual period of four years, depending on demand from SUNWAY-AI. According to the agreement, the companies will establish a joint program for the development and supply of obstacle detection systems and cloud gateway for driverless vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and airport ground support vehicles. SUNWAY-AI will commercialize the ADAS systems to customers and third parties in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao. ● Eye-Net Showcases Advanced Solution to Leading OEMs and Tier One Suppliers in Japan: Eye-Net Mobile, a wholly owned subsidiary of Foresight, successfully completed a technological roadshow of its Eye-Net™ Protect solution in Japan in November. The roadshow included technological demonstrations for 20 automotive-related companies, including five leading Japanese original equipment manufacturers, Tier One, and Tier Two suppliers, as well as 11 dashboard camera companies. The successful demonstrations generated significant interest among the attending companies, which may lead to further technological evaluations. ● Foresight Hosts Virtual Investor Webinar on Moving to Commercialization in Automotive Technology: In December, Foresight presented the Company’s progress in developing and distributing new technologies for the automotive industry in a virtual investor webinar. The webinar provided an overview on the Company’s progress in different regional markets, as well as information regarding existing relationships with customers including Hitachi Astemo Americas and SUNWAY-AI. “Foresight gained significant momentum during the fourth quarter of 2022 with the announcement of our commercial agreement with SUNWAY-AI, a leading Chinese manufacturer of components for autonomous and unmanned intelligent vehicles,” said Haim Siboni, CEO of Foresight. “This agreement is an important step forward for our operations in China, and it validates our long-term strategy of establishing deep working relationships with partners in various geographies including China, Japan, Europe and North America. As more technology providers and Tier One manufacturers test and evaluate our innovative solutions, we are excited about the potential that these evaluations may convert into long-term commercial agreements. As the electric vehicle (EV) market reaches a crucial tipping point, safety and reliability must be addressed to ensure widespread adoption. Foresight’s quad-camera vision system is a vital solution to support safe and reliable operations of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles in any lighting or weather conditions. In addition, Foresight’s Mono2Stereo™ software-based solution creates a 3D perception stereo vision thus amplifying the performance of existing ADAS sensors and resulting in better distance accuracy and more robust active safety features. Through our continued research and development (R&D), technological demonstrations, and commercial relationships, we intend to capitalize on this market opportunity and establish Foresight as an essential supplier for the global automotive industry,” concluded Siboni. Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results ● Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by 23.8% to $99,000, compared to $80,000 for the fourth quarter of 2021. The revenues were generated primarily from the successful completion of a proof of concept (POC) project with a leading American EV manufacturer in the amount of $70,000, and from the successful completion of a POC project with a leading global tractor manufacturer in the amount of $15,000. ● R&D expenses, net for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $3,035,000, compared to $2,647,000 for the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase is attributed mainly to an increase in payroll and related expenses and offset by participation in R&D expenses from the European Horizon 2020 program. ● General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $1,087,000, compared to $987,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase is attributed primarily to an increase in payroll and related expenses and in professional services. ● Finance income, net for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $718,000, compared to $390,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Finance income, net for the fourth quarter of 2022 consisted of the revaluation of the Company’s investment in Rail Vision Ltd. to its fair value in the amount of $1,267,000 and interest income in the amount of $387,000, offset by exchange rate differences in the amount of $912,000, and other finance expenses in the amount of $24,000. ● GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $3,820,000, or $0.012 per ordinary share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $3,726,000, or $0.012 per ordinary share, in the fourth quarter of 2021. ● Non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $3,377,000, or $0.01 per ordinary share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $3,304,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021, or $0.01 per ordinary share. A reconciliation between GAAP net loss and non-GAAP net loss is provided following the financial statements that are part of this release. Non-GAAP results exclude the effect of share-based compensation expenses. Full Year 2022 Financial Results ● Revenues for the full year ended December 31, 2022, increased by 358% to $550,000, compared to $120,000 for the full year ended December 31, 2021. The revenues were generated primarily from the successful execution of several projects including: the customization project with Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ELBT) in the amount of $220,000, the POC project with Hitachi Astemo in the amount of $150,000, the POC project with ZF North America in the amount of $90,000, the POC project with a leading American EV manufacturer in the amount of $70,000, and the POC project with a leading global tractor manufacturer in the amount of $15,000. ● R&D expenses, net