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Cooper Standard Reports Third Quarter Results

Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS) today reported results for the third quarter 2021. Third Quarter 2021 Summary Sales totaled $526.7 million, reflecting the negative impact of ongoing semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions Net loss amounted to $123.2 million or $(7.20) per diluted share Adjusted EBITDA totaled $(33.9) million, including the negative impact of semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions, higher materials costs and allowance for credit loss Electric Vehicle platforms accounted for approximately $30 million in net new business awards Subsequent to quarter end, the Company reached a long-term commercial agreement to license its Fortrex TM technology to a footwear manufacturer “Our operating teams continue to deliver world-class products, technology and service to our customers around the world despite significant ongoing headwinds and challenges,” said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. “Our commercial teams are engaged in aggressive discussions with our customers and suppliers to offset the incremental costs we have incurred from volatile production schedules and materials price inflation. We remain focused on optimizing those aspects of our business that are within our control and on executing our longer-term strategic initiatives.” Consolidated Results The year-over-year change in third quarter sales was primarily attributable to unfavorable volume and mix resulting from semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions. Net (loss) income for the third quarter 2021 included a non-cash deferred tax valuation allowance of $13.3 million, restructuring charges of $1.6 million and other special items. Net (loss) income for the third quarter 2020 included restructuring charges of $6.2 million and other special items. Adjusted net (loss) income, which excludes these items and their related tax impact, was $(106.4) million in the third quarter 2021 compared to $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2020. The year-over-year change was primarily due to unfavorable volume and mix resulting from semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions, higher commodity and material costs, general inflation and the one-time impact of a credit loss for certain accounts receivable deemed to be unrecoverable. In the first nine months of the year, the year-over-year increase in sales was primarily attributable to the non-recurrence of COVID-19 related customer shutdowns, partially offset by unfavorable volume and mix resulting from semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions. Net (loss) income for the first nine months of 2021 included restructuring charges of $34.3 million, a non-cash deferred tax valuation allowance of $13.3 million and other special items. Net (loss) income for the first nine months of 2020 included asset impairment charges of $87.4 million, restructuring charges of $23.2 million and other special items. Adjusted net (loss) income, which excludes these items and their related tax impact, was $(172.0) million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $(144.7) million in the first nine months of 2020. The year-over-year change was primarily due to unfavorable volume and mix resulting from semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions, higher commodity and material costs, higher interest expense, wage inflation and lower tax benefit partially offset by the non-recurrence of COVID-related customer shutdowns, improved manufacturing efficiency and lower SGA&E expense. Adjusted net (loss) income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted (loss) earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures, calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), are provided in the attached supplemental schedules. Automotive New Business Awards The Company continues to leverage its world-class engineering and manufacturing capabilities, its innovation programs and its reputation for quality and service to win new business awards with its customers. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company received net new business awards representing approximately $30 million in incremental anticipated future annualized sales. Importantly, these net new business awards were primarily on electric vehicle platforms. For the first nine months of 2021, the Company's net new business awards totaled $160.1 million, with $88.4 million in new awards on electric vehicle platforms. Notable Events - Expanding Markets for Fortrex TM Technology Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company finalized a long-term commercial agreement with a footwear manufacturer granting them license to use Fortrex TM technology in the manufacture of their footwear products. The agreement calls for the payment of licensing fees and ongoing volume-based royalties with an established minimum value. The agreement is for a 10 year term and is non-exclusive. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the identity of the footwear manufacturer and specific financial terms will not be disclosed. The Company is continuing technology development work to further leverage the sustainability advantages of Fortrex TM technology in both automotive and non-automotive applications. Segment Results of Operations Sales * Net of customer price reductions Volume and mix, net of customer price reductions, was driven by vehicle production volume decreases due to semiconductor-related customer schedule reductions. The impact of foreign currency exchange primarily related to the Chinese Renminbi, Canadian Dollar, Euro and Brazilian Real. Adjusted EBITDA * Net of customer price reductions Volume and mix, net of customer price reductions, was driven by vehicle production volume decreases due to semi-conductor-related customer schedule reductions. The impact of foreign currency exchange was driven by the Chinese Renminbi, Mexican Peso, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Polish Zloty, Czech Koruna, and Brazilian Real. The Cost (Increases) / Decreases category above includes: Commodity cost, wage inflation increases and the non-recurrence of prior year government incentives; The one-time impact of $11.2 million credit loss for certain accounts receivable related to the bankruptcy proceedings of a former joint venture in Asia; and Reduction in compensation-related expenses due to lower variable employee compensation expenses, salaried