Applied Energetics Announces Repayment of Debt and Conversion of Promissory Notes Outstanding Into Common Stock

Tucson, AZ, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — viaNewMediaWire — Applied Energetics, Inc. (OTCQB: AERG),today announced that effective November 5, 2020, the company and the holders agreed to convert all outstanding principal and interest outstanding on its 2020 10% Promissory Notes into shares of the company’s common stock. The notes were converted at a price per share of $0.30, resulting in the issuance to the noteholders of 18,386,174 shares in the aggregate.  All of these converting noteholders are accredited, sophisticated investors, and neither the issuance of the notes nor their conversion were in connection with any public offering, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.

Additionally, as of November 5, 2020, the company repaid all principal of $390,000, plus interest thereon, remaining outstanding on its 10% Promissory Notes from 2019.  With the repayment of these notes, coupled with the conversion of its 10% Promissory Notes, the company has now repaid or converted all of its outstanding investor debt.In addition, with the conversion of notes into the 18,386,174 shares, and the recent return or retirement of 46 million shares, the company now has approximately 191 million shares outstanding.

Gregory J. Quarles, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Applied Energetics, commented, “We are pleased that all the Promissory Note holders have converted their holdings of Promissory Notes into common stock. This demonstrates strong support from the Company’s shareholders, improves and simplifies our balance sheet, and removes a significant interest burden from the Company.We intend to leverage this improved financial flexibility toward meeting our strategic growth objectives in the markets we serve.”


ABOUT APPLIED ENERGETICS INC.

Applied Energetics, Inc., “AE” based in Tucson, Arizona, specializes in development and manufacture of advanced high-performance lasers, high voltage electronics, advanced optical systems, and integrated guided energy systems for defense, aerospace, industrial, and scientific customers worldwide. Applied Energetics pioneered and holds all crucial intellectual property rights to the development and use of Laser Guided Energy (LGETM) technology and related solutions for commercial, defense and security applications, and are protected by 26 patents and 11 additional Government Sensitive Patent Applications “GSPA”. The company’s 11 GSPA’s are held under secrecy orders of the US government and allow AE greatly extended protection rights. 
For more information, visit www.aergs.com


FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to the historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “believe”, “will”, “expect”, “project”, “anticipate”, “estimates”, “plans”, “strategy”, “target”, “prospects” or “continue”, and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition and may cause our actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements. 


For more information contact:


Cameron Associates, Inc.
Investor Relations – Kevin McGrath, Managing Director
T: 212-245-4577
[email protected]

AssetMark Survey: Nearly Half of Americans Stung by Pandemic Now Want to Learn More about Investing

Not Knowing “Where to Start” Higher Than Distrust of Markets on List of Investing Deterrents

CONCORD, Calif., Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AssetMark (NYSE: AMK) today announced the results of its first American Financial Experience Survey, designed to gauge the attitudes and opinions of American consumers about various factors that affect their financial picture. In its first installment, AssetMark discovered that while the pandemic has made 46% of Americans interested in learning more about investing, 87% of them already invest on some level.

How Has the Pandemic Impacted Attitudes toward Investing?

While the pandemic and its toll on jobs and the economy have prompted a third of Americans to feel more nervous about investing, 38% of non-investors still believe they’ll one day have the money to support a continued desire to become investors. A third of those surveyed even plan to focus on jobs/careers that can put them in a better financial position. 85% of all Americans say the pandemic has made them more committed to spending less and saving more.

How Willing are Americans to Meet with Financial Advisors?

Among non-investors:

  • 32% would meet with an advisor to discuss their investment potential
  • 20% wouldn’t, because they believe their financial position would preclude the advisor from taking a meeting

Among investors without advisors:

  • 42% are willing to meet with one
  • 10% wouldn’t, because they believe their financial position would preclude the advisor from taking a meeting

Since the start of the pandemic, 62% of the investors with advisors report a change in how they view the performance of their advisor(s):

  • 28% feel more positive about their advisor
  • 26% are now questioning who they’re with
  • 8% are now unhappy with their advisor
  • 38% do not report a change

“Not Knowing Where to Start” Second to Financial Position in Investing Deterrents

While 67% of non-investors say their financial situation prevents them from investing, 46% report it’s also a matter of not knowing where to start. Only 19% report mistrust of the markets being among their reasons not to invest.

“It’s a testament to American resilience to find such a large percentage of people wanting to learn more about investing, so they can make the informed decisions that can improve their financial picture,” said AssetMark CEO Charles Goldman. “It behooves the wealth management industry to do everything it can to educate the American public about investing and the great value financial advisors provide. Even people who don’t think they have much investing power can learn how to improve their financial outlook through sound money management and goal setting.”

2,100 U.S.-based residents 18 years-old and over participated in AssetMark’s American Financial Experience Survey, conducted online August 23-24, 2020.

About AssetMark Financial Holdings, Inc.

AssetMark is a leading provider of extensive wealth management and technology solutions that help financial advisors meet the ever-changing needs of their clients and businesses. Through AssetMark, Inc., its investment adviser subsidiary registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, AssetMark operates a platform that brings together fully integrated technology, personalized and scalable service, and curated investment solutions to support financial advisors and their businesses. For more than 20 years, AssetMark has focused on offering the solutions and services that help financial advisors grow. AssetMark had $67.3 billion in platform assets as of September 30, 2020. For more information visit assetmark.com.

SOURCE: AssetMark, Inc.