for the full year ended December 31, 2022, were $11,534,000, compared to $10,170,000 in 2021. The increase is attributed mainly to an increase in payroll and related expenses and to rent and office expenses. ● Sales and marketing expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2022, were $2,230,000, compared to $1,848,000 in 2021. The increase is attributed mainly to an increase in exhibitions, conventions and travel expenses. ● G&A expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2022 were $3,989,000, compared to $3,980,000 in 2021. ● Finance expenses, net for the full year ended December 31, 2022 were $4,221,000, compared to finance income, net of $909,000 in 2021. Finance expenses, net for the year ended December 31, 2022, consisted of the revaluation of the Company’s investment in Rail Vision Ltd. to its fair value in the amount of $2,208,000, and exchange rate differences in the amount of $2,194,000, offset by interest income in the amount of $189,000. ● GAAP net loss for the full year ended December 31, 2022, was $21,676,000, or $0.067 per ordinary share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $15,036,000 in the full year ended December 31, 2021, or $0.047 per ordinary share. ● Non-GAAP net loss for the full year ended December 31, 2022, was $19,850,000, or $0.061 per ordinary share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $12,572,000 in the full year ended December 31, 2021, or $0.039 per ordinary share. Balance Sheet Highlights ● Cash, restricted cash, and short-term deposits totaled $26.5 million as of December 31, 2022, compared to $45.7 million as of December 31, 2021. ● GAAP total equity totaled $28.8 million as of December 31, 2022, compared to $48.6 million as of December 31, 2021. The decrease is attributed mainly to the net loss for the period. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company's earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures of net loss for the period that exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expenses. The Company’s management believes the non-GAAP financial information provided in this release is useful to investors’ understanding and assessment of the company's ongoing operations. Management also uses both GAAP and non-GAAP information in evaluating and operating business internally and as such deemed it important to provide all this information to investors. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. Reconciliations between GAAP measures and non-GAAP measures are provided later in this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” "estimates" and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, Foresight is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses that its agreement with SUNWAY-AI is an important step forward for its operations in China, and it validates its long-term strategy of establishing deep working relationships with partners in various geographies, the potential for more long-term commercial agreements resulting from technology providers and Tier One manufacturers testing and evaluating its innovative solutions, the benefits of its technology, that through its R&D, technological demonstrations, and commercial relationships, it intends to capitalize on this market opportunity and establish itself as an essential supplier for the global automotive industry, the potential revenue that may be derived from the SUNWAY-AI agreement and that SUNWAY-AI will commercialize the ADAS systems to customers and third parties in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao and that the roadshow of its Eye-Net™ Protect solution in Japan generated significant interest among the attending companies, which may lead to further technological evaluations. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Foresight’s current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Foresight could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Foresight’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 30, 2023, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Foresight undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. FORESIGHT AUTONOMOUS HOLDINGS LTD. INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS U.S. dollars in thousands FORESIGHT AUTONOMOUS HOLDINGS LTD. INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS U.S. dollars in thousands FORESIGHT AUTONOMOUS HOLDINGS LTD. INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW U.S. dollars in thousands FORESIGHT AUTONOMOUS HOLDINGS LTD. INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW U.S. dollars in thousands SUPPLEMENTAL RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS (Unaudited) U.S. dollars in thousands About Foresight Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq and TASE: FRSX) is a technology company developing smart multi-spectral vision software solutions and cellular-based applications. Through the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Foresight Automotive Ltd., Foresight Changzhou Automotive Ltd. and Eye-Net Mobile Ltd., Foresight develops both “in-line-of-sight” vision systems and “beyond-line-of-sight” accident-prevention solutions. Foresight’s vision solutions include modules of automatic calibration and dense three-dimensional (3D) point cloud that can be applied to different markets such as automotive, defense, autonomous vehicles and heavy industrial equipment. Eye-Net Mobile’s cellular-based solution suite provides real-time pre-collision alerts to enhance road safety and situational awareness for all road users in the urban mobility environment by incorporating cutting-edge AI technology and advanced analytics. For more information about Foresight and its wholly owned subsidiary, Foresight Automotive, visit www.foresightauto.com, follow @ForesightAuto1 on Twitter, or join Foresight Automotive on LinkedIn. Contact Details Investor Relations Contact: Miri Segal-Scharia, CEO, MS-IR LLC +1 917-607-8654 msegal@ms-ir.com Company Website https://www.foresightauto.com/

