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TECHNATION Leading the Charge in Flipping Government Procurement Orthodoxy

Mississauga, ON, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TECHNATION, Canada’s leading technology industry association, today gathered industry leaders, government officials and small-medium technology enterprises (SMEs) to demonstrate how adopting more agile and accessible government procurement as the ‘new normal’ can result in cutting-edge innovation adoption and improved service delivery to Canadians, while fueling economic growth.

At the foundation is CANADA’S DIGITAL MARKETPLACE, powered by TECHNATION which delivers a platform for change around the future of industry-government collaboration and agile technology procurement. Supported by a growing alliance of nine National Partners, 16 Community Outreach Partners, and 338 registered technology companies from across the country, the Digital Marketplace is paving the way towards innovative technology adoption and digital government transformation across Canada.

“Ensuring technology innovators of all sizes and types can participate in the government procurement process across all levels of government is a key focus for TECHNATION, and another step towards truly digital government in Canada,” said Angela Mondou, president, TECHNATION. “The goal is improved service delivery to Canadians, a more competitive global economy, technology solutions that will drive innovation and creativity, and a greater ability to adapt to whatever the future holds.”

TECHNATION’s recently-announced collaborative agile procurement pilot with Shared Services Canada (SSC), leveraging the Digital Marketplace, provides significant benefits to both government and industry, including enabling greater outreach, improved access and participation with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the challenge-based procurement process. And a new initiative within the pilot, ‘SCALE UP’, will target minority-led / minority-owned tech firms in Canada.

 “With this new approach to procurement, there is a real opportunity to engage with SMEs early in this very complex ecosystem servicing the Government of Canada,” added Coreen Bouchard, founder, PureLogic IT Solutions.  “Thanks to the improved process, we anticipate a better use of SME’s limited resources to respond to government procurement opportunities along with the ability to engage in paid prototypes and the transparent evaluation grids that will better equip the SME community in showcasing innovation to the Government.”

The win-win end result for Canada is the alignment of economic opportunities that federal purchasing power represents with urgent needs of government for digital solutions to execute virtual shovel ready projects delivered by innovative technology firms, particularly SMEs, across our nation.

For more information about today’s speakers and panels, please visit https://technationcanada.ca/en/events/canadas-digital-marketplace-powered-by-technation/. 


About TECHNATION

TECHNATION is the industry-government nexus for technology prosperity in Canada. As a member-driven, not-for-profit, TECHNATION unites Canada’s technology sector, governments and communities to enable technology prosperity from coast to coast. TECHNATION champions technology prosperity by: providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities across industry and governments at all levels; connecting Canadian scale-ups with global tech leaders; engaging the global supply chain; and filling the technology talent pipeline. TECHNATION has served as the authoritative national voice of the $210 billion ICT industry for over 60 years.   More than 43,200 Canadian ICT firms create and supply goods and services that contribute to a more productive, competitive, and innovative society. The ICT sector generates more than 666,500 jobs and invests $7.5 billion annually in R&D, more than any other private sector performer. www.technationcanada.ca



Janet Gibson Eichner
TECHNATION Canada
416-357-8908
[email protected]

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Chubb Limited Board Declares Quarterly Dividend and Authorizes Share Repurchase Program

PR Newswire

ZURICH, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ –The Board of Directors of Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) today declared a quarterly dividend equal to $0.78 per share, payable on January 8, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 18, 2020.  The dividend will be payable out of legal reserves and will be made in United States dollars by the company’s transfer agent, as described in the Chubb Limited 2020 proxy statement. This will be the third installment as approved by the company’s shareholders on May 20, 2020.

The Board also announced authorization of a new share repurchase program of up to $1.5 billion through December 31, 2021. The company’s existing share repurchase authorization will remain effective through December 31, 2020 and, while effective, would be used before the share repurchase program authorized today. The timing and volume of any share repurchases under this authorization will be determined by management at its discretion and pursuant to the company’s capital management strategy. 

Share repurchases, which are subject to market conditions, other business considerations and applicable legal requirements, may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated repurchases and/or through option or other forward transactions.