headcount initiatives, purchasing savings through lean initiatives, and restructuring savings. Cash and Liquidity At September 30, 2021, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling $253.3 million and total liquidity, including availability under its amended senior asset-based revolving credit facility, of $380.2 million. Based on our current expectations for light vehicle production and customer demand for our products, we expect our current solid cash balance and access to flexible credit facilities will provide sufficient resources to support ongoing operations and the execution of planned strategic initiatives. Outlook Entering the fourth quarter, light vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers continue to experience significant production delays and disruption due to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage and other supply chain constraints. Significantly higher commodity and materials costs, rising wages, general inflation and tight labor availability continue to create additional headwinds. At the same time, consumer demand for new light vehicles remains strong and U.S. dealer inventories remain at or near historic lows. Current customer schedules and industry forecasts suggest production volumes will begin to improve in the fourth quarter and continue to ramp up in the first half of 2022. The projected ramp up remains dependent on the available supply of semiconductors and could be impacted by further supply and demand imbalance or disruption. Based on our outlook for the global automotive industry, macroeconomic conditions, current customer production schedules and our own operating plans, the Company has updated its 2021 full year guidance as follows: 1 Guidance is representative of management's estimates and expectations as of the date it is published. Current guidance as presented in this press release considers October 2021 IHS Markit production forecasts for relevant light vehicle platforms and models, customers' planned production schedules and other internal assumptions. 2 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company has not provided a reconciliation of projected adjusted EBITDA to projected net income because full-year net income will include special items that have not yet occurred and are difficult to predict with reasonable certainty prior to year-end. Due to this uncertainty, the Company cannot reconcile projected adjusted EBITDA to U.S. GAAP net income without unreasonable effort. Conference Call Details Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on November 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2021 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions. A link to the live webcast of the call (listen only) and presentation materials will be available on Cooper Standard’s Investor Relations website at www.ir.cooperstandard.com/events.cfm. To participate by phone, callers in the United States and Canada should dial toll-free (877) 374-4041. International callers should dial (253) 237-1156. Provide the conference ID 8759104 or ask to be connected to the Cooper Standard conference call. Representatives of the investment community will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Callers should dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Individuals unable to participate during the live call may visit the investors’ portion of the Cooper Standard website ( www.ir.cooperstandard.com ) for a replay of the webcast. About Cooper Standard Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., with locations in 21 countries, is a leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components. Utilizing our materials science and manufacturing expertise, we create innovative and sustainable engineered solutions for diverse transportation and industrial markets. Cooper Standard's approximately 25,000 employees are at the heart of our success, continuously improving our business and surrounding communities. Learn more at www.cooperstandard.com or follow us on Twitter @CooperStandard Forward Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Our use of words “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “forecast,” or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” or “may,” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Among other items, such factors may include: the impact, and expected continued impact, of the COVID-19 outbreak on our financial condition and results of operations; significant risks to our liquidity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic risk; prolonged or material contractions in automotive sales and production volumes; our inability to realize sales represented by awarded business; escalating pricing pressures; loss of large customers or significant platforms; our ability to successfully compete in the automotive parts industry; availability and increasing volatility in costs of manufactured components and raw materials; disruption in our supply base; competitive threats and commercial risks associated with our diversification strategy through our Advanced Technology Group; possible variability of our working capital requirements; risks associated with our international operations, including changes in laws, regulations, and policies governing the terms of foreign trade such as increased trade restrictions and tariffs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our ability to control the operations of our joint ventures for our sole benefit; our substantial amount of indebtedness and variable rates of interest; our ability to obtain adequate financing sources in the future; operating and financial restrictions imposed on us under our debt instruments; the underfunding of our pension plans; significant changes in discount rates and the actual return on pension assets; effectiveness of continuous improvement programs and other cost savings plans; manufacturing facility closings or consolidation; our ability to execute new program launches; our ability to meet customers’ needs for new and improved products; the possibility that our acquisitions and divestitures may not be successful; product liability, warranty and recall claims brought against us; laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; legal and regulatory proceedings, claims or investigations against us; work stoppages or other labor disruptions; the ability of our intellectual property to withstand legal challenges; cyber-attacks, data privacy concerns, other disruptions in, or the inability to implement upgrades to, our information technology