March 30, 2023 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

S & U "very pleased with the profits"

S & U PLC

S & U PLC (LSE:SUS) chairman Graham Coombs speaks to Proactive after releasing preliminary results for the year to 31st January 2023. Coombs says that he's "very pleased with the profits", that were the second highest in the specialist motor finance & bridging lender's 85-year history. He also gives his take on the outlook for the wider motor finance sector. Here's the earlier story: S & U PLC (LSE:SUS) increased its final dividend 5.3% and said current trading is good, with “very strong” demand for its products. The owner of motor finance lender Advantage and property bridging lender Aspen declared a final dividend of 60p per share, up from 57p a year ago, taking the total dividend proposed to 133p, up 5.6% from last time. Revenue came to £102.7mln in the year to 31 January 2023, up 17%, while profit before tax (PBT) came in at £41.4mln, which was down from £47mln the prior year. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

March 30, 2023 04:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAFA LAUNCHES ESG REPORTING RESOURCE FOR FLEET PROFESSIONALS

NAFA

NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, just announced a new ESG Reporting offering for the fleet community. Designed and vetted by fuel and fleet leaders specifically for fleet operations, this ESG reporting application allows fleet professionals to calculate and track their emissions and emissions reductions. “As the demand for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) planning and reporting continues to grow, fleet professionals need resources that can help them efficiently and effectively calculate everything from emissions to cost savings,” says Mike Camnetar, CAFM, NAFA Board President. “ESG will play a critical role in the future of our industry, which is why NAFA is excited to bring this new technology offering to our valued members and community.” Designed by ESG integrity, a program developed by the Fuels Institute, the ESGi application allows fleet managers to confidently track and share their organization’s fleet operations ESG metrics. Through this new ESGi application, fleet professionals will be able to: Understand the impacts of ESG initiatives and create greater value for their organization Collect, compute, and report ESG metrics using emissions data through automated ESG reporting Confidently track and share their organization’s fleet operations ESG metrics with exportable ready-to-use reports Set goals to improve and set metrics Discover what ESG scoring bodies are looking for Receive significant cost savings on ESG reporting Research has shown that investment in ESG initiatives can create greater value and contribute a positive return on investment for companies. ESG reporting is quickly moving from a voluntary corporate PR tool to a regulated B2B prerequisite, and consists of non-financial factors, such as carbon emissions, that organizations, including fleets, are increasingly expected to report data on. As ESG initiatives continue to create greater value for organizations, it is becoming more important for fleet managers to track and calculate fleet emissions and emissions reductions. Successful ESG programs can result in top-line growth, cost reductions, reduced regulatory and legal interventions, increased productivity, asset optimization, and enhanced operational performance. ESG reporting can help limit financial risk, improve an organization’s access to capital, and reduce operating expenses, among other impactful benefits. NAFA members will receive access to the ESGi application at a reduced license fee. For more information on the ESGi application, please visit: https://www.nafa.org/resource-center/esg/ NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes; and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year. For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Contact Details OnWrd & UpWrd, on behalf of NAFA Colleen Gallagher +1 315-447-2331 cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com Company Website https://www.nafa.org/