About Chubb
Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 33,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding dividends or share repurchases and our expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, reflect the company’s current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, payment of scheduled dividends could be affected by extraordinary company events or capital constraints or similar factors that could require the company to adjust, delay or withhold dividend payments.  Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Chubb Limited

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MTV Entertainment Group Launches “Culture Code,” a Comprehensive DE&I Orientation for Its Entire Creative Community, Including Staff, Talent and Production Partners

MTV Entertainment Group Launches “Culture Code,” a Comprehensive DE&I Orientation for Its Entire Creative Community, Including Staff, Talent and Production Partners

The Museum of Tolerance, Color of Change, GLAAD, Anti-Defamation League, The Jed Foundation, MPAC, RAINN, RespectAbility and Storyline Partners inaugural partners to help develop the program

The employee-led initiative’s goal is to construct a communal set of values, understanding and baseline cultural norms to create a more inclusive and welcoming creative community

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group (formerly Entertainment & Youth) today announced “Culture Code,” a comprehensive DE&I immersion initiative that will offer best-in-class training through a multidisciplinary approach.

In collaboration with social justice partners – The Museum of Tolerance, Color of Change, Anti-Defamation League, The Jed Foundation, MPAC, RAINN, RespectAbility, Storyline Partners and GLAAD –this pioneering endeavorwill expand beyond employees to also include ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group projects, production companies and talent.

“We live in an increasingly divisive world and yet as storytellers, we believe in the power of content to give the gift of empathy and understanding,” said Chris McCarthy, President, ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group (formerly Entertainment and Youth). “We’re developing our Culture Code to nurture our creative community and outline a communal set of values, respect and mutual understanding that centers around the celebration of inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We are humbled to be doing it in partnership with an incredible set of organizations who have dedicated their own lives to changing the world for good.”

Partner quotes

Museum of Tolerance:

“Simon Wiesenthal Center and its Museum of Tolerance have long believed that storytelling is a powerful way to engage hearts and minds for positive change. As partners of ViacomCBS, we share in the vision and commitment that America needs to move away from a cancel culture to a counsel culture. We are honored to join as a Culture Code partner to collaborate with others in advancing cultural competency and social justice in the entertainment industry. The best way to defeat hatred is to go beyond stereotypes and put a human face on the ‘other,’ said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Global Social Action Director.

Color of Change:

“Color Of Change is proud to join ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group in its new initiative to provide the entertainment industry with a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and inclusive education,” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change.“It will take partnerships like this to transform the media landscape and create a more humane, less hostile world for Black people, in which they are empowered to create their art and thrive. The legacy of racism in Hollywood is long and unforgivable: excluding Black talent, silencing Black voices, derailing Black careers, and using the economic power of the industry to prop up police departments in the very real world. The work of Culture Code is an important step in challenging and eliminating racism within the industry and the content it produces.”

Anti-Defamation League:

“We are thrilled and grateful to join ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group in its launch of the Culture Code initiative,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL Chief Executive Officer and National Director. “The importance of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the workplace and with powerful companies like ViacomCBS will contribute to racial and social justice in media and society. We look forward to working together to make meaningful change.”

The Jed Foundation:

“The Jed Foundation has been working with MTV and ViacomCBS to expand the conversation around mental health for nearly 15 years, so we know firsthand the organization’s commitment to creating stories, campaigns and an internal environment where everyone feels seen, heard and understood,” said Courtney Knowles, The Jed Foundation. “We’re living in a time where taking care of our mental health, supporting each other and exploring the intersection of mental health and the other issues Culture Code addresses, is so important. We’re proud to join such an amazing group of partners for this work.”

MPAC HOLLYWOOD BUREAU:

“For decades, Muslims have been vilified by stories that were inaccurate, racist, and careless. Harmful, yet successful TV series and films were written about Muslim communities, many of which went unchecked by people of conscience. Our presence and voice in the writers’ room has been missing for the longest time,” said Sue Obeidi, Director, MPAC Hollywood Bureau. “ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group’s Culture Codeis a welcomed initiative that is being launched at the perfect time. America is on the cusp of a new era and so is the entertainment industry. Underrepresented communities have been eager to see their deep and rich stories told authentically, fairly, and in a nuanced manner, and Muslim communities are high on that list. MPAC Hollywood Bureau is proud and honored to be part of the Culture Code initiative where we can work in tandem in telling better stories about and by Muslims. Here’s to a new beginning.”