Contact:

Chris Blake
MSR Communications for AssetMark, Inc.
[email protected]

SendtoNews Adds Future plc Content to Industry-Leading Online Video Platform

SendtoNews will allow Future plc to extend their reach across over 1800 digital publishers and over 45 million unique viewers

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SendtoNews (STN), North America’s largest independent Online Video Platform, has announced it has entered an agreement to add Future plc’s digital video content from their leading brands, including TechRadar, GamesRadar, Space.com, and Tom’s Guide.

Future plc is a global multi-platform media company with successful brands in specialist consumer and B2B sectors, including technology, gaming & entertainment, music, creative & photography, home interest, education, and television. Future will leverage the SendtoNews online video platform to add to their existing audience of over 260+ million worldwide viewers passionate about their expert content.

“This agreement with SendtoNews extends the reach of our most popular video content to entirely new audiences,” says Claire MacLellan, Chief Operating Officer, Future plc. “By teaming with STN, we’re excited to bring an even more powerful experience to our audience, and in turn, grow our brand through contextually relevant editorial placements on their platform.”

Future plc is the latest content partner to join STN’s platform of over 200 providers, including MLB, NBA, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Conde Nast, Rolling Stone, Variety, and more. STN delivers this content to over 1800 digital publishers across North America, helping content providers extend audiences for their video content beyond their owned and operated properties.

“Helping our content partners reach new and unique audiences has always been a strategic offering of SendtoNews,” says Biagio DeCesare, Director of Content Operations, SendtoNews. “Future’s content delivers amazing quality for our publishing partners, and we are excited to help them extend their brand across our platform. We are confident both our publishers and their audiences will enjoy this quality video content.”

The SendtoNews online video platform helps content providers get their brand in front of a +90% unique and incremental audience by delivering their video in contextually relevant editorial environments. SendtoNews Smart Match AI-powered video player intelligently matches editorial content with the most relevant video in the STN library and instantly produces it upon publishing the article. This allows publishers to get video into their articles seamlessly and intuitively while providing more opportunities for brand extension to content providers.

For additional information on SendtoNews, visit https://www.sendtonews.com/ or follow them on Twitter @sendtonews or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/sendtonews/

About SendtoNews

SendtoNews’ award-winning online video platform solves digital video for publishers, content creators, and advertisers.

SendtoNews (STN) supplies digital publishers with premium content, advanced player technology, and reliable revenue. With a library of over 1 million videos and up to 5000 new videos every day, the SendtoNews online video platform serves over 1800 publishers and hundreds of premium content providers at zero cost. SendtoNews’ partners include publishers like the NY Post, NY Daily News, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, and premium content providers like MLB, NBA, Bloomberg, AP, Rolling Stone. Using the SendtoNews online video platform, publishers easily serve official video to keep readers engaged and on-site longer.

The combination of official, premium content, and top publishers provides a brand-safe environment for advertisers and connects content providers with a broader incremental audience. SendtoNews’ advanced technology sets it apart, offering the best contextually relevant content via Smart Match, an AI-powered video player. Smart Match matches articles with content from an extensive library of over 1 million videos, allowing publishers to embed relevant videos on every page automatically in seconds.

The SendtoNews online video platform improves user experience, publisher workflow, and both its partners’ top and bottom lines. SendtoNews shares the revenue we generate with publishing partners and content creators while also accommodating their own advertising sales.

Register HERE for the SendtoNews Digital Video Leadership Series and hear panelists from the NFL, Condé Nast, SpotX, Oracle, Digiday, and more help digital publishers increase user engagement and revenue for 2021.                                             

About Future

Future is a global platform business for specialist media with diversified revenue streams. Its content reaches 1 in 3 adults in both the UK and the US.

The Media division is high-growth with three complementary revenue streams: eCommerce, events, and digital advertising, including advertising within newsletters. It operates in a number of sectors including technology, games & entertainment, music, home & gardens, sports, TV & film, real life, women’s lifestyle, and B2B, and its brands include TechRadar, PC Gamer, Tom’s Guide, Android Central, Truly, Digital Camera World, Homebuilding & Renovating Show, GamesRadar+, The Photography Show, Top Ten Reviews, Marie Claire, Live Science, Guitar World, MusicRadar, Space.com, What to Watch, Gardening Etc, Advnture, and Tom’s Hardware.

The Magazine division focuses on publishing specialist content, with a combined global circulation of over 3 million delivered through more than 130 publications. The portfolio spans technology, games & entertainment, sports, music, photography & design, homes & garden, country lifestyle, TV & film, and B2B. Its titles include Country Life, Wallpaper*, Woman & Home, Classic Rock, Decanter, Guitar Player, FourFourTwo, Homebuilding & Renovating, Digital Camera, Guitarist, How It Works, Total Film, What Hi-Fi? and Music Week.

For more information, visit https://www.futureplc.com/.
Licensing Contact
Georgina Flores-Laird
[email protected]

Contact:
Ron Favali
Conversion Marketing
[email protected]
727-512-4490

Liquid Media Expands Slipstream Distribution Potential Built Upon The Unity Platform

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liquid Media Group Ltd. (the “Company”, “Liquid Media” or “Liquid”) (Nasdaq: YVR) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Slipstream action-adventure sports content using the Unity real-time development platform. Unity allows independent filmmakers through Slipstream to attain widespread distribution across more than 20 popular global platforms such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, leading AR and VR platforms and Smart TVs. Slipstream’s new platform, allowing global distribution with access to major media devices, is transformative for the Company.

