Monday, May 11, 2020

Holdun Family Office Wins Prestigious Award

 Founding Family shares its core values and innovative solutions for the future, helping families and businesses overcome the shortcomings of traditional assets by providing a range of Alternative Investment opportunities that build wealth and security for generations.



NEW PROVIDENCE, Bahamas-Wednesday 6 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Holdun Family Office, an international, independent 5th generation Multi-Family Office is delighted to accept the Business Vision ‘Best Multi-Family Office (Caribbean) award’ for 2019. Following on from success in the same category in 2017 and 2018, this latest accolade makes Holdun the first Family Office to receive this award for three consecutive years.

“It is our firm belief that to rightfully claim to be a Multi-Family office, the founding family should be one of the clients. It needs to establish a common vision and a set of values shared by all its clients. Holdun Family Office has managed to achieve this since its creation in 1990 by understanding each family’s goals and visions for the future,” the Business Vision Awards judging panel concluded.

Global CEO Brendan Holt Dunn of Holdun Family Office commented: “Our extensive family history has served us well in managing our client relationships worldwide.”

“Historically low interest rates and unprecedented market volatility has exposed the shortcomings of the classic, balanced portfolio, leaving investors scrambling for alternative diversification options. As a family, we recognized some years ago that traditional fixed income and equity strategies alone were unlikely to deliver acceptable returns.”

Philip Stewart, Chief Development Officer at Holdun Family Office states: “In response to the fundamental market changes of recent years, we developed Funds that offer a broader range of exposure across the risk and illiquidity spectrum. These asset classes, including private equity, venture capital and real estate, have provided greater portfolio diversification, reduced portfolio volatility and higher returns for us, and, more importantly, our clients.”

About Holdun Family Office

The Holdun Family Office Portfolio, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, has consistently outperformed the market through constant innovation and smart tactical moves, minimizing the effects of market volatility and maximizing investors' risk-adjusted returns.

Holdun Family Office offers a full suite of financial amenities, including Wealth Management, Trust, Corporate, and Concierge services.

We invite you to join our family!

www.holdun.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200505005294/en/

Contacts

Media Contact
Holdun Family Office
Philip Stewart, Chief Development Officer
pstewart@holdun.com

Company Contact
Holdun Family Office
Brendan Dunn, CEO
bdunn@holdun.com


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Sunday, May 10, 2020

Rimini Street Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Quarterly revenue of $78.0 million, up 18.5% year over year

Quarterly gross margin of 61.3%, down from 63.8% year over year

2,077 active clients at March 31, 2020, up 12.1% year over year




LAS VEGAS-Sunday 10 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of enterprise software products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products and a Salesforce partner, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

 “For the first quarter, we achieved record quarterly revenue, matching the high-end of management guidance, generated $26.3 million of operating cash flow, produced another quarter of net income, strengthened the balance sheet with total cash of $58.0 million at quarter end and expanded sales capabilities. Operationally, in response to the pandemic, we leveraged our secure, remote-connectivity infrastructure to seamlessly and smoothly transition our office-based employees worldwide to a work-at-home model with no material impact to our client service delivery or sales execution,” stated Seth A. Ravin, Rimini Street co-founder, CEO and chairman of the board. “Having already saved our clients nearly $5 billion to date, we are the right company, at the right time, with proven solutions that are helping organizations immediately slash IT operating costs, save jobs, stabilize operations and focus their more limited resources on strategic initiatives. Prior to the pandemic, we were making investments to meet increasing global demand for our expanded product and service portfolio. This increased demand was reflected in our previously issued - and today re-affirmed - 2020 guidance for accelerated year-over-year revenue growth. We are now accelerating those investments to service additional opportunities resulting from the global economic slowdown. We remain committed to the long-term goals of improving free cash flow and growing GAAP profitability.”

First Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

Revenue was $78.0 million for the 2020 first quarter, an increase of 18.5% compared to $65.9 million for the 2019 first quarter.

Annualized Subscription Revenue was $310 million for the 2020 first quarter, an increase of 17.7% compared to $263 million for the 2019 first quarter.

Active Clients as of March 31, 2020 were 2,077, an increase of 12.1% compared to 1,852 Active Clients as of March 31, 2019.

Revenue Retention Rate was 92% for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 92% for the comparable period ended March 31, 2019.

Gross margin was 61.3% for the 2020 first quarter compared to 63.8% for the same period last year.

Operating income was $3.7 million for the 2020 first quarter compared to $11.2 million for the same period last year.

Non-GAAP Operating Income was $8.9 million for the 2020 first quarter compared to $6.2 million for the same period last year.

Net income was $2.5 million for the 2020 first quarter compared to $10.3 million for the same period last year.

Non-GAAP Net Income was $7.7 million for the 2020 first quarter compared to $5.1 million for the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the 2020 first quarter was $9.2 million compared to $6.6 million for the same period last year.