RESPECTABILITY:

“RespectAbility is honored to join ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group in support of the Culture Code initiative. By ensuring a comprehensive look at DE&I, the Culture Code initiative will ensure that diversity and equity-focused conversations are intersectional in nature,” said Lauren Appelbaum, Vice President, RespectAbility. “While one-in-five people in the U.S. has a disability, which includes nonvisible disabilities such as mental health and learning disabilities, most initiatives historically did not include disability. Disability cuts across every other demographic and in order to ensure full inclusion for all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and more, disability needs to be part of the conversation. We applaud ViacomCBS for recognizing the importance of this.”

STORYLINE PARTNERS:

“The current moment supports our calls to have media, content, and cultural production be anti-racist, intersectional, and ecologically considerate,” said Sanaz Alesafar, Program Director, Storyline Partners. We are thrilled to partner with ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group to ensure authentic representation and equitable practices to support their content and creative community.”

GLAAD:

“Our participation in Culture Code builds upon decades of partnership with ViacomCBS and brings an intersectional, best in class collection of organizations to collaborate with,” said Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s Chief Communications Officer and Executive Producer, GLAAD Media Awards. “So many of the most powerful early media images of LGBTQ people appeared on MTV and ViacomCBS’ brands. With Culture Code, the MTV Entertainment Group is once again raising the bar for how the industry should work with and include our community. The overdue conversations on diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality happening across the industry often leave out the key step of behind-the-scenes education. When content creators and staff truly understand diverse identities, it leads to more authentic stories and projects. This new initiative will no doubt lead to culture-changing media projects that entertain, inspire, and enrich audiences.”

The MTV Entertainment Group plans to pilot internal training by the end of 2020 with the larger rollout kicking off in early 2021.

Jo Flattery

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Entertainment Other Consumer Consumer TV and Radio General Entertainment Online Mobile Entertainment

MEDIA:

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NATE MORRIS FOCUS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY VIDEO SERIES

Morris Industries Founder and George Washington University Alumnus interviewed by Dean Anuj Mehrotra

Lexington, KY, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nate Morris, the Founder of Morris Industries, is the subject of a new George Talks Business video interview with Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the George Washington University School of Business.

The George Talks Business series is a series of interviews with notable alumni and respected thought leaders in the business, government and nonprofit arenas. Guests share insights on technology, leadership, global developments, ethics, and other relevant topics. The program features a host of leaders in their respective fields, with past guests including David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, and Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank.

Morris and Mehrotra spoke about business, entrepreneurship, how to raise capital, the trend of Environmental Social Governance (ESG), and more in the wide-ranging interview.

Morris is the founder of Morris Industries, a Lexington, Kentucky-based conglomerate that is reimagining the industrial economy. His passion to solve the environmental threats posed by global waste was pivotal in his founding of Rubicon, a software company focused on waste and recycling, and the signature asset of Morris Industries. A ninth-generation Kentuckian, Morris was born in Lexington and raised by a single mother with help from his grandmother and grandfather, an Army veteran and former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 862.

In the interview, Morris gives insight into the creation of Rubicon.

“Waste is a massive industry,” Morris said. “Even if we were just a little bit right we could have a tremendous impact on the environmental movement, and help reframe debate over the environment.”

Morris said Rubicon’s roots date back to 2008, amidst the economic turmoil of that year.

“Right after the crash of 2008, we got started when most people were running for cover,” he said. “That is the time to take big risks. We are living in a pandemic right now. Now is the time to be bold and take action, and I believe the market will reward that action. We need thought leaders to step up and get the economy moving again. Even in the worst of times, great things can happen.”

Morris is a George Washington University alumnus. “George Washington University was a magical experience for me as a student,” he said. “Getting to go to school in Washington, DC, was a dream come true for me.”

Morris also described how he and his wife Jane Mosbacher Morris founded the Morris Foundation, charitable organization that helps with issues of rural poverty, education for women and girls, and veterans’ issues.

“We have been so fortunate,” said Morris. “I would say that only in America can you make money with garbage.”

Due to COVID-19, George Talks is currently being produced virtually, and streamed digitally at: https://business.gwu.edu/george-talks-business



Jay Rosser
[email protected]
316-208-7982

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The First Responders Children’s Foundation Toy Express Will Deliver Free Toys & Masks to First Responder Families and First Responder Agencies in Pennsylvania

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today is the official launch of the First Responders Children’s Foundation Toy Express launched in Pennsylvania. This national program will help spread joy to children across the country during the 2020 holiday season.

