NexTech Sells Its Treasury Bitcoin Holdings and Books a Profit

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NexTech AR Solutions (NexTech) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (NEO: NTAR.NE) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a leading provider of virtual and augmented reality (AR) experience technologies and services for 3D/AR advertising, eCommerce, education, conferences and events today announced that it has sold its Bitcoin ownership of approximately 130.187 Bitcoins and booked approximately a $200,000 profit.

NexTech CEO, Evan Gappelberg comments, “Our investment in Bitcoin in the past was part of our capital diversification strategy with the intent to maximize long-term value for our shareholders. This sale reflects our awareness that something potentially has changed with Bitcoin which is seen as the digital version of gold. The news that has emerged is that a critical flaw called a ‘double spend’ may have occurred, which if true allows someone to spend the same Bitcoin twice, undermining faith in the system. If the system is built on scarcity and faith in the system, then a ‘double spend’ would eliminate both -essentially destroying the store of value it was meant to be. In light of this potential outcome, I have decided to move to cash as this story is still unfolding.”

Recent Company Highlights:

  • January 20, 2021: The Company announced that Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services platform will be a standard offering across its virtual experience platforms and consumer apps enabling hyper-scalable, secure, and immersive events and applications for users.
  • January 15, 2021: Company has signed a renewal agreement with Poly with an initial value of $470,000 for a six-month term and the potential for additional revenue after the six months.
  • Record Q4 2020 Total Bookings of $7.3 million +275%
    growth over the same period last year
  • CEO Evan Gappelberg purchased 250,000 shares. This purchase brings his 2020 purchased shares to 1,279,885 common shares of NexTech.
  • Announced the launch of its groundbreaking “Genie in a Bottle” human hologram AR marketing platform and new eCommerce store for its TruLyfe brand of human supplements.
  • Company graduated from the CSE and received approval to list its common shares with the NEO Exchange (“NEO”) senior exchange.
  • Announced that it is expanding its services into the Asia-Pacific market after establishing a presence in Singapore. To support this expansion, NexTech has hired Yau Boon Lim, a technology industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience in strategy, planning, marketing, operations, and business management for various industries in the Asia Pacific market. Lim has held leadership positions within global enterprise technology companies, driving marketing and strategies for blue chip global tech companies, including IBM where he led marketing management, Motorola where he was Head of Strategy and Planning, and SAP where he was Vice President of Marketing for the Asia Pacific market. Lim is based out of Singapore.
  • Coex chooses NexTech as its hybrid virtual event platform partner. Coex is a global leader in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events (MICE); it hosts over 200 exhibitions and 3,000 meetings & events in-house each year in Korea at the Coex convention and exhibition center. Coex also organizes numerous exhibitions throughout Korea and abroad, with international reach in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China.
  • Achieved a record-breaking
    315% increase in Black Friday sales year-over-year across its AR eCommerce platform. With 2020 being a year dominated by coronavirus, shoppers have shown that they will embrace the convenience and safety of online shopping more than ever.
  • The

    Canadian Society of Nephrology

    (CSN) has chosen NexTech AR’s Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) to host its 2021 Annual General Meeting, taking place May 10-13.
  • Launched a new collaborative streaming solution with AI and AR enhancements, that integrates with its existing Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) and its ARitize SaaS offerings.
  • Appointed Dr. David Cramb to its Board of Directors bringing its board to five members. Having this fifth board member allows the company to meet one of the NASDAQ requirements to qualify for its uplisting, which is in progress.
  • Selected by TEDxMalmö for its first ever virtual event, held on December 12, 2020 in Sweden.
  • A virtual concert featuring Grammy-nominated artist and member of Migos, Offset, in collaboration with the AXR+EXP concert series. The event was hosted via NexTech’s newly acquired AiRShow app.
  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) chose NexTech’s
    Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) for its “High-Level Futures Literacy Summit.”
  • Restaurants Canada chose NexTech’s
    Virtual Experience Platform (VXP) platform to transform the 2021 RC Show, taking place February 28-March 3, 2021, into a completely virtual experience. This is Canada’s largest foodservice and hospitality event, the RC Show showcases cutting-edge products, pioneering people, and transformative ideas.

About NexTech AR

NexTech is one of the leaders in the rapidly growing Augmented Reality market estimated to grow from USD $10.7B in 2019 and projected to reach USD $72.7B by 2024 according to Markets & Markets Research; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 46.6% from 2019 to 2024.

The company is pursuing four verticals:


Virtual Experience Platform (VXP):
An advanced Augmented Reality and Video Learning Experience Platform for Events. VXP is a SaaS video platform that integrates Interactive Video, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality in one secure platform to allow enterprises the ability to create the world’s most engaging virtual event management and learning experiences. Automated closed captions and translations to over 64 languages. According to Grandview Research the global virtual events market in 2020 is $90B and expected to reach more than $400B by 2027, growing at a 23% CAGR. With NexTech’s VXP platform having augmented reality, AI, end-to-end encryption, and built-in language translation for 64 languages, the company is well positioned to rapidly take market share as the growth accelerates globally.


ARitize™ For eCommerce:
The company launched its SaaS platform for webAR in eCommerce early in 2019. NexTech has a ​ ‘full funnel’ end-to-end eCommerce solution for the AR industry including its Aritize360 app for 3D product capture, 3D/AR ads, its ARitize white label app, its ‘Try it On’ technology for online apparel, 3D and 360-degree product views, and ‘one click buy’.


ARitize™ 3D/AR Advertising Platform:
Launched in Q1 2020 the ad platform will be the industry’s first end-to-end solution whereby the company will leverage its 3D asset creation into 3D/AR ads. In 2019, according to IDC, global advertising spend will be about $725 billion.


ARitize™ Hollywood Studios
: The studio is in development producing immersive content using 360 video, and augmented reality as the primary display platform.

To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com.

On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp.

Evan Gappelberg
CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Evan Gappelberg
Chief Executive Officer
info@Nextechar.com   

The NEO has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “will be”, “looking forward” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results “will” occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company’s estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs.  There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.



CloudMD Closes Acquisition of Canadian Medical Directory, the Largest Medical Directory in Canada

Largest directory of trusted, highly-segmented information on 91,000 practicing physicians and 10,000 residents and nurse practitioners

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CloudMD Software & Services Inc. (TSXV: DOC, OTCQB: DOCRF, Frankfurt: 6PH) (the “Company” or “CloudMD”), a telehealth company revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare to patients, is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of Canadian Medical Directory (“CMD”), Canada’s largest, most trusted, directory of medical professionals including 91,000 practicing physicians and 10,000 residents and nurse practitioners across the country. The robust, multi-layered database is genuinely unique as no other direct competitor has a SaaS platform that collects and vends the data in such a highly segmented, up-to-date way.

