Tag: Business

Categories
Business International & World

AM Best to speak at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Annual Conference

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best Chief Rating Officer Stefan Holzberger will participate in a panel discussion at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Annual Conference, which will take place virtually Nov. 16-18. Holzberger’s 90-minute session, titled, “Global Monitoring Exercise: A Changing Landscape for the Insurance Sector,” is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. (CET).

This session will highlight conclusions from the IAIS’ assessment of trends and developments in the global insurance market, Global Monitoring Exercise (GME) and the possible build-up of systemic risk. The discussion will also address the impact of low-for-long interest rates on life insurers’ business models, including increased private equity ownership and credit risk.

 

Holzberger will be joined on the panel by Birny Birnbaum, economic adviser to and executive director of the Center for Economic Justice; Frank Grund, chief executive director, Insurance and Pension Funds Supervision; and Michael McRaith, former director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office and vice chair at Brookfield Insurance Solutions. Dieter Hendrickx, chair of the IAIS Macroprudential Committee and head of prudential policy insurance for the National Bank of Belgium, will moderate the discussion.

 

For more information, please visit the IAIS conference page.

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 © 2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Kate Smith
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5817
kate.smith@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

Categories
Business Sports & Gaming

Fubo Sportsbook officially launches, bringing first owned-and-operated live TV streaming-integrated mobile sportsbook to market in the United States

Now Live in Iowa, Fubo Sportsbook Integrates with fuboTV to Deliver an Immersive, Omniscreen Wagering Experience

 

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #Gaming–Fubo Gaming, a subsidiary of leading sports-first live TV streaming platform fuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO), today announced that it is live in the mobile sports betting market with the official launch of Fubo Sportsbook in Iowa. The sportsbook is available now for sports bettors 21 years of age and older in the Hawkeye state to wager on thousands of professional and collegiate sporting events using the Fubo Sportsbook mobile app, which is integrated with fuboTV’s live TV streaming platform.


More than a wagering platform, Fubo Sportsbook is purpose-built to meet U.S. sports fans’ growing demand for interactivity through an industry-first integration of an owned-and-operated sports wagering platform with a live TV streaming experience. By integrating with fuboTV, the mobile app delivers a personalized omniscreen experience that turns passive viewers into active and engaged participants. Fubo Sportsbook is launching with a unique feature, Watching Now, which leverages fuboTV’s first-party user data to allow users to instantly view wagering content based upon what they are streaming – even as they change the channel. Fubo Gaming intends to continue iterating the app, launching additional features, subject to regulatory approval, that will further integrate wagering into the fuboTV platform, to create an even more immersive and personalized experience.

 

“We’re thrilled to launch Fubo Sportsbook and begin to bring U.S. sports fans a next-level interactive viewing and betting experience — one entirely tailored to the sports and entertainment they care about most,” said Scott Butera, president of Fubo Gaming. “As the industry continues to expand, it is increasingly important to meet sports fans’ growing demand for personalized and immersive experiences. By integrating with fuboTV, we aim to make that a reality.”

 

Fubo Sportsbook and fuboTV sit at the unique intersection of two expanding markets: sports wagering and digital sports entertainment. According to a study by Gabelli Securities and the US Census Bureau, U.S. sports betting revenue is expected to grow from a projected $2.1 billion in 2021 to $10.1 billion in 2028. Additionally, recent research from TDG reveals that 54 million households will be broadband-only by 2025, a 42% increase from 2020, in part because over-the-top media services can deliver highly personalized experiences that linear TV cannot.

 

“fuboTV’s vision to define a new category of interactive sports and entertainment television takes another major step forward with the launch of Fubo Sportsbook,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of fuboTV. “This is a pivotal moment not just for fuboTV, but for the U.S. sports wagering and entertainment industries because it is the first time the two are truly coming together in one ecosystem. It’s important to realize that Fubo Sportsbook is not simply an add-on product to fuboTV, but a product synced with the live TV streaming experience. We expect this integration will create a flywheel that improves engagement and retention, as well as drives advertising revenue. In the coming months, we plan to further integrate our sportsbook with fuboTV to create a comprehensive and engaging TV and wagering experience.”

 

Fubo Gaming received regulatory approvals via a market agreement with Casino Queen to go live with mobile and/or retail betting operations within the state of Iowa. The company has also obtained market access agreements in four other states, including Pennsylvania via The Cordish Companies, Indiana and New Jersey via Caesars Entertainment Inc. and Arizona via the Ak-Chin Indian Community, where it also has been granted a Management Services Provider Certification from the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). The company expects to announce the launch of Fubo Sportsbook in additional markets in 2021 and during 2022, subject to requisite regulatory approvals. The company has partnerships with NASCAR, and the New York Jets (NFL) and, as an Authorized Gaming Operator (AGO) with the NBA, a multi-year agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA).

 

Fubo Sportsbook is available now at www.fubosportsbook.com or for download via iOS. For more information, follow @fubosportsbook on Twitter and Instagram.