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders was a net loss per share of $0.06 for the 2020 first quarter compared to a net income per share of $0.05 for the same period last year.

Employee count as of March 31, 2020 was 1,302, a year-over-year increase of 17%.

Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures provided in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables included at the end of this press release. An explanation of these measures, why we believe they are meaningful and how they are calculated is also included under the heading “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Certain Key Metrics.”

First Quarter 2020 Company Highlights

Announced significant international client news, including;

Two client CFO’s from Brazil industrial manufacturers Metalurgica Fallgatter and Continental Parafusos, spearheaded the move to Rimini Street Support to save costs and improve productivity and business operations

Hearing Australia, Australia’s largest provider of government-funded services, switched to Rimini Street Support and was able to free up internal resources to undertake digital transformation initiatives

Announced that Rimini Street established a whole-of-government volume sourcing agreement with the Australian Government, an initiative which is part of the government’s agenda to transform ICT procurement to make it simpler, clearer and faster for agencies and industry to transact services.

Announced the release of a research note from analyst firm Gartner, predicting that the third-party enterprise software support market is expected to grow by 200% from $351 million in 2019 to $1.05 billion by 2023.

Closed over 8,400 support cases across 42 countries, and delivered more than 28,000 tax, legal and regulatory updates to clients in 33 countries, while achieving an average client satisfaction rating on the Company’s support delivery of 4.8 out of 5.0 (where 5.0 is rated excellent).

Presented at nine CIO and IT and procurement leader events worldwide, including NRF Retail’s Big Show in New York, the Software Asset Management Conference in Berlin, Germany, and the TechTalk Summit in Miami, Florida.

Partnered with seven global charities through the Rimini Street Foundation and donated more than 300 volunteer hours.

2020 Revenue Guidance

The Company is currently providing second quarter 2020 revenue guidance to be in the range of $77 million to $80 million, and maintaining full year 2020 revenue guidance in the range of $310 million to $320 million.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Rimini Street will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the first quarter 2020 results and select second quarter 2020 performance to-date commentary at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on May 7, 2020. A live webcast of the event will be available on Rimini Street’s Investor Relations site at https://investors.riministreet.com. Dial-in participants can access the conference call by dialing (855) 213-3942 in the U.S. and Canada and enter the code 2672493. A replay of the webcast will be available for at least 90 days following the event.

Company’s Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains certain “non-GAAP financial measures.” Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. This non-GAAP information supplements, and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial tables included in this press release. Presented under the heading “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Certain Key Metrics” is a description and explanation of our non-GAAP financial measures.

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI) is a global provider of enterprise software products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products and a Salesforce partner. The Company offers premium, ultra-responsive and integrated application management and support services that enable enterprise software licensees to save significant costs, free up resources for innovation and achieve better business outcomes. Over 2,000 global Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and other organizations from a broad range of industries rely on Rimini Street as their trusted application enterprise software products and services provider. To learn more, please visit http://www.riministreet.com/, follow @riministreet on Twitter and find Rimini Street on Facebook and LinkedIn. (IR-RMNI)

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “may,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “continue,” “future,” “will,” “expect,” “outlook” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the duration of and economic, operational and financial impacts on our business of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the actions taken by governmental authorities, clients or others in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients, changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including inflation and interest rates, and general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which Rimini Street operates; adverse developments in pending litigation or in the government inquiry or any new litigation; our need and ability to raise additional equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the terms and impact of our outstanding 13.00% Series A Preferred Stock; changes in taxes, laws and regulations; competitive product and pricing activity; difficulties of managing growth profitably; the customer adoption of our recently introduced products and services, including our Application Management Services (AMS), Rimini Street Advanced Database Security, and services for Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud products, in addition to other products and services we expect to introduce in the near future; the loss of one or more members of Rimini Street’s management team; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2020, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

© 2020 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.



RIMINI STREET, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 


 


ASSETS



 
March 31,
2020

 


December 31,
2019

Current assets:



 


 




Cash and cash equivalents



 
$

57,632





 


$

37,952





Restricted cash



 
333





 


436





Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,280 and $1,608, respectively



 
75,242





 


111,574





Deferred contract costs, current



 
11,779





 


11,754





Prepaid expenses and other



 
15,096





 


15,205





Total current assets



 
160,082





 


176,921





Long-term assets:



 


 




Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $10,138 and $9,847, respectively



 
3,566





 


3,667





Operating lease right-of-use assets



 
18,267





 


 






Deferred contract costs, noncurrent



 
16,693





 


16,295





Deposits and other



 
1,622





 


3,089





Deferred income taxes, net



 
1,107





 


1,248





Total assets



 
$

201,337





 


$

201,220





LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Current liabilities:



 


 




Accounts payable



 
$

6,194





 


$

2,303





Accrued compensation, benefits and commissions



 
23,905





 


27,918





Other accrued liabilities



 
19,123





 