CMD has been trusted as the gold standard for up-to-date information on all medical professionals across Canada in a standard national format. CMD is Canada’s leading source for profile and contact information on practicing physicians, specialists and nurse practitioners, across the country. It’s a key reference tool used by clinics, hospitals, medical placement firms, pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and supplies.

CloudMD will be able to integrate the CMD database into its Juno EMR, billing, virtual care and telehealth platforms, as well as iMD Health’s leading educational resource databank. CloudMD will leverage the CMD brand, customer network and data, to power up and accelerate doctor acquisition and adoption. In addition, CloudMD will use its suite of products and resources to continue building and growing CMD’s robust database.

CMD generated approximately $450,000 in high margin, 100% SaaS based revenues with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins exceeding 65%, resulting in an EBITDA of approximately $293,000 over the 12 month period ending September 30, 2020. The Company believes that there is significant opportunity to further optimize the revenue through integration and optimization.

Terms of Agreement

In consideration for the purchase of 100% of the assets and business of CMD, CloudMD has agreed to pay aggregate consideration of approximately $2.037 million payable as follows: (i) $250,000 in cash; (ii) approximately $1.42 million in shares of the Company; and (iii) a performance-based earnout of $368,000, which is payable in shares of the Company in annual issuances over a period of two years. All shares issued pursuant to the acquisition are issued at a deemed price of $2.47 per share and are priced by calculating the 10-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Company’s shares for the 10 trading days prior to the execution of the binding term sheet (Press release dated October 21, 2020). The shares will be subject to certain contractual restrictions on trading for a period of 16 months from the date of issuance.

About CloudMD Software & Services

CloudMD is digitizing the delivery of healthcare by providing a patient centric approach, with an emphasis on continuity of care. The Company offers SAAS based health technology solutions to healthcare providers across North America and has developed proprietary technology that delivers quality healthcare through a holistic offering including hybrid primary care clinics, specialist care, telemedicine, mental health support, educational resources and artificial intelligence (AI). CloudMD currently services a combined ecosystem of over 500 clinics, almost 4000 licensed practitioners and 8 million patient charts across North America.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Dr. Essam Hamza, MD”

Chief Executive Officer

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Julia Becker

VP, Investor Relations

[email protected] 

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding projected revenue, completion of the CMD acquisition, future business synergies and cost savings. Such forward-looking statements are based on CloudMD’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including the expectations regarding closing of the CMD acquisition and the ability of the Company to carry out its business plans. Although CloudMD believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results, including revenue projections, may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and CloudMD undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

Non-GAAP and Non-IFRS Measures

This press release refers to “EBITDA” and “EBITDA margins” which are non-GAAP and non-IFRS financial measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP or IFRS. The Company’s presentation of these financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. These financial measures are intended to provide additional information to investors concerning the Company’s and CMD’s performance. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and EBITDA margins is defined as EBITDA as a percent of total revenue. EBITDA and EBITDA margins are Non-IFRS measures the Company uses as an indicator of financial health and excludes several items which may be useful in the consideration of the financial condition of the Company and CMD, as applicable, including interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



IBI Group Announces Appointment of Michael Nobrega as Chair of the Board of Directors

TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global design and technology firm, IBI Group Inc. (“IBI” or “the Company”), announced today the appointment of Michael Nobrega as its new Chair of the Board of Directors. Mr. Nobrega has been a Board Member with the firm for three years, and succeeds Dale Richmond, who retires from the Board effective today, and has served as Board Chair since 2014. The Company is currently undergoing a search to replace Mr. Nobrega’s now vacant Board Member position on its Board of Directors.

“On behalf of the Board, senior management, and other stakeholders of the firm, I would like to thank Mr. Richmond for his dedicated years of service and strategic counsel. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Nobrega into his new role as Board Chair and look forward to working closely with him, and the other members of the Board, to achieve the goals and objectives of the firm over the coming years,” said IBI Group CEO, Scott Stewart.

In addition to his new role as Board Chair for IBI, Michael Nobrega also sits on the Board of Toronto Hydro. He formerly held titles as Chair of the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), interim President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto, President and CEO of OMERS, and President and CEO of Borealis Infrastructure. Mr. Nobrega holds an Honours BA in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Toronto, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

“IBI Group’s Board is diverse and talented, with members who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. My retirement as Chair provides the firm with an opportunity to further evolve the talent, diversity and experience of its Board of Directors, under the stewardship of my accomplished peer, Michael Nobrega, and the capable leadership of CEO Scott Stewart, CFO Stephen Taylor, President David Thom, and a host of talented young executives in each of the firm’s business segments. I will continue to maintain my current stock and debenture holdings in IBI Group for the foreseeable future,” said outgoing IBI Group Board Chair, Dale Richmond.

“I have been a Director of IBI Group since 2004 and have witnessed the commitment and resolve of the Board and management to meet difficult challenges, including a global pandemic. I can say with conviction that the Board and management have exceeded my expectations. Today, IBI Group’s franchise is very strong and I have every confidence that its best years are ahead of it,” concluded Mr. Richmond.

About IBI Group

IBI Group Inc. (TSX:IBG) is a technology-driven design firm with global architecture, engineering, planning, and technology expertise spanning over 60 offices and 2,700 professionals around the world. For nearly 50 years, its dedicated professionals have helped clients create livable, sustainable, and advanced urban environments. IBI Group believes that cities thrive when designed with intelligent systems, sustainable buildings, efficient infrastructure, and a human touch. Follow IBI Group on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For additional information, please contact:

Stephen Taylor, CFO
IBI Group Inc.
55 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, ON M5V 2Y7
Tel: 416-596-1930
www.ibigroup.com

For media inquiries:

Julia Harper
IBI Group Inc.
Tel: 647-330-4706
[email protected]

 



Mydecine Innovations Group Included in First-Ever Psychedelics ETF

DENVER, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mydecine Innovations Group (CSE: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) (FSE: 0NFA) (“Mydecine” or the “Company’), an emerging biopharma and life sciences company committed to the research, development, and acceptance of alternative nature-sourced medicine for mainstream use, has been included in the first-ever Psychedelics Exchanged Traded Fund (ETF).