 

About Fubo Gaming

Launched in 2021, Fubo Gaming Inc. is a Chicago-based subsidiary of live TV streaming platform fuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO), and developer and distributor of Fubo Sportsbook. Fubo Sportsbook is purpose-built to integrate with fuboTV, creating a personalized omniscreen experience that turns passive viewers into active and engaged participants. Fubo Sportsbook officially launched in November 2021 and is currently live in Iowa. It has market access agreements in Pennsylvania via The Cordish Companies and Indiana and New Jersey via Caesars Entertainment Inc., as well as a license and market access agreement in Arizona via Ak-Chin Indian Community. The launch timeline of Fubo Sportsbook in each state is subject to obtaining requisite regulatory approvals. For more information, visit fubosportsbook.com.

 

About fuboTV

With a mission to provide the world’s most thrilling sports-first live TV experience through the greatest breadth of premium content, interactivity and integrated wagering, fuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO) is focused on bringing to life its vision of a streaming platform that transcends the industry’s current virtual MVPD model. fuboTV Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Spain.

 

Leveraging its proprietary data and technology platform optimized for live TV and sports viewership, fuboTV Inc. aims to turn passive viewers into active participants and define a new category of interactive television. Through its cable TV replacement product, fuboTV, subscribers can stream a broad mix of 100+ live TV channels, including 74 of the top 100 Nielsen-ranked networks across sports, news and entertainment — more than any other live TV streaming platform (source: Nielsen Total Viewers, 2020). Subscribers can interact with fuboTV’s live streaming experience through Fubo Sportsbook and predictive free-to-play games, which are integrated into select sports content.

 

Fubo Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of fuboTV Inc., launched Fubo Sportsbook, a next-generation mobile sportsbook purpose-built to integrate with fuboTV, in 2021.

 

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements of fuboTV Inc. (“fuboTV”) that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our market opportunity, business strategy and plans, the continued shift in consumer behavior towards sports wagering and streaming services, and the expected launch of Fubo Sportsbook in additional markets. The words “could,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “approximate,” “expect,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that fuboTV makes due to a number of important factors, including but not limited to risks related to our pursuit and engagement in acquisitions; our actual operating results may differ significantly from our guidance; risks related to the Company’s access to capital and fundraising prospects to fund its ongoing operations and support its planned growth; the restrictions imposed by content providers on our distribution and marketing of our products and services; our reliance on third party platforms to operate certain aspects of our business; risks related to our technology, as well as cybersecurity and data privacy-related risks; our ability to achieve or maintain profitability; our revenue and gross profit are subject to seasonality; our operating results may fluctuate; our ability to attract and retain subscribers; we may not be able to license streaming content or other rights on acceptable terms; risks related to our ability to capitalize develop and market a sports wagering offering and the regulatory regime and related risks associated with such offering; risks related to the difficulty in measuring key metrics related to our business; risks related to the highly competitive nature of our industry; risks related to ongoing or future legal proceedings; and other risks, including the effects of industry, market, economic, political or regulatory conditions, future exchange and interest rates, and changes in tax and other laws, regulations, rates and policies, including the impact of COVID-19 on the broader market. Further risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 11, 2021 and our other periodic filings with the SEC. We encourage you to read such risks in detail. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent fuboTV’s views as of the date of this press release. fuboTV anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while it may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing fuboTV’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contacts

Investor Contacts:
Alison Sternberg, fuboTV

asternberg@fubo.tv
The Blueshirt Group for fuboTV

ir@fubo.tv

Media Contacts:
Deliah Mathieu, Fubo Gaming

dmathieu@fubo.tv
Lexi Panepinto, CTP for Fubo Gaming

lpanepinto@ctpboston.com

Categories
Science Technology

Redline Detection unveils EV Battery + Coolant Leak Detector

Launch of Redline EV Technology Center

 

LAS VEGAS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #EV—Redline Detection, the world’s leader in diagnostic leak detection technology, announced today a new division of the company that has engineered diagnostic leak detection technology exclusively for battery electric vehicles.


Speaking at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Redline Detection CMO Alex Parker announced that a major global OEM has made the new Battery + Coolant Leak Detector an essential tool for electric vehicle diagnostics at all dealer locations in 160 countries.

 

“The wide adoption of electric vehicles hinges upon safety and reliability. Redline has partnered with leading EV automakers to develop technology that gives 100% assurance that battery cases and battery coolant systems are sealed under precise pressures and meet all OEM and battery manufacturer warranty standards for safety,” said Parker.

 

The Battery + Coolant Leak Detector (BCLD) was designed to test the integrity of battery enclosures in electric and hybrid vehicles. Durable and compact, BCLD connects to the battery enclosure on or off the vehicle, giving audible and visual progress and precise pass/fail indication—specific to that battery and vehicle type—when testing is complete. Data logging and reports can be accessed remotely and the machine is programmable for future battery configurations.

 

Testing the integrity of battery enclosures is necessary to ensure that there is no possible intrusion of water, dust, or contaminants that could cause catastrophic failure. Battery enclosures are tested after any collision, even a scrape to the bottom of the battery box over a curb that could compromise the seal, as well as after lid off battery maintenance or service. BCLD gives OEMs and aftermarket service locations the ability to do lid off maintenance and repairs, and restore the integrity of battery and battery coolant enclosures to original factory design specifications.

