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Shareholder Proposal Highlights Coca-Cola CEO’s Hypocrisy

National Legal & Policy Center

This morning National Legal and Policy Center will present a resolution at The Coca-Cola Company ’s annual shareholder meeting that would require the board to implement a policy to require the chair of the board of directors to be an independent member. Currently James Quincey holds the roles of both Chairman and CEO. Speaking as sponsor of the resolution was Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project. His remarks as delivered follow; Extended remarks can be accessed at NLPC.org: I am Paul Chesser, director of the Corporate Integrity Project for National Legal and Policy Center. Because the company is allowing only three minutes for the presentation of proposals, my extended remarks can be found on our website, NLPC.org. On March 31, 2021, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey caved to progressive political activists and said about Georgia’s election integrity law, “I want to be crystal clear. The Coca-Cola Company does not support this legislation, as it makes it harder for people to vote, not easier.” However, as voter ID legislation has moved through the Parliament the last few months in Mr. Quincey’s home country, the United Kingdom, we have not heard a peep from him. Why not? Why does Mr. Quincey apply more stringent voting standards against the United States, where he receives his sizable paychecks? That’s not the only example of Mr. Quincey’s lack of awareness. Last year it was discovered also, under Mr. Quincey’s leadership, that Coca-Cola had imposed diversity training for its employees. The sessions included a course called “Confronting Racism,” which alleges that U.S. whites are socialized to believe they are “inherently superior” and suggests they “try to be less white” by being “less oppressive” and “break with white solidarity.” And during the height of the rioting across the nation during the summer of 2020, Mr. Quincey poured gasoline on the fire by embracing the violent, Marxist “Black Lives Matter” cause that destroyed many of our cities’ downtowns, including Atlanta’s. Mr. Quincey’s virtue-signaling has also addressed the topic of gender as well, with Coca-Cola boasting of its initiatives to help women, and highlighting its Equal Opportunity Policy that prohibits harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and threats against women. Those policies ring hollow, however, as Mr. Quincey totally ignored our request for him to call a special meeting of the Board to remove director Bobby Kotick, whose management of Activision Blizzard led to many credible charges of sexual harassment and assault at his company. Characterized as a “frat boy culture” by the California Dept. of Fair Employment and Housing, Mr. Kotick’s company lost several top executives, and hundreds of employees signed a petition calling for his ouster. While Mr. Quincey has bashed Americans and their alleged default racism, he has led our company in solidarity and submission to Communist China, even sponsoring the Genocide Olympics, and maintaining a factory in a province where millions of Muslim-minority Uyghurs are forced into slave labor and concentration camps. This is who moralist James Quincey believes Coca-Cola should partner with – genocidal communists, while hypocritically bashing Americans and their freedoms back home. His leadership has earned the company the mocking nickname, “Woke-a-Cola.” If any corporate resolution to separate the roles of Chairman and CEO is justified, it’s this one. END DELIVERED REMARKS The full text of NLPC’s shareholder resolution for The Coca-Cola Company can be viewed here. The text of Chesser’s extended remarks in support of the resolution can be viewed here. NLPC this week will also present shareholder resolutions on various issues at the annual shareholder meetings held by Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman-Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Boeing and Berkshire-Hathaway. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Paul Chesser +1 703-327-1970 pchesser@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

April 26, 2022 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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HowToBet Emphasizes Responsible Gambling as Online Sports Betting Soars