The Horizons Psychedelic Stock Index ETF index, which was announced in December 2020 and includes 17 companies in the U.S. and Canada, is expected to start trading on Tuesday, January 26 under the ticker PSYK on the NEO exchange.

“While medicinal psychedelics are certainly not new, the legal market and the ability to invest in these cutting-edge companies certainly is new,” said Joshua Bartch, Co-Founder & CEO, Mydecine. “Together, with these 17 companies, Mydecine is helping to build an industry that is investing in and researching innovative solutions for treating previously untreatable mental illness. We are honored that we are included, and we are also mindful that this now gives more people, who may be new to the space, the ability to access and diversify their investments. By having exposure to many different companies with solid fundamentals, but different approaches, philosophies, indications, and technologies, is healthy for investors in the industry.”

The ETF will will track an underlying index – the North American Psychedelic Stock Index – provided by the German-based Solactive. Additional details on the ETF, including how it is weighted and conditioned, can be found here.

Additionally, the Company will be participating in the KCSA Virtual Psychedelics Investor Conference, at 10:20 AM ET on Wednesday January 27, 2021.

About Mydecine Innovations Group

Mydecine Innovations Group™ (CSE: MYCO) (OTC:MYCOF) (FSE:0NFA) is an emerging biotech and life sciences company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating mental health problems and enhancing vitality. The company’s world-renowned medical and scientific advisory board is building out a robust R&D pipeline of nature-sourced psychedelic-assisted therapeutics, novel compounds, therapy protocols, and unique delivery systems. Mydecine has exclusive access to a full cGMP certified pharmaceutical manufacturing facility with the ability to import/export, cultivate, extract/isolate, and analyze active mushroom compounds with full government approval through Health Canada. Mydecine also operates out of a state-of-the-art mycology lab in Denver, CO to focus on genetic research for scaling commercial cultivation of rare (non-psychedelic) medicinal mushrooms.

 At the heart of Mydecine’s core philosophy is that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy will continue to gain acceptance in the medical community with many of the world’s best accredited research organizations demonstrating its remarkable clinical effectiveness. Mydecine recognizes the responsibility associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy and will continue to position itself as a long-term leader across the spectrum of clinical trials, research, technology, and global supply. Mydecine has also successfully completed multiple acquisitions since its inception.

Learn more at: https://www.mydecine.com/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mydecine Innovations Group Media Contacts

Anne Donohoe / Nick Opich
KCSA Strategic Communications
[email protected] / [email protected]
212-896-1265 / 212-896-1206

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Joshua Bartch, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]

Corp Communications:

Charles Lee, Investor Relations
[email protected]
+1 720-277-9879

For further information about Mydecine Innovations Group, Inc., please visit the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company’s website at

www.mydecine.com

.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, without limitation, the availability and continuity of financing, the ability of the Company to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property, the Company’s ability to bring its products to commercial production, continued growth of the global adaptive pathway medicine, natural health products and digital health industries, and the risks presented by the highly regulated and competitive market concerning the development, production, sale and use of the Company’s products. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon.



World Acceptance Corporation Reports Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Results

World Acceptance Corporation Reports Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Results

Third quarter highlights:

  • Net income of $14.5 million, a $20.8 million increase from a $6.3 million loss in same quarter prior year
  • Net income per diluted share of $2.25, a $3.11 increase from an $0.87 per share loss in same quarter prior year
  • Loans outstanding of $1.26 billion, a 7.9% decrease from December 31, 2019, but a 14.0% sequential increase from the end of the prior quarter
  • Total revenues of $130.9 million, a 10.9% decrease from the same quarter prior year but a 5.2% sequential increase from the prior quarter
  • Significant decrease in percentage of accounts 61 days or more past due on a recency basis from same quarter prior year
  • Cash flow from operating activities of $217.8 million and free cash flow of $131.0 million, both over the last twelve months.

GREENVILLE, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD) today reported financial results for its third fiscal quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2020.

Portfolio results

Third quarter of fiscal 2021 results reflect the increase in loan demand and improved operating environment compared to the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gross loans outstanding decreased to $1.26 billion as of December 31, 2020, a 7.9% decrease from the $1.37 billion of gross loans outstanding as of December 31, 2019. This is compared to a 9.0% increase as of quarter ended December 31, 2019, when compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Gross loans increased $155.2 million, or 14.0%, sequentially over the prior quarter as customer demand stabilized, representing the largest gross loan increase during a third quarter in a decade.

Our customer base decreased by 18.3% year-over-year as of December 31, 2020, compared to 7.2% growth for the comparable period ended December 31, 2019. Excluding the direct impact of portfolio acquisitions, the customer base decreased 18.5% year-over-year as of December 31, 2020, compared to 8.9% growth for the comparable period ended December 31, 2019. During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the number of unique borrowers in the portfolio increased by 8.4% compared to an increase of 4.3% during the quarter ended December 31, 2019.

The following table includes the change in the number of loan originations by customer type for the following comparative quarterly periods:

 

Q3 FY 2021 vs. Q3 FY 2020

 

Q3 FY 2020 vs. Q3 FY 2019

 

Q2 FY 2021 vs. Q2 FY 2020

New Customers

(27.3)%

 

3.9%

 

(46.9)%

Former Customers

3.5%

 

13.9%

 

2.3%

Refinance Customers

(21.6)%

 

6.4%

 

(19.7)%

 

Refinance loan volume is in-line with the 18.3% reduction in the customer base year-over-year

As of December 31, 2020, we had 1,230 branches open. For branches open throughout both periods, same store gross loans decreased 7.6% in the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, compared to an 8.2% increase for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2019. For branches open throughout both periods, the customer base over the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020, decreased 18.0% compared to a 5.4% increase for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019.

Three-month financial results

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 increased by $20.8 million to $14.5 million compared to a loss of $6.3 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Net income per diluted share increased to $2.25 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to a loss of $0.87 per share for the same quarter of the prior year (which was negatively impacted by an $8 million accrual related to the investigation into our Mexico operations).

Earnings per share for the quarter benefited from our share repurchase program. The Company repurchased 238,452 shares of its common stock on the open market at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $26.2 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2021. This follows a repurchase of 786,418 shares in the first half of fiscal 2021 at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $62.7 million and the repurchase of 1,520,679 shares in fiscal 2020 at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $197.4 million. The Company had approximately 6.2 million common shares outstanding excluding approximately 0.6 million unvested restricted shares as of December 31, 2020.

