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Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro and Orthotics help Denver Fire Department reduce injuries, improve comfort and performance

The Denver Fire Department is the first in the nation to implement foot-scanning technology into service workers’ wellness & fitness program

 

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aetrex, Inc. (“Aetrex”), the global market leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics and comfort & wellness footwear, today announced the implementation of its Albert 2 Pro 3D foot scanning technology in the Denver Fire Department (DFD). The foot scanning system is a key component of its firefighters’ wellness and fitness program, developed in February 2021 to provide firefighters with a holistic approach to performance health. In addition to scanning feet, the program includes fitness and medical exams, movement and asymmetry analysis, aerobic capacity measurement, and other physical and mental health evaluations.


Most safety footwear available to firefighters today does not offer the comfort, support and alignment needed for proper foot health. Armed with the knowledge that a large part of physical health and injury prevention begins with one’s feet, the DFD began searching for a simple foot scanning solution in 2021 and decided to purchase the Albert 2 Pro in May 2022 to gain holistic insight into the footwear needs of the department’s 1,000+ firefighters.

 

“Compared to other foot scanning technologies on the market, Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro stood out for its tailored orthotic recommendations, ease of use and scalability for the needs of our team. We were also drawn to the dual static and dynamic scan capability,” said Eric Tade, Assistant Chief of the Fire Department.

 

The scanner has proven to be an important, seamless addition to their program. “The interactive, visual education component of an Albert 2 Pro foot scan allows our firefighters to open up about any foot pain or related issues they are experiencing. We use the scanner’s built-in Learning Center program to educate firefighters on common foot pain sources and how orthotics can help,” said Tade.

 

As one of the nation’s first fire departments to hire a full-time physical therapist, the team has consulted with their in-house physical therapists and leveraged foot scans to offer firefighters personalized foot health solutions. Aetrex Orthotics, including 3D-printed custom orthotics, are recommended to each firefighter based on their unique needs and are funded through the DFD’s charitable foundation. Foot scan findings have shown plantar fasciitis to be the most common ailment among firefighters, while many experience knee and hip issues related to stability concerns.

 

The DFD’s wildland team, which deploys in the Alaskan wilderness for 2-3 weeks at a time, has benefitted the most from the integration of Aetrex’s products. After weeks on their feet in uneven terrain, using custom Aetrex Orthotics recommended by the scanner, wildland firefighters have reported faster recovery, fewer injuries and improved performance.

 

“Lack of proper foot support is a common problem among frontline and service workers of all kinds. We’re thrilled our foot scanning technology and orthotics are providing a personalized level of comfort and support to each of the Denver Firefighters, especially in their line of work where staying healthy on their feet is vital to their lives and others,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO at Aetrex, Inc.

 

Following the success of the Albert 2 Pro’s introduction into the fire department’s wellness program, the City of Denver plans to supply Aetrex’s scanner and orthotics to the sheriff’s department, beginning with scans for several hundred sheriffs this winter.

 

To learn more about Aetrex’s technology suite and footwear, please visit www.aetrex.com.

 

About Aetrex

Aetrex, Inc. is widely recognized as a global leader in foot scanning technology, orthotics and comfort and wellness footwear. Aetrex has developed state-of-the-art foot scanning devices, including Albert, Albert 2 Pro, a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree, 3D Fit and iStep, designed to accurately measure feet and determine foot type and pressure points. Since 2002, Aetrex has placed over 10,000 scanners worldwide that have performed more than 40 million unique customer foot scans, currently averaging more than 2.5 million scans a year.

 

The company is renowned for its over-the-counter orthotics – the worlds #1 premium foot orthotic. With fashion, function and quality at the forefront, Aetrex also designs and manufactures stylish, performance footwear. Based in New Jersey, Aetrex is consistently named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies and was also included in NJBIZ’s Top 30 Manufacturing Companies. It has remained privately owned by the Schwartz family for three generations. For additional information, visit www.aetrex.com.