First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will deliver more than 250,000 free toys and masks to first responder agencies and hospitals which will then distribute the holiday cheer to children of first responders and to children in first responder communities. Every child will also receive a mask with their toy. Regional toy distribution events will take place in locations across Pennsylvania including Connellsville, Gettysburg, Littlestown, Yeadon, Trainer and Marcus Hook. More information on the dates and locations of the distribution events will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re saying happy holidays and thank you to the heroic first responders who show up when we dial 911,” said Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children’s Foundation. “Toy Express will help make a happy holiday for the children of our first responders which include nurses, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, medical personnel, and 911 dispatchers. Our first responders are on the frontlines of the pandemic, and they continue to risk their own health every day in selfless service to their local communities across the country. So, please help us help them. You can send toys & masks at 1stRCF.org or by texting TOY to 24-365.”

First Responders Children’s Foundation established the Toy Express with a generous toy donation worth more than $1,000,000 in retail value from Mattel and American Girl
including 5,000 signature 18” American Girl dolls and more than 45,000 in other Mattel products such as Hot Wheels®, Barbie® and Mega Bloks®. Additional sponsors include CSX, Good360, Hess Toy Truck, Jakks Pacific, MaskUSA.com, and Toys for Tots. In addition, generous individuals across the nation are helping bring holiday cheer to first responder families by making donations of toys and money. Transportation of toys and masks across the country is coordinated and provided by Total Quality Logistics (TQL) and their Moves that Matter program.

First Responders Children’s Foundation began in the wake of 9/11 when Founder and Chairman, Alfred R. Kahn, hosted the first annual Thanksgiving Day Parade Breakfast just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. That year, more than 800 children and family members of first responders lost in the line of duty were invited to watch the Thanksgiving

Day Parade from private, front-row viewing which began an annual tradition of welcoming devastated first responder families into a supportive environment to face the challenges of the start of a holiday season without a loved one. 19 years later, the Foundation continues to support the families of first responders across the country with critical assistance including college scholarships and financial grants including paying for funeral bills of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. During the 2020 pandemic, the Foundation has assisted more than 677,638 first responders through its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. This holiday season, First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will help provide cheer and happiness to children and families of first responders. Media assets for Toy Express can be found at https://1strcf.org/toy-express/.

Media Contact:

FRCF
Joanna Black
+1 (646) 912-2681
[email protected]

About First Responders Children’s Foundation

For almost 20 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has been providing college scholarships to the children of first responder parents who have been injured or lost in the line of duty. The Foundation also awards grants to families enduring significant financial hardship and supports educational activities and programs created by first responder organizations to benefit children or the communities in which they live. The First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was established in March, 2020 to provide financial hardship grants, PPE, and hotel accommodations to first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. The Foundation also pays for funerals of first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice. More information about First Responders Children’s Foundation is available at www.1stRCF.org. Follow First Responders Children’s Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1stRCF.



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Las Vegas Sands Announces Community Investment in Local Diversity Organizations

Nevada Partners, 100 Black Men of Las Vegas and other nonprofits receive Sands Cares funding to help remove systemic barriers through education, mentoring and social justice initiatives

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) today announced a $400,000 investment in community organizations working to empower minority and ethnically diverse groups through Sands Cares, the company’s community engagement and charitable giving program. Through these partnerships, Sands is focused on helping the community address systemic racism and remove inherent barriers to advancement and opportunity.  

The Sands Cares diversity community engagement strategy involves two priorities: education and mentorship to support youth and workforce empowerment, and advancing social justice through advocacy and awareness. Organizations receiving funding in these areas include Nevada Partners, 100 Black Men Las Vegas, the Urban Chamber of Commerce Las Vegas, Hope for Prisoners, Mastering Mindsets Las Vegas, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Urban League.

“Since the race-related events of 2020 sparked a deeper and more passionate conversation about the impact of systemic racism in our society, we’ve taken a hard look at how our company can more impactfully address race issues and be a catalyst for positive change,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs at Las Vegas Sands. “We’ve taken measured steps to listen to the needs and viewpoints of our Team Members and met with key leaders of organizations that empower diverse groups to better understand how we can help advance their initiatives and provide solutions.”