HowToBet.com

HowToBet.com is emphasizing the importance of responsible gambling after the latest industry figures show that the popularity of online sports betting is increasing at an unrelenting pace. The ‘betting guide, which is designed to educate adults about how to bet safely and sensibly, says that sports fans must double down on their efforts to gamble in a responsible manner. The latest figures from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show that the online and retail sportsbook wagering handle in New Jersey for March 2022 was $1.1bn in bets. This is a 30.7% increase from $859.3 million reported in March 2021. This is a 13.7% increase from $985.6 million in February of this year. The total accumulated sports handle in wagers in the state of New Jersey, since launching sports betting in 2018 is $25.6 bn. These trends are being replicated in most states that have legalized online sports betting. Whilst that is good news for the gambling industry as a whole, the exploding popularity of sports betting isn’t without its potential dangers. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for adults to learn to bet responsibly. HowToBet.com has seen this situation coming for a long time. A leading provider of freely accessible how-to guides and articles on all aspects of online gambling, it emphasizes the importance of responsible gambling every step of the way. As well as helping its readers to choose only legal and reputable sportsbooks and casinos, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars, it also encourages a rational and conservative approach to betting rather than a dangerously emotional one. Right now, HowToBet.com has more than 600 articles and guides available, and that number is growing week on week. Viewed by many as ‘the original how to bet guide’, all of its content is written by seasoned journalists who have a passion for enjoying online sports betting in a responsible way. ‘Make no mistake, we love the world of online sports betting,’ said Cristian Campan, Product Owner at HowToBet.com. ‘But we are also the first to acknowledge that it isn’t without its potential dangers. As online sports betting continues to grow in popularity, so does the need for us to educate people on how to do it in a way that minimizes the risk of harm. ‘Our approach is therefore to explain how online sports betting works and how individuals can properly assess the risks and bet in a more conscious and deliberate manner. My hope is that HowToBet will help people to enjoy sports betting in much the same way as they drive their cars - carefully, rather than recklessly.’ HowToBet is currently providing a wealth of free guides on all aspects of sports betting, including How to Bet on the Kentucky Derby. Those of you who want to be in the know before the event can visit www.HowToBet.com. ---- Howtobet.com offers one of the world’s most comprehensive betting guides that can be accessed via a user-friendly web app. Its mission is to help make online betting safe, fun, and as easy as performing a search on Google. There are already more than 600 how-to guides freely available, all written by seasoned betting professionals. More guides are being added on a weekly basis in a continued effort to educate anyone interested in what is now a $199 billion betting industry. For more details, visit: https://www.howtobet.com/about-us/ References: https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/Financials/PressRel2020/January2020.pdf https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/Financials/PressRelease2021/January2021.pdf https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/Financials/PressRelease2022/March2022.pdf https://www.howtobet.com/usa-gambling/ https://www.howtobet.com/new-jersey-best-online-sportsbooks/ https://www.howtobet.com/best-pennsylvania-sports-betting-sites/ Contact Details HowToBet.com Cristian Campan +45 50 30 42 66 cristian.campan@raketech.com Company Website https://www.howtobet.com

April 26, 2022 07:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Retention Cloud Leader CleverTap Recognized as the “Breakout SaaS Startup of the Year” at SaaSBOOMi Awards 2021

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s leading retention cloud today announced it has been awarded the "Breakout SaaS Startup of the Year'' at the SaaSBOOMi Awards 2021. The awards, presented by SaaSBOOMi, an informal group of SaaS founders looking to network and learn from each other, recognizes excellence in Indian SaaS companies, their founders, and their many achievements and successes. India’s SaaS industry now boasts over $1.5 billion in annual revenues, with around 1,500+ SaaS companies as an active part of the SaaS community. Acknowledging the importance of this industry, the SaaSBOOMi Awards were launched in 2020 with a mission to celebrate the extraordinary aspirations and efforts of Indian SaaS founders. “The SaaSBOOMi Awards were introduced to recognise exemplary SaaS startups in the country that have set global standards in deep tech and cutting-edge innovation,” said Vinod Muthukrishnan, Member, SaaSBOOMi Awards team. “For the recently concluded 2021 edition, we are very happy to recognise CleverTap as the ‘ Breakout SaaS Startup of the Year.’ This accolade truly reflects the brand’s phenomenal work over the last year and its commitment to building exceptional user experiences for its customers.” “This is our first award from SaaSBOOMi and will be our most precious. Our customers make us successful and this award, which is shaped and judged by the community, underlines the importance of that bond and trust for us as a company and the partners who support us,” said Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, CleverTap. “We will continue to focus on solving the problem of user retention for consumer apps of all sizes. Our goal is to be the retention category market leader, not just in India and Southeast Asia but also North America and Europe and amplify the Indian SaaS success story to a growing and global audience.” The award is just one in a string of recent accolades recognising CleverTap’s technology prowess and capabilities. More than 10,000 apps across industries and geographies use CleverTap for customer engagement and retention over 3 billion devices. Built for speed, security, and scale, CleverTap has helped customers send over one trillion messages and create about 9 million campaigns in 2021. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Contact Details CleverTap Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

April 26, 2022 02:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Fonté Coffee Roaster Bets on Downtown Seattle with a New Café Restaurant in Rainier Square