Total revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 decreased to $130.9 million, a 10.9% decrease from the $147.0 million reported for the same quarter of the prior year. The revenues from the 1,222 branches open throughout both quarterly periods (revenue from comparable branches) decreased by 8.2%. Interest and fee income declined 11.8%, from $130.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to $114.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, primarily due to a decrease in average earning loans. Insurance and other income decreased by 4.2% to $16.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $16.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Sales of our motor club product increased by $1.3 million as we expanded the number of states in which we offer the product. Insurance revenue decreased due to lower loan volume during the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

Accounts 61 days or more past due decreased to 5.2% on a recency basis at December 31, 2020, compared to 7.0% at December 31, 2019. Total delinquency on a recency basis decreased to 8.9% at December 31, 2020, compared to 10.9% at December 31, 2019. Our allowance for credit losses compared to net loans was 12.2% at December 31, 2020, compared to 11.2% at December 31, 2019.

On April 1, 2020, the Company replaced its incurred loss methodology with a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology to accrue for expected losses. The provision for credit losses decreased $26.4 million, or 47.7%, to $28.9 million from $55.2 million when comparing the third quarter of fiscal 2021 to the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The provision decreased during the quarter due primarily to an $18.6 million decrease in net charge-offs as well as an improvement in delinquency. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans on an annualized basis decreased from 18.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to 11.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. The charge-off rate during the quarter benefited from the reduced number of lower tenured customers in the portfolio as of September 30, 2020. Loans that were 90 days past due on a recency basis increased $7.4 million during the quarter compared to an $11.4 million increase in the third fiscal quarter of the prior year. We are experiencing lower losses on loans that were in the portfolio as of April 1, 2020, than initially predicted under our CECL methodology through December 31, 2020. As a result of this positive performance and additional federal stimulus announced in December, we have decreased our expected future credit losses by approximately $6.5 million during the quarter. However, due to the ongoing uncertainty created by the pandemic, we have maintained the overall allowance for credit loss at the high end of the calculated range of expected losses as of December 31, 2020.

The table below is updated to use the customer tenure based methodology that aligns with our CECL methodology. After experiencing rapid growth of the portfolio during the prior two years, primarily in new customers, the gross loan balance declined in the first nine months of fiscal 2021 as a result of the ongoing pandemic and its effect on the overall economy. The tables below illustrate the changes in the weighting within the portfolio as well as the relative impact on charge-offs within the vintages over the last five years.

Gross Loan Balance By Customer Tenure at Origination

As of

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

Total

12/31/2015

$331,120,618

$793,079,740

$1,124,200,358

12/31/2016

$302,649,934

$762,474,846

$1,065,124,780

12/31/2017

$336,582,487

$790,836,894

$1,127,419,381

12/31/2018

$426,884,909

$832,020,730

$1,258,905,639

12/31/2019

$489,940,306

$882,877,242

$1,372,817,549

12/31/2020

$413,509,916

$851,073,804

$1,264,583,720

 

Year-Over-Year Growth (Decline) in Gross Loan Balance by Customer Tenure at Origination

12 Month Period Ended

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

Total

12/31/2015

$(27,513,624)

$(11,520,082)

$(39,033,706)

12/31/2016

$(28,470,684)

$(30,604,893)

$(59,075,578)

12/31/2017

$33,932,553

$28,362,048

$62,294,601

12/31/2018

$90,302,422

$41,183,836

$131,486,258

12/31/2019

$63,055,398

$50,856,512

$113,911,910

12/31/2020

$(76,430,390)

$(31,803,439)

$(108,233,829)

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Mix by Customer Tenure at Origination

As of

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

12/31/2015

29.5%

70.5%

12/31/2016

28.4%

71.6%

12/31/2017

29.9%

70.1%

12/31/2018

33.9%

66.1%

12/31/2019

35.7%

64.3%

12/31/2020

32.7%

67.3%

 

The table below includes the charge-off rate of each vintage (the actual gross charge-off balance in the subsequent twelve months divided by the starting gross loan balance) indexed to the December 31, 2016, vintage.

Actual Gross Charge-off Rate During Following 12 Months; Indexed to 12/31/2016 Vintage

12 Months Beginning

Less Than 2 Years

More Than 2 Years

Total

12/31/2015

1.91

1.01

1.28

12/31/2016

1.52

0.80

1.00

12/31/2017

1.58

0.76

1.00

12/31/2018

1.73

0.77

1.09

12/31/2019

1.71

0.77

1.10

 

The increase in overall charge-off rate over the last twelve months is primarily due to the elevated weighting of the lower tenure portion of the portfolio as of December 31, 2019, while the charge-off rates within the tenure buckets are within historical norms. The 12 month charge-off rates remain elevated despite the lower charge-off rates experienced during Q2 and Q3 of fiscal 2021 due to elevated loss rates during Q4 of fiscal 2020 and Q1 of fiscal 2021. We continue to expect the long-term value of our newly added customers to exceed our investment return threshold.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses decreased $12.7 million, or 14.0%, to $77.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $90.6 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses decreased from 61.6% during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to 59.5% during the third quarter of fiscal 2021. G&A expenses per average open branch decreased by 13.6% when comparing Q3 fiscal 2021 to Q3 fiscal 2020.

Personnel expense decreased $2.7 million, or 5.4%, during the third quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Salary expense decreased approximately $1.9 million, or 6.1%, when comparing the two quarterly periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Our headcount as of December 31, 2020, decreased 10.4% compared to December 31, 2019. Benefit expense increased approximately $0.5 million, or 5.2%, when comparing the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Incentive expense decreased $1.6 million in Q3 fiscal 2021 compared to Q3 fiscal 2020 mostly due to a decrease in share-based compensation.

Occupancy and equipment expense increased $1.5 million, or 11.2%. Occupancy expense was negatively impacted by a $2.1 million write down of signage as a result of rebranding our branch offices during the third quarter of fiscal 2021.

Advertising expense decreased $1.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company anticipated lower demand as a result of the economic effects of COVID-19 during the quarter and reduced marketing spend accordingly.

Interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, increased by $0.2 million, or 2.4%, from the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The increase in interest expense is due to a 17.1% increase in the effective interest rate from 5.2% to 6.1%. The average debt outstanding decreased from $542.6 million to $475.7 million when comparing the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2020. The Company’s debt to equity ratio remained flat at 1.5:1 at December 31, 2020, compared to December 31, 2019. The Company had outstanding debt of $539.6 million as of December 31, 2020.