Contacts

Media
Rajira Hernandez

Matter Communications

978-225-8082

aetrex@matternow.com

Categories
Business Environment Lifestyle Technology

Chemours and Honeywell announce program to enable reclamation and recycling of refrigerants in support of circular economy

WILMINGTON, Del. & MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $CC–The Chemours Company (“Chemours”) (NYSE: CC), and Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), today announced the launch of a new pilot program to enable qualified companies to recycle and reclaim R-448A, also known as Honeywell Solstice® N40, and R-449A, also known as Opteon™ XP40, patented HFO refrigerant blends in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

In recent years, global regulatory drivers and the increasing need for a circular economy have spurred interest in activities such as recycling and reclamation of refrigerants. Chemours and Honeywell are uniquely positioned to support these activities and license qualified companies to recycle and reclaim patented fluorochemical refrigerants. The old refrigerant is cleaned, returned to specification and used for service of refrigeration systems that need it. To ensure the integrity of these operations and the safety and quality of the resulting R-448A and R-449A, important criteria have been established for potential program participants including audit requirements and strict record-keeping.

 

“At Chemours, we strive to create a better world through the power of our chemistry,” said Alisha Bellezza President of Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours. “This program demonstrates that commitment by providing the market with peace of mind that reclaimed and recycled HFO refrigerants are safe, legal and meet stringent industry standards. These patented products, R-448A and R-449A, were invented and developed to bring efficient, low-global-warming-potential (GWP) solutions to the market, and this program ensures that qualified recyclers and reclaimers utilize product that originated from an authorized source to be legally available for sale.”

 

“Honeywell is committed to developing ready-now solutions, including our Solstice portfolio of hydrofluoroolefin technology, and supporting our customers in their environmental transformations,” said Ken West, president, Honeywell Advanced Materials. “This program is one example and an important step in enabling the broader recovery, recycling and reclamation of fourth generation fluorochemical refrigerants, such as our reduced-GWP, energy-efficient, non-flammable Solstice N40, for a more sustainable future.”

 

About The Chemours Company

The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. We deliver customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemicals products for markets, including coatings, plastics, refrigeration and air conditioning, transportation, semiconductor and consumer electronics, general industrial, and oil and gas. Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Ti-Pure™, Opteon™, Freon™, Teflon™, Viton™, Nafion™, and Krytox™. The company has approximately 6,400 employees and 29 manufacturing sites serving approximately 3,200 customers in approximately 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC.

 

For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com or follow us on Twitter @Chemours or LinkedIn.

 

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

 

Chemours Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains 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 involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date such statements were made. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the outcome or resolution of any pending or future environmental liabilities, the commencement, outcome or resolution of any regulatory inquiry, investigation or proceeding, the initiation, outcome or settlement of any litigation, changes in environmental regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that affect demand for or adoption of our products, anticipated future operating and financial performance for our segments individually and our company as a whole, business plans, prospects, targets, goals and commitments, capital investments and projects and target capital expenditures, plans for dividends or share repurchases, sufficiency or longevity of intellectual property protection, cost reductions or savings targets, plans to increase profitability and growth, our ability to make acquisitions, integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations, and achieve anticipated synergies or cost savings, all of which are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond Chemours’ control. In addition, the current COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the national and global economy and commodity and financial markets, which has had and we expect will continue to have a negative impact on our financial results. The full extent and impact of the pandemic is still being determined and to date has included significant volatility in financial and commodity markets and a severe disruption in economic activity. The public and private sector response has led to travel restrictions, temporary business closures, quarantines, stock market volatility, and interruptions in consumer and commercial activity globally. Matters outside our control have affected our business and operations and may or may continue to hinder our ability to provide goods and services to customers, cause disruptions in our supply chains, adversely affect our business partners, significantly reduce the demand for our products, adversely affect the health and welfare of our personnel or cause other unpredictable events. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law.