systems; the possible volatility of our annual effective tax rate; the possibility of a failure to maintain effective controls and procedures; the possibility of future impairment charges to our goodwill and long-lived assets; our ability to identify, attract, develop and retain a skilled, engaged and diverse workforce; our ability to procure insurance at reasonable rates; and our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash to satisfy our obligations; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. This press release also contains estimates and other information that is based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information. CPS_F Financial statements and related notes follow: Non-GAAP Measures EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share and free cash flow are measures not recognized under U.S. GAAP and which exclude certain non-cash and special items that may obscure trends and operating performance not indicative of the Company’s core financial activities. Net new business is a measure not recognized under U.S. GAAP which is a representation of potential incremental future revenue but which may not fully reflect all external impacts to future revenue. Management considers EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, free cash flow and net new business to be key indicators of the Company’s operating performance and believes that these and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Company’s performance. In addition, similar measures are utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and ratios contained in the Company’s financing arrangements and management uses these measures for developing internal budgets and forecasting purposes. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to reflect income tax expense (benefit), interest expense net of interest income, depreciation and amortization, and adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company’s core operating performance. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company’s core operating performance. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share is defined as adjusted net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares, respectively, outstanding during the period. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures and is useful to both management and investors in evaluating the Company’s ability to service and repay its debt. Net new business reflects anticipated sales from formally awarded programs, less lost business, discontinued programs and replacement programs and is based on IHS Markit forecast production volumes. The calculation of “net new business” does not reflect customer price reductions on existing programs and may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the respective calculation, including actual vehicle production levels on new programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches. When analyzing the Company’s operating performance, investors should use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, free cash flow and net new business as supplements to, and not as alternatives for, net income (loss), operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and not as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt, free cash flow and net new business have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company’s results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP. Other companies may report EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, free cash flow and net new business differently and therefore the Company’s results may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. In addition, in evaluating adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss), it should be noted that in the future the Company may incur expenses similar to or in excess of the adjustments in the below presentation. This presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) should not be construed as an inference that the Company’s future results will be unaffected by special items. Reconciliations of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and free cash flow follow. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands) The following table provides a reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA from net (loss) income: 1 Non-cash impairment charges in 2021 related to fixed assets. Non-cash impairment charges in 2020 included impairment of assets held for sale and other impairment charges, net of portion attributable to our noncontrolling interests. 2 During 2021, we recorded subsequent adjustments to the net gain on sale of business, which related to the 2020 divestiture of our European rubber fluid transfer and specialty sealing businesses. 3 Lease termination costs no longer recorded as restructuring charges in accordance with ASC 842. 4 Project costs recorded in selling, administration and engineering expense related to divestitures in 2020. Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted (Loss) Income Per Share (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands except per share and share amounts) The following table provides a reconciliation of net (loss) income to adjusted net (loss) income and the respective (loss) earnings per share amounts: 1 Non-cash impairment charges in 2021 related to fixed assets. Non-cash impairment charges in 2020 included impairment of assets held for sale and other impairment charges, net of portion attributable to our noncontrolling interests. 2 During 2021, we recorded subsequent adjustments to the net gain on sale of business, which related to the 2020 divestiture of our European rubber fluid transfer and specialty sealing businesses. 3 Lease termination costs no longer recorded as restructuring charges in accordance with ASC 842. 4 Project costs recorded in selling, administration and engineering expense related to divestitures in 2020. 5 Relates to the initial recognition of our valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets in the U.S. 6 Represents the elimination of the income tax impact of the above adjustments by calculating the income tax impact of these adjusting items using the appropriate tax rate for the jurisdiction where the charges were incurred. Free Cash Flow (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands) The following table defines free cash flow: Contact Details Contact for Analysts Roger Hendriksen +1 248-596-6465 roger.hendriksen@cooperstandard.com Contact for Media Chris Andrews +1 248-596-6217 candrews@cooperstandard.com