As part of the Sands Cares diversity community engagement strategy, Sands is providing Nevada Partners with $250,000 in funding, one of the organization’s largest corporate donations to date, to address education and youth development in the West Las Vegas Promise Neighborhood. Funds will support literacy programs, a variety of youth camps and mentoring programs, and the soon-to-be-launched Youth Empowerment Center, which will offer opportunities in technology and the arts to advance youth education.

According to Nevada Partners, families living in West Las Vegas are predominantly people of color, encounter more social and behavioral problems, have lower test scores, and are more likely to drop out of school and experience high crime rates, unemployment, hunger and limited access to affordable housing. Investments in education and youth development are the center of the organization’s work and its greatest opportunity to affect change.

“This year has marked a moment in time when people are choosing to show greater support for these long-standing and sometimes ignored issues,” said Kenadie Cobbin-Richardson, executive director of Nevada Partners. “We are grateful to Las Vegas Sands for its truly authentic commitment to moving the needle through this work. It is really powerful when the people behind the investments care, and that’s what we get from Sands.”

As part of the diversity community engagement strategy, Sands Cares also is contributing $100,000 to 100 Black Men Las Vegas to support its CrossRoads Mentoring and Life Skills program, Pathways to Public Service program, KCEP Teen Talk public radio talk show and the COVID-19 Community PPE program, which provides masks, gloves and sanitizer to community members. In addition, Sands and 100 Black Men of Las Vegas will be exploring future collaborative opportunities such as internships and mentoring. 

“The Sands Cares donation will have exponential impact on these programs; for instance, we can more than double the number of youth mentored and expand our reach to different age groups through the CrossRoads program,” said Gentry Richardson, president and chief executive of 100 Black Men Las Vegas. “We have previously worked with Sands on our scholarship program and other projects, but this new award is one of the most significant we’ve received from a Las Vegas organization.”

Rounding out the Sands Cares’ diversity community engagement strategy, Sands also has made a series of contributions to the other designated local organizations, which will further drive its commitment to removing barriers experienced by minority and ethnic communities through education, mentorship and social justice initiatives.

About Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS)
Las Vegas Sands is the world’s pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We deliver unrivaled economic benefits to the communities in which we operate.  

LVS created the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses.

Our properties include The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

Sands is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. We deliver a great working environment for our team members worldwide, drive social impact through the Sands Cares charitable giving and community engagement program and lead in environmental performance through the award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

Contact:

Kristin Koca

Las Vegas Sands
[email protected]
702-414-3218

 

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SOURCE Las Vegas Sands Corp.

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The First Responders Children’s Foundation Toy Express Will Deliver Free Toys & Masks to First Responder Families and First Responder Agencies in Illinois

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today is the official launch of the First Responders Children’s Foundation Toy Express launched in Illinois. This national program will help spread joy to children across the country during the 2020 holiday season.

First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will deliver more than 250,000 free toys and masks to first responder agencies and hospitals which will then distribute the holiday cheer to children of first responders and to children in first responder communities. Every child will also receive a mask with their toy. Regional toy distribution events will take place in Chicago and neighboring cities and towns. More information on the dates and locations of the distribution events will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re saying happy holidays and thank you to the heroic first responders who show up when we dial 911,” said Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children’s Foundation. “Toy Express will help make a happy holiday for the children of our first responders which include nurses, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, medical personnel, and 911 dispatchers. Our first responders are on the frontlines of the pandemic, and they continue to risk their own health every day in selfless service to their local communities across the country. So, please help us help them. You can send toys & masks at 1stRCF.org or by texting TOY to 24-365.”

First Responders Children’s Foundation established the Toy Express with a generous toy donation worth more than $1,000,000 in retail value from Mattel and American Girl including 5,000 signature 18” American Girl dolls and more than 45,000 in other Mattel products such as Hot Wheels®, Barbie® and Mega Bloks®. Additional sponsors include CSX, Good360, Hess Toy Truck, Jakks Pacific, MaskUSA.com, and Toys for Tots. In addition, generous individuals across the nation are helping bring holiday cheer to first responder families by making donations of toys and money. Transportation of toys and masks across the country is coordinated and provided by Total Quality Logistics (TQL) and their Moves that Matter program.