 

Honeywell Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are those that address activities, events or developments that management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. They are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ significantly from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, that can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. In addition, no assurance can be given that any plan, initiative, projection, goal commitment, expectation, or prospect set forth in this release can or will be achieved. Any forward-looking plans described herein are not final and may be modified or abandoned at any time. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

INVESTORS

Jonathan Lock
SVP, Chief Development Officer, Chemours

+1.302.773.2263
investor@chemours.com

Kurt Bonner,
Manager, Investor Relations, Chemours
+1.302.773.0026
investor@chemours.com

Sean Meakim
Investor Relations, Honeywell
704-627-6200
sean.meakim@honeywell.com

NEWS MEDIA

Cassie Olszewski

Media Relations and Financial Communications Manager, Chemours

+1.302.219.7140
media@chemours.com

Stephanie Agresti
External Communications, Honeywell Advanced Materials
973-289-0377
stephanie.agresti@honeywell.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle Science Technology

Cherokee County (GA) District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, joins growing number of DAs transforming digital evidence management with NICE Evidencentral

Streamlining the management of digital evidence will enable the County to provide justice for victims while prosecuting cases more efficiently

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #NICE—NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that the Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit (Cherokee County, Georgia), will be deploying NICE Justice, one of the cloud solutions in NICE’s Evidencentral platform, to digitally transform how it manages evidence. In recent years, digital evidence has dramatically increased, leading to the need to accelerate the process of receiving evidence from law enforcement and providing discovery to defense attorneys.

Part of the Evidencentral cloud-based platform, NICE Justice digitally transforms how prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and other office staff receive, interact with, manage and share digital evidence of all types and formats, providing a single place and view of the truth from incident to court. It automates processes and streamlines methods of managing digital evidence, from evidence intake, investigation and storage to discovery and trial preparation. Freed of dealing with discs, drives, emails, and logging into multiple systems to manage and prepare evidence, staff can focus on building and presenting compelling cases, to get to the truth faster.

 

Shannon Wallace, District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, said, “Our prosecution approach has always been victim-centered, and this new system will enable us to better and more efficiently serve those who have been impacted by crime. It is imperative that we have an effective system to manage digital evidence, which is essential in nearly all our cases. From dashcam video to surveillance cameras, cell phones to laptops, so much evidence is in a digital format that requires special care, adequate storage, security, and the ability to download from law enforcement agencies as well as export as discovery to defense attorneys. Through NICE Justice, we can streamline processes that lead to faster case resolutions, greater transparency, improved collaboration, and better service and fair prosecution in a timely manner to the citizens of Cherokee County, all while ensuring that justice is served efficiently and effectively. We are so appreciative of our Board of Commissioners for approving funding for this phenomenal system.”

 

Chris Wooten, Executive Vice President, NICE, said, “Our Evidencentral platform is helping all types of public safety and criminal justice agencies transform digital evidence management, from collection and preparation to disclosure and presentation. For district attorneys’ offices in particular, digital evidence is at the center of the work assistant district attorneys do every day. NICE Justice transforms every aspect of how digital evidence is collected, analyzed and shared, so district attorney’s offices can manage the volumes of evidence more efficiently, arrive at the truth faster, and get back to the important work of seeking justice for those impacted by crime.”

 

With NICE Justice, all digital evidence is stored in one place and uploaded video evidence is automatically transcoded to a playable format. The system provides time-saving tools to assist with trial prep, including transcription, video clip and timeline creation, and redaction. In addition, instead of spending hours copying, preparing, and sending discovery, staff members can share evidence with defense attorneys through a fully electronic, trackable process.

 

To learn more about NICE’s digital transformation solutions for Public Safety and Justice:

  • Visit the NICE website by clicking here.
  • Email PSInfo@NICE.com for more information.

 

About the Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, Cherokee County, GA

The Office of the District Attorney is committed to seeking justice, acting with integrity, and collaborating with partner agencies in the criminal justice system in order to protect the citizens of Cherokee County and the State of Georgia. Staffed by prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, and other professionals, the Office receives more than 2,400 cases for prosecution each year, including felony cases and juvenile court. Cherokee County is located about 30 miles north of Atlanta. www.cherokeega.com/District-Attorneys-Office

 