March 29, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchise in Macon, GA Moves to New Location & Has Grand Opening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Richie Moore and his family have owned the Minuteman Press franchise in Macon, Georgia since June of 2017. As they approach six years in business, Richie, along with his father and his wife Elle, have moved to a brand new facility at 4341 Interstate DR, Suite B, Macon GA 31210. To celebrate the move, Minuteman Press in Macon held a grand opening on February 21, 2023, that was sponsored by the Greater Macon-Bibb Chamber of Commerce, the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce. Richie shares, “We have needed more space for the last 3 years. We wanted to get the equipment needed to do the things our customers have been asking us to do and now we have the space and a lot of the equipment needed! We want to show Middle Georgia that the big jobs don’t need to be sent out of our local area, and that Minuteman Press in Macon can produce and deliver for them.” Richie further explains the benefits of the new facility: “We now have a lobby that we can show off our larger jobs and spark ideas in our customers. If that doesn’t do it we want to set up tours of our facility to show the machines’ capabilities for prints. We have just upgraded our main production systems on all of our paper products so that we can print even faster and deliver higher quality. We are able to get longer lasting, higher quality signage done at a fraction of the time it would take a typical sign shop to print.” When it comes to marketing the business, Richie has followed the Minuteman Press system and reached out to his local business community through networking groups. He also focuses on education potential and established customers on the product capabilities that Minuteman Press in Macon has to offer. Richie shares: “We have participated in a lot of networking groups in the last 6 years and that has been some of the main drivers behind our growth. We’ve worked hard on getting out into the community and talking about our vision at Minuteman Press Macon to our customers. Our message is simple: We are showing Middle Georgia that having a quick turnaround doesn’t have to sacrifice quality. We educate them on the fact that having quality doesn’t have to come with the highest price tag. And above all, we make it a point to let our clients know that growing larger doesn’t sacrifice the customer care that our customers receive on a daily basis. “There is a big market for the medium-size niche jobs that sadly is getting left by the wayside. We have customers that want 500 boxes or direct printed bags. They are a small-to-medium sized companies and they don’t necessarily need 5,000 bags that are all the same. They want 500 of 10 different bags so they can sell more products. We want to offer an option to those people who need help with all of their printing needs and don’t want to go to 5 different places to get them all done.” -Richie Moore, co-owner, Minuteman Press, Macon, GA Franchise Support from Minuteman Press International Before franchising, Richie shares, “My wife Elle and I come from the insurance world and before that I worked with computers everywhere. My dad called me up one day and asked if I’d be interested in a printing franchise. One of our computer customers was Minuteman Press Macon and the owner called us and asked if we would be interested in buying the computers back from him. We offered to let us try running the business for a few months and see if it was for us.” He continues, “We did it and we loved helping out the customers. We loved that every day was something new to do. You definitely have to stay on your toes in a print shop! So, my wife and I cashed in our insurance bonuses and bought into a new business with my dad. From there, we have grown it dramatically and want to continue to grow with our customers.” Richie shares his thoughts on the support he and his family have received since joining the Minuteman Press franchise family. He says, “The Minuteman Press franchise has been around a long time and will be around a lot longer. If you have seen it printed, they have had experience with it. Our corporate office has been a great support to us when we had questions on how to help our customers. They have always been supportive in helping us reach our goals. This move to our new building has been the top goal for us for at least 3 years now, and we couldn’t have done it without the help and guidance of our local RVP Dave Walton and the local support team.” Richie adds, “We took over in 2017 but this Minuteman Press franchise has been in Macon for 35 years! We have a lot of experience and knowledge about the products that our clients want and possibly some that you don’t even know about that can help!” When asked about his final thoughts on the move and being business owner, Richie says, “I like to remind all of our clients that WE ARE LOCAL and that we can help. We would love to show prospects what we can do and invite them to tour our facility!” Richie concludes, “For business owners, I would say you need to s urround yourself with smart people that have done it all and are successful. This way, you will end up driving yourself to reach their level. That’s yet another reason franchising and Minuteman Press was right for us.” Minuteman Press in Macon is located at 4341 Interstate DR, Suite B, Macon GA 31210. For more information, call 478-474-6263 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ga/macon/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 29, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ARMOUR ACQUIRES ASSETS FROM TEXAS RANCHSCAPES LLC