In the past, filmmakers were frustrated and constrained by their inability get distribution and to monetize their work. Slipstream allows moviemakers to cut out third parties who previously were necessary to acquire and access distribution platforms. With Slipstream filmmakers submit films themselves and keep 70% of rental revenues, much more than previously paid. Filmmakers get easier and faster distribution and a larger cut of rental income than traditional existing distribution channels.

Building on the golden age of streaming content, Liquid has commenced native application development for Slipstream through Unity to enable integration to third-party consoles and devices, with Polycade as the first gaming console to be deployed. Enabling video-on-demand, games, subscription and 360 degree Virtual Reality experiences on a variety of platforms further expands Liquid’s philosophy to be a digital studio for all platforms. Unity Technologies is recognised as an industry leader for cross-platform content distribution.

“Unity’s platform gives Liquid access to the most popular content platforms TV, Phones, Game consoles and computers and is a crucial next step for Liquid. We believe it will increase Liquid’s film distribution profile and provide more functionality for our content and apps.” said Daniel Cruz, CFO & Co-founder of Liquid Media. “Our goal is to help filmmakers to gain control of how their movies are distributed and monetized.”


Slipstream


The Netflix for adventure outdoor films. The site includes hundreds of action sports films with categories such as surfing, snow sports, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, running, environmental documentaries and festival winners.


Reelhouse


Reelhouse is an online video community that provides filmmakers complete control to self-distribute content directly to their viewers. Filmmakers access the latest monetization, social, and showcasing features, which in turn engage viewers in what Reelhouse is setting as the new standard for online viewing experiences.


Polycade


In partnership with Tyler Bushnell’s Polycade, the connected arcade platform invented by the son of Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, which enables retro-enthusiasts to play classic games in the 21st century. Polycade is the only arcade machine that’s been designed for classic and modern games, giving you the ability to play everything from the best new indies, retro classics, or the most graphics-intensive modern fighters.

More information on Unity: https://www.unity.com

Liquid first used the Unity development platform in 2019 for a virtual reality (VR) game in association with YDX Innovations, which was built from the ground up on Unity and validated the platform for the Company’s use. Liquid continues to explore and evaluate its games for further relaunches on the Unity platform.

About Liquid Media Group Ltd.

Liquid Media Group Ltd. (Nasdaq: YVR) is an entertainment company with a strong portfolio of content intellectual property (IP) spanning creative industries. Liquid Media vison is lead by Chairman Joshua Jackson (actor / producer, television and film), and his experienced team. Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director Daniel Cruz (previously of Canaccord Financial), President Charlie Brezer (serial entrepreneur), Director Stephen Jackson (Northland Properties), and Director Nancy Basi (veteran Media + Entertainment expert), each bringing decades of industry expertise and significant passion to advance the Company’s mission.

Additional information is available at www.LiquidMediaGroup.co.

Further information:

Daniel Cruz
Liquid Media Group Ltd.
+1 (416) 489-0092
[email protected]

Media requests:

Adam Bello
Media & Analyst Relations Manager
Primoris Group Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092 x 226
[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes statements containing certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities law (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “potentially” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory actions, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

QuoteMedia Announces Accelerated Revenue Growth for Q3 2020

PHOENIX, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuoteMedia, Inc. (OTCQB: QMCI), a leading provider of market data and financial applications, announced financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

QuoteMedia provides banks, brokerage firms, exchanges, financial portals, private equity firms, financial planners, professional traders and sophisticated investors with economical, high quality stock market data, news, analytics and research information. QuoteMedia provides streaming data feeds, on-demand request-based data (XML/JSON), web content solutions (preformatted content for website integration) and terminal-style applications such as Quotestream Professional desktop and mobile.

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $3,140,358 versus $2,963,172 in the comparative 2019 quarter, resulting in a 6% increase.

“We are pleased with our results for this quarter,” said Robert J. Thompson, Chairman of the Board of QuoteMedia, Inc. “We experienced healthy revenue growth despite the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  We have even been able to take advantage of new opportunities arising from the current economic downturn, as the added pressure on financial sector firms to find more efficient and cost effective solutions to their data and technology needs is leading them to explore QuoteMedia’s offerings.” 

“As a result of increased expenses related to our recent expansion activities, we experienced a net loss of $75,305 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to net income of $155,928 in the comparative 2019 quarter. Our adjusted EBITDA1 was $271,091 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 versus $540,924 in the comparative 2019 quarter.  The company has undertaken major growth initiatives in 2020 investing in technological and infrastructure advancement, new product development, data collection and aggregation initiatives, and the expansion of our global market coverage. We have also invested in new marketing campaigns and increased staffing. These strategic investments are already producing results. Based on clients currently under contract, including new contracts signed subsequent to September 30, 2020, we expect double digit revenue growth and increasing profitability in the upcoming quarters.”

QuoteMedia will host a conference call today at 2pm Eastern time to discuss the Q3 2020 financial results and provide a business update. 