NICE Public Safety & Justice

With over 3,000 customers and 30 years of experience, NICE helps all types of public safety and criminal justice agencies, from emergency communications and law enforcement to prosecutors and courts, digitally transform how they manage digital evidence and data from beginning to end, to get to the truth faster. NICE’s Evidencentral platform features an ecosystem of integrated technologies that bring data together to give a single view of the truth, enabling public safety and justice agencies to do what they do better – whether it’s responding to incidents, investigating and building cases, or prosecuting crimes. With comprehensive digital transformation solutions that can be deployed across entire counties and states, NICE also helps everyone work better together, so justice flows more smoothly, from incident to court. https://www.nicepublicsafety.com

 

About NICE

With NICE (Nasdaq: NICE), it’s never been easier for organizations of all sizes around the globe to create extraordinary customer experiences while meeting key business metrics. Featuring the world’s #1 cloud native customer experience platform, CXone, NICE is a worldwide leader in AI-powered self-service and agent-assisted CX software for the contact center – and beyond. Over 25,000 organizations in more than 150 countries, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 companies, partner with NICE to transform – and elevate – every customer interaction. www.nice.com

 

Trademark Note: NICE and the NICE logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE’s marks, please see: www.nice.com/nice-trademarks.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Wooten, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the “Company”). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “seek,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “project,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in economic and business conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; successful execution of the Company’s growth strategy; success and growth of the Company’s cloud Software-as-a-Service business; changes in technology and market requirements; decline in demand for the Company’s products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties or delays in absorbing and integrating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company’s dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners;, cyber security attacks or other security breaches against the Company; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.

Contacts

Corporate Media Contact
Christopher Irwin-Dudek, +1 201 561 4442, ET chris.irwin-dudek@nice.com

Investors
Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ET ir@nice.com
Omri Arens, +972 3 763 0127, CET ir@nice.com

Categories
Business Education Lifestyle Regulations & Security Science Technology

Knightscope (Nasdaq: KSCP) receives contract for 41 machines from university in New Jersey

Public Safety Innovator Continues Market Expansion Improving Campus Safety

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $KSCP #SecurityRobot—Knightscope, Inc. (Nasdaq: KSCP), a leading developer of autonomous security robots, today announces a new contract at a New Jersey university for 31 of its K1 Blue Light Towers and 10 of its K1 Blue Light E-Phones.


According to a Times Higher Education student survey, visible security and more crime prevention measures were among the top recommendations for improved safety. With more and more students considering personal safety among their selection criteria when choosing a college or university to attend, it is likely that campuses with more security systems in place, like those offered by Knightscope, experience increases in enrollment and revenue.

 

Emergency blue light communication devices are iconic, recognizable symbols of safety that serve to deter potential negative activities from great distances. Given that blue light towers are immobile, Knightscope also offers its mobile Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) as an additional layer of defense to extend the protective reach beyond their physical location. With thoughtful integrations, the mobility of ASRs combined with the convenience of near instant emergency communications of the blue light phones can greatly reduce crime on any campus.

 

Knightscope’s cellular and satellite communications with solar power provide students, faculty and visitors additional safety when away from campus buildings. This is a powerful step forward in achieving the four cornerstones of campus safety that administrators and officials should seek: communication, prevention, mobilization and apprehension.

 

Click here to schedule an appointment with an expert to discover how Knightscope can help you better secure the places people live, study, work and visit.

 

About Knightscope

Knightscope is an advanced security technology company based in Silicon Valley that builds fully autonomous security robots that deter, detect and report. Knightscope’s long-term ambition is to make the United States of America the safest country in the world. Learn more about the company at www.knightscope.com. Follow Knightscope on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain ”forward-looking statements” about Knightscope’s future expectations, plans, outlook, projections and prospects. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ”should,” ”may,” ”intends,” ”anticipates,” ”believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “plans,” ”proposes” and similar expressions. Although Knightscope believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in Knightscope’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained, and Knightscope does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

Contacts

Public Relations:

Stacy Stephens

Knightscope, Inc.