First Responders Children’s Foundation began in the wake of 9/11 when Founder and Chairman, Alfred R. Kahn, hosted the first annual Thanksgiving Day Parade Breakfast just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. That year, more than 800 children and family members of first responders lost in the line of duty were invited to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade from private, front-row viewing which began an annual tradition of welcoming devastated first responder families into a supportive environment to face the challenges of the start of a holiday season without a loved one. 19 years later, the Foundation continues to support the families of first responders across the country with critical assistance including college scholarships and financial grants including paying for funeral bills of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. During the 2020 pandemic, the Foundation has assisted more than 677,638 first responders through its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. This holiday season, First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will help provide cheer and happiness to children and families of first responders. Media assets for Toy Express can be found at https://1strcf.org/toy-express/.

Media Contact:

FRCF
Joanna Black
+1 (646) 912-2681
[email protected]

About First Responders Children’s Foundation

For almost 20 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has been providing college scholarships to the children of first responder parents who have been injured or lost in the line of duty. The Foundation also awards grants to families enduring significant financial hardship and supports educational activities and programs created by first responder organizations to benefit children or the communities in which they live. The First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was established in March, 2020 to provide financial hardship grants, PPE, and hotel accommodations to first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. The Foundation also pays for funerals of first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice. More information about First Responders Children’s Foundation is available at www.1stRCF.org. Follow First Responders Children’s Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1stRCF.



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RETA INVESTOR DEADLINE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Investors of the Deadline to File a Lead Plaintiff Motion in a Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc.

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the lead plaintiff deadline in a securities class action that has been filed on behalf of investors that purchased or acquired the securities of Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Reata” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: RETA) between October 15, 2019 and August 7, 2020 (the “Class Period”). The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you purchasedReatasecurities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Reata Shareholder Lawsuit or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operations and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (i) the MOXIe Part 2 study results were insufficient to support a single study marketing approval of omaveloxolone for the treatment of FA in the U.S. without additional evidence; (ii) as a result, it was foreseeable that the FDA would not accept marketing approval of omaveloxolone for the treatment of FA in the U.S. based on the MOXIe Part 2 study results; and (iii) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On August 10, 2020, during pre-market hours, Reata issued a press release announcing its second quarter 2020 financial results, wherein it disclosed that the FDA is “not convinced that the MOXIe part 2 results” of the Company’s study assessing omaveloxolone for the treatment of FA “will support a single study approval without additional evidence that lends persuasiveness to the results,” and that, “in preliminary comments for [a] meeting, the FDA stated that [Defendants] will need to conduct a second pivotal trial that confirms the mFARS results of the MOXIe part 2 study with a similar magnitude of effect.”

On this news, Reata’s stock price fell $51.79 per share, or 33.16% to close at $104.41 per share on August 10, 2020.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 14, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

If you purchased Reata securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/reatapharmaceuticalsinc-reta-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-stock-fraud-326/apply/ or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.

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Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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[email protected]



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AM Best Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status for Credit Ratings of Watford Re Ltd. and Its Subsidiaries

AM Best Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status for Credit Ratings of Watford Re Ltd. and Its Subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has maintained the under review with negative implications status for the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of Watford Re Ltd. (Watford Re) (Bermuda) and its subsidiaries, Watford Insurance Company Europe Limited (WICE) (Gibraltar), Watford Insurance Company (WIC) (New Jersey) and Watford Specialty Insurance Company (WSIC) (New Jersey). In addition, AM Best has maintained the under review with negative implications status for the Long-Term ICR of “bbb-” and the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of “bb” on the $225 million ($52 million outstanding) 8.5% cumulative preference shares of Watford Holdings Ltd. (Watford) (Bermuda) [NASDAQ: WTRE], the group’s ultimate holding company.

This Credit Rating (rating) action considers the recent announcement that Arch Capital Group Ltd. (Arch) [NASDAQ: ACGL] has revised its merger agreement with Watford to an all-cash offer of $35 per share. The revised offer is valued at approximately $700 million and represents a premium of approximately 96% to Watford’s unaffected closing common share price on Sept. 8, 2020, the last trading day prior to media reports about the possibility of a transaction between Watford and Arch. The rating action also considers Watford’s progress to date in limiting the group’s exposure to investment volatility through de-risking its investment portfolio, which incurred sizable losses during the first quarter of 2020.