Other key return ratios for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 included a 6.6% return on average assets and a return on average equity of 17.4% (both on a trailing twelve-month basis).

Nine-month results

Net income for the nine-months ended December 31, 2020, increased $38.5 million to $43.4 million compared to $4.9 million for the same period of the prior year. This resulted in net income of $6.44 per diluted share for the nine months ended December 31, 2020, compared to $0.59 per diluted share in the prior year period. Total revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 decreased 11.2% to $379.3 million compared to $427.0 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. Annualized net charge-offs as a percent of average net loans decreased from 17.1% during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 to 14.7% for the first nine-months of fiscal 2021.

Non-GAAP financial measures

From time-to-time the Company uses certain financial measures derived on a basis other than generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), primarily by excluding from a comparable GAAP measure certain items the Company does not consider to be representative of its actual operating performance. Such financial measures qualify as “non-GAAP financial measures” as defined in SEC rules. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in operating its business because management believes they are less susceptible to variances in actual operating performance that can result from the excluded items and other infrequent charges. The Company may present these financial measures to investors because management believes they are useful to investors in evaluating the primary factors that drive the Company’s core operating performance and provide greater transparency into the Company’s results of operations. However, items that are excluded and other adjustments and assumptions that are made in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures are significant components to understanding and assessing the Company’s financial performance. Such non-GAAP financial measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, the Company’s GAAP financial measures. Further, because these non-GAAP financial measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP and are, thus, susceptible to varying calculations, any non-GAAP financial measures, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

For purposes of its internal liquidity assessments, the Company considers free cash flow. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flow from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and net funding/repayment of loans, which are considered to be operating in nature by the Company but are included in cash flow from investing activities.

Free cash flow is commonly used by investors as an additional measure of cash generated by business operations that may be used to repay debt, may be available to invest in future growth through new business development activities or acquisitions, or repurchase stock. These metrics can also be used to evaluate the Company’s ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on the Company’s liquidity. However, free cash flow has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for cash flow from operating activities or other income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table reconciles cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow:

 

Twelve months ended

December 31,

 

2020

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities (1)

$217,808,438

Net cash used in investing activities:

 

Increase in loans receivable, net

(74,628,950)

Purchases of property and equipment

(12,226,180)

Free cash flow

130,953,308

(1) As previously disclosed, the Company paid $21.7 million in disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 to resolve an investigation into its former Mexico operations.

 

About World Acceptance Corporation (World Finance)

Founded in 1962, World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD), is a people-focused finance company that provides personal installment loan solutions and personal tax preparation and filing services to over one million customers each year. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, the Company operates more than 1,200 community-based World Finance branches across 16 states. The Company primarily serves a segment of the population that does not have ready access to credit, but unlike many other lenders in this segment, we strive to work with our customers to understand their broader financial pictures, ensure they have the ability and stability to make payments, and help them achieve their financial goals. In its last fiscal year, the Company helped more than 225,000 individuals improve their credit score out of subprime and deep subprime. For more information, visit www.loansbyworld.com.

Third quarter conference call

The senior management of World Acceptance Corporation will be discussing these results in its quarterly conference call to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. A simulcast of the conference call will be available on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1118/39733. The call will be available for replay on the Internet for approximately 30 days.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that represent the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Statements other than those of historical fact, as well as those identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “probable” and any variation of the foregoing and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include the following: the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; recently enacted, proposed or future legislation and the manner in which it is implemented; changes in the U.S. tax code; the nature and scope of regulatory authority, particularly discretionary authority, that may be exercised by regulators, including, but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Justice, U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and individual state regulators having jurisdiction over the Company; the unpredictable nature of regulatory proceedings and litigation; uncertainties associated with management turnover and the effective succession of senior management; the impact of changes in accounting rules and regulations, or their interpretation or application, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s reported consolidated financial statements or necessitate material delays or changes in the issuance of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements; the Company’s assessment of its internal control over financial reporting; changes in interest rates; risks relating to expansion; risks inherent in making loans, including repayment risks and value of collateral; cybersecurity threats, including the potential misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or operational disruption; our dependence on debt and the potential impact of limitations in the Company’s amended revolving credit facility or other impacts on the Company’s ability to borrow money on favorable terms, or at all; the timing and amount of revenues that may be recognized by the Company; changes in current revenue and expense trends (including trends affecting delinquency and charge-offs); changes in the Company’s markets and general changes in the economy (particularly in the markets served by the Company).

These and other factors are discussed in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A,“Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020, each as filed with the SEC and the Company’s other reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC from time to time. World Acceptance Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements it makes. The Company is also not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the publication date, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet services.

 
 
 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three months ended

December 31,

 

Nine months ended

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and fee income

$

114,886

 

 

$

130,224

 

 

$

333,632

 

 

$

379,226

 

Insurance income, net and other income

16,060

 

 

16,772

 

 

45,621

 

 

47,786

 

Total revenues

130,946

 

 

146,996

 

 

379,253

 

 

427,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for credit losses

28,857

 

 

55,219

 

 

80,608

 

 

149,479

 

General and administrative expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personnel

46,700

 

 

49,375

 

 

138,155

 

 

151,446

 

Occupancy and equipment

15,058

 

 

13,544

 

 

41,755

 

 

40,455

 

Advertising

6,660

 

 

8,181

 

 

14,528

 

 

20,561

 

Amortization of intangible assets

1,377

 

 

1,391

 

 

4,045

 

 

3,604

 

Other

8,079

 

 

18,066

 

 

26,293

 

 

34,721

 

Total general and administrative expenses

77,874

 

 

90,557

 

 

224,776

 

 

250,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

7,305

 

 

7,130

 

 

18,759

 

 

17,861

 

Total expenses

114,036

 

 

152,906

 

 

324,143

 

 

418,127

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

16,910

 

 

(5,910

)

 

55,110

 

 

8,885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

2,418

 

 

356

 

 

11,711

 

 

4,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

14,492

 

 

$

(6,266

)

 

$

43,399

 

 

$

4,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share, diluted

$

2.25

 

 

$

(0.87

)

 

$

6.44

 

 

$

0.59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

6,452

 

 

7,221

 

 

6,744

 

 

8,163

 

 
 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited and in thousands)

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

March 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2019

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

9,691

 

 