Date: November 12, 2020

Time: 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Dial-in numbers: 877‑876‑9173, 785‑424‑1667

Conference ID: QUOTEMEDIA

An audio rebroadcast of the call will be available later at: www.quotemedia.com

About QuoteMedia

QuoteMedia is a leading software developer and cloud-based syndicator of financial market information and streaming financial data solutions to media, corporations, online brokerages, and financial services companies. The Company licenses interactive stock research tools such as streaming real-time quotes, market research, news, charting, option chains, filings, corporate financials, insider reports, market indices, portfolio management systems, and data feeds. QuoteMedia provides data and services for companies such as the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, TMX Group (TSX Stock Exchange), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), London Stock Exchange Group, FIS, U.S. Bank, Broadridge Financial Systems, Ridge Clearing, JPMorgan Chase, CI Financial, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Hilltop Securities, HD Vest, Stockhouse, Zacks Investment Research, General Electric, Boeing, Bombardier, Business Wire, PR Newswire,  FolioFN, Regal Securities, ChoiceTrade, Cetera Financial Group, Dynamic Trend, Inc., Qtrade Financial, CNW Group, Industrial Alliance, Ally Invest, Inc., Suncor, Virtual Brokers, Equities.com, Leede Jones Gable, Firstrade Securities, Charles Schwab, First Financial, Cirano, Equisolve, Stock-Trak, Mergent, Cision, Warrior Trading and others. Quotestream®, QModTM and Quotestream ConnectTM are trademarks of QuoteMedia. For more information, please visit www.quotemedia.com.

QuoteMedia Investor Relations

Brendan Hopkins
Email: [email protected]
Call: (407) 645-5295

Note 1 on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, as a non-GAAP pro forma financial measure, provides meaningful information to investors in terms of enhancing their understanding of our operating performance and results, as it allows investors to more easily compare our financial performance on a consistent basis compared to the prior year periods. This non-GAAP financial measure also corresponds with the way we expect investment analysts to evaluate and compare our results. Any non-GAAP pro forma financial measures should be considered only as supplements to, and not as substitutes for or in isolation from, or superior to, our other measures of financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as net income attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc.

We define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc., plus: 1) depreciation and amortization, 2) stock compensation expense, 3) interest expense, 4) foreign exchange loss (or minus a foreign exchange gain), and 5) income tax expense. We disclose Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it is a useful metric by which to compare the performance of our business from period to period. We understand that measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA are broadly used by analysts, rating agencies, investors and financial institutions in assessing our performance. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors. The table below provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to QuoteMedia, Inc., the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

QuoteMedia, Inc. Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation to Net Income (Loss):

  Three months ended
September 30,
    2020       2019
           
Net income (loss) $ (75,305 )   $ 155,928
Depreciation and amortization   343,935       279,230
Stock-based compensation   6,939       103,116
Interest expense   701       1,349
Foreign exchange loss (gain)   (5,930 )     543
Income tax expense   751       758
Adjusted EBITDA $ 271,091     $ 540,924

Tecogen Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

Continued Improvement in Margin and OPEX

WALTHAM, MA, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NewMediaWire –Tecogen Inc. (OTCQX: TGEN), a leading manufacturer of clean energy products, reported revenues of $7.20 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $8.67 million for the same period in 2019, a 17.0% decrease. Product revenues decreased 30% to $2.66 million compared to $3.79 million in the same period in 2019.  Gross profit for the third quarter of 2020 was $2.79 million compared to $2.83 million in the third quarter of 2019. Gross margin improved to 39% for the third quarter of 2020 compared to 33% for the same period in 2019.  Net loss was $232 thousand for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $586 thousand for the same period in 2019.

Key Takeaways:

  •       Gross margin increased to 38.7% for Q3 2020 versus 32.7% for Q3 2019
  •       Operating expenses decreased by $375 thousand (11.1%) to $2.99 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $3.37 million in the same period of 2019
  •       Net loss per share was $0.01 for the third quarter of 2020 and $0.02 for the third quarter of 2019
  •       Cash flows provided by operations of $1.57 million year to date compared to cash flows used by operations of $3.23 million for the same period in 2019
  •      Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter 2020 of $1.65 million compared to $780 thousand on September 30, 2019, an increase of 117%.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) was negative $67 thousand for the third quarter of 2020 compared to negative $422 thousand for the third quarter of 2019. (Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income or loss attributable to Tecogen, adjusted for interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, unrealized gain or loss on equity securities, goodwill impairment charges and other non-cash non-recurring charges due to the abandonment of certain intangible assets. See table following the statements of operations for a reconciliation from net loss to Adjusted EBITDA as well as important disclosures about the company’s use of Adjusted EBITDA).

On April 17, 2020, the Company obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan of $1,874,200 pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The proceeds were used for payroll, rent and utilities and, on November 10, 2020, an application was submitted for forgiveness of the full amount of the loan.

“During the third quarter we continued to experience challenges to our business and our customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” commented Benjamin Locke, Tecogen’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our product sales in the third quarter declined primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 related delays on projects and customer purchase decision timing. Installation revenue and Energy Production revenue also decreased as we experienced COVID-19 related disruption.  On the positive side, we saw record revenues from our maintenance services, and we are cautiously optimistic that our product revenues will improve for the rest of the year. We have used the slowdown in activity to focus on improving efficiencies and reducing operating expenses, and I am encouraged we are seeing results with our improved product and service margins.”

Sales & Operations Highlights

  •       Current sales backlog of equipment and installations as of September 30, 2020 is $10.7 million, comprised of $8.1 million of products and $2.5 million of installation services
  •      Executed license agreement with Origin Engines relating to the use of Ultera emissions reduction technology on engines sold by Origin in certain markets
  •       Signed a Joint Sales and Marketing Agreement with a natural gas company in Canada to pursue opportunities focused on advanced natural gas cooling solutions for commercial and industrial customers 
  •      Received order for Tecogen’s proprietary Ultera emission reduction system for use by the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) at its facility in Winchester, California
  •      Sale of Tecofrost gas engine refrigeration compressor to a food processing facility in Connecticut 

Conference Call Scheduled for Today at 11:00 am ET

Tecogen will host a conference call today to discuss the third quarter results beginning at 11:00 am eastern time.  To listen to the call dial (877) 407-7186 within the U.S. and Canada, or (201) 689-8052 from other international locations.  Participants should ask to be joined to the Tecogen Third Quarter 2020 earnings call.  Please begin dialing 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time.  This earnings press release will be available on the Company website at www.Tecogen.com in the “News and Events” section under “About Us.” The earnings conference call will be webcast live. To view the associated slides, register for and listen to the webcast, go to https://ir.tecogen.com/news-events.   Following the call, the recording will be archived for 14 days.