November 03, 2021 04:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nofar Energy expands the collaboration with Tesla

Nofar Energy Ltd.

Nofar Energy expands further its collaboration with Tesla: the company reported today it had entered a second framework agreement with Tesla on purchasing battery stored power systems with a total capacity of 200 megawatts for $54 million. Under the agreement, Nofar will pay 5% of the consideration on the contract signing date and the balance according to predefined milestones. The storage systems will be supplied from January 2023 through March 2024. This second agreement entered by Nofar and Tesla brings the total capacity of the storage systems to be built as part of the collaboration to 300 MW/h. Most of the storage systems covered by the first agreement entered in February 2021 for 100 MW/h are under or nearing construction. Given the fast implementation pace of the first agreement and the considerable demand, Nofar Energy decided to expand the collaboration with an additional contract for a larger capacity. Nofar estimates its EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) revenues from the second agreement will total ~ NIS 250 million. The annual revenues from power sales (arbitrage and grid services) are expected to total NIS 20-50 million. Moreover, the construction of the storage systems will enable building additional solar systems at high rates in areas characterized by overloaded grids, which could not be achieved in the absence of the storage systems. Nofar Energy plans to develop and manage the storage systems for existing and new partnerships the company and its partners own, including kibbutzim, real estate, commercial, and industrial companies. Several weeks ago, Nofar completed the construction and connection of Tesla’s first storage facility in Israel, in Kibbutz Shoval. Next week, the facility will be inaugurated at a ceremony attended by Tesla executives and representatives of Israel’s energy ministry and Electric Authority. Offering a capacity of 2.718 MW/h, the new facility allows overcoming the constraints placed by the local power grid through connecting additional photo-voltaic systems with significant capacity at a high rate of NIS 0.45 per each Kw/h produced. Moreover, the storage system offers additional economic value due to the planned raising of electricity prices. An independent management system developed by Nofar Energy ensures the facility runs according to the needs and chosen strategy. The project was co-built by Nofar Energy’s partnership with Kibbutz Shoval. Nofar concurrently advances the construction and connection of dozens of other power storage systems on lands owned by Kibbutzim and real estate companies already over the coming year as part of the existing or new partnership. In addition, the signing of the second framework agreement with Tesla allows Nofar to proceed with its action plan while promoting additional procurement agreements with other manufacturers. Nofar CEO Nadav Tenne commented, “I welcome the expanded collaboration with Tesla and thank its representatives for the professional and effective interface. Having projected the upcoming shortage of the power grid in extended areas over a year ago, we prepared accordingly with professional capabilities and control systems, pilots, and strategic collaboration agreements with equipment makers and suppliers. As a result, we can leverage the partnerships we put in place to build and connect tens of storage facilities with significant capacity over the next 12 months. These facilities will generate revenues from power sales, enabling the construction and connection of tens of additional solar systems at high rates independently of the grid’s resources. We plan to initiate similar storage facilities through the growth platforms we own in Europe and the USA. We are proud to be the leaders of Israel’s power storage revolution.” Contact Details Nofar Energy Dikla Ivry Pardnoy +972 52-380-4085 dikla@ivripr.com Company Website https://www.nofar-energy.com/

November 03, 2021 09:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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British fintech Nimbla attracts £5.1m investment as embedded insurance takes off

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business insurance startup Nimbla has today announced a £5.1m funding round led by Silicon Valley venture fund Fin VC with participation from Barclays Bank. The funding comes as Nimbla seeks to scale its operations with increased demand from embedded credit risk solutions through its API with banks and alternative lending platforms. Founded in 2016, the Nimbla platform has given businesses the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance with quotes provided within seconds. Their proprietary digital automated credit risk platform is able to process requests immediately and provide real time quotes. Nimbla has processed over 67m invoices worth £2.5b. During the pandemic, volumes of invoices tripled as economic uncertainty and supply chain concerns increased and Nimbla continued writing new business. Flemming Bengtsen, CEO at Nimbla commented: “We have been growing steadily over the past few years, ramping up our technology and team to better understand businesses, the nature of B2B debt and to make faster decisions to serve our growing customer base. 2020 was a seminal year for Nimbla, at a time of global crisis, we were there for businesses enabling them to trade with a peace of mind and giving them confidence to carry on. This funding round will enable us to expand our platform, grow the team as we enable a confident and trusted trading environment for businesses across the UK and beyond”. Nimbla has worked directly with businesses and brokers to provide invoice insurance cover and more recently has launched a new API for Banks, fintech lenders and B2B platforms to enable more business to access the service. Nimbla partnered with Barclays Bank in 2020 to give their one million small business customers the ability to take out insurance against individual invoices, rather than the whole book. “We have built a powerful and robust credit risk model, automated large parts of the process and have now launched a new API to enable others to embed seamless credit risk solutions into their platforms” added Flemming Bengtsen. On investing in funding round Henry Cashin, Head of EMEA at Fin VC, commented: “Nimbla is giving businesses the confidence to trade again. They have a proven credit risk model and its tech is being adopted by top tier banks and a host of lending platforms. We believe this will scale their reach and help more businesses benefit long term”. Looking ahead, Flemming Bengtsen commented: “UK companies have added £1.9tn debt in 2020 to their balance sheets, taking the total amount outstanding to over £6.6tn. This number was inflated by the various government loan schemes. Over half of them are carrying ‘toxic debts’ which carries enormous risk for their trade creditors, there is a huge opportunity and responsibility for Nimbla to give companies a peace of mind and insure their invoices against insolvencies”. About Nimbla Nimbla makes sure businesses get paid for their hard work, even if a customer becomes insolvent. Founded in 2016, the company is on a mission to give SMEs the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance. Nimbla’s digital insurance platform backed by expert risk analysts, allows businesses to check a buyer’s ability to pay and insure individual invoices against non-payment in a fast and affordable way. This will enable business owners to safeguard against insolvent customers, expand into new and existing markets and secure better borrowing terms. The platform can be accessed directly (www.nimbla.com) and through partnerships with Barclays and insurance brokers. Based in London, Nimbla aims to bring the trade credit industry into the 21st century. Challenging traditional insurance models, the cover is flexible and adapts to fit your business — whether it’s a one-off invoice or multiple transactions. Contact Details Nimbla Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.nimbla.com/