$

11,619

 

 

$

12,039

 

Gross loans receivable

1,264,530

 

 

1,209,871

 

 

1,372,769

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

Unearned interest, insurance and fees

(335,056

)

 

(308,980

)

 

(366,034

)

Allowance for credit losses

(113,467

)

 

(96,488

)

 

(113,070

)

Loans receivable, net

816,007

 

 

804,403

 

 

893,665

 

Right-of-use asset

93,144

 

 

101,687

 

 

122,841

 

Property and equipment, net

26,382

 

 

24,761

 

 

28,215

 

Deferred income taxes, net

26,507

 

 

23,258

 

 

28,912

 

Other assets, net

28,897

 

 

28,548

 

 

31,889

 

Goodwill

7,371

 

 

7,371

 

 

7,240

 

Intangible assets, net

24,886

 

 

24,448

 

 

24,825

 

Assets held for sale

1,144

 

 

3,991

 

 

 

Total assets

$

1,034,029

 

 

$

1,030,086

 

 

$

1,149,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes payable

$

539,600

 

 

$

451,100

 

 

$

583,731

 

Income taxes payable

853

 

 

4,965

 

 

9,288

 

Lease liability

94,385

 

 

102,759

 

 

123,668

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

40,329

 

 

59,299

 

 

42,932

 

Total liabilities

675,167

 

 

618,123

 

 

759,619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

358,862

 

 

411,963

 

 

390,007

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

1,034,029

 

 

$

1,030,086

 

 

$

1,149,626

 

 
 
 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED STATISTICS

(unaudited and in thousands, except percentages and branches)

 

 

Three months ended

December 31,

 

Nine months ended

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross loans receivable

$

1,264,530

 

 

$

1,372,769

 

 

$

1,264,530

 

 

$

1,372,769

 

Average gross loans receivable (1)

1,175,251

 

 

1,310,329

 

 

1,133,065

 

 

1,245,314

 

Net loans receivable (2)

929,474

 

 

1,006,735

 

 

929,474

 

 

1,006,735

 

Average net loans receivable (3)

865,480

 

 

963,664

 

 

839,491

 

 

917,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses as a percentage of total revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for credit losses

22.0

%

 

37.6

%

 

21.3

%

 

35.0

%

General and administrative

59.5

%

 

61.6

%

 

59.3

%

 

58.7

%

Interest expense

5.6

%

 

4.9

%

 

4.9

%

 

4.2

%

Operating income as a % of total revenue (4)

18.5

%

 

0.8

%

 

19.5

%

 

6.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loan volume (5)

782,995

 

 

857,976

 

 

1,893,502

 

 

2,339,899

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net charge-offs as percent of average net loans receivable on an annualized basis

11.6

%

 

18.1

%

 

14.7

%

 

17.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average assets (trailing 12 months)

6.6

%

 

4.2

%

 

6.6

%

 

4.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return on average equity (trailing 12 months)

17.4

%

 

8.7

%

 

17.4

%

 

8.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches opened or acquired (merged or closed), net

(2

)

 

6

 

 

(13

)

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branches open (at period end)

1,230

 

 

1,240

 

 

1,230

 

 

1,240

_______________________________________________________

(1)Average gross loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable over the indicated period, excluding tax advances.

(2) Net loans receivable is defined as gross loans receivable less unearned interest and deferred fees.

(3) Average net loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable less unearned interest and deferred fees over the indicated period, excluding tax advances.

(4) Operating income is computed as total revenues less provision for credit losses and general and administrative expenses.

(5) Loan volume includes all loan balances originated by the Company. It does not include loans purchased through acquisitions.

 
 

 

John L. Calmes, Jr.

Chief Financial and Strategy Officer

(864) 298-9800

KEYWORDS: South Carolina United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Consulting Other Professional Services Professional Services Finance

MEDIA:

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Idera, Inc. Announces Investment from Partners Group

Global Private Markets Investment Manager Acquires Majority Control In Partnership With Current Shareholders And Management

PR Newswire

HOUSTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Idera, Inc. (“Idera” or “the Company”), parent company of global B2B software productivity brands, today announced an agreement to recapitalize the Company, with global private markets investment manager Partners Group becoming majority owner, on behalf of its clients. Current shareholders HGGC and TA Associates will continue as significant equity investors moving forward, along with Idera’s management team.

This recapitalization represents the fourth equity transaction for Idera since 2014 and reflects investor confidence in the Company’s innovative business model and M&A expertise.  Since 2014, Idera has grown revenue, bookings, and earnings by more than 10X.  Organic growth from market-leading assets and acquisitions of nearly 20 companies drive the growth and foretell continued investor success.

“Since partnering with TA in 2014, we devoted ourselves to achieving results beneficial to shareholders, customers, and employees,” said Randy Jacops, Idera’s CEO.  “Our business model ensures we focus on customer priorities and attracts great investors who advise our innovations and support our belief that accepting and managing risk encourages creativity and confidence from our team.  I am honored to lead such a great company and look forward to continuing our success with Partners Group and our other investors.”

“When we first met the Idera team, we discovered a company with a unique business model focused on efficiency, reliability and speed, and one that we believed to be an attractive investment opportunity,” stated Hythem El-Nazer, a Managing Director at TA Associates.  “We became fans of Idera’s product mantra of making products easier to use, more scalable and with exceptional quality. This clear focus eliminated friction from the go-to-market process and enabled the Company to focus on the highest value ideas. We are thrilled to continue to partner with Randy Jacops and his management team on the next phase of growth.”

“When we heard the Idera story, we jumped at the chance to invest in the Company as we pride ourselves on partnering with winning management teams to drive success,” said Steve Young, HGGC Co-Founder and outgoing Idera Chairman.

“After we acquired a majority interest in 2017, we worked with Idera to ramp up the acquisition engine and closed over ten transactions in two years. This pace continues with a new deal announced this week and another pending.  We look forward to more success as continuing investors in this great company,” added Neil White, Partner at HGGC.

Partners Group made an initial investment in Idera, on behalf of its clients, in 2019. As described by Hal Avidano, Managing Director at Partners Group, “We are excited to continue our relationship with Idera and expand its strong platform. Over the past 18 months, we became further convinced of Idera’s business model and the significant market opportunity in the sector. Partners Group is a transformational investor and we believe that our thematic and platform-building expertise is an excellent fit for Idera as it capitalizes on these secular trends and achieves further growth.”