The earnings conference call will be recorded and available for playback one hour after the end of the call.  To listen to the playback, dial(877) 660-6853 within the U.S. and Canada, or (201) 612-7415 from other international locations and use Conference Call ID#: 13672659.

About Tecogen

Tecogen Inc.designs, manufactures, sells, installs, and maintains high efficiency, ultra-clean, cogeneration products including engine-driven combined heat and power, air conditioning systems, and high-efficiency water heaters for residential, commercial, recreational and industrial use. The company provides cost effective, environmentally friendly and reliable products for energy production that, through patented technology, nearly eliminate criteria pollutants and significantly reduce a customer’s carbon footprint.

In business for over 35 years, Tecogen has shipped more than 3,000 units, supported by an established network of engineering, sales, and service personnel across the United States. For more information, please visit www.tecogen.com or contact us for a free Site Assessment.

Tecogen, InVerde e+, Ilios, Tecochill, Tecopower, Tecofrost and Ultera are registered trademarks of Tecogen Inc.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release and accompanying documents contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
 Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. For example, statements in this press release regarding the potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and results of operations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “future,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “can,” “may,” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on demand for our products or services, the availability of incentives, rebates and tax benefits relating to our products, changes in the regulatory environment relating to our products, competing technological developments, and the availability of financing to fund our operations and growth.  Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as supplemented, and Part II, Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (“Third Quarter Form 10-Q”), in each case under the heading “Risk Factors.” The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Third Quarter Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part I, Item 1 of the Third Quarter Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

In addition to GAAP financial measures, this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA which excludes certain expenses as described in the presentation.  We use Adjusted EBITDA as an internal measure of business operating performance and believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of our current business and enables investors to better understand and evaluate our historical and prospective operating performance by eliminating items that vary from period to period without correlation to our core operating performance and highlights trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures.

Tecogen Media & Investor Relations Contact Information:

Benjamin Locke
P: 781-466-6402
E: [email protected]

TECOGEN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)

  September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,647,471     $ 877,676  
Accounts receivable, net 8,885,455     14,569,397  
Unbilled revenue 5,370,422     5,421,811  
Inventory, net 7,142,799     6,405,229  
Prepaid and other current assets 517,924     635,034  
Total current assets 23,564,071     27,909,147  
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,998,014     3,465,948  
Right of use assets 1,763,795     2,173,951  
Intangible assets, net 1,441,518     1,593,781  
Goodwill 5,281,867     5,281,867  
Other assets 198,500     691,941  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 35,247,765     $ 41,116,635  
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
Revolving line of credit, bank $     $ 2,402,384  
Note payable, current portion 209,618      
Accounts payable 3,815,875     5,271,756  
Accrued expenses 2,650,873     2,599,366  
Deferred revenue 1,328,657     2,635,619  
Lease obligations, current 519,318     536,443  
Total current liabilities 8,524,341     13,445,568  
Long-term liabilities:      
Deferred revenue, net of current portion 125,556     145,464  
Note payable, net of current portion 1,664,582      
Lease obligations, long-term 1,344,682     1,637,508  
Unfavorable contract liability, net 2,205,301     2,534,818  
Total liabilities 13,864,462     17,763,358  
       
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)      
       
Stockholders’ equity:      
Tecogen Inc. stockholders’ equity:      
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 24,850,261 and 24,849,261 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 24,850     24,849  
Additional paid-in capital 56,753,845     56,622,285  
Accumulated deficit (35,467,309 )   (33,379,114 )
Total Tecogen Inc. stockholders’ equity 21,311,386     23,268,020  
Noncontrolling interest 71,917     85,257  
Total stockholders’ equity 21,383,303     23,353,277  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 35,247,765     $ 41,116,635  

TECOGEN INC.

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019
Revenues      
Products $ 2,659,635     $ 3,790,291  
Services 4,171,377     4,248,584  
Energy production 368,695     631,602  
Total revenues 7,199,707     8,670,477  
Cost of sales      
Products 1,593,500     2,515,605  
Services 2,621,855     3,029,702  
Energy production 197,608     293,929  
Total cost of sales 4,412,963     5,839,236  
Gross profit 2,786,744     2,831,241  
Operating expenses      
General and administrative 2,318,789     2,333,887  
Selling 563,857     669,720  
Research and development 111,253     365,817  
Total operating expenses 2,993,899     3,369,424  
Loss from operations (207,155 )   (538,183 )
Other income (expense)      
Interest income (12 )   192  
Interest expense (4,845 )   (18,516 )
Total other income (expense), net (4,857 )   (18,324 )
Loss before provision for state income taxes (212,012 )   (556,507 )
Provision for state income taxes 9,397     7,881  
Consolidated net loss (221,409 )   (564,388 )
Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (10,511 )   (21,861 )
Net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. $ (231,920 )   $ (586,249 )
       
Net loss per share – basic and diluted $ (0.01 )   $ (0.02 )
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted 24,850,261     24,843,177  