Wright Runstad

Fonté Coffee Roaster, Seattle’s pioneer micro roasters founded by Paul Odom in 1992, announces that it will open a new flagship café and restaurant in the lobby of the 58 story Rainier Square, making it the newest “hot spot” in downtown Seattle. The expansive lobby is the central gathering hub that links Wright Runstad & Company’s Rainier Square and 400 University projects with the original Rainier Tower on a single block that encompasses 189 high end apartment homes, over 1.5 million square of office space, diverse retail offerings and ample parking. Fonté, a local coffee roaster operating seven cafés and relationships with the finest chefs, restaurants and hoteliers in the country, is set to open the flagship store in fall of 2022. The Fonté Café and Restaurant at Rainier Square will not only provide its classic offerings of fine coffee and high-quality hand-made to-go fare, it will entertain Seattle with a sit-down culinary dining experience with a fresh ingredients driven menu. The Fonté flagship café will join PCC Community Markets as Rainier Square comes to life with 80% of its apartment homes already leased and a growing roster of premier commercial tenants filling its office space. For Fonté’s part, an energetic commitment to entertaining will be as important as the commitment to fine quality. Hand-made cocktails prepared table side from a traveling trolley and engaging baristas, servers and bartenders are on the menu. “I believe that Seattle wants to be entertained again. I hope this collaboration inspires downtown Seattle’s 2.0 version and brings much-needed play back to our dynamic city,” says Odom. Odom is certain that offering a cool coffee and cocktails dining experience where people can gather and be social will help jump-start the process. “Envision New York’s Eataly by day and old Nomad Bar by night as inspiration for the concept.” The store will operate in Rainier Square’s expansive main floor lobby, serving indoor lounge and outdoor courtyard seating all day and into the night. Located on the block between Union and University and Fourth and Fifth Avenues, Rainier Square occupies the preeminent location in the heart of downtown Seattle. With easy access to transit and ample underground parking, getting to Fonté’s new flagship café will be easy for city residents and tourists alike who are looking for coffee and breakfast in the morning, lunch at mid-day, a place to unwind with a cocktail after work or for dinner before the theater. About Rainier Square: Developed by Wright Runstad & Company and opened in 2020, Rainier Square occupies the prominent position in Seattle’s downtown and on its skyline. The 1.1 million square foot project includes a 58-story tower containing 734,000 square feet of office space and The Residences at Rainier Square, 189 luxury apartment residences on its uppermost floors. Rainier Square shares the block with the 400 University building and the landmark Rainier Tower. All three properties are connected at the main lobby level which features Fonte’s flagship Café and Restaurant and affords access to a unique mix of destination retailers, a 20,000 square foot PCC Community Market and ample underground parking. More information about Rainier Square can be found at www.rainiersquare.com About Fonté: Founded in 1992, Fonté Coffee Roaster is the longest standing independent micro coffee roaster still owned and operated by its original founder Paul Odom. Fonté headquarters and roasting facility are located in the hip Georgetown district in Seattle, WA. The company owns and operates seven coffee bars with two more in development under the Fonté & Uptown Espresso brand names. The company manages a lively wholesale operation supplying the nation’s premier chefs, restaurants and hoteliers as well as a thriving online business. Fonté roasts coffee by hand and as part of its commitment to artisan quality has allowed only three qualified people in the last thirty years to perform the role of roaster. One is Fonté’s master roaster, Steve Smith, who has experience dating back to the 1970s where he was the first master roaster for the Starbucks Coffee Company. In 1991, Steve brought his expertise to full bloom with Fonté Coffee Roaster, where curating only the finest coffees from meticulous growers from the best regions is a priority. Coffees are selected from all over the world based on individual varietal character and are only chosen if they meet the standards of the signature Fonté roast. As a green coffee buyer and full reign of our roasters, we seek to experiment and create the unimaginable, the highest level of excellence in the coffee experience. Contact Details Forrest Carman +1 206-859-3118 forrestc@owenmedia.com Company Website https://www.rainiersquare.com/

April 25, 2022 09:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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An Easier Way to Invest and Learn Along the Way from Plynk