Kirkland & Ellis and Horzepa, Spiegel & Associates acted as legal counsel for Idera.  Ropes & Gray acted as legal counsel for Partners Group.  Deloitte acted as accounting and tax advisor to Idera.  Jefferies will act as lead financing partner and M&A advisor for the transaction.

About Partners Group
Partners Group is a leading global private markets investment manager. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 145 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With over USD 109 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2020, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Partners Group’s private equity business has an established track record of investing in leading businesses with development potential to generate attractive returns for its clients. With entrepreneurial governance at the heart of its approach, Partners Group’s private equity business aims to build high-performing boards and works together with management teams on targeted value creation initiatives. These enable long-term, sustainable growth, to the benefit of all stakeholders. Partners Group’s private equity business has directly invested in over 240 businesses since inception and today has USD 45 billion in assets under management.

About Idera, Inc.
Idera, Inc. delivers B2B software productivity tools that enable technical users to do more with less, faster. Idera, Inc. brands span three divisions—Database Tools, Developer Tools, and Testing Tools—with products evangelized by millions of community members and more than 50,000 customers worldwide, including some of the world’s largest healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology companies. To learn more, visit: https://www.ideracorp.com/.

About HGGC
HGGC is a leading middle-market private equity firm with over $5.4 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., HGGC is distinguished by its Advantaged Investing approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests. Since its inception in 2007, HGGC has completed more than 190 platform investments, add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of over $27 billion. More information, including a complete list of current and former portfolio companies, is available at hggc.com

About TA Associates
TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries – technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services – TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high-quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $3 billion per year. The firm’s more than 100 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.

Media Contacts

Partners Group – Clare Burrows
[email protected]
+1 (212) 908 2708

HGGC – Tom Faust
[email protected]
646-502-3513

TA Associates – Philip Nunes
[email protected]
617-391-0792

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idera-inc-announces-investment-from-partners-group-301213171.html

SOURCE Idera

LIZHI INC. Awarded the Best Innovative Cultural and Entertainment Platforms

PR Newswire

GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — LIZHI INC. (“LIZHI” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: LIZI), a leading online UGC audio community and interactive audio entertainment platform in China, today announced it has received the award of the Best Innovative Cultural and Entertainment Products/Platforms of 2020 granted by iiMedia Research, a third-party data mining and analysis organization headquartered in China.

The award was announced in the Annual Peak List of 2020 New Economy Industry Online Ceremony hosted by iiMedia Research. According to iiMedia Research, based on its big data monitoring system and data modeling system, the voting of netizens and the evaluation of experts, the list recognizes the companies taking a leading role in new economy industries and evaluates such companies in various dimensions such as investment value, comprehensive strength, development potential and innovation capability.

Mr. Jinnan (Marco) Lai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LIZHI, commented, “We believe this award is a recognition of LIZHI’s product innovation and audio entertainment model. Since the launch of its LIZHI App in 2013, LIZHI has been dedicated to empowering users to enjoy an immersive and diversified entertainment experience through audio. Recently, LIZHI launched a new podcast application LIZHI PODCAST (or “LIZHI BOKE”) in early January 2021 to engage a broader user base with high-quality curated podcast content.”

About LIZHI INC.

LIZHI INC. is a leading online UGC audio community and interactive audio entertainment platform in China, with a mission to enable everyone to showcase vocal talent. The Company is aiming to bring people closer together through voices.

Since the launch of its LIZHI App in 2013, LIZHI has cultivated a vibrant and growing community encouraging audio content creation and sharing. Now LIZHI is an audio wonderland offering a wide range of podcasts and audio entertainment products and features, including audio live streaming and various interactive audio social products, empowering users to enjoy an immersive and diversified entertainment experience through audio.

LIZHI envisions a global audio community – a place where everyone can create, share and connect with each other through voices and across cultures.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lizhi-inc-awarded-the-best-innovative-cultural-and-entertainment-platforms-301213158.html

SOURCE LIZHI INC.

Baidu to Hold Extraordinary General Meeting on March 1, 2021

PR Newswire

BEIJING, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading Internet platform and AI company, today announced that it will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “EGM”) at 11:00 a.m. on March 1, 2021 (Beijing time) at the address of No. 10 Shangdi 10th Street, Haidian District, Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.

A proposal of changing the Company’s authorized share capital by one-to-eighty subdivision of shares (“Share Subdivision”) will be submitted to Baidu’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. Subject to the approval of the Share Subdivision at the EGM, Baidu’s board of directors (the “Board”) has approved a change in the American depositary share (“ADS”) ratio proportionate to the Share Subdivision from ten (10) ADSs representing one (1) Class A ordinary share to one (1) ADS representing eight (8) Class A ordinary shares (the “ADS Ratio Change”), to take effect on March 1, 2021. For Baidu’s ADS holders, the percentage interest in the Company represented by each ADS will not be altered, and the impact on the Company’s per-ADS trading price on Nasdaq is neutral. Holders of ADSs need not take any action in regards to the ADS Ratio Change.

The Board has fixed the close of business on January 28, 2021 (Eastern Standard Time) as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to attend, the EGM or any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. Holders of record of the Company’s Class A or Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.00005 per share, at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the EGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of the Company’s ADSs who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying Class A ordinary shares must act through the depositary of the Company’s ADS program, The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Depositary”). The notice of the EGM, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the meeting, is available on the Company’s website at http://ir.baidu.com.  

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is a leading search engine, knowledge-and-information centered Internet platform and AI company. The Company’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu’s ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BIDU”. Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

Contacts

Investors Relations, Baidu, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5992-8888
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

HempFusion to Ring Today’s Opening Bell of the Toronto Stock Exchange

HempFusion to Ring Today’s Opening Bell of the Toronto Stock Exchange

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
HempFusion Wellness Inc. (TSX:CBD.U) (FWB:8OO) (“HempFusion” or the “Company”), a leading health and wellness CBD company utilizing the power of whole-food hemp nutrition, will celebrate the Company’s listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) by virtually ringing the TSX opening bell at 9:30 a.m. ET today. As previously announced, HempFusion completed its $17,000,000 initial public offering and commenced trading on the TSX on January 6, 2021.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005074/en/

“It’s an honor to complete our initial public offering and listing on Canada’s most senior stock exchange, and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to ring the opening bell this morning,” commented Jason Mitchell N.D., HempFusion’s co-founder and CEO.

Dr. Mitchell will be joined in the virtual ceremony by the Company’s senior management, board of directors and other key HempFusion team members.