Armour Excavating LLC

Armour Excavating LLC (“Armour”) a provider of aggregate delivery in Central Texas and cedar clearing services on Texas Hill Country ranches, is pleased to announce that it has acquired selected assets from Texas Ranchscapes LLC (“Texas Ranchscapes”) based in Harper, TX. “It was important to me that Armour has the same customer service values that Texas Ranchscapes had. We were known for rapid, on-time delivery and keeping our commitments to customers. Armour possesses those same values, so it was an obvious choice to ensure our customers continue to receive the best service,” said Curtis Warman, Owner of Texas Ranchscapes. “We are really excited to be adding additional assets to our fast-growing company. With these additional assets, Armour will be able to haul 21-ton loads (quad axle dump truck) which is complementary to our current tandem dump truck fleet. Armour is grateful for this opportunity from Curtis, and we look forward to welcoming Texas Ranchscapes customers to the Armour family,” said Stephen Day, Owner. Contact Details Armour Excavating LLC Media Contact info@armourexcavating.com Company Website https://www.armourexcavating.com

March 28, 2023 03:45 PM Central Daylight Time

Orange Tree Employment Screening Accelerates Momentum with Expansion of Senior Leadership Team

Orange Tree Employment Screening

Orange Tree Employment Screening, a technology-driven services company in the background screening industry, today announced that it has expanded its leadership team to include three new senior roles. Justin Jovle will serve as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Bridget George will be the new Vice President of Client Services, and Brooke Boeser will help guide company expansion as the new Vice President of Marketing. The new hires will help the company continue to accelerate its strong growth while delivering unparalleled client service. “Over the past 18 months, Orange Tree has grown significantly, both organically and through acquisition. To continue this growth, it is important to strategically expand our leadership team,” said Renee Ernste, CEO of Orange Tree. “We are not stopping here. We have expansion plans which require expertise to enable the successful integration of the companies we’ve purchased and to support future acquisitions.” In addition to growing via acquisition and new sales, Orange Tree recently released an innovative online buying experience which provides buyers new levels of choice and pricing transparency. Available to all businesses, the online platform is targeted to the midmarket and small business customer who wants help in choosing the best solution with full visibility to pricing previously reserved for only enterprise businesses. “The buyers’ preferences have changed, and we are delivering what today’s customer expects and deserves,” said Jeff Ernste, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “Customers want to buy solutions tailored to their needs, in a way and at a time that is convenient for them, and with full transparency to the pricing and terms of their program. We are delivering a solution which aligns precisely with their needs. “The strategic decision to bring in tested leadership and launch a game-changing online buying platform means that Orange Tree’s growth momentum is just beginning,” concluded Ernste. About Orange Tree Employment Screening For more than 30 years, Orange Tree has provided technology-enabled background screening, drug testing, and occupational health services that are fast, easy to use, and can be tailored to the unique needs of each employer. Orange Tree streamlines hiring decisions, integrates with HCM and ATS platforms, and empowers employers in Healthcare, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Retail, Staffing, and other major industries to quickly fill open positions while delivering an engaging candidate experience. Learn more at www.orangetreescreening.com. Contact Details Razor Sharp PR Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.orangetreescreening.com/

March 28, 2023 08:30 AM Central Daylight Time

Two EVs at Plymouth State University Delivered 1 MWh of Energy with Fermata Energy Bidirectional EV Charging Platform