November 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SMEs “keep calm and carry on” despite rising costs from suppliers

Stockwood Strategy

Supply chain issues and increasing costs have impacted SMEs countrywide and yet they seem to be handling it in their usual resilient stride. Fintech business lender MarketFinance asked 1,000 SME owners 1 across the UK how they are managing rising supplier prices, what measures they have put in place and sought their long term outlook on the increasing costs of doing business. Supplier costs Four out of five (79%) SMEs have faced increased prices from suppliers over the past 6 months. An increase of cost of raw materials was the top ranked rationale for price increases by suppliers, most keenly felt by businesses in the north west of England (85%). This was followed by staff shortages, the ongoing impact of the pandemic slowdown and supply chain disruptions owing to a shortage of truck drivers. Across the UK, a quarter of SMEs reported supplier prices have almost doubled over the past 6 months. Impact A third of SMEs (32%) have been able to absorb the increased costs without passing them on to customers, suggesting that these businesses have the necessary cash reserves to handle the impact. Only a fifth (21%) are passing a portion of the increased costs onto customers. Businesses in the south west of England and Northern Ireland are least likely to absorb the costs while businesses in the north west and Yorkshire are the most likely to do so. Their customers are proving to be equally understanding of the wider supply chain situation with only a fifth (20%) challenging business owners about the price rises. Outlook Looking ahead to the festive season, SMEs feel they will be able to manage the situation but some could increase prices if the pressure gets too much. Two fifths reported they could increase their prices by as much as 10% in the run up to Christmas. Longer term, three quarters (73%) of SMEs are already preparing for the current higher prices to be the norm until at least the end of 2022. A third of SMEs (34%) have taken out loans or are using other finance facilities to manage the increased cost of doing business. Anil Stocker, CEO at MarketFinance, commented: “ The current economic environment with rising costs is presenting some headwinds and headaches for SME owners but they are proving to be as resilient as ever. The vast majority have been thinking ahead and accounted for the longer term scenario, which will hold them in good stead to do business. It’s great to see that SME owners are taking the long view and preserving their customer relationships and managing suppliers by having a finance facility in place to deal with the overhead for now. The British Business Bank announced last week that it will extend its Recovery Loan Scheme to June 2022. This extension will give SMEs easier access to more affordable finance they need to continue running and growing operations in the face of ongoing challenges such as staff shortages and supplier price increases.” 1 Research findings based on a survey of 1,000 UK companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £100,000) conducted for MarketFinance in October 2021 by LMRMC Research (a Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About MarketFinance MarketFinance is a fintech business lender which believes that SMEs are building the world. By making finance frictionless, they’re solving the cash flow issues getting in the way of progress. MarketFinance uses smart technology to deliver better access to faster, more affordable finance; with one-to-one help whenever businesses need it. Since 2011, MarketFinance has advanced over £2.6 billion worth of invoices and loans, enabling thousands of UK businesses to bridge today’s funding gaps and fuel tomorrow’s big ambitions. MarketFinance is an accredited Recover Loan Scheme lender and has a wide-reaching network of strategic partners including Barclays Bank UK PLC, Tide, Equals Group and Ebury. MarketFinance is backed by Barclays Bank UK PLC, Mouro Capital, Paul Forster (co-founder of Indeed.com) European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), Viola Capital and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett). Contact Details MarketFinance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://marketfinance.com/

November 02, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Global luxury electric-vehicle manufacturer set to shake up the market

Trouvé Victory Inc.