A live webcast of the TSX opening bell ceremony will be available beginning shortly before 9:30 a.m. ET on BNN Bloomberg.

ABOUT HEMPFUSION

HempFusion is a leading health and wellness CBD company utilizing the power of whole-food hemp nutrition. HempFusion distributes its family of brands, including HempFusion, Probulin Probiotics, Biome Research, and HF Labs, to approximately 4,000 retail locations across all 50 states of the United States and select international locations. Built on a foundation of regulatory compliance and human safety, HempFusion’s diverse product portfolio comprises 46 SKUs including tinctures, proprietary FDA Drug Listed Over-The-Counter (OTC) Topicals, Doctor/Practitioner Lines and more. With a strong focus on research and development, HempFusion has an additional 30 products under development. HempFusion is a board member of the US Hemp Roundtable, and HempFusion’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Probulin Probiotics, is one of the fastest-growing probiotics companies in the United States, according to SPINs reported data. HempFusion’s CBD products are based on a proprietary Whole Food Hemp Complex™ and are available in-store or by visiting HempFusion online at www.hempfusion.com or www.probulin.com.

Follow HempFusion on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and Probulin on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Jason Mitchell, N.D.

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-803-5638

KEYWORDS: California United States North America Canada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: General Health Health Retail Fitness & Nutrition Tobacco

MEDIA:

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Whitmore and Shell Lubricants Announce Definitive Agreement to Form Joint Venture to Provide Industrial Products and Services to North America Rail and United States Mining Customers

DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CSW Industrials, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSWI) and Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS products (“Shell”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Company that comprises Shell’s United States (“U.S.”) lubricants business, announced today the execution of a definitive agreement under which Whitmore Manufacturing, LLC (“Whitmore”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CSWI, and Shell will form a joint venture (“JV”) to market, distribute, and sell lubricants, greases, coolants, reliability products, and related industrial services to the North America rail and U.S. mining sectors. The JV, which will be named Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solutions, LLC, is expected to be owned fifty percent by each of Whitmore and Shell.

The JV will combine the strengths of Whitmore and Shell to offer multi-sector expertise; advanced equipment technologies and services; and an integrated product portfolio that meets the unique needs of companies engaged in North America Class I, II, and III rail (excluding municipal transit systems) and U.S. mining (excluding quarries).

Joseph B. Armes, CSW Industrials Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Today’s announcement represents a first step toward offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions to rail and mining customers. When Shell first approached us about this opportunity to form a partnership, our team quickly realized the value in an expanded commercial relationship with a world class organization to drive accretive growth for shareholders, promote proprietary products and technologies to customers, and increase capacity utilization at Whitmore’s existing manufacturing facility.”

“Whitmore and Shell customers are at the heart of the rationale for creating this JV,” noted Machteld de Haan, President of Shell Lubricants Americas. “The resilient B2B sectors are key pillars for the future of Shell Lubricants, where we see a lot of opportunity for growth to support the market. Partnering with Whitmore, a leading provider of reliability products, high-performance greases, friction modifiers, and rail products, in creating this JV helps us to progress toward the execution of this strategy.”

The JV will be staffed by Whitmore and Shell sales and technical professionals with extensive experience in the rail and mining sectors, enabling the successful transfer of relationships, technical knowledge, and sector expertise. The products manufactured and sold by the JV will benefit from Shell’s and Whitmore’s proprietary industrial lubricant and grease formulations and technologies.

A key part of the JV’s success will be its manufacturing agreement with Whitmore. The JV’s production assets will be co-located at Whitmore’s Rockwall, Texas facility and operated by Whitmore, where the JV will benefit from Whitmore’s scale and expertise. This structure is expected to optimize Whitmore’s existing manufacturing capacity through increased production output to be contributed by both Shell and Whitmore, and to position the JV for future growth.

An additional benefit of the companies’ collaboration is an expanded commercial relationship between Whitmore and Shell, which is expected to significantly broaden the reach of Whitmore’s reliability products through Shell’s extensive distribution channels throughout the Americas (excluding the JV’s business sectors).

Armes added, “Through this JV and our expanded distribution relationship with one of the premier brands in the reliability industry, we expect to expand our reach across the Americas and to enhance utilization at our world class Whitmore Manufacturing facility in Rockwall, Texas. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Shell, while supporting the effort with our decades of experience in the production of small batch customized products for specialized applications.”

The JV is subject to customary closing conditions and expects to commence operations in the first half of calendar 2021. As Whitmore and Shell work toward the successful formation of the JV, each company’s representatives will provide separate communications to respective in-scope customers with key information regarding the potential transition of business to the JV.

About CSW Industrials

CSWI is a diversified industrial growth company with well-established, scalable platforms and domain expertise across two segments: Industrial Products and Specialty Chemicals. CSWI’s broad portfolio of leading products provides performance optimizing solutions to its customers. CSWI’s products include mechanical products for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (“HVAC/R”) applications, sealants, and high-performance specialty lubricants. Markets that CSWI serves include: HVAC/R, architecturally-specified building products, general industrial, plumbing, rail, energy, and mining. For more information, please visit www.cswindustrials.com.

About Whitmore Manufacturing

Whitmore is a global-provider of innovative products and services that increase the reliability, performance and lifespan of industrial assets. Whitmore manufactures high performance lubricants, friction modifiers, application equipment, lubrication management systems, desiccant breathers, and cleaners designed to meet the specific needs of each industry and application. Industrial customers worldwide rely on Whitmore to deliver the performance engineered solutions industry counts on even in the most adverse conditions and demanding environments. For more information, please visit https://www.whitmores.com/.

About Shell Lubricants

The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies have led the global lubricants industry by volume for more than 14 consecutive years.* The companies manufacture and blend products for use in consumer, heavy industrial, and commercial transport applications. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX®, Shell Gadus®, and Jiffy Lube®. http://www.shell.us

*Source: Kline & Company 2020, 18th Edition Global Lubricants: Market Analysis and Assessment.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, earnings forecasts, effective tax rate, statements relating to our business strategy, and statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, and anticipated developments concerning our industry, business, operations, and financial performance and condition.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on our current expectations, projections, estimates, and assumptions. These statements are only predictions, not guarantees. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from what is forecast in such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation, the risk factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as may be required by law.

Investor Relations

Adrianne D. Griffin
Vice President, Investor Relations, & Treasurer
214-489-7113
[email protected]