 

Redline has also opened a dedicated EV Technology Center in Orange, CA for ongoing battery testing, research, and technician education. The space can be used for both in-person and virtual technical demonstrations.

 

“The future of automotive technology is evolving quickly and Redline technology is at the forefront of these exciting changes, supporting the engineers and technicians who use our technology to ensure peak performance. Redline is the trusted world’s leader across traditionally aspirated, boosted, and now electric vehicle diagnostic leak detection technology,” said Parker.

 

About Redline Detection

Redline Detection, headquartered in Orange, Calif., develops and manufactures the world’s best-selling diagnostic leak detection equipment. From the world’s leading OEMs to individual technicians, Redline Detection has built a global fan base for its professional grade custom diagnostic solutions, as well as its ability to increase the bottom line. In 2020, Redline Detection was awarded the prestigious title of SEMA Manufacturer of the Year. To learn more about Redline Detection and its award-winning products, please visit www.redlinedetection.com.

Contacts

Julia Morris

jmorris@redlinedetection.com
Redline Detection

+1 714 -451-1411

Categories
Business

NICE AI and robotics technology reduces complexities for key UK government agency

The UK government authority selected NICE Advanced Process Automation for its proven capabilities, accuracy and scalability

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #NICE—NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that a key government agency in the United Kingdom chose NICE Advanced Process Automation technologies as part of its strategy to improve organizational efficiency and accuracy. In one of the most complex automation projects for which NICE advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology has ever been used, the agency is collecting and coordinating data from 19 different systems across the organization as part of its digital transformation strategy. In addition, the integration of NICE advanced AI and robotic automation makes it possible for the agency to annually streamline tens of millions of transactions, process more than 28 million pages of hand-written forms, and provide thousands of advisors with real-time guidance for interactions with the public.

Given the scope and scale of the authority’s activities, a growing population, periodically changing legislation and the need for resiliency in the face of crises, this department required an agile, highly scalable and flexible solution. The unique NICE combination of advanced AI and unattended automation was determined to be the best option for eliminating cumbersome, time-consuming tasks, boosting productivity and improving operations. Moreover, NICE’s technology is especially well-suited to the public sector where resiliency has become a non-negotiable.

 

Hundreds of NICE robots automate and support a wide array of processes across the agency, including administrative tasks, data gathering, communication with customers and regulatory compliance. For example, NICE technology is helping the authority process self-service applications for payment arrangements, update changes in circumstances in multiple systems, correct errors, coordinate diverse sources of data, and more. In addition, the NICE employee virtual attendant (NEVA) provides employees contextually relevant guidance during live interactions and assists with huge seasonal surges in frontline contacts. It can also quickly combine disparate systems and adjust processes on the fly to address rapidly changing needs.

 

In order to automate the processing of millions of pages of hand-written forms, the government agency implemented an integration of NICE automation solutions and the Hyperscience Platform, which delivers industry-leading intelligent document processing capabilities. The authority selected the Hyperscience-NICE joint solution after a “bake-off” pilot against major global competitors, during which it was found to be the most accurate and versatile. Across multiple types of forms with over 400 fields, the combined technologies demonstrated 99.4 percent reading accuracy — which is above the 95 percent human accuracy level — and 100 percent automation of data extraction and export.

 

“We are pleased to meet this important government agency’s need for a robust, innovative robotic process automation solution that saves time, improves productivity and provides greater flexibility,” said John O’Hara, President, NICE EMEA. “Leveraging our technology with the power of Hyperscience, this agency has seen a significant return on investment through efficiencies that free up resources, reduce complexities and streamline the organization’s multiple self-service options.”

 

NICE Advanced Process Automation solutions are increasingly becoming the technology of choice for public sector organizations embarking on a digital transformation journey as they mechanize their operations and uncomplicate repetitive tasks. For example, NEVA provides real-time, dynamic support, such as retrieving information the frontline agent needs, when they need it, and then assisting with any routine follow-up actions. Similarly, it can ensure that change of circumstances information received through multiple channels is automatically proliferated across relevant documentation. In addition to streamlining these processes, NICE automation solutions free employees to focus on the personal touch that is critical to ensure exceptional customer experiences.

 

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. O’Hara, 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

Best’s Review examines how D&I Impacts Insurers’ workforces, products and risks

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Best’s Review features coverage of “How D&I Impacts Insurers’ Workforces, Products and Risks,” a cross-media series with AM Best TV in which top industry leaders discuss diversity and inclusion in the insurance industry. The series explores the following topics:

  • As companies and organizations come under increased scrutiny, some insurers have taken the lead in developing heterogeneous workforces. Building a rich, multi-background workforce takes creativity, hustle and commitment. In “Best Practices for Building a Diverse and Inclusive Insurance Workforce,” insurers and workplace experts examine real-world strategies and tactics for building an insurance workplace that embraces today’s rapidly changing workforce.
  • Some insurers are meeting demographic and societal changes with new products and services designed to serve specialized communities and unique needs. In “How Insurers Profit by Serving a Diverse and Inclusive Customer Base,” insurers and strategists examine how social change is driving insurance opportunity.
  • Insurers increasingly rely on tools such as data, analytics, algorithms and machine learning that are coming under increased scrutiny for possibly introducing unintended bias. In “Advancing Technology Exposes Insurers to Bias Risk,” privacy, technology and regulatory experts examine where those exposures may be occurring, how they can be prevented and the implications for insurers that depend on these tools.