Trouvé Victory Inc. is bringing the next generation of fully electric vehicles to the global automotive marketplace with delivery starting in 2023. Trouvé-EV vehicles will include an 18-minute quick charge capability and an overnight full charge in 4 hours, which will allow you an 800-1,000 km or 500-700 mile driving range on a single charge. The high-performance vehicles outperform the traditional cars of today -- ALL with zero emissions. “Electric vehicles are quieter, cleaner and more efficient to run than fossil fueled vehicles.” Explains Faruk K. Rama, Trouvé Chairman. “They are the answer to building a better, cleaner world for our children. In order for us to see a true global shift to electric vehicles and their benefits, we need more options for high performing, zero emissions vehicles in the market. The Trouvé-EV is the answer." Trouvé – EV will unveil 3 – model designs in the near future all with designs that are powered by high performance electric technology and are engineered to be recyclable and designed with the Trouvé-EV Regenerative Energy System, harnessing the power of the elements, wind, motion and the sun. This provides extra mileage between charges and a lower operating cost regardless of driving conditions. Trouvé is planning on manufacturing facilities located in Southern Ontario Canada, USA, UK, Oman and EU and as more divisions open up, they will employ tens of thousands of people interested in transitioning to a new career in the electric vehicle industry. All the vehicle bodies are made with natural fibers making them the first fully recyclable electric vehicles. This is in keeping with the goal to create production facilities and vehicles that are environmentally friendly. The Trouvé-EV’s corporate DNA is based on the reduction of pollution to help support environmental sustainability. In addition to the positive economic impact production facilities will have in the communities they operate, Trouvé is also committed to education, working with some of the best Educational Institutions. “We are developing co-op and intern programs to provide students with hands-on learning experiences, leading to possible future employment with Trouvé-EV. These educated, enthusiastic young people will help our company become a world leader.” Comments Trouvé CFO, Peter Fredricks Monchuk. Trouvé is accepting Pre-order sales on their website. www.trouveev.com. Trouvé Victory Inc. welcomes investment enquiries. Sign up for the e-newsletter on the website to keep in the know of Trouve’s developments. -30- For media enquiries or interviews contact: MarySue Furtney enquiries@msmarketing.ca Chairman: Faruk K. Rama chairman@trouveev.com CFO: Peter Fredricks Monchuk peterfm@trouveev.com UK: David MacKinnon david.m@zlx.co.uk Oman: Sultan Al Amri Info@trouveev.com About Trouvé Victory Inc. Trouvé means in English, To Find. Trouvé Victory Inc. is focused on creating an innovative, environmentally friendly fully electric vehicle. Trouvé Victory Inc. assembly and manufacturing will take place in Southern Ontario, Canada USA, UK, Oman and the EU. The manufacturing facility will be carbon neutral, with a solar powered roof, and a state-of-the art robotic assembly line. Trouvé prioritizes working with some of the best Universities, to develop co-op and intern programs which will provide students with hands-on learning experience, leading to possible future employment with Trouvé-EV. These educated, enthusiastic young people will help our company become a world leader. The goal is to make Trouvé Victory Inc., not only the electric vehicle of choice but the employer of choice. Contact Details MarySue Furtney enquiries@msmarketing.ca

November 02, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Greenland’s Prime Minister to Keynote ZESTAs COP26 Burns Supper