Non-GAAP financial disclosure 

(1)
     
Net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. $ (231,920 )   $ (586,249 )
Interest expense, net 4,857     18,324  
Income taxes 9,397     7,881  
Depreciation & amortization, net 100,304     95,616  
EBITDA (117,362 )   (464,428 )
Stock based compensation 50,582     42,671  
Adjusted EBITDA $ (66,780 )   $ (421,757 )

TECOGEN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

  Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019
Revenues      
Products $ 8,752,908     $ 9,260,265  
Services 12,448,671     13,003,529  
     Energy production 1,395,886     2,450,710  
Total revenues 22,597,465     24,714,504  
Cost of sales      
Products 5,298,750     6,005,819  
Services 7,925,925     8,034,410  
     Energy production 887,888     1,458,360  
Total cost of sales 14,112,563     15,498,589  
Gross profit 8,484,902     9,215,915  
Operating expenses      
General and administrative 7,645,729     7,672,550  
Selling 2,022,027     2,067,674  
Research and development 641,616     1,083,444  
Gain on sale of assets     (1,081,049 )
Goodwill impairment     3,693,198  
Total operating expenses 10,309,372     13,435,817  
Loss from operations (1,824,470 )   (4,219,902 )
Other income (expense)      
Interest income 11,953     790  
Interest expense (121,084 )   (63,547 )
Unrealized loss on investment securities (98,403 )   (19,680 )
Total other expense, net (207,534 )   (82,437 )
Loss before provision for state income taxes (2,032,004 )   (4,302,339 )
Provision for state income taxes 27,791     15,667  
Consolidated net loss (2,059,795 )   (4,318,006 )
(Income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (28,400 )   94,551  
Net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. $ (2,088,195 )   (4,223,455 )
       
Net loss per share – basic and diluted $ (0.08 )   $ (0.17 )
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted 24,850,257     24,838,367  


Non-GAAP financial disclosure

 
(1)
     
Net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. $ (2,088,195 )   $ (4,223,455 )
Interest & other expense, net 109,131     62,757  
Income taxes 27,791     15,667  
Depreciation & amortization, net 293,941     362,848  
EBITDA (1,657,332 )   (3,782,183 )
Stock based compensation 132,312     120,604  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities 98,403     19,680  
Non-cash abandonment of intangible assets 179,944      
Goodwill impairment     3,693,198  
Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,246,673 )   $ 51,299  

TECOGEN INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

  Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2020   September 30, 2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Consolidated net loss $ (2,059,795 )   $ (4,318,006 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:      
Depreciation, accretion and amortization, net 293,941     362,848  
Stock-based compensation 132,312     120,604  
Goodwill impairment     3,693,198  
Gain on sale of assets     (1,081,049 )
Provision for losses on accounts receivable     29,849  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities 98,403     19,680  
Abandonment of intangible assets 179,944      
Non-cash interest expense 51,190     36,252  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions      
(Increase) decrease in:      
Accounts receivable 5,683,941     1,097,220  
Unbilled revenue 51,389     (763,604 )
Inventory (737,570 )   (165,375 )
Due from related party     9,405  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 117,109     (19,586 )
Other non-current assets 692,484     (235,695 )
Increase (decrease) in:      
Accounts payable (1,455,881 )   (665,587 )
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 145,848     (203,262 )
Deferred revenue (1,619,696 )   (1,142,575 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,573,619     (3,225,683 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Purchases of property and equipment (59,952 )   (73,642 )
Proceeds from sale of assets     5,000,000  
Purchases of intangible assets (123,252 )   (64,656 )
Payment of stock issuance costs (1,951 )   (1,011 )
Distributions to noncontrolling interest (41,740 )   (48,127 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (226,895 )   4,812,564  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Payments on revolving line of credit, net (2,452,329 )   (1,105,111 )
Proceeds from note payable 1,874,200      
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options 1,200     26,418  
Net cash used in financing activities (576,929 )   (1,078,693 )
Change in cash and cash equivalents 769,795     508,188  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 877,676     272,552  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 1,647,471     $ 780,740  
       

Supplemental disclosures of cash flows information:
     
Cash paid for interest $ 62,007     $ 24,729  
Cash paid for taxes $ 27,791     $ 29,205  



(1) 



Non-GAAP Financial Measures


In addition to reporting net income, a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measure, this news release contains information about Adjusted EBITDA (net income (loss) attributable to Tecogen Inc adjusted for interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock based compensation expense, unrealized gain or loss on investment securities, goodwill impairment charges and other non-cash non-recurring charges due to abandonment of certain intangible assets), which is a non-GAAP measure.  The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA allows investors to view its performance in a manner similar to the methods used by management and provides additional insight into its operating results.  Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated through the application of GAAP.  Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure.  The use of any non-GAAP measure may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies.

Purewrist Appoints Paul Wojcik as Chief Financial Officer

Wojcik will support the Company’s financial and business strategy as Purewrist scales for growth after launching new consumer and corporate offerings

NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purewrist, an innovative fintech platform and provider of end-to-end contactless transaction solutions as a prepaid card program manager and wearable technology developer, today announced that it has appointed financial services executive Paul Wojcik, CFA, CAIA, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Effective immediately, Wojcik will join the Purewrist team where he will help guide the Company’s financial and business strategy. He will be based outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

Wojcik brings with him over 25 years of experience in trading, fund management, risk management and capital markets. Prior to joining Purewrist, he spent over 20 years at T. Rowe Price Associates, a global asset manager with over $1.3 trillion in assets under management, where he played a key role in supporting the firm’s global expansion. During his time there, Wojcik served as the firm’s Chief Risk Officer, overseeing all aspects of risk management. He was previously a portfolio manager and also held leadership roles in trading and technology.