23,347





Operating lease liabilities, current



 
4,060





 


 






Deferred revenue, current



 
195,800





 


205,771





Total current liabilities



 
249,082





 


259,339





Long-term liabilities:



 


 




Deferred revenue, noncurrent



 
26,854





 


29,727





Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent



 
15,018





 


 






Accrued PIK dividends payable



 
1,153





 


1,156





Other long-term liabilities



 
874





 


2,275





Total liabilities



 
292,981





 


292,497





Redeemable Series A Preferred Stock:



 


 




Authorized 180 shares; issued and outstanding 156 shares and 155 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Liquidation preference of $156,401, net of discount of $22,368 and $155,231, net of discount of $23,915, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively



 
134,033





 


131,316





Stockholders' Deficit:



 


 




Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share. Authorized 99,820 shares (excluding 180 shares of Series A Preferred Stock); no other series has been designated



 






 


 






Common Stock, $0.0001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 68,032 and 67,503 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively



 
7





 


7





Additional paid-in capital



 
88,668





 


93,484





Accumulated other comprehensive loss



 
(2,242

)



 


(1,429

)



Accumulated deficit



 
(312,110

)



 


(314,655

)



Total stockholders' deficit



 
(225,677

)



 


(222,593

)



Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' deficit



 
$

201,337





 


$

201,220







RIMINI STREET, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 








Three Months Ended





March 31,





2020

 


 
2019

Revenue



$

78,032





 


 
$

65,873





Cost of revenue



30,199





 


 
23,837





Gross profit



47,833





 


 
42,036





Operating expenses:





 


 


Sales and marketing



28,412





 


 
23,955





General and administrative



12,001





 


 
12,988





Litigation costs and related recoveries:





 


 


Professional fees and other costs of litigation



2,752





 


 
2,041





Litigation appeal refunds



 






 


 
(12,775

)



Insurance costs and recoveries, net



921





 


 
4,639





Litigation costs and related recoveries, net



3,673





 


 
(6,095

)



Total operating expenses



44,086





 


 
30,848





Operating income



3,747





 


 
11,188





Non-operating income and (expenses):





 


 


Interest expense



(13

)



 


 
(232

)



Other income (expenses), net



(218

)



 


 
43





Income before income taxes



3,516





 


 
10,999





Income tax expense



(971

)



 


 
(705

)



Net income



$

2,545





 


 
$

10,294











 


 


Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders



$

(4,085

)



 


 
$

3,488











 


 


Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:





 


 


Basic



$

(0.06

)



 


 
$

0.05





Diluted



$

(0.06

)



 


 
$

0.05





Weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding:





 


 


Basic



67,863





 


 
64,622





Diluted



67,863





 


 
69,101







RIMINI STREET, INC.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(In thousands)

 








Three Months Ended





March 31,





2020

 


2019

Non-GAAP operating income reconciliation:





 




Operating income



$

3,747



 


$

11,188





Non-GAAP adjustments:





 




Litigation costs and related recoveries, net



3,673



 


(6,095

)



Stock-based compensation expense



1,510



 


1,155





Non-GAAP operating income



$

8,930



 


$

6,248





Non-GAAP net income reconciliation:





 




Net income



$

2,545



 


$

10,294





Non-GAAP adjustments:





 




Litigation costs and related recoveries, net



3,673



 


(6,095

)



Post-judgment interest in litigation awards







 


(212

)



Stock-based compensation expense



1,510



 


1,155





Non-GAAP net income



$

7,728



 


$

5,142





Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:





 




Net income



$

2,545



 


$

10,294





Non-GAAP adjustments:





 




Interest expense



13



 


232





Income tax expense



971



 


705





Depreciation and amortization expense



449



 


494





EBITDA



3,978



 


11,725





Non-GAAP adjustments:





 




Litigation costs and related recoveries, net



3,673



 


(6,095

)



Post-judgment interest in litigation awards







 


(212

)



Stock-based compensation expense



1,510



 


1,155





Adjusted EBITDA



$

9,161



 


$

6,573





About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Certain Key Metrics

To provide investors and others with additional information regarding Rimini Street’s results, we have disclosed the following non-GAAP financial measures and certain key metrics. We have described below Active Clients, Annualized Subscription Revenue and Revenue Retention Rate, each of which is a key operational metric for our business. In addition, we have disclosed the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income (loss), EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA. Rimini Street has provided in the tables above a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this earnings release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Due to a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets, there were no tax effects associated with any of our non-GAAP adjustments. These non-GAAP financial measures are also described below.

The primary purpose of using non-GAAP measures is to provide supplemental information that management believes may prove useful to investors and to enable investors to evaluate our results in the same way management does. We also present the non-GAAP financial measures because we believe they assist investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis, as well as comparing our results against the results of other companies, by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Specifically, management uses these non-GAAP measures as measures of operating performance; to prepare our annual operating budget; to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of our business; to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies; to provide consistency and comparability with past financial performance; to facilitate a comparison of our results with those of other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results; and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. Investors should be aware however, that not all companies define these non-GAAP measures consistently.