AM Best acknowledges that the proposed transaction with Arch could benefit the Watford group through potential further de-risking of its investment portfolio, removing the burden of public company status, and possible rating enhancement stemming from being a member of a very large, well-diversified group. However, AM Best has maintained the under review with negative implications status given Watford’s significant, albeit somewhat improved, exposure to investment losses stemming mostly from its non-investment grade bond portfolio, which is subject to significant unrealized losses if credit spreads widen.

In the first quarter of 2020, the Watford group incurred investment losses of about $300 million due to investment market volatility following the COVID-19 pandemic related economic shutdowns mandated by governments around the world. This loss materially impacted the group’s risk adjusted capital position and operating performance. Following that first quarter investment loss, Watford continues to take steps to lower the risk profile on its investment portfolio. However, the investment portfolio’s exposure to unrealized losses may still have a substantial impact on Watford’s financial performance, the probability of which is uncertain due to the pandemic and the impact that resulting economic shut-downs may have on credit spreads. Through the third quarter of 2020, the group’s year-to-date investment income has improved to approximately $29 million.

AM Best will reassess the under review implications status as the group continues to de-risk. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021 and remains subject to customary conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approval. Arch expects to assign its interests and obligations under the merger agreement to a newly formed entity under which Arch will own approximately a 40% stake, with funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC and Kelso & Company each owning approximately 30%.

The under review status is expected to be resolved when the transaction closes and AM Best has met with management and analyzed the group’s business plans, including an analysis of future investment risk, financial projections and operating structure within the Arch group. AM Best will continue to evaluate Watford’s balance sheet strength, operating performance and enterprise risk management to assess that it stays in line with projected amounts.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media – Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Darian Ryan, CPA

Senior Financial Analyst

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5449

[email protected]

Steven M. Chirico, CPA

Director

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5087

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

Jim Peavy

Director, Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Europe

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services Insurance Finance

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Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Appoints Wendy Yarno to Board of Directors

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: TARS), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover and deliver breakthrough treatments to transform the lives of patients with common and poorly treated diseases, starting with the eye, today announced the appointment of Wendy L. Yarno to its Board of Directors and its audit committee. Ms. Yarno has more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, as a public company director and product commercialization leader, including 26 years at Merck & Co. Inc.

While at Merck, Ms. Yarno held positions of increasing seniority, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer. In that position, she led a global organization charged with all aspects of commercialization of pharmaceuticals in more than 20 therapeutic areas. She also served as General Manager, Cardiovascular/Metabolic U.S. Business Unit, and as Merck’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Earlier in her career, she was Vice President of the Women’s Health Care franchise for Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical subsidiary.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Wendy to our board,” said Bobak Azamian, MD, PhD, CEO, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “As an experienced commercial leader with a proven record of success in biopharmaceuticals, Wendy brings the combination of business insights, board management, and people skills our organization requires to grow and thrive as we move closer to potential commercialization of our lead product, TP-03, for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis and advance our earlier stage pipeline.”

Ms. Yarno has served on the boards of several public and private biotechnology and medical device companies, including St. Jude Medical, Medivation, Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Aratana Therapeutics, and Myokardia. She currently serves on the boards of Global Blood Therapeutics, Ideaya Biosciences, and Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Yarno received a B.S. in business administration from Portland State University and an M.B.A. from Temple University, Fox School of Business.

“I am honored to join the Tarsus Board of Directors at this exciting moment in the company’s trajectory,” said Wendy Yarno. “Tarsus is committed to serving unmet clinical needs and providing transformational therapies across diverse categories, and I look forward to helping the company develop a robust commercial infrastructure as impactful as the therapies we are developing.”

About Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover and deliver breakthrough treatments to transform the lives of patients with common and poorly treated diseases, starting with the eye. It is advancing its pipeline to address several diseases across therapeutic categories including eye care, dermatology, and other diseases with high, unmet needs. Its lead product candidate, TP-03, is a novel therapeutic in Phase 2b/3 that is being developed for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements include statements regarding future events and Tarsus’ plans for and the anticipated benefits of its product candidates, the timing, objectives and results of the clinical studies and anticipated regulatory and development milestones. The words, without limitation, “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these or similar identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, and are detailed from time to time in the reports Tarsus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are posted on its website and are available from Tarsus without charge. However, new risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the current expectations of Tarsus’ management team and speak only as of the date hereof, and Tarsus specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:

Allison Howell
Pascale Communications, LLC
[email protected]