In addition to his tenure with T. Rowe Price Associates, Wojcik has a unique technical background. He graduated from Vanderbilt University majoring in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering and earned a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. At MIT, he worked in the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research where he worked on experiments that flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Wojcik later earned an MBA degree from MIT Sloan. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts (CAIA) designations.

“The Purewrist team is really special in its dedication to growth and the community, which is one of the key reasons why I’m joining this team, along with the excellent product capability. Customers and investors today want to get behind companies that stand for and support causes that are near and dear to them. Purewrist has integrated this sense of charity, community support and giving back into its core as an affordable and accessible contactless payment technology provider,” said Paul Wojcik, CFO of Purewrist. “I am thrilled to join this team and look forward to supporting its continued business expansion around the globe.”

“We are honored to have Paul join the Purewrist team as our CFO. With his expertise and outstanding reputation in the financial services industry, we will be poised for significant growth and expansion. Paul’s technical expertise combined with his illustrious career in investment management is exactly what we need to support the growth phase of our company,” said Suresh Palliparambil, CEO of Purewrist.

To learn more about Purewrist, visit its website at www.purewrist.com or watch this short video.

About Purewrist

Based in New York City and San Francisco, Purewrist is an innovative fintech platform and provider of end-to-end touchless transaction solutions as a prepaid debit card program manager, issuer, and wearable technology developer. Purewrist Contactless payment accounts are issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Inc. Purewrist’s wearable technology offers both full EMV security and interoperability for the banking, retailing, hospitality, event venue ticketing, access control and customer loyalty industries. To learn more, please visit our website: www.purewrist.com.

Media contact:

Kate Caruso-Sharpe, Senior Account Director
FischTank PR
[email protected]

New Research from Paycor Finds 86% of SMBs Report Employees are Equally or More Productive Working Remote in the COVID-19 Era

Report Reveals Top Challenges and Concerns American Businesses are Facing Heading into 2021, and Approaches to Solve Them

CINCINNATI, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Human Capital Management (HCM) company Paycor today released “A Paycor Survey, The State of American Business: 2021.” Over the past six months, business leaders have reorganized supply chains, set up remote operations, and made tough financial decisions. Paycor surveyed human resources (HR) and business leaders to understand how American businesses are feeling, what keeps them up at night and what approaches they’re taking to solve problems as we look forward to 2021.

In the first weeks of COVID-19, companies were looking for information on mobilizing a crisis response, including workforce safety. As things evolved, HR and business leaders started making moves to stabilize and support their businesses with a potential to return to the workplace. As they plan for 2021, business leaders are working to anticipate what’s next and set a path for success to rebuild for the longer term. According to Paycor’s survey, 75% of HR leaders are optimistic for future profitability.

In the third quarter of 2020, Paycor fielded a 10-minute online survey and received 2,600 responses from the leaders of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs – defined as organizations with less than 1,000 employees). Of the 2,600 responses, approximately 40% were finance leaders (CFOs, finance directors and managers) and 60% were HR leaders (HR directors, managers).

Key findings include:

  • Part 1: The Finance/HR Relationship

    • Roughly 40% of respondents agreed that finance and HR are working more closely together as a result of the pandemic.
    • As a result of the pandemic, 51% of HR leaders now look for different qualities in leaders than they did before the crisis. Finance and HR leaders agree on the top two most important qualities: flexibility and collaboration.
  • Part 2: Remote Work

    • At the close of the year, 44% of companies describing the transition from office to remote as a primary focus. Thirty percent of respondents say their remote teams are actually more productive than they were in the office.
  • Part 3: Benefits

    • Eighty-six percent of respondents are concerned about mental health in the workplace, but only 27% are planning on making a change to their benefits offerings in response to mental health issues. Of the 2,600 finance and HR leaders who took the survey, only 444 (approx. 17%) were able to identify specific benefits, like employee assistance programs, that could help them respond to what they perceive as an urgent problem.
  • Part 4: Compliance

    • Sixty percent of respondents predict their business will be more concerned about compliance in the next 12 months while only 9% say their HR technology is “very effective” at mitigating compliance risk. Clunky, outdated HR software may be the reason why 43% say they don’t use technology to automate and manage compliance.

To access the full report, please click here.

Supporting Quotes

“For many businesses, planning for 2021 looks much different than years past. Many aspects of COVID-19 are still a moving target in this new normal making partnerships across HR and business leaders critical as they plan for the future,” said Ryan Bergstrom, Chief Product Officer at Paycor. “This survey helps us get a pulse on how American business leaders are thinking and feeling so we can better understand how to help serve them best.”

Supporting Resources

About Paycor

Paycor creates HR software for leaders who want to make a difference. Our Human Capital Management (HCM) platform modernizes every aspect of people management, from the way you recruit, onboard and develop people, to the way you pay and retain them. But what really sets us apart is our focus on business leaders. For 30 years, we’ve been listening to and partnering with leaders, so we know what they need: HR technology that saves time, powerful analytics that provide actionable insights and dedicated support from HR experts. That’s why more than 40,000 medium & small businesses trust Paycor to help them solve problems and achieve their goals.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Katy Bunn
(513) 307-6392
[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT

Marta Debski
Offleash for Paycor
(810) 956-4501
[email protected]

Amplitude Fuels Business Growth, Delivers an Average of 655% ROI for Customers

Nucleus Research finds Product Intelligence deployments with Amplitude are paid back in 4.8 months and drive increases in revenue, purchase conversions, new customers

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nucleus Research today published a report that finds Amplitude, the leader in Product Intelligence, delivers an average of 655% ROI for its customers, with a payback of 4.8 months. The report finds Amplitude Product Intelligence deployments boost business growth and notable ROI with companies reporting increased revenue, purchase conversions, and new monthly users.