(650) 924-1025

Corporate Communications:

IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork)

Los Angeles, California

www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office

Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle Perks

Champion® Athleticwear rewards fans by letting them swap any hoodie for a new Champion hoodie … for free

In the next chapter of its “Be Your Own” campaign, Champion’s National Hoodie Swap lets fans swap any pre-owned pretender hoodie for the OG on November 19th

 

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Champion is rewarding fans this weekend with the launch of the inaugural nationwide “Hoodie Swap” on Nov. 19. Fans can “swap” any pre-owned pretender hoodie for a NEW Champion hoodie for FREE at participating Champion stores and outlet locations, just in time for the holiday gifting season.


As the inventor of the hoodie more than 80 years ago, Champion sets the standard for excellence in all hoodies, defining personal style from the sidelines to the streets.

 

“The Champion Hoodie Swap rewards our fans, letting everyone trade in any pre-owned pretender hoodie for a free Champion hoodie,” said John Shumate, Vice President of Global Marketing, Champion. “It’s our way of celebrating Champion’s role as a style icon.”

 

The Champion Hoodie Swap is available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm or while supplies last. Limit one swap per customer.

 

To keep up the spirit of giving, Champion is donating all swapped hoodies to Refried Apparel, a sustainable lifestyle brand that will turn the hoodie materials into new, unique, handcrafted garments. Champion fans can feel good about doing good, while sporting the only real hoodie that exists today.

 

Champion’s first-ever Global Culture Consultant, Saweetie, will be the first to swap a pre-owned hoodie in her hometown of Los Angeles at the Champion Heritage Store, motivating fans to follow suit on November 19th.

 

“I’ve been a fan of Champion since high school when I fell in love with the comfort, style and fit of my first-ever Champion hoodie,” said Saweetie. “As a collector of hoodies, there’s nothing like the quality of a Reverse Weave. I’m excited to be a part of the brand’s Hoodie Swap to help outfit the nation in this iconic staple.”

 

Participating Champion store and Champion outlet Hoodie Swap Locations:

California

Louisiana

New York

La Brea

Gonzales

Broadway

Citadel

Niagara Falls

Gilroy

Massachusetts

Riverhead

Livermore

Newbury

Waterloo

Wrentham

Colorado

Lee

North Carolina

Thornton

Nags Head

Maine

Smithfield

Delaware

Kittery Outlet

Winston-Salem

Rehoboth Beach Outlet
Michigan

Pennsylvania

Florida

Auburn Hills

Hershey

Miami

Philadelphia

Orlando

Nevada

Sunrise

Las Vegas

South Carolina

Las Vegas North

N Myrtle Beach

Illinois

Las Vegas South

Wicker Park

Texas

Aurora Il

New Hampshire

San Marcos

Rosemont

Tilton Outlet

Allen

Indiana

New Jersey

Virginia

Michigan City Outlet

Jackson

Leesburg

Tinton Falls Outlet
Washington

Tulalip

 

To learn more about Champion hoodies, please visit Champion Hoodie HQ.

 

ABOUT CHAMPION® ATHLETICWEAR:

Since 1919, Champion has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women, including activewear, sweats, tees, sports bras, team uniforms, footwear and accessories. Champion uses innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for consumers and believes that Champions are defined by how they carry themselves in sports and beyond. Champion apparel can be purchased at department stores, sporting goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com. For more information, visit us at Facebook.com/Champion, follow us on Twitter @Championusa or on Instagram @Champion. Champion is a brand of HanesBrands (NYSE:HBI).

Contacts

Jamie Wallis

Hanesbrands

Jamie.Wallis@hanes.com

Stephanie Lett

Citizen Relations

Stephanie.lett@citizenrelations.com

Categories
Business

Global trend of origin-based rating creates major revenue opportunities for Network Service Providers

  • What’s the News: Dozens of countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have implemented origin-based rating (OBR), which uses both the origination location and the termination destination of a voice call to determine the correct amount to charge. Network Service Providers may also add surcharges and penalties if the call’s identification information is inaccurate or invalid.
  • Why it Matters: Network Service Providers are looking for new income streams to offset shrinking voice, data revenues and margins. If they implement OBR quickly and correctly, it can be a major new source of revenue — and enable them to avoid penalties and surcharges that can be 3,000% over standard termination rates.