Also included in the November issue:

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging insurance issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. Full access to the complete content of Best’s Review is available Full access to the complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

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 © 2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5540

patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

Categories
Business Environment

Prudential Financial commits to net zero emissions by 2050

Expanded climate actions include carbon neutral target by 2040 and restriction on new direct investments in thermal coal

NEWARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) today announced its commitment to achieve net zero emissions across its primary domestic and international home office operations by 2050. To accelerate the company’s longstanding commitments to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Prudential also is setting an interim goal to become carbon neutral by 2040. These actions are aligned with the latest climate science of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or lower, as specified in the Paris climate accord.

 

“As a global insurer and investment manager, we understand the magnitude and urgency of climate change, and that we have a responsibility to minimize our impact,” said Charles Lowrey, chairman and CEO of Prudential. “This net zero commitment is an important step toward a more sustainable future for our customers, employees, investors and communities.”

 

The actions announced today build upon Prudential’s 2019 Global Environmental Commitment, which include operational and investment goals aimed at mitigating climate change and other environmental risks.

 

Prudential will reduce home office operational emissions globally (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by consolidating its real estate footprint, investing in energy-efficient capital improvements for owned properties, and purchasing renewable energy, where available, and then will utilize carbon removal strategies to eliminate its remaining carbon footprint. The company’s home office operations include owned and leased office space, data centers and garages in the United States, Japan and Brazil.

 

Prudential next plans to assess Scope 3 emissions, including those related to the company’s owned assets within its $460 billion General Account portfolio.1 As an initial action, Prudential will begin restricting new direct investments in companies that derive 25% or more of their revenues from thermal coal. This restriction is included in Prudential’s enhanced Responsible Investing Policy.

 

“Prudential is a company committed to delivering on its promises. We will hold ourselves accountable to these targets as we make meaningful progress toward addressing climate risk,” said Rob Falzon, vice chair of Prudential, who oversees the company’s Steering Council on Climate Change. “These carbon reduction targets are underpinned by our longstanding efforts to effectively engage with our stakeholders and provide transparency on our environmental actions.”

 

Other recent environmental actions taken by the company include sustainable finance transactions such as issuing an inaugural green bond. In May 2021, PGIM Real Estate, the real estate investment business of PGIM, Prudential’s global investment management arm, committed to reducing operational carbon emissions from its global portfolio of managed properties to net zero by 2050.

 

Prudential will report progress and updates on these targets in its annual ESG Report. For more company news and information on sustainability initiatives, visit prudentialesg.com.

 

1General Account portfolio assets under management are as of June 30, 2021.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements included in this release, including those related to Prudential’s environmental, social and governance initiatives and targets, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Prudential Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Prudential Financial, Inc.’s actual results may differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections included in Prudential Financial, Inc.’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Prudential Financial, Inc. does not undertake to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this release.

 

About Prudential

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2021, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

Contacts

MEDIA:

Julie Laskin, (973) 802-3975, julie.laskin@prudential.com

Categories
Business Culture

95 and marching on! Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® ushers in the holiday season

Macy’s is once again ready to deliver a dazzling spectacle featuring its signature mix of giant character balloons, floats, marching bands, performance groups, clowns, music stars and the one-and-only Santa Claus

 

Macy’s Balloon Inflation will return to the Upper West Side of Manhattan the day before Thanksgiving; Public viewing on Thanksgiving Day will be available along the traditional 2.5-mile Macy’s Parade route

 

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #MacysParade — A spectacle like no other returns this Thanksgiving to usher in the start of the holiday season as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® takes to the streets of New York City. On Thursday, November 25 at 9:00 A.M., the 95th march of the world-famous Parade of magic will bring the nation together in celebration featuring Macy’s (NYSE:M) signature mix of giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, incredible marching bands, jubilant performance groups, whimsical clowns, music stars and the one-and-only Santa Claus.

“For more than nine decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served to bring joy to millions, who gather with friends and family to experience this one-of-a-kind holiday celebration along the streets of New York City and in homes nationwide,” said Will Coss, Executive Producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “For our 95th celebration, Macy’s has created a spectacle to remember featuring a dazzling array of high-flying balloons, animated floats and incredible performers. We can’t wait to help New York City and the nation kick-off the holiday season with the return of this cherished tradition.”

 

The 95th annual Macy’s Parade will feature 15 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 36 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than 800 clowns, 10 marching bands and 9 performance groups, a host of musical stars, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.

 

To safely produce the annual Thanksgiving Day event, Macy’s once again partnered closely with the City and State of New York to create a production plan that would ensure health and safety practices aligned with CDC guidelines, as well as current local and state government protocols.