Active Client is a distinct entity that purchases our services to support a specific product, including a company, an educational or government institution, or a business unit of a company. For example, we count as two separate active clients when support for two different products is being provided to the same entity. We believe that our ability to expand our active clients is an indicator of the growth of our business, the success of our sales and marketing activities, and the value that our services bring to our clients.

Annualized Subscription Revenue is the amount of subscription revenue recognized during a fiscal quarter and multiplied by four. This gives us an indication of the revenue that can be earned in the following 12-month period from our existing client base assuming no cancellations or price changes occur during that period. Subscription revenue excludes any non-recurring revenue, which has been insignificant to date.

Revenue Retention Rate is the actual subscription revenue (dollar-based) recognized over a 12-month period from customers that were clients on the day prior to the start of such 12-month period, divided by our Annualized Subscription Revenue as of the day prior to the start of the 12-month period.

Non-GAAP Operating Income is operating income adjusted to exclude: litigation costs and related recoveries, net, and stock-based compensation expense. The exclusions are discussed in further detail below.

Non-GAAP Net Income is net income adjusted to exclude: litigation costs and related recoveries, net, post-judgment interest in litigation awards, and stock-based compensation expense. These exclusions are discussed in further detail below.

Specifically, management is excluding the following items from its non-GAAP financial measures, as applicable, for the periods presented:

Litigation Costs and Related Recoveries, Net: Litigation costs and the associated insurance and appeal recoveries relate to outside costs of litigation activities. These costs and recoveries reflect the ongoing litigation we are involved with, and do not relate to the day-to-day operations or our core business of serving our clients.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense: Our compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain employees. This strategy is principally aimed at aligning the employee interests with those of our stockholders and to achieve long-term employee retention, rather than to motivate or reward operational performance for any particular period. As a result, stock-based compensation expense varies for reasons that are generally unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period.

Post-judgment interest in litigation awards: Post-judgment interest resulted from our appeals of ongoing litigation and does not relate to the day-to-day operations or our core business of serving our clients.

EBITDA is net income adjusted to exclude: interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization expense.

Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted to exclude: litigation costs and related recoveries, net, post-judgment interest in litigation awards, and stock-based compensation expense, as discussed above.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005325/en/

Contacts
Investor Relations Contact
Dean Pohl
Rimini Street, Inc.
+1 925 523-7636
dpohl@riministreet.com

Media Relations Contact
Michelle McGlocklin
Rimini Street, Inc.
+1 925 523-8414
mmcglocklin@riministreet.com





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Velodyne Lidar Announces Digital Learning Series on Automation and Safety During COVID-19

Bi-Weekly Webinars Examine How Autonomous Mobile Robots are Improving Public Safety and Fighting Disease

SAN JOSE, Calif. -Tuesday 5 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Velodyne Lidar, Inc. today announced a new digital learning series that will look at how automation is advancing safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinars will feature conversations with experts from innovative companies utilizing Velodyne lidar technology on the front lines of COVID-19 response.

The series kicks off with a look at “Autonomous Security Robots in the Midst of a Global Pandemic” with Stacy Stephens, EVP & Chief Client Officer at Knightscope. The session takes place on May 8, 2020 and starts at 10:00 a.m. PST. To register for the free webinar, please to go to: VelodyneLidar-Webinar-Knightscope.

In the premiere episode, Stephens will discuss the current and future state of security during this unprecedented global pandemic. Knightscope is an advanced security technology company based in Silicon Valley that builds fully autonomous security robots that deter, detect and report. The episode will explore how COVID-19 is driving everyone to rethink security, not only now, but for the future.

Other experts currently scheduled to appear in the webinar series, which has sessions every two weeks on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. PST, are:

Ryan Chin, Co-Founder & CEO of Optimus Ride, May 22, 2020.
Shahab Khokhar, Business Manager Components, Research Solutions of ClearPath Robotics, June 5, 2020.
Alex Fiechter, Vice President of Research and Development of Local Motors, June 19, 2020.
Gautam Narang, CEO & Co-Founder of Gatik, July 3, 2020.
More information on the webinar series can be found at: https://velodynelidar.com/events/.

“The coronavirus pandemic is propelling business, healthcare and government to find innovative ways to deliver essential services while also keeping workers and the public safe from infectious disease. Powered by lidar, robots are providing crucial support in response to the crisis. This digital learning series aims to advance understanding on how autonomous robots can perform essential services while reducing human exposure to contagions,” said Sally Frykman, Vice President of Communications, Velodyne Lidar.