Fermata Energy

Two Nissan LEAF electric vehicles (EVs) at the Plymouth State University (PSU) provided 1 MWh of energy to the PSU’s ALLWell Center, offsetting some of the building’s electricity needs. EVs are more than sustainable transportation; they are “batteries on wheels” that can send energy stored in their batteries to a building when paired with a bidirectional EV charging platform. The university is able to reduce its electricity bill and support grid resilience by taking part in an innovative utility rate program developed by its local utility New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), electrification software provider Bellawatt, and Fermata Energy, the developer of the leading AI-driven bidirectional EV charging platform. The program at PSU is groundbreaking because it brings together EVs, a bidirectional EV charging system, and advance notice on hourly electricity pricing – called a Transactive Energy Rate (TER), enabling the university to easily make decisions about using the Nissan LEAF batteries as mobile energy storage assets. Under the program, PSU sent energy stored in the EVs’ onboard batteries to offset the ALLWell Center’s building load for approximately 90 hours during a 6-month period. One MWh is equivalent to the electricity used by about 330 homes for one hour. Through the NHEC application, TER forecasts electricity pricing one day in advance. Daily alerts about the next day’s hour-by-hour electricity prices are sent by NHEC to Fermata Energy’s AI-powered bidirectional charging platform, which then analyzes those rates, simplifies the information, and advises PSU about times the vehicles can discharge the batteries to maximize value for the university. The university controls whether to discharge by parking the EVs and plugging them into the Fermata Energy bidirectional charger. “Through this program, we better understand how we use electricity and can actively reduce our electricity costs. We could do that with stationary energy storage systems, but EVs are more affordable and are easy to manage,” said Donald Brix, president of Plymouth State University. “NHEC has always been a great partner for us. Fermata Energy's technology puts the EV batteries ‘behind the meter,’ sending electricity to the ALLWell Center to reduce our costs. Anything left over is shared with the grid. Not only did the university save money, but we provided a fantastic learning experience to our students.” The day-ahead electricity pricing enables PSU to buy electricity from the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative at low prices and store that energy in the EV batteries. When the price of electricity is higher, PSU can then discharge the batteries and sell the energy back to NHEC. This is known as electricity arbitrage. The successful outcome of this hourly electricity pricing program creates a pathway for NHEC to compensate its members for power exported from Distributed Energy Resources, such as EV batteries and solar. "V2G is working today. Bidirectional EVs are valuable assets that can help stabilize the grid by dispatching energy stored in batteries - when and where that energy is needed most,” said David Slutzky, founder and CEO of Fermata Energy. "The NHEC program is one of the country’s most innovative rates and works very well with our AI-driven, vehicle-to-grid platform." "We are fortunate to have such great collaborators like Fermata Energy and Plymouth State University (PSU) on this project,” said NHEC Vice President of Power Resources and Access Brian Callnan. “Technology from Fermata Energy allows us to purchase the necessary grid services to serve our members from PSU, who happen to be a member themselves. We’re thrilled to see members serving members with this program.” Callnan continued, “Bidirectional charging and TER allow the university to redefine their electric vehicles as a distributed energy resource (DER) that benefits them and all our members in the electric cooperative." The Nissan LEAF is one of the few EVs currently on the road and able to participate in bidirectional charging. Fermata Energy’s bidirectional charging platform manages the EV’s state of charge, sends alerts to customers, and allows fleet owners to both charge and discharge EV batteries. Until recently, commercial fleet EV operators could only use unidirectional chargers, meaning the power went from the grid to the EV, costing the EV owner money. Unidirectional charging is also an unpredictable electricity demand that utilities need to manage and plan for. Bidirectional charging changes that dynamic. Fermata Energy’s platform can also monitor building load data, helping to manage electricity usage better. The technology is referred to as vehicle-to-everything and includes V2G (vehicle-to-grid), V2B (vehicle-to-building), and V2H (vehicle-to-home) projects. Fermata Energy has V2X bidirectional programs working in several New England utilities, including Green Mountain Power, Eversource, and Rhode Island Energy. These programs have proven effective at offsetting surging customer demand by dispatching power from customer-owned batteries. About Fermata Energy Park it. Plug it. Profit. Fermata Energy’s proprietary vehicle-to-everything (V2X) bidirectional charging platform turns EVs into batteries on wheels, enabling EV fleet owners to earn money from their local utility. With managed bidirectional charging, utilities can add EVs as grid edge resources to increase resilience, easily add them to virtual power plants, and avoid building new peaker plants. V2X includes V2G (vehicle-to-grid), V2B (vehicle-to-building), and V2H (vehicle-to-home) installations. Fermata Energy is a technology-agnostic developer of AI-driven bidirectional charging platforms. Learn more at www.fermataenergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn. About Bellawatt Bellawatt is a software consultancy that specializes in assisting energy industry participants with researching, designing, and building their most innovative ideas. Visit bellawatt.com to learn more. About NHEC NHEC is a nonprofit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative providing energy and energy solutions to members in 86,000 homes and businesses in 118 New Hampshire communities. Visit www.nhec.com to learn more. Contact Details Fermata Energy Daniel Cherrin +1 313-300-0932 dcherrin@northcoaststrategies.com Company Website https://www.fermataenergy.com

March 28, 2023 08:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NAVEX 2023 Global Incident Management Benchmark Study Reveals Shifts in Workplace Culture and Reporting Trends