 

Stars on Parade

The Macy’s Parade is always the holiday’s biggest stage for entertainment and this year will be no different. Featuring a mix of musical genres from Pop and R & B to Country, Classic Rock and K-Pop, the Parade will be the ultimate television party destination this November. Joining the festivities will be aespa, Jimmie Allen, Jon Batiste, Blue’s Clues & You! host Josh Dela Cruz and the former hosts of Blue’s Clues Steve Burns and Donovan Patton, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Jordan Fisher, Foreigner, the cast of Peacock’s Girls5eva (Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, Busy Philipps), Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Chris Lane, Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street®, Nelly, Kim Petras, Kelly Rowland, Rob Thomas, Carrie Underwood, Tai Verdes, Zoe Wees, and Tauren Wells; with an extra special appearance by the one-and-only Santa Claus.

 

Inflatable Icons

Since 1927 the world’s most popular characters have been transformed into high-flying art in the sky. Inspired by marionettes, the Parade’s balloons first debuted as upside down puppets filled with air and carried on sticks, before taking flight with the addition of helium. Over time the inflatables morphed to encompass balloonheads, hybrid inflatables with vehicles inside (balloonicles) and tandem tricycles (trycaloons).

 

New giants joining the line-up this year include Ada Twist, Scientist by Netflix; a Funko Pop! inspired Grogu™ (a.k.a. Baby Yoda in pop culture) from the Star Wars™ series “The Mandalorian™,” Ronald McDonald® by McDonald’s® and Pikachu™ & Eevee™ by The Pokémon International Company.

 

Making return appearances to the skies above New York City are giant balloon favorites including Astronaut Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide; The Boss Baby by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures; Diary of A Wimpy Kid® by Abrams Books; Sinclair’s DINO® by Sinclair Oil Corporation; Goku by Toei Animations, Inc.; Chase from PAW Patrol® by Nickelodeon; Pillsbury Doughboy™ by Pillsbury™; Red Titan from “Ryan’s World” by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch; Papa Smurf from The Smurfs by Nickelodeon; Sonic the Hedgehog by SEGA; and SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary by Nickelodeon.

 

The inflatable lineup also includes Sinclair’s Baby DINOs and the Go Bowling™ balloonicles; Smokey Bear by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service; and Macy’s very own special reindeer Tiptoe and Toni the Bandleader Bear.

 

A Giant Balloon Celebration

Macy’s signature giant character balloons will be prepared for their Thanksgiving Day flights on Wednesday, November 24, on the Upper West Side. The Macy’s Balloon Inflation Celebration will be open to public viewing from 12:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M., and will be limited to vaccinated guests and conducted with capacity limits to ensure social distancing practices are implemented.

 

For access, guests must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in the form of one of the following:

  • Original CDC Vaccination Card
  • Mobile Vaccination App (such as the NYC COVID Safe App, CLEAR Health Pass, NY State Excelsior Pass)
  • Photo of their Vaccination Card

 

Guests must also provide a photo ID with a name that matches the proof of vaccination. A negative test will not be accepted in lieu of vaccinated status. Children under the age of 12 who are not eligible to receive vaccinations may be accompanied by a vaccinated adult. Attendees are encouraged to social distance and masks will be required at all times. Entry to Balloon Inflation can be accessed at 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. Following the vaccine verification and security check, guests will be able to move through the checkpoint to view the balloons on 77th and 81st Streets.

 

Floats of Fantasy

From its inception, the Parade’s floats have transported spectators to magical worlds. These initial whimsical creations focused on nursery rhyme stories. Today the floats are multi-level animated wonders that dazzle with their artistry. Conceived and crafted by the incredible artisans of Macy’s Parade Studio – a design and production facility that includes carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic and costume designers – this year’s line-up of floats showcase the best of theatrical design. While they are built for entertainment, they are also a showcase of creative design, engineering, and skillful construction. To spectators they seem to float down the route, even though many are three stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide stages. However, if you dig a little deeper, the magic is revealed as each of these amazing floats are built to collapse to no more than 12 ½-feet tall and 8-feet wide to travel safely from the New Jersey home of the Parade Studio to the Manhattan starting line via the Lincoln Tunnel for the annual celebration.

 

This year six new floats will debut including Birds of a Feather Stream Together by Peacock® (cast of Peacock’s Girls5eva); Celebration Gator by Louisiana Office of Tourism (Jon Batiste); Colossal Wave of Wonder by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions (Nelly); Gravy Pirates by HEINZ; Magic Meets the Sea by Disney Cruise Line (Jordan Fisher and special guests); and Tiptoe’s North Pole.