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne provides smart, powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies. Velodyne’s founder, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar systems in 2005 as part of Velodyne Acoustics. Mr. Hall’s invention revolutionized perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility, mapping, robotics, and security. Velodyne’s high-performance product line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the cost-effective Puck™, the versatile Ultra Puck™, the autonomy-advancing Alpha Prime™, the ADAS-optimized Velarray™, and the groundbreaking software for driver assistance, Vella™.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200504005091/en/

Contacts
Press contact Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
Landis Communications Inc.
Sean Dowdall
(415) 286-7121
velodyne@landispr.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/velodyne-lidar-announces-digital-learning-series-on-automation-and-safety-during-covid-19/en

Visa’s Fast Track Program Propels Growth of the Fintech Industry Worldwide

Global Fintech Fast Track program grows 280% in less than a year, supporting women-owned Fintechs, digital currency wallets, B2B and B2C innovators

Initiatives from Fast Track alumni help provide relief for COVID-19 recovery


SAN FRANCISCO-Saturday 9 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fintechs are a central part of the global payments ecosystem, and amidst COVID-19 have launched further into the spotlight, reporting sizable upticks in the usage of their apps1, as more people manage their money from their personal devices. Visa (NYSE: V), today, is proud to announce its continued support of the global Fintech community, having grown the Fast Track program to over 140 Fintechs2. Since expanding globally in mid-2019, the Fast Track program has grown 280%3, highlighting the surge in demand for digital payments worldwide.

Fast Track allows both new and established businesses to leverage the speed, security, reliability and scale of the Visa network to get up and running quickly, taking the process from months to weeks. The program provides turnkey access to Visa’s ecosystem partners, online licensing, APIs, as well as extensive go-to-market toolkits, online education and expert advice to help Fintechs scale their business. With new members from Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, these Fintechs are transforming how consumers and businesses manage money, invest, receive loans and send payments worldwide.

“Our goal is to bring cutting-edge Fintechs into the Visa ecosystem, to help them grow and scale their business in record time,” said Terry Angelos, senior vice president and global head of Fintech, Visa. “Through programs like Fast Track, Visa is committed to helping Fintechs, many of which are small businesses, advance their potential and get into market quickly, so they are ready to provide innovations that move the world forward everyday – especially in current times.”

Fast Track Fintechs Focus on Recovery

Visa partners including Airwallex, Fundation and Rappi have used their ongoing focus on innovation and growth to be nimble in their reactions to COVID-19. Australia-founded Airwallex has extended support to Australia and UK-based small businesses in need by offering to waive their international transactions fees and U.S.-based Fundation is helping small businesses quickly get the capital they need during these times. Rappi out of Colombia has begun piloting food delivery by robots, working to minimize the spread of the virus. In these videos, Airwallex and Rappi both talk about their experiences in working with Visa.

“During these challenging times, it’s more important than ever that we are able to support small businesses by getting them the funds they need as quickly as possible to stay afloat,” said Sam Graziano, chief executive officer, Fundation. “Through our partnership with Visa, we will continue to innovate and develop strategies to aid in the relief and recovery of our customers' businesses."

Visa Welcomes a New Class of Innovators

The newest members of the Fast Track program span a diverse range of companies, including female-founded Fintechs, digital currency wallets, consumer-centric and business-to-business (B2B) solutions providers. Highlights include:

    New Enablement Partners: Fast Track is made possible due to collaboration with enablement partners who are the critical technology companies that lay the foundation for Fintechs to build their products. Announced today, three new program manager enablement partners – Cascade FinTech, Deserve and PEX – are becoming part of Fast Track in the U.S., joining a class of leading companies like Galileo, Marqeta and Stripe, bringing the total number of enablement partners to more than 20 globally.

    Female Founders: Visa is committed to the advancement of women’s economic growth. Visa’s investment in women-owned businesses is further emphasized by the inclusion of global female-founded Fintechs, Australia-founded Airwallex, and North America-based gogo Getter and Kikoff.

    Digital Currency Wallets: Digital currency enabled wallets have grown exponentially, with over 139 million user accounts in existence today4. In support of this burgeoning market, digital currency-focused Fast Track companies including Fold, Genesis Block and TrustToken are connecting their consumers to Visa’s 61 million merchant locations worldwide.

    Consumer Finance Management: Across platforms, Visa aims to make the everyday management of money easier for consumers. Fast Track companies including Europe-based Lydia and Swile, Paga in Africa, SoLo Funds in the U.S., and United Arab Emirates-based Wally are among those simplifying money management and driving Fintech app adoption in their communities.

    Small Business Support: Visa continues to transform the B2B payments space for the digital age. UK-based digital lender Capital on Tap, which provides credit cards and loans to over 60,000 SMBs, and U.S.-based Fundation, which provides an application processing platform for banks and small business lenders, are part of the program. Konfio, a Mexico-based startup that uses a data-first approach to enable fast credit assessment for SMBs, and Neat, a Hong Kong Fintech startup enabling SMEs to grow their business globally, are also standout members creating new B2B innovations from across the globe.