Morgan Marketing & Communications

Prime Minister of Greenland, Múte Bourup Egede, will be delivering the keynote address at ZESTAs COP26 Burns Supper on Monday, November 1 st hosted by SHIFT clean energy. The supper will conclude the first day of Ship ZERO hosted by ZESTAs (Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association) in Glasgow as part of the COP26 activities. It is expected that the Prime Minister will be announcing a major Greenland government initiative relating to fossil fuel use. "With the Arctic warming at a rate three times faster than the rest of the world, we are in Greenland experiencing the drastic changes first-hand “stated the Prime Minister. “The science is alarming and our collective actions must be accelerated. That is why the Government of Greenland has announced an immediate halt to all new oil and gas explorations and are putting all efforts into developing our green energy sources. We believe that Greenland can become an important partner for zero-emission shipping. We have huge untapped hydropower resources that exceed our domestic demand multiple times, which can generate cheap renewable electricity for e-fuels, and we have an infrastructure well suited for being early adapters." “Ship ZERO 0 – Charging to True Zero” is a three-day workshop including robust technical presentations from zero-emissions solutions providers, as well as finance, insurance, classification sectors and regulators. Speakers’ panels, audience Q&A, and brainstorming sessions will follow each session to facilitate collaborative solution building, as well as giving stakeholders an opportunity to examine how solutions will fit with their individual business cases. The event takes place well before COP26 transport day, which will give the team of researchers and stakeholders time to summarize the outcomes to be taken in consideration by regulators beforehand. “We are honored that Prime Minister Egede will be making such a pivotal keynote address as part of our event”, stated Madadh MacLaine, Secretary-General of ZESTAs. “His leadership will resonate around the globe as we address a zero emission future.” Highlights of the ShipZERO conference include a keynote by Peter Thomson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations as well as the UNSG’s Special Envoy for the Ocean on A healthy planet requires a healthy ocean, a healthy ocean requires clean shipping; Why Zero Emissions Needs Better Battery Safety Standards, delivered by Brent Perry, ZESTAs Board Chair and CEO of SHIFT; and How Financiers, Insurers and Cargo owners can enable innovation and accelerate the transition to true zero emissions from Michael Parker, Chairman of Global Shipping, Citibank and Chairman of the Poseidon Principles Association. Registration is still open, and media are welcome. Go to https://zestas.org/ship-zero/ The Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association promotes the rapid and large-scale uptake of Zero Emissions Ship Technology (ZEST). Zero emissions means zero GHG emissions at the point of use on the vessel with minimal upstream impacts. By combining zero emission technologies, it is possible to achieve zero emissions at the shipboard level faster. With today’s technologies, the shipping industry can achieve fully zero emissions now, particularly on smaller return to base vessels, as well as drastically reduce emissions on larger, ocean-going vessels with more complicated operational profiles. Contact Details Morgan Marketing & Communications Carleen Lyden Walker +1 203-260-0480 c.walker@morganmarketcomm.com Company Website https://morganmarketcomm.com/

October 29, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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BitX Funding Connecting Clients with the Right Lender and Right Loan!

BitX Funding

Fairfield, CT., Oct 27, 2021—BitX Funding is the premier lender for your business needs. All the specialized loans you can hope for, from startup to short term, can be secured through a quick application process. Founder Todd Rowe has a 20-year history of service in the financial sector and shows no signs of slowing down. “We’re coming out of the pandemic and business owners are starting to open up. They’re starting to have a need for liquidity to take on new opportunities,” says Rowe. “BitX Funding is the perfect answer to their problems because we have all the right lenders and all the rights loans to make the connection.” Rowe knows BitX Funding can serve those niche industries with the upmost care and attention. He has seen it firsthand. A perfect example of this is the transportation industry. “Trucking and transportation is hot right now. The Port of California is backed up, and they need truckers to come in and move products around the U.S. We’re here to get them the equipment financing they need to get their business started,” says Rowe. Small business owners are often intimidated by the amount of options out there. FinTech’s and alternative lenders relieve the pressure from having to call up a bank, waiting months to hear back. You are guaranteed to get an answer within days. The focus is on you: the human on the other line. That’s the BitX Funding difference. We connect you with the right lender and the right loan. BitX Funding is an omnichannel marketplace for small business loans and business insurance. BitX connects its clients with the right loan and lender from SBA 7a, start-up loans, short-term loans, mid-term loans to merchant cash advances, and business lines of credit. BitX is where lenders compete for your business. Our top-rated lenders focus on real-life business data and cash flow, which means you can qualify for small business loans even if your credit score isn’t perfect. We care about small businesses and it’s our mission to secure the right funding when you need alternative small business loans within our small business loan marketplace. Contact Details BitX Funding L.L.C Todd Rowe +1 203-763-1430 info@bitxfunding.com Company Website https://www.bitxfunding.com

October 28, 2021 11:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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British cyber security startup Risk Ledger secures £2.1m funding as supply chains hit the headlines