 

The returning float roster and its scheduled performers include 1-2-3 Sesame Street® by Sesame Workshop™ (The cast and Muppets of Sesame Street); Big City Cheer by Spirit of America Productions (Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier); Big Turkey Spectacular by Jennie-O (Tai Verdes); Blue’s Clues & You! by Nickelodeon (Josh Dela Cruz, Steve Burns and Donovan Patton); The Brick-changer by The LEGO Group (Zoe Wees); Christmas in Town Square by Lifetime® (Kelly Rowland); Deck the Halls by Balsam Hill® (Kristin Chenoweth); Elf Pets® by The Lumistella Company; Everyone’s Favorite Bake Shop by Entenmann’s® (Andy Grammer); Fantasy Chocolate Factory by Kinder™ (Darren Criss); Harvest in the Valley by Green Giant® (Jimmie Allen); Heartwarming Holiday Countdown by Hallmark Channel (Rob Thomas); Her Future is STEM-Sational by Olay (aespa); Home Sweet Home by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (Tauren Wells); Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree (Macy’s Choir); Mount Rushmore’s American Pride by South Dakota Department of Tourism (Chris Lane); Rexy in the City by COACH® (Kim Petras); Santa Express and Starflakes by Universal Orlando Resort; Santa’s Sleigh (Santa Claus); Tom Turkey; Toy House of Marvelous Milestones by New York Life (Foreigner) and Winning Winter Together by MassMutual and NHL® (Mickey Guyton).

 

As the Parade unfolds, making an extra special appearance down the route to delight kids of all ages will be Geoffrey, the beloved mascot of Toys”R”Us.

 

The Beat and the Pageantry

The nation’s best marching bands are ready to strike it up and bring the beat to the holiday revelry. Joining the line-up are The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders (Austin, TX), Brownsburg High School (Brownsburg, IN), Centerville High School (Centerville, OH), Hampton University (Hampton, VA), Lincoln-Way High School (Frankfort, IL), Macy’s Great American Marching Band (United States), NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY), Trabuco Hills High School (Mission Viejo, CA), Union High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL).

 

Taking entertainment to the next level will be the Parade’s beloved performance groups who bring joy to spectators along the route and viewers watching from home. The 95th Parade will feature the dazzling dancers of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance, the harmonious voices of the Broadway Education Alliance Youth Choir, the fancy footwork of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios, the special tributaries of Indigenous Direction, the out of the world skills of J.U.M.P. (Jumpers United for Macy’s Parade), the razzle dazzle of the St. John’s Dance Team, the energetic Spirit of America Cheer and Spirit of America Dance Stars, and the moving voices of the Young People’s Chorus of NYC.

 

The Route to Magic

For spectators wishing to enjoy the spectacle live, the 95th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9:00 A.M., kicking off from its traditional starting line at 77th Street and Central Park West. From there the procession will march down its signature 2.5-mile route taking it from Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South and then marching down 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square.

 

Public viewing will be set up along designated portions of the route and managed by the NYPD. Spectators should avoid bringing large bags, umbrellas, backpacks and strollers. The public entering viewing streets may be subject to security search. For additional viewing information, please visit macys.com/parade.

 

Tune-in for the Wonder

For decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been one of the nation’s most anticipated and watched holiday celebrations. Viewers nationwide can catch all the action via the special broadcasts on NBC and Telemundo, from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., in all time zones, For the first time, fans can also stream the broadcast on Peacock. The TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the three-hour telecast for NBC and Peacock. The Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by Ana Jurka and Carlos Adyan, accompanied by Freddy Lomelí reporting live from Sixth Avenue, and feature a special appearance by Miss Universe® Andrea Meza.

 

The holiday television special will feature a special performance from music superstar Carrie Underwood from her album, My Gift (Special Edition).

 

Broadway’s best musicals will also perform including SIX, Moulin Rouge! and one of Broadway’s longest running hits, Wicked; along with a sneak preview of NBC’s Annie Live! In addition, the show-stopping Radio City Rockettes® will bring their signature magic to Herald Square.

 

For the first-time ever, spectators enjoying the Parade on television and on Peacock, will experience several whimsical augmented reality effects throughout the show that will add another dose of Macy’s magic to the pageantry.

 

#MacysParade

For an insider’s look at the holiday procession, fans nationwide should visit macys.com/parade for regular updates including behind-the-scenes previews, special tours, interactive historical information, educational activities, and more. Fans can also follow @macys on various social media networks and join the conversation using #MacysParade.

 

This Thanksgiving, Macy’s will safely bring millions of spectators nationwide a dazzling celebration like no other. Get ready to start the countdown in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … Let’s Have a Parade™!

Hanes is the official mask of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ram is the official truck of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Remo is the official drumhead provider of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Under Armour is the official outerwear provider of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

All information included in this release is subject to change.

PLEASE NOTE: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade media materials including images, video and archival content is available at macyseventmedia.com

Contacts

Macy’s External Communications

Orlando Veras / Christine Olver Nealon

EventMedia@macys.com

Categories
Business Technology

ASCO Power Technologies Webinar on 5G and the need for Innovative Power System Design

  • The free, one-hour, online event will address key topics about 5G infrastructure
  • Participants will learn about 5G trends and applications from a seasoned expert
  • Attendees can earn 1.0 PDH/0.1 CEU Credits

 

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — As part of its Learning Series Webinar, ASCO Power Technologies announces an October 26 webinar about the 5G infrastructure and its impacts. Sixty minutes in length, the Innovation Talk Webinar – 5G and the Need for Innovative Power System Design is a live webinar that will be FREE to power industry professionals, engineers, facility managers, and technicians. A leading electrical engineer with wide-ranging experience will discuss the evolution and deployment of 5G technologies and what it will mean for today’s power professionals.