“Right now, it’s more important than ever to help small businesses navigate through unknown financial challenges,” said David Arana, chief executive officer, Konfio. “By working with Visa and through the Fast Track program, we have been able to offer small businesses access to financial services that they’re often not given, and provide options to SMEs who need credit lines to pay for necessities, which is especially important in today’s environment. We have also developed tools and market research to complement our financial services.”

“After recently joining Visa’s Fast Track program, we were able to quickly put our co-branded debit card into market in the United States,” said Will Reeves, chief executive officer, Fold. “By working with Visa, we are delivering on our mission to provide an easy way for shoppers to earn rewards in bitcoin for their everyday spending, and help our business continue to scale with the backing of Visa’s vast network and resources.”

For more information on Visa’s Fast Track program and how to join, visit here.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews.

1 DeVere Group: Coronavirus lockdown: Massive surge in the use of fintech apps, March 2020
2 Visa Fast Track Global Data, May 2020
3 Visa Fast Track Global Data, May 2020
4 Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance 2019 Global Cryptoasset benchmarking study

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005309/en/



Contacts

Caylah Novak
Tel: 831-431-3454
Email: cnovak@visa.com


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Saturday, May 9, 2020

Velodyne Lidar Announces Multi-Year Sales Agreement With GeoSLAM

Velodyne Lidar Sensors Power GeoSLAM’s Data Capture Solutions

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Saturday 9 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Velodyne Lidar, Inc. today announced a multi-year sales agreement with GeoSLAM, a global market leader in 3D geospatial technology solutions. GeoSLAM uses Velodyne lidar sensors in its ZEB-HORIZON mobile scanner that provides 3D mapping of indoor, underground and difficult to access environments without the need for GPS.

Velodyne’s Puck LITE™ sensors enable GeoSLAM systems to achieve data capture of intricate measurements from up to 100 meters away, delivering rapid results that can save time and money. ZEB-HORIZON addresses a wide variety of solutions, including building information modeling (BIM), construction, real estate, surveying and mining. In an innovative application, Virginia Tech researchers are bringing a World War I battlefield to classrooms and museums with ZEB-HORIZON mapping as part of a virtual reality experience. GeoSLAM scanners are also being deployed by Entropy Group to map K-12 schools in the United States to provide first responders with detailed floor plans in emergency situations.

“Working with Velodyne has opened up new possibilities for collecting geospatial data, allowing companies to capture, process and understand the world around them,” said Darren Burford, Chief Revenue Officer, GeoSLAM. “We combined Velodyne sensors with our robust SLAM algorithm to create an easy-to-use mobile product that can generate 3D point clouds in real time.”

“GeoSLAM is helping companies transform their businesses with go-anywhere 3D mapping solutions that enable fast data collection in a variety of environments,” said Erich Smidt, Executive Director Europe, Velodyne Lidar. “Their solutions demonstrate how Velodyne sensors can help decision makers create digital twins – digital replicas of physical structures and other areas of interest – that have great accuracy and detail.”

Velodyne Puck LITE sensors deliver a high-resolution image to measure and analyze indoor, outdoor and underground environments. Designed for applications that require a sensor with a low weight and compact size, the Puck LITE delivers outstanding resolution and performance for UAV/drone, handheld and vehicle applications. It provides a full 360-degree environmental view to deliver real-time 3D data.

About Velodyne Lidar

Velodyne provides smart, powerful lidar solutions for autonomy and driver assistance. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Velodyne is known worldwide for its portfolio of breakthrough lidar sensor technologies. Velodyne’s founder, David Hall, invented real-time surround view lidar systems in 2005 as part of Velodyne Acoustics. Mr. Hall’s invention revolutionized perception and autonomy for automotive, new mobility, mapping, robotics, and security. Velodyne’s high-performance product line includes a broad range of sensing solutions, including the cost-effective Puck™, the versatile Ultra Puck™, the autonomy-advancing Alpha Prime™, the ADAS-optimized Velarray™, and the groundbreaking software for driver assistance, Vella™.

About GeoSLAM (www.geoslam.com)

Headquartered in the UK, GeoSLAM is a global market leader in “go-anywhere” 3D mobile mapping technology. Its unique handheld technology is highly versatile and adaptable to all environments – especially spaces that are indoor, underground or difficult to access, providing accurate 3D mapping without the need for GPS. GeoSLAM technology is easy to use and within minutes customers can build a highly accurate 3D model of their environment. The company was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between CSIRO (Australia’s National Science Agency) and 3D Laser Mapping. Serving the surveying, engineering, mining, forestry, facilities and asset management sectors, GeoSLAM has an expanding global network of over 70 distributors – including over 15 in U.S. locations – https://geoslam.com/contact/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005153/en/

Contacts
Media Contact
Landis Communications Inc.
Sean Dowdall
(415) 286-7121
velodyne@landispr.com

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Mary Kay Inc. Commits Nearly $10 Million to Global COVID-19 Support

DALLAS-Monday 4 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and support frontline workers, Mary Kay Inc. has contributed nearly $10 million in monetary donations, product donations, and distribution support in the countries where it operates and communities in critical need around the world.