YourUpdateTV

Would it surprise you to know that 80 million Americans are interested in investing, but don’t know where to begin? Many people might be feeling left behind or not comfortable entering the world of investing. That does not have to be the case. Financial literacy could be the key, as it empowers us to make smart financial decisions. It’s important for individuals to know it’s never too late or too early to increase their knowledge and begin their financial journey. Enter Plynk: A new investment app for beginners that helps them get started with investing, build confidence, and gain knowledge along the way. Too often, the industry has overcomplicated investing with unnecessary jargon and complex charts. By including educational content and tips throughout the app, beginner investors aren’t alone– now is your opportunity to learn how Plynk is here to help. Plynk Think allows you to learn and gain confidence by encouraging a learn-by-doing approach. In honor of financial literacy month, Plynk is offering an earn-while-you-learn offer. All you have to do is read a lesson in Plynk Think, make an investment, and you can qualify for the match. For complete terms and conditions everyone can visit PlynkInvest.com Learn more at www.plynkinvest.com A bout Plynk: Plynk is a new, no-experience-required investing app to help make investing easier for beginners. Created by people who have a passion for making investing simple, Plynk makes it easy to get started, get comfortable and get the hang of investing. Plynk offers straightforward language, clear explanations and just a $1 minimum to make it easy to begin investing. Plynk also includes tips, how-tosand easy to understand educational articles that help beginners learn as they go.Learn more at www.plynkinvest.com. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 25, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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COD, Aurora University Launch 2+2 Agreements with Graduate Study Pathways in Exercise Science, Athletic Training and Sports Management

College of DuPage

College of DuPage and Aurora University have launched three new 2+2 programs designed to help COD Physical Education, Fitness and Sports Studies students pursue advanced degrees. The programs are made possible through a new institutional partnership between COD and Aurora setting the foundation for future pathway agreements for COD students to seamlessly transfer to Aurora at the junior level. “This new institutional partnership between COD and Aurora University reflects our collaborative and intentional level of commitment to providing seamless student access and paths to success in higher education,” said COD President Dr. Brian Caputo. “Through the new programs, we are excited to offer various opportunities for our physical education students, especially those interested in furthering their education beyond a bachelor’s degree.” Developed for students who plan to major in exercise science or sports management, the new programs allow students to earn an associate degree at COD and a bachelor’s degree from Aurora in just four years with the option of a fifth year to earn a master’s degree in a related area of study. Students can pursue three different 2+2 agreements: a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an option to earn a Master of Science in Athletic Training; a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with an option to earn a Master of Science in Exercise Science; or a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management with an option to earn a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports Management. Under the agreements, COD students can start planning their transition to Aurora as early as their first semester by following an academic transfer plan designed to ensure a smooth transition. “This exciting new partnership with Aurora University gives our students an educational framework from day one of classes,” said COD Physical Education Assistant Professor Stephanie Vlach. “Not only does this allow COD students to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, but it also leads to excellent career or graduate-level pathways, including the only partnership of its kind for COD students interested in a career as an athletic trainer.” Aurora University Dean of Health Science Sarah Radke said she is excited to partner with COD to offer opportunities for students wanting to continue their education. “Students will gain hands-on experience working in our state-of-the-art labs and in a premier internship experience,” she said. “We are also excited to extend that pathway into our plus one graduate programs in exercise science, sport management and athletic training.” For more information about these new agreements, contact COD’s Counseling, Advising and Transfer Services Department at (630) 942-2259. Learn more about COD’s Physical Education, Fitness and Sports Studies transfer opportunities. Contact Details Angela Mennecke +1 630-942-3134 menneckea@cod.edu

April 25, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Join Lensbaby for a Day of In-Person Photography and Exploration

Lensbaby

Lensbaby, the leader in award-winning creative effect camera lenses, is excited to announce their first ever International PhotoWalk on Saturday April 30th, 2022! Join a Lensbaby Photowalk leader in the city nearest you and enjoy a day filled with exploration, photography and prizes. This event is first-come ticketing and free to attend. All that is required is your favorite camera, whether that is simply your phone or a DSLR, and a pair of comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be led around the city streets on an interactive treasure hunt, searching for prize worthy shots. After the day is done, submit your photowalk images to Lensbaby for the chance to be featured on their blog, and or their Instagram feed with over 30,000 followers. Did we mention the prizes?! Want to form a group with your photography loving friends instead? Then you have the option to form a private photowalk group or you can go solo. The choice is yours. Cities currently participating are: Sydney, AUS Melbourne, AUS Seattle, WA London, UK Hamilton, ON, CA Atlanta, GA Alburtis, PA Venice, CA Phoenix, AZ Manchester, UK Frederick, MD Albuquerque Houston, TX Madrid, Spain Denver, CO Pittsfield, MA Don’t see a location close to where you live? Sign up to join wherever you call home. Contact Details Nicole Lisson & M&P Agency +1 310-266-9114 nicole@mcmillanphillips.com Company Website https://lensbaby.com/