 

Reasons to Attend

By participating in the event, attendees will:

  • Learn about the evolutions of wireless communication technologies
  • Learn how 5G will enable advanced applications that change how people conduct commercial and personal affairs
  • Understand the need for reliable critical power for emerging technologies

 

About the Speakers

Bhavesh Patel – Vice President of Marketing, ASCO Power Technologies. Bhavesh began working for ASCO in 1999 and held a leadership role in the Business Development department. Since then, his role expanded to lead ASCO’s Customer Care and Global Marketing groups. Bhavesh has a broad knowledge of critical power issues, and has presented at conferences, published articles, and added to the Body of Industry Knowledge.

 

Bablu Kazi – Senior Electrical Engineer and Project Lead, Morrison Hershfield. Bablu Kazi is an Electrical Project Lead for data center projects at Morrison Hershfield. His involvement in engineering projects includes design development as well as the preparation of schematic design documents, construction drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for mission-critical facilities. He specializes in electrical engineering for switching facilities and is the design lead on switching facility projects for Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

 

Registration Information

The event will be held at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time on October 26, 2021. All interested professionals are encouraged to register now for this free event by visiting www.ascopower.com.

 

About ASCO Power Technologies

ASCO Power Technologies has provided power reliability solutions for more than 125 years. The firm designs, manufactures, services, and supports automatic transfer switches, power control equipment, load banks, and critical power management appliances. ASCO products serve mission-critical functions in data centers, healthcare facilities, telecommunication networks, commercial buildings, and industrial operations. To learn more about any of ASCO’s premium products and services, call (800) 800 ASCO (2726), email CustomerCare@Ascopower.com, or visit www.ascopower.com.

Contacts

Bhavesh Patel

+ 1 973 966 2746

Bhavesh.Patel@ascopower.com

Categories
Business Local News

OpenLegacy names hyper-growth marketer Asif Muhammad as chief marketing officer

  • Asif is expanding OpenLegacy’s global market presence and its banking/insurance sector customer base
  • Will drive innovation by building partner ecosystems, growth teams, brand personality, and experience consistency
  • Will align products with customer feedback and needs to ensure best-in-breed solutions

 

PRINCETON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #fintech—OpenLegacy, which transforms monolithic mainframe systems into cloud-native building blocks of innovation, today announced hyper-growth marketer Asif Muhammad as their new Chief Marketing Officer.


Asif brings with him two decades of technology marketing experience. This includes marketing leadership roles with the world-class brands Microsoft, IBM, and NetApp, as well as with hyper-growth startups, most recently UiPath. He boasts a number of graduate and postgraduate degrees in marketing and business administration.

 

Asif’s proven track record of success will help OpenLegacy build brand recognition, continue its exponential growth in customer adoption, and attract top talent to further advance its customer benefits. OpenLegacy partners also stand to benefit from Asif’s strong network of colleagues and like-minded professionals who will help forge new connections and strengthen existing ones to support a growing marketplace of global customers. A burgeoning movement of executives leaving traditional global companies for the more disruptive, innovation-driven tech space points to a newfound awareness of the steps large companies must take to stay competitive in today’s fintech/insurtech market.

 

“Modern marketing is about elevating the business and connecting with customers by delivering a distinct, valued, and consistent experience,” explains Asif. “This requires a business mindset and broad commercial experience that fuses together essential elements, brings ideas to life, and delivers impact. OpenLegacy shares my business mindset and is poised for exponential growth at the leading edge of digital transformation. In joining this growing team providing dynamic solutions like OL Hub, I help support the company’s continued growth in global markets,” Asif states.

 

OpenLegacy’s data-driven OpenLegacy (OL) Hub modernization platform empowers businesses to efficiently build new digital services reusing monolithic core legacy assets. Enterprises ranging from banks to insurance providers quickly generate business-level APIs with the ease of a cloud-native app for deployment across any digital platform.

 

“Asif has a successful track record of building, launching, and scaling multimillion-dollar products and solutions on a global scale,” enthuses OpenLegacy CEO Romi Stein. “We will leverage his strengths growing market positions in hyper-competitive markets to help elevate OpenLegacy’s standing in the global banking and insurance industries.” Stein concludes, “Asif’s deep experience creating best-in-class teams and helping them embrace and thrive with change will be instrumental in taking us to the next level on the world stage.”

 

OL Hub supports the automation of the entire integration process to help companies achieve their digital journey at speed. Learn more here.

 

OL Hub is now available for cloud-based free trials or you can schedule a remote-based product demo here.