 

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Origin-based rating (OBR) is an emerging global trend affecting every Network Service Provider that originates or terminates international voice traffic. Implemented quickly and correctly, OBR can be a major, much needed new source of revenue while also giving Network Service Providers the tools they need to support anti-fraud and call-blocking initiatives, including verified caller ID.

For decades, many Network Service Providers charged flat-rate termination fees regardless of the call’s originating country, the service provider and the type of connection used (mobile or fixed). But this model may no longer make financial sense due to trends such as data usage outpacing voice and the rise of over-the-top (OTT) providers.

 

Dozens of countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have implemented OBR programs, which enable Network Service Providers to identify and monetize all of those previously overlooked attributes. For example, terminating Network Service Providers can apply charges to termination rates based on the call’s originating country, service provider and line type.

 

Terminating Network Service Providers may also add a surcharge to the rate if calling line identification (CLID) or automatic number identification (ANI) is not accurately provided by the originating service provider, as well as charge a penalty for calls with manipulated or invalid telephone numbers. These surcharges and penalties can be more than 3,000% over a Network Service Provider’s standard termination rate and 30 times the margin generated on that traffic.

 

Network Service Providers can use iconectiv’s TruNumber Protect to simplify and streamline OBR management. By adding TruNumber Protect to their existing rating and billing solutions, Network Service Providers can immediately and accurately determine the correct charges and surcharges, all of which can add up to a significant amount of new, much-needed revenue.

 

Implementing TruNumber Protect for OBR also allows Network Service Providers to use the solution to support their anti-fraud and call-blocking initiatives. This includes the emerging global trend toward verified caller ID using standards such as Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN).

 

“As a rapidly emerging global trend, OBR is now a must-have capability for any and every Network Service Provider that originates or terminates international voice traffic,” said Peter Ford, Executive Vice President of iconectiv. “OBR is a great opportunity for Network Service Providers to save and make money, right at a time when they need it most. iconectiv’s TruNumber Protect gives Network Service Providers everything they need to capitalize on the OBR trend.”

 

A new market brief from iconectiv explores OBR and can be downloaded here.

 

About iconectiv

Your business and your customers need to access and exchange information simply, seamlessly and securely. iconectiv’s extensive experience in information services and its unmatched numbering intelligence helps you do just that. In fact, more than 2 billion people count on our platforms each day to keep their networks, devices and applications connected. Our cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions span network and operations management, numbering, trusted communications and fraud prevention. For more information, visit www.iconectiv.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Media Contacts:
Sharon Oddy, iconectiv

soddy@iconectiv.com

Casey Bush

Global Results Communications
+1-949-608-0276

iconectiv@globalresultspr.com

Categories
Business International & World News Now! Perks

AM Best affirms credit ratings of Tune Protect Re Ltd.

SINGAPORE — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) of Tune Protect Re Ltd. (TPR) (Malaysia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect TPR’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

 

TPR’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation that is expected to remain at the strongest level over the medium term, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best views the company as having a moderate risk investment strategy with investment assets predominantly held in unit trust funds, whereby the underlying assets are mainly fixed-income securities with good credit quality. Partial offsetting balance sheet factors include the company’s modest-sized absolute capital base compared with peer reinsurers (USD 36 million at year-end 2021), which increases the susceptibility of capital adequacy to volatility under stressed scenarios. AM Best’s balance sheet strength analysis also incorporates a neutral holding company impact following an assessment of consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation of TPR’s parent group, Tune Protect Group Berhad (TPG).

 

AM Best considers TPR’s operating performance to be adequate. Whilst TPR’s revenue and operating earnings were impacted adversely amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has been able to grow its premium base through geographical expansion and new business partners in recent periods. Prospectively, TPR is expected to achieve moderate revenue growth and robust operating earnings over the medium term, driven by the recovery of air travel and new product initiatives. However, the performance metrics remain sensitive to the company’s ability to develop and maintain profitable arrangements with distribution partners. TPR recorded a five-year average net investment yield of 2.9% (2017-2021).

 

AM Best assesses TPR’s business profile as limited given its position as a niche reinsurer with a focus on travel-related insurance products. TPR leverages TPG’s in-house technology platform to support and distribute policies in collaboration with corporate partners including airlines and travel agencies. Over the medium term, the company is expected to accelerate its diversification into new lines of business (including lifestyle and supplemental healthcare products) and new business partners.