Risk Ledger

British cyber security company Risk Ledger has today raised £2.1 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Finnish VC Lifeline Ventures with participation from Seedcamp, firstminute Capital, Episode 1 and Village Global. This news comes hot on the heels of a flurry of new customers including NHS Test and Trace, wealth management giant Quilter, and tech unicorn Snyk. The Risk Ledger platform is a first of a kind global network of connected organisations, all working together to defend as one against cyber attacks. This game changing approach makes the platform ideal for almost any organisation trying to identify, measure and mitigate supply chain risks regardless of industry. Supply chain cyber breaches often result in personal data such as payment details, addresses and medical records being accessed by unauthorised third parties. Major supply chain cyber security breaches in 2021 at Accellion, Solarwinds and Microsoft have put the challenge of defending against supply chain breaches at the top of the agenda for every large organisation globally. Haydn Brooks, founder and CEO at Risk Ledge r commented: “The past 18 months have been a period of rapid growth in the company. We grew our client base and our user numbers have sky-rocketed despite the significant economic disruption caused by the pandemic. We have expanded the product into non-cyber security factors, including ESG and financial supply chain risks. Testament to the wider scope of the platform, we are now engaging procurement leaders in companies as well as their information security counterparts. This investment will help us grow our team and operations to fully capitalise on the heightened focus on supply chain security driven by all the new regulations and high-profile breaches.” Risk Ledger's client base includes a wide range of organisations including NHS Test & Trace, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, City of London Police, Schroders Personal Wealth and ASOS among others. Recently, the Risk Ledger platform was able to help the NHS Test & Trace team identify complex vulnerabilities in multiple interdependent suppliers that provide key reagents to the organisation. These systemic risks within supply chains often go undiscovered and in this case could have caused weeks of disruption to the UK’s ongoing COVID-19 response in the event of a cybersecurity incident. Petteri Koponen, founding partner at Lifeline Ventures said: “We wanted to be part of Risk Ledger’s growth journey because they have the right product at the right time. With supply chain breaches becoming mainstream and regulators globally mandating better management of the risks, the Risk Ledger platform is in a fantastic position to become the industry agnostic tool of choice and penetrate the market extensively. The potential for the platform to proliferate virally is also unique. Capturing 30% of the UK water market in just over a year shows this possibility which is exciting for us.” Risk Ledger is a rising star of the UK's growing cyber security industry having won competitions run by the UK Government's National Cyber Security Centre, the tech industry body TechUK and most recently a winner in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition. The company is also a member of the UK Government backed LORCA programme (London Office of Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement). About Risk Ledger Risk Ledger is a British company that manages cyber security risks in supply chains. The process of supply chain security risk management ensures third parties who deliver critical services, have access to data, corporate networks, or any other status of business trust, maintain a good base level of cyber security controls to prevent bad actors using the third party as an attack vector. Risk Ledger's client base includes organisations like BAE AI, City of London Police, Telenor, Schroders Personal Wealth and ASOS. Risk Ledger is a rising star of the UK's growing cyber security industry having won competitions run by the UK Government's National Cyber Security Centre, the tech industry body TechUK and most recently a winner in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport’s ‘Most Innovative UK Cyber SME of the Year’ competition. The company is also a member of the UK Government backed LORCA programme (London Office of Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement). Contact Details Risk Ledger Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://riskledger.com/

October 28, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar Named Finalist in Computing Security Excellence Awards 2021

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has been chosen as a finalist in Computing’s Security Excellence Awards 2021 for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Security Solution Award. Computing celebrates the achievements of the IT industry's leading security companies, solutions, products, and personalities that keep every other part of the industry operating. Award categories include product- and project-related recognition, organizational achievements, and accolades for outstanding individual success. Computing selected Cyvatar for its cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) platform, designed with SMEs in mind. SMEs are increasingly at the mercy of ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and other cyber threats, but unlike larger orgs, most SMEs don’t have the budget or expertise to invest in comprehensive in-house security programs. Moreover, they struggle to show value from the security tools they do buy. Cyvatar CSaaS democratizes cybersecurity, making the best protection accessible and affordable for any SME regardless of budget, even if they have no cybersecurity expertise in-house. Customers can select the membership and pricing that meet their desired business outcomes in seconds; a freemium model ensures they can achieve tangible results fast with no out-of-pocket costs--an industry first. And they can cancel anytime--another industry first. “We don’t throw technology over the wall and expect our customers to figure it out themselves the way many product companies do,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “We deliver all three pillars of cybersecurity—the teams, technology solutions, and best practices—to SMEs that would not otherwise be able to implement them. Our subscription model ensures they don’t end up buying solutions they can’t use or don’t need, and our platform lets them see at a glance what’s going on in their environment to give them the best cyber prevention available.” Cyvatar offers its proprietary ICARM™ (install, configure, assess, remediate, maintain) methodology to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions, allowing SMEs to achieve security compliance and cyber-attack prevention faster and more effectively. ICARM ensures SMEs won’t get crushed under the weight of too many products, and guaranteed outcomes mean they get maximum value from their technology spend. Choose the Cyvatar membership with the best outcomes for your business today. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert practitioners, market-leading technologies, and proven best practices to guarantee business results. Our approach is rooted in a proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack prevention, all bundled into a fixed monthly subscription that members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California, with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar Dan Chmielewski +1 949-231-2963 dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

October 28, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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