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, has released its 2023 Hotline & Incident Management Benchmark Report. The bellwether annual benchmark report provides valuable insight into the workplace culture of 52 million employees across 3,430 organizations, examining the trends of 1.52 million reports from across the globe. "We use NAVEX's annual benchmark report to help inform our risk management strategy," says FedEx Chief Compliance Officer Justin Ross. "As an industry leader, we do our best to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest incident reporting and risk management trends. The insight this report provides helps us do just that." “NAVEX has long been the gold standard for risk and compliance data analytics in the industry. This annual benchmark study is derived from the world’s largest incident reporting database by far,” says Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk and compliance officer. “Our expanded analytics in 2023 allowed for a deeper examination of the issues and behaviors that are most impactful to today’s workplaces. Chief among them is workplace civility, which is likely driven by increased societal tension generally.” This year’s analysis of the data revealed four key themes and several notable findings: Reporting at an all-time high, but reporters proceeded with more caution. This year’s analysis revealed the highest median level of Reports per 100 Employees (1.47) in the history of this report. Further, 21% of organizations received five or more Reports per 100 Employees, a positive finding. However, data also showed a return to higher levels of anonymous reporting (56%), indicating more reporter concern about providing their name. HR-related reports are still the majority, but more granular analysis reveals workplace stresses. The median organization had nearly 54% of its reports in the HR, Diversity & Workplace Respect category, up from 50% in 2021. Reviewing the reporting frequency across deeper issue types offers more insight into organizational stresses and behaviors – particularly an increase in workplace civility concerns involving abusive or disrespectful behavior. The data also shows the frequency of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and substance abuse reports in 2022 all increased. These metrics are important to watch as a measure of cultural health and potentially a measure of mental health risks. People want to talk live, but a written web-based report is more likely to be substantiated. While general communications modes move more to texting and instant messaging, this year's data shows an increase in telephonic helpline reports, from 31% in 2021 to 34% in 2022. Hybrid work models have made it easier for employees to make a telephone report from home and more challenging to report in person. However, more thoughtful written reports, submitted via the web, are more likely to be substantiated than phone reports. In 2022, the median Substantiation Rate for web reports was 39% compared to 33% for phone. Size matters – smaller organizations have higher reporting rates; mid-size companies are experiencing some challenges. The 2022 analysis reveals that smaller organizations with fewer than 2,500 employees registered the highest Reports per 100 Employees at 2.99. In contrast, the largest organizations, with over 100,000 employees, had a much lower rate of only 1.20 Reports per 100 Employees. Mid-sized companies with 2,500-49,999 employees had the lowest rate of all, with fewer than 1.0 Reports per 100 Employees. Organizations with 2,500 to 5,999 employees recorded the highest rate of anonymous reporting at 60%. "Data is at the heart of making smart decisions about risk management and spotting potential problems throughout the organization. This is particularly important for issues affecting workplace culture. NAVEX's integrated data platform provides industry-leading insights and a unique window into the performance of their risk and compliance program, which in turn helps them achieve the business outcomes that matter most," says A.G. Lambert, NAVEX chief product officer. Additional notable findings include: The frequency of bribery and corruption reports increased in 2022, as did product quality and safety reports. Conflicts of interest reporting dropped significantly but is still in the top five. Data privacy and protection also made the top five. While overall Substantiation Rates remained steady at 41%, the five issue types with the highest frequency of substantiation were: global trade (76%), imminent threat to a person or property (75%), environment (71%), Data privacy and protection (68%), misuse or misappropriation of assets (67%) and health and safety (65%). More than half of organizations have a median Case Closure Time under 30 days. The largest organizations had the shortest Case Closure Time. Notable, and perhaps concerning, is a median of 18% of cases were closed on the same day they were received. This finding indicates instances that may have been forwarded to a different department and resolved prior to complete resolution, implying that a case classified as "closed" for compliance does not necessarily denote closure for the organization. For more insights on the 2023 Incident Management Benchmark Report, join Justin Ross, FedEx chief compliance officer, 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. Register here or, read our blog, Don’t Miss Out – World’s Leading Hotline Webinar & Report Released March 28. 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 Scott Levesque +1 617-388-5773 scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://www.navex.com

March 28, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time