 

Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication.

 

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

 

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

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Yi Ding
Senior Financial Analyst
+65 6303 5021
yi.ding@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Michael Dunckley, CFA
Director, Analytics
+65 6303 5020
michael.dunckley@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Communications Specialist
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Culture Lifestyle Perks

​​B2C2 appoints Nicola White as Group CEO

LONDON, TOKYO, & JERSEY CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — B2C2, the institutional digital asset pioneer, today announces that it has appointed Nicola White as Group CEO. Having been instrumental to the acquisition of B2C2 by SBI, Phillip Gillespie will step down as Group CEO to focus on a ventures role with SBI. The appointment is effective as of November 4 and follows a planned transition over the past three months.


Nicola was previously CEO, USA for B2C2, during which time she led the effort to expand B2C2’s capabilities in electronic trading across spot and derivatives and has grown the US business to gain significant market share across institutional clients. Nicola joined B2C2 in 2021 from Citadel Securities, where she was global COO of fixed income. Prior to this, she was Global Head of Electronic Markets within the fixed income division at Morgan Stanley.

 

B2C2 also recently announced the appointment of Thomas Restout as EMEA CEO. Thomas joined B2C2 from Morgan Stanley, where he was latterly Global Head of Macro Electronic Trading. He has brought additional and complementary market knowledge, as well as risk management and product innovation expertise to B2C2.

 

Max Boonen, Co-Founder & Director of B2C2 said: “I knew we made a strong hire when Nicola joined the New Jersey office in 2021. Earlier this year I supported her promotion within B2C2’s leadership. The next twelve months in the crypto market will not be for the faint of heart and I am glad to have Nicola with us as we embark on an aggressive effort of market share expansion.”

 

Nicola White, Group CEO, B2C2 said: “I am honored and excited to be appointed to the role of Group CEO at this time of significant growth for the firm. We wish Philip success in his role with SBI. While we are experiencing volatile times in the crypto market, our firm has continued to provide critical, deep liquidity to our clients. B2C2’s role as a pioneer that creates a sustainable ecosystem, is to support our clients and the market as a whole, with dependable liquidity and robust risk management. Despite the current stresses the market is experiencing, in the future the crypto market will emerge stronger, and I’m looking forward to working with Thomas and my outstanding team as we drive the industry forward.”

 

ENDS

About B2C2

More than just a liquidity provider, B2C2 is a digital asset pioneer building the ecosystem of the future. The firm has unlocked institutional access to crypto by providing reliable liquidity across market conditions. B2C2’s success is built on crypto native technology and continuous product innovation, making it the partner of choice for diverse institutions globally. Founded in 2015 and majority owned by Japanese financial group, SBI, B2C2 Ltd is headquartered in the UK, with offices in the US and Japan.

 

B2C2 Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 07995888 with its registered office at 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE. B2C2 Ltd is the parent company of the B2C2 group of companies. Products may be provided by different members of the B2C2 group of companies, depending on the jurisdiction of the client and the regulatory status of the product and/or B2C2 group member. B2C2 is a registered trademark.

Contacts

Media Contacts:

B2C2@eternapartners.com
Serra Balls and Jenny Berlin

+ 44 (0)7775 763018

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Business News Now! Travel & Leisure

AM Best downgrades Issuer Credit Rating of The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance—AM Best has downgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bb” (Fair) from “bb+” (Fair) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) of The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT) (Columbus, OH). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect UCT’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its weak operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management.

 

The ratings also reflect UCT’s declining level of risk-adjusted capitalization in support of its insurance and investment risks (despite a conservative investment portfolio and the extensive use of reinsurance), a decline in direct premiums written, and negatively trending net income. The company also maintains an overall small absolute level of capital, which together with its limited financial flexibility and lack of diversification has the potential to magnify the impact of unfavorable operating trends on risk-adjusted capitalization.