April 22, 2022 11:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Road Scholar Announces Partnership With Carbonfund.org

Road Scholar

In celebration of Earth Day, not-for-profit Road Scholar, the world leader in educational travel for older adults, announces a partnership with Carbonfund.org Foundation, a not-for-profit leader in the fight against climate change, helping organizations and individuals reduce their impact on the environment. Starting July 1, 2022, at the start of its fiscal year, Road Scholar will launch a carbon offsetting initiative to counter the impact of travel to Road Scholar programs, investing in projects with Carbonfund.org that reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Some of Carbonfund.org’s projects include clean-burning stoves in Kenya, solar farms in India and projects here in the United States. Since 2003, Carbonfund.org has supported 240 Renewable Energy, Forestry and Energy Efficiency projects in 28 countries and 42 American states, offsetting over 40 billion pounds of carbon equivalent emissions while also planting more than 1.6 million trees. Eric Carlson, President of Carbonfund.org Foundation said, "We are delighted to partner with Road Scholar on a carbon emissions reduction strategy for their various educational travel programs. It is critical we reduce emissions associated with travel to do our part in the fight against climate change." As an educational nonprofit, Road Scholar’s sustainability efforts will also incorporate environmental education, starting with a live virtual lecture with Brian McFarland, Carbonfund.org’s Executive Vice President of Carbon Projects and Origination. The lecture will help Road Scholar participants learn how carbon-offsetting projects protect the environment. James Moses, Road Scholar’s President and CEO, says these are just the first steps the organization is taking to create sustainability initiatives: “Road Scholar wants to help reduce the impact of travel on the environment and is committed to creating a more sustainable future for generations to come. The path to a more sustainable planet is a road we must all follow, and we’re excited to take this important step to help move the world toward a clean energy future.” About Road Scholar: Road Scholar is the nation’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for adults – a true university of the world. They offer thousands of programs in more than 100 countries and 50 states. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the world leader in educational travel since 1975. Learn more at press.roadscholar.org. About Carbonfund.org Foundation: Carbonfund.org is leading the fight against climate change, making it easy and affordable for any individual, business or organization to reduce & offset their climate impact. Carbonfund.org has America’s first carbon neutral product label, Carbon free ® Certified. The Carbon free ® Certified Products Program is proud to be part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly Program Contact Details Kelsey Knoedler Perri +1 617-521-5301 Kelsey.Perri@roadscholar.org Company Website https://www.roadscholar.org/about/press

April 21, 2022 10:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CleverTap Appoints Anand Venkatraman as Chief Operating Officer

CleverTap

CleverTap, the world’s leading retention cloud, announced the appointment of Anand Venkatraman as the Chief Operating Officer. Anand has over two decades of experience in building and scaling global teams and P&Ls across various sales motions. He joins from Freshworks where he led the fast-growing Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa business. He also played a key role in driving global partnerships to independently grow the business across 40+ countries, scaling the technology marketplace and embedded Freshworks deep into the worldwide startup ecosystem. Prior to that he held leadership positions at Akamai and Microsoft in APJ and India. “I warmly welcome Anand to CleverTap. His appointment underlines our ambitious growth plans to be the gamechanger for user retention. He has a successful track record in taking businesses global, building highly engaged teams, and establishing creative approaches for customer success. Anand will strengthen the CleverTap management team to help scale the company to the next level by bringing in excellence in execution,” said Sidharth Malik, CEO CleverTap Inc. “I am excited to join CleverTap as they emerge as the retention category market leader, in not just India and South-East Asia but also in markets like North America, Latin America, Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Europe. I am looking forward to being a part of CleverTap's journey in taking the Indian SaaS story to the world,” said Anand Venkatraman. About CleverTap CleverTap is the modern, integrated retention cloud that empowers digital consumer brands to increase customer retention and lifetime value. For brands that understand and value user retention, CleverTap drives context and individualization with the help of a unified and deep data layer, AI/ML powered insights and automation. Customers around the world representing over 10,000 apps, including Vodafone Idea, SonyLIV, Daimler, Gojek, Carousell, and Premier League, trust CleverTap to achieve their retention and engagement goals, growing their long term revenue. Backed by leading venture capital firms including Sequoia India, Tiger Global Management, and Accel, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Mumbai, Singapore, and Dubai. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Contact Details Sony Shetty sony@clevertap.com Company Website https://clevertap.com/

April 21, 2022 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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