 “The wide-ranging impact of this pandemic on our economies, populace and the world at large may not be truly known for some time,” said David Holl, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay Inc. “But here’s what we’re sure of right now: people are suffering, and an unprecedented crisis requires everyone’s support. It’s our responsibility to help those affected by this virus—either directly, like our frontline workers, or indirectly, like women and children impacted by the alarming uptick in domestic violence cases.”

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Kay Inc., its subsidiaries around the world, and along with its four company-sponsored Foundations in Canada, Brazil, China and the United States, have taken the following actions targeted at supporting global and national relief efforts:

Supporting the Frontlines:

Refocused global manufacturing efforts on the production and donation of essential items only, including personal care and hygiene products, as well as hand sanitizer that was donated to nearly 20 healthcare systems, 1,000 hospitals and 1.5 million combined frontline responders, physicians, and staff around the world.
In an effort to support the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), Mary Kay has made a donation of hand sanitizer to the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). The donation will support countries of the Americas in the response to COVID-19.
Donated hand sanitizer to CARE (an international humanitarian agency) to support its critically needed COVID-19 response efforts in 63 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East regions combating the crisis with scarce resources.
Joined the World Economic Forum’s new COVID Action Platform created with the support of the World Health Organization. The global platform, the first of its kind, aims to convene the business community for collective action, protect people’s livelihoods and facilitate business continuity, and mobilize support for the COVID-19 response. The platform will support mechanisms for donation of hand sanitizer to the public health response in regions throughout the world where much-needed essential supplies are not readily accessible.
Coordinated with the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and Feeding America to donate hand sanitizer to organizations in need.
Donated hand sanitizer to healthcare systems and hospitals in the top ten hardest hit cities in the United States.
Local support for areas surrounding Mary Kay’s global headquarters and manufacturing facility:
Near Mary Kay Inc.’s global headquarters (Dallas, Texas), supplied hand sanitizer and other supplies to Dallas County First Responders, Addison Police Department, Tenet Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Steward Health Care, HCA Hospital Network, Christus Health, Medical City Dallas, Parkland Health and Hospital, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Pop-Up Hospital.
In Lewisville, Texas, home of the company’s global manufacturing facility, Mary Kay Inc. supplied hand sanitizer to the Lewisville Police Department and First Responders.
Mary Kay Inc. supplied hand sanitizer to neighboring Tarrant County First Responders and public health needs.
Supporting Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Needs:

The Mary Kay Foundation℠ (United States) announced the opening of COVID-19 grant relief applications, offering unrestricted monetary grants for domestic violence shelters in need. Three local domestic violence shelters in or around Dallas (Denton County Friends of the Family, The Family Place and Hope’s Door New Beginning Center) received $25,000 each to support their emergency shelter services and impact programs. The Foundation also donated $75,000 to Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support and its Conference on Crimes Against Women efforts (CCAW) in collaboration with the Dallas Police Department, supporting the mission of ending all violence against women.
The Mary Kay Foundation℠ (United States), Independent Mary Kay National Sales Directors and Independent Mary Kay National Sales Directors Emeriti donated hand sanitizer to nearly 500 domestic violence shelters across the United States to ensure a healthy and safe environment for women and children seeking refuge from shelter-in-place orders that trap them in abusive situations. The nearly 500 domestic violence shelters support over 1.5 million women and children annually in the United States.
Earlier this year, The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (Canada) issued $100,000 in domestic violence grants to ten domestic violence shelters. To continue relief efforts, the Charitable Foundation will issue smaller donations to nearly 40 more shelters and supply the almost 50 shelters in total with hand sanitizer.
Instituto Mary Kay (Brazil) donated to the NGO Fala Mulher so the organization could buy the necessary prevention equipment (such as hand sanitizer, gloves and masks) to ensure the continuity of care for survivors of domestic violence.
Supporting Additional Efforts:

The Mary Kay China Charity Fund donated to the Amity Foundation (an independent Chinese social organization dedicated to public health, social welfare, disaster relief and other philanthropic undertakings), and made early contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts in Wuhan, China. Mary Kay China also donated nutrition, skincare and hand care products to frontline female health workers and volunteers.
Mary Kay Brazil and Instituto Mary Kay donated to the FIOCRUZ – Oswaldo Cruz Foundation to help produce 5,000 modern COVID-19 tests for public hospitals; donated to São Paulo State Fund to support efforts to purchase ventilators; and donated to the State Health Department to support special protection aprons for ICU workers in public hospitals.
Mary Kay Mexico will donate hand sanitizer units to support lower economic communities: Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico (Mexico’s Foodbank Network), Unidas Contigo Monterrey (breast cancer awareness) and Fondo Semillas Mexico (domestic violence prevention).
Mary Kay Russia donated hygiene products to the frontline workers at The N.V. Sklifosovsky Scientific Research Institute of First Aid and the A.S.Puchkov ER of the Moscow Health Department.
There are many more efforts happening around the world in countries where Mary Kay operates to support local COVID-19 relief efforts.
Quotes from Partners/Supporting the Frontlines:

Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of PAHO Health Emergencies
“We are thankful for Mary Kay’s generous donation of hand sanitizer to the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). This donation will support the Organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the countries of the Americas in slowing the virus’ spread in healthcare settings and protecting health workers who are at the forefront of the response to this pandemic.”

Michelle Nunn, CARE President and CEO
“CARE is working every day in vulnerable communities across the globe where healthcare systems are the most fragile. In times of pandemics, life becomes even more perilous in these communities. Hand sanitizers are an important resource in stopping the spread of COVID-19, particularly in places with limited access to water and sanitation, and where social distancing is a challenge to survival. That’s why we are grateful for Mary Kay’s generous donation to help keep communities safe.”

Pat Drury, WHO Manager, Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)
“The mission of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), acting in collaboration with WHO, is to provide international public health resources to control outbreaks and public health emergencies across the globe. The network is connecting partner institutions for better health outcomes and networking international public health resources to support communities, and save lives in times of major outbreaks and public health emergencies. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission resonates now, more than ever. On behalf of those who will benefit most from this generosity, we are thankful to Mary Kay for its donation.”

Zara Ingilizian, Head of Consumer Industries and the Future of Consumption Platform, World Economic Forum
“The World Economic Forum, in partnership with the World Health Organization, is mobilizing all stakeholders to protect lives and livelihoods through its COVID-19 Action Platform. The spread of this disease demands global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community. Consumer Industries companies, such as Mary Kay, and their donations of life-saving sanitation products are playing a vital role in protecting the health and wellbeing of workers, healthcare professionals and consumers.”

Quotes from Partners/Supporting Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Needs:

Michelle Nunn, CARE President and CEO
“When combined in countries experiencing war, poverty, and instability, COVID-19 creates a perfect storm of factors that will exacerbate existing challenges many women and girls in these settings experience, including gender-based violence (GBV). We need to ensure that the emergency response to COVID-19 doesn’t forget society’s most marginalized and vulnerable people. The Mary Kay Foundation’s generous donation will help to keep women and girls safe from GBV and other threats during this time of crisis.”

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 56 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, and fragrances. Mary Kay is committed to empowering women and their families by partnering with organizations from around the world, focusing on supporting cancer research, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Mary Kay Ash’s original vision continues to shine—one lipstick at a time. Learn more at MaryKay.com.

About The Mary Kay Foundation℠

Guided by Mary Kay Ash’s dream to enrich the lives of women everywhere, The Mary Kay Foundation℠ raises and distributes funds to invest in breakthrough cancer research to find a cure for women-related cancers and ending domestic violence against women. Since 1996, The Mary Kay Foundation℠ has contributed more than $80 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, the Foundation supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. Together, we can make the world better for women. To learn more about how to educate, advocate, volunteer and donate, and join life-saving work to support and empower women, visit marykayfoundation.org, find us on Facebook and Instagram, or follow us on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200429005893/en/

Contacts
Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com

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Andersen Global Strengthens Eastern Europe Presence; Debuts in Ukraine

SAN FRANCISCO-Friday 8 May 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Andersen Global announces its entry into Ukraine via a Collaboration Agreement with a leading local firm Sayenko Kharenko, further expanding its global platform in Eastern Europe.

Founded in 2004, Sayenko Kharenko is one of the largest law firms in Ukraine with 17 Partners and more than 120 total professionals. The firm specializes in complex cross-border and local matters and provides services for a variety of industries including healthcare, pharmaceutical, agriculture, energy, retail and natural resources.

“Our tax practice has been dynamically growing lately and collaborating with Andersen Global allows us to better address the evolving tax and business needs of our clients, as well as successfully handle any of their global needs,” said Office Managing Director Nazar Chernyavsky. “Arthur Andersen alumna and Partner of our tax practice Svitlana Musienko will assist us as we collaborate with Andersen Global. We appreciate the importance and impact of working with like-minded individuals around the globe with whom we share similar values.”

“The addition of Sayenko Kharenko brings new depth to our presence in Eastern Europe while allowing us to deliver additional services in the region,” said Mark Vorsatz, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO. “There is no question in our mind – they are the best practice in Ukraine. The firm’s demonstrated passion for stewardship and proven ability to provide clients with best-in-class solutions will allow them to integrate into our organization seamlessly.”

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 5,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 168 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005002/en/

Contacts
Megan Tsuei
Andersen Global
415-764-2700



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