 

UCT’s operating performance has been weak during the past couple of years due to headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic and higher-than-expected claims. The company maintains modest market positions in a highly competitive accident and health segment in which many of its competitors enjoy significant scale advantages, which limits UCT’s business profile.

 

However, AM Best notes that UCT implemented an Insurance Oversight Board in April 2019 to help manage its strategic planning, mitigate risks and provide insurance industry expertise. AM Best will continue to monitor UCT’s capital level and operating performance over the near term as the oversight board works with the company. AM Best also notes that UCT has been refocusing its dental, vision and hearing line of business as its primary product line to have it represent a smaller proportion of its written premiums, and provide better diversification between the products in its portfolio While the company has made strategic business shifts in products and distribution, the full impact has yet to be realized.

 

The stable Long-Term ICR outlook reflects AM Best’s expectation that the company will maintain an overall balance sheet assessment in the adequate range over the intermediate term and continue to focus on improving its weak operating performance.

 

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

 

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

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Stratos Laskarides
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5613
Stratos.laskarides@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Edward Kohlberg
Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5664
edward.kohlberg@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Communications Specialist
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098
al.slavin@ambest.com

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Business Lifestyle Perks

Logistics Property Company closes $1.8 billion Venture Two industrial real estate fund

The vehicle targets development opportunities in key U.S. markets with strong demographics and significant in-place infrastructure


CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #commercial–Logistics Property Company, LLC (“LPC”) closed its second develop-to-core fund, LPC Logistics Venture Two LP, (“Venture II”) with total equity commitments of $1.8 billion from several global institutional investors and co-investment by LPC.

 

To date, 35 percent of the fund has been allocated to investments in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Inland Empire, Pennsylvania, Phoenix, and Southern New Jersey, with significant capital to deploy for new development projects that deliver value to investors.

 

LPC launched its inaugural develop-to-core venture in August 2019, raising $1 billion of equity commitments from global institutional investors (“Venture I”) and LPC. LPC has fully allocated Venture I’s equity to projects representing more than 20 million square feet across the United States.

 

The successful capital raised for Venture II “speaks to the opportunistic industrial real estate market and the strong develop-to-core strategy offering investors the ability to own Class A industrial facilities in tier one locations at an attractive basis,” LPC’s CEO Jim Martell stated.

 

LPC appreciated the number of investors from Venture I who committed to Venture II and is proud to add several new major institutions to participate in Venture II. Similar to Venture I, Venture II’s execution strategy is to buy well-located property in U.S. markets, develop Class A industrial buildings to modern specifications, including key ESG considerations, stabilize the assets, and hold to assemble a geographically diverse portfolio.

 

In 2022, LPC announced the commencement on five new developments for Venture II totaling 2.3 million square feet. The respective developments include Covington Commerce Center in Georgia, First State Logistics Center in Delaware, 975 Algonquin, 2800 W. Diehl Road, and 4275 Ferry Road, all in Illinois.

 

A Venture II project scheduled to break ground before the end of 2022 calendar year includes Palm Gateway Logistics Center, which includes four buildings totaling 613,000 square feet, located in Mesa, Arizona.

 

Venture II also closed on the land for a new 341,000 square foot warehouse development in San Bernardino, CA, with construction slated to start second quarter of 2023.

 

MAM Real Estate, part of Macquarie Group and LPC’s majority shareholder, acted as the fund’s exclusive financial advisor and placement agent and partnered with the LPC management team in forming the platform. MAM Real Estate is part of Macquarie Asset Management, one of the world’s leading alternative asset managers.

 

About Logistics Property Co.

Logistics Property Company, LLC (LPC) is an industrial real estate company focused on the acquisition, development, and management of modern logistics properties. The group is led by a diverse management team that averages more than 25 years of experience and has developed more than 55.3 million square feet of logistics buildings since 1995. LPC is headquartered in Chicago with more than 70 employees strategically located across eight offices. Its portfolio currently comprises 52 buildings across 23 million square feet in key logistics markets across North America with an estimated end value of more than $3 billion. For further information, please visit logisticspropco.com and follow @logisticspropco.

Contacts

Jamie Jones

Vice President – Marketing
jjones@logisticspropco.com