 

About OpenLegacy

OpenLegacy’s Digital-Driven Integration enables organizations with legacy systems to release new digital services faster and more efficiently than ever before. It connects directly to even the most complex legacy systems, bypassing the need for extra layers of technology. It then automatically generates APIs in minutes, rapidly integrating those assets into new and exciting innovations. Finally, it deploys them as standard microservices or serverless functions, giving organizations speed and flexibility while drastically cutting costs and resources. With OpenLegacy, industry leading companies release new apps, features, and updates in days instead of months, enabling them to truly become digital to the core. Learn why leading companies choose OpenLegacy at openlegacy.com, and follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

 

About Asif Muhammad

As the Chief Marketing Officer, Asif leads all aspects of global marketing, including product, brand building, growth, partnership and sales enablement. Asif brings with him 20 years of technology marketing experience at hyper-growth tech companies. Prior to joining OpenLegacy, he held marketing leadership roles at Microsoft, IBM, NetApp, and most recently at UiPath, which went public in April 2021. At UiPath, Asif built the Field & Partner Alliances function from scratch, scaling it globally.

 

Asif holds a BA in Economics, MBA from Preston University, MA in Marketing Management from Birmingham City University, and PgdCIM, FCIM, MCIM and Chartered Marketer status from the University of West London.

Contacts

Media Contact
Treble
Katie LeChase

openlegacy@treblepr.com

Categories
Business Healthcare

Merck announces withdrawal and refiling under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and extension of tender offer to Acquire Acceleron Pharma Inc.

KENILWORTH, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $MRK #MRK–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that it has withdrawn its Premerger Notification and Report Form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), in connection with Merck’s pending acquisition of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: XLRN). As previously announced on October 12, 2021, Merck commenced, through a subsidiary, Astros Merger Sub, Inc., a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Acceleron, for $180 in cash, without interest and less any required tax withholding.

Merck has elected to withdraw its Premerger Notification and Report Form, which was initially filed on October 14, 2021, to provide the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) with additional time for review, and expects to refile such form on or about November 1, 2021. Following the refiling, the waiting period applicable to the pending acquisition will expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on or about November 16, 2021. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

 

Consummation of the tender offer remains subject to, among other conditions, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act. As a result, Astros Merger Sub, Inc. is extending the tender offer, which was previously scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 10, 2021, until 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on November 18, 2021. The tender offer may be extended further in accordance with the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All other terms and conditions of the tender offer will remain unchanged during the extended period.

 

The Depositary for the tender offer is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions, P.O. Box 43011, Providence, RI 02940-3011. The Depositary has advised Merck that, as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on October 28, 2021, the last business day prior to the announcement of the extension of the tender offer, approximately 8,395,093 shares of Acceleron had been validly tendered and received, and not validly withdrawn, pursuant to the tender offer, representing approximately 13.7% of Acceleron’s outstanding shares. Stockholders who have already tendered their shares do not need to retender such shares or take any other action as a result of the extension of the tender offer.

 

The Information Agent for the tender offer is Innisfree M&A Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor, New York, NY 10022. The tender offer materials may be obtained at no charge by directing a request by mail to Innisfree M&A Incorporated or by calling toll free at (877) 800-5195, and may also be obtained at no charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

About Merck

For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

Important Information About the Tender Offer

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of the common stock of Acceleron Pharma Inc. (“Acceleron”) or any other securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials described herein. A tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and related documents, has been filed by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (“Merck”) and Astros Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 has been filed by Acceleron with the SEC.

 

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY BOTH THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 REGARDING THE OFFER, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SECURITIES.

 

Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal, certain other tender offer documents and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to Innisfree M&A Incorporated, the Information Agent for the offer, by calling toll free at (877) 800-5195. In addition, Merck and Acceleron file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC, which are available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Merck may be obtained at no charge on Merck’s internet website at www.merck.com or by contacting Merck at 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, N.J. 07033 or (908) 423-1000. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Acceleron may be obtained at no charge on Acceleron’s internet website at www.acceleronpharma.com or by contacting Acceleron at 128 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 or (617) 649-9200.

 

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes statements that are not statements of historical fact, or “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the company’s proposed acquisition of Acceleron. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the company and Acceleron to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the parties’ ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the offer contemplated thereby and the other conditions set forth in the merger agreement, statements about the expected timetable for completing the transaction, the company’s and Acceleron’s beliefs and expectations and statements about the benefits sought to be achieved in the company’s proposed acquisition of Acceleron, the potential effects of the acquisition on both the company and Acceleron, the possibility of any termination of the merger agreement, as well as the expected benefits and success of Acceleron’s product candidates. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees that the conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction will be satisfied on the expected timetable or at all, with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

 

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, uncertainties as to the timing of the offer and the subsequent merger; uncertainties as to how many of Acceleron’s stockholders will tender their shares in the offer; the risk that competing offers or acquisition proposals will be made; the possibility that various conditions to the consummation of the merger and the offer contemplated thereby may not be satisfied or waived; the effects of disruption from the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and the impact of the announcement and pendency of the transactions on Acceleron’s business; the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the offer or the merger may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the SEC available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Patrick Ryan

(973) 275-7075

Melissa Moody

(215) 407-3536

Investor Contacts:

Peter Dannenbaum

(908) 740-1037

Steven Graziano

(908) 740-6582