With more businesses accelerating their transition to digital-first products, engagements and experiences, companies need real-time insight into customer behavior. Rather than stitch several legacy analytics products together, Amplitude’s Product Intelligence platform gives companies a single source of truth for customer behavior, enables accurate measurement of campaign success, and improves digital product functionality.

Key direct benefits highlighted in the Nucleus Research report include:

  • Increase in revenue per order – with a single source of truth and a detailed understanding of customer behavior, organizations see an average of 42% increase in revenue per order.
  • Improved purchase conversion – Amplitude gives companies deeper customer and product insights, resulting in improved product functionality and on average, a 46% increase in purchase conversion.
  • Increase in new monthly users – with tools to better forecast future outcomes, companies saw monthly new users increasing in the range of 53% to 350% over a multi-year period.

“Our research uncovered a clear connection between deploying Amplitude’s Product Intelligence platform and business growth,” said Daniel Elman, analyst at Nucleus Research and author of the report. “Amplitude’s platform removes the typical points of friction found in legacy analytics solutions and helps teams build products faster, accurately measure impact, and drive significant business outcomes.”

“Digital-first is no longer an option — it’s a necessity to business success,” said Jennifer Johnson, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Amplitude. “This report validates that Product Intelligence moves the business conversation from customer engagement to revenue. The companies that understand how to harness real-time digital product data will remove the digital barriers between customers and the business – and maximize digital revenue growth in the process. These organizations will be the leaders of the digital era. Those who continue to rely on outdated tools, latent data and organizational silos will be left behind.”

To access the full report and learn more about the methodology, please visit: https://amplitude.com/

About Amplitude

Amplitude is the leading product intelligence platform that helps companies use their customer data to build great product experiences for digital growth. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Singapore, Amplitude is the cross-platform, real-time data solution of choice for modern product and growth teams. Amplitude powers over 59,000 digital products at companies like Microsoft, Ford, NBC Universal, Hubspot, and PayPal.

Contact

Highwire PR for Amplitude
[email protected]

Grafton businesses Ste. Anne’s Spa and Soups2Go collaborate to keep Soups2Go a go

GRAFTON, Ontario, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Covid-19 continues to disrupt livelihoods and shutter industries, we could all use a feel-good story of resilience, and businesses lending one another a helping hand.

For Grafton entrepreneur Terry Carruthers, creative collaboration has kept her Soups2Go business on the front burner, and helped find jobs for her staff. Soup’s on thanks to working together with local business leader Jim Corcoran, owner and general manager of Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton.

With nowhere to cook her hot serve takeout items and staff facing reduced hours, Corcoran has provided a mobile accessory kitchen right next to Ste. Anne’s Bakery, and hired Carruthers’ workers to dish out her tasty soups and delicious hot takeout foods. The partnership has also helped Carruthers find a building to make her seven different soups and grow her business nationally.

“It’s a collaborative relationship, and one that I hope continues,” says Corcoran, a celebrated entrepreneur who exemplifies how local business people working together can create solutions to help one another in tough times.

He had a brand new kitchen truck he wasn’t using and she had the staff and homemade takeout foods loved by locals, but nowhere to go. Joining forces has resulted in an uptick in sales at the bakery from residents, spa clients and spa staff, and Carruthers is once again happily handcrafting delicious dishes made with fresh local ingredients, and cooking up expansion plans.

“One of the things about crisis is that it brings out creativity and collaboration, and in this case incredible generosity,” she says. “I had never met Jim prior to this pandemic, but he’s been the silver lining in this situation.”

Carruthers has come up against endless challenges and devastating letdowns since the initial mandated shutdowns in the spring. She was temporarily shut out of her commercial kitchen in the nearby Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre in April, and recently was denied approval to continue renting her new location in the canteen kitchen at the local arena, where she had added staff and a side hustle of hot takeout, including fish and chips, chili and burgers.

She faced financial loss, and the heartbreak of laying off her canteen staff and not being able to feed her following. “Soup is the ultimate comfort food at a time when comfort is important,” says Carruthers. “We offered the community a sense of normalcy during these uncertain times.”

Thanks to Corcoran’s helping hand, Carruthers is once again feeding the community they both so deeply care about. She has also added more to her soup pot – the task of renovating the heritage building she bought from Corcoran in order to grow her Soups2Go business. The new location will feature a hot takeout food service, plus locally-made retail products, including those from Ste. Anne’s Bakery.

As Soups2Go forges forward, learning to improvise and adapt, many Canadian businesses have been upended by the pandemic and also work tirelessly to make a comeback. Ste. Anne’s Spa is once again fully booked, but Corcoran suffered a loss of $4 million in revenue and increased debt because of the pandemic.

“I look forward to the day when this is behind us,” says Corcoran, who used the downtime to do improvements at the premiere resort, and support his staff, community and local businesses.

Carruthers believes a brighter future is simmering, one that she’ll help make happen by “conquering every challenge that comes my way… one bowl of soup at a time.”



Attention Editor:

 
For info, interviews,
and photos
, please contact Wanda Hoehn
at
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