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BrandSafway Announces New EVP and Chief Legal Officer

Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, July 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BrandSafway, a global leader in access and industrial services, has announced that Imran Hayat has joined the company as executive vice president (EVP) and chief legal officer (CLO), effective July 19, 2021.

"Imran has an excellent track record as a global strategic general counsel," said Karl Fessenden, president and CEO of BrandSafway. "He has extensive experience building and managing legal, risk, compliance and governance teams, and developing strong partnerships internally and externally to drive enterprise and shareholder success. His strategic mindset coupled with his deep domain expertise makes him a great addition to our team."

Most recently, Hayat served as EVP, general counsel and chief strategy officer for CHC Helicopter Corporation. Prior to CHC, Hayat was in private practice where he advised some of the world's preeminent public and private companies.

Hayat is looking forward to working with the BrandSafway leadership and legal teams. "I'm excited to join the BrandSafway team," said Hayat. "BrandSafway is a dynamic and growing company with a strong executive team and a great internal legal and risk team. The company is well–positioned for continued success."

Hayat earned his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and holds a bachelor's degree in both economics and diplomacy and world affairs from Occidental College in Los Angeles.

About BrandSafway
With a commitment to safety as its foremost value, BrandSafway provides the broadest range of solutions with the greatest depth of expertise to the industrial, commercial and infrastructure markets. Through a network of 360 strategic locations across 30 countries and more than 38,000 employees, BrandSafway delivers a full range of forming, shoring, scaffolding, work access and industrial service solutions. BrandSafway supports maintenance and refurbishment projects as well as new construction and expansion plans with unmatched service from expert local labor and management. Today's BrandSafway is At Work For You "" leveraging innovation and economies of scale to increase safety and productivity, while remaining nimble and responsive. For more information about BrandSafway, visit www.brandsafway.com.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8285466)

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Medison Pharma Partner to Commercialize IMCIVREE™ (setmelanotide) in Israel

BOSTON and PETACH TIKVA, Israel, July 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a commercial–stage biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the care of people living with rare genetic diseases of obesity, and Medison Pharma, a leading commercial partner for highly innovative therapies in international markets, today announced an exclusive distribution agreement for Medison to commercialize Rhythm's melanocortin–4 (MC4) receptor agonist IMCIVREE (setmelanotide) in Israel.

IMCIVREE was approved on November 2020 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with obesity due to proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1) or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency confirmed by genetic testing.

"We are committed to delivering IMCIVREE to people living with rare genetic diseases of obesity around the world, and we believe Medison will be a strong partner as we extend our commercial footprint into Israel," said Yann Mazabraud, Rhythm's Executive Vice President and Head of International. "Medison has a robust platform and a track record of successfully advancing programs through the registration and reimbursement processes, and we look forward to working together to bring IMCIVREE to patients with POMC, PCSK1 and LEPR deficiency obesity."

"Our partnership with Rhythm reflects our shared commitment to improving the lives of patients who suffer from life–threatening, rare genetic diseases through highly innovative therapies", said Meir Jakobsohn, Founder and CEO of Medison Pharma. "IMCIVREE perfectly fits in our portfolio of novel medicines, and we look forward to providing patients and physicians with this much–needed treatment".

Obesity due to POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR deficiency are ultra–rare diseases caused by variants in POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR genes that impair the MC4 receptor pathway, which is a pathway in the hypothalamus that is responsible for regulating hunger, energy expenditure and consequently body weight. People living with obesity due to POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR deficiency struggle with extreme, insatiable hunger beginning at a young age, resulting in early–onset, severe obesity. As an MC4 receptor agonist, IMCIVREE is designed to restore impaired MC4 receptor pathway activity arising due to genetic deficits upstream of the MC4 receptor.

About Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
Rhythm is a commercial–stage biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the treatment paradigm for people living with rare genetic diseases of obesity. The Company's precision medicine, IMCIVREE (setmelanotide), has been approved on November 2020 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management in adult and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with obesity due to POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR deficiency confirmed by genetic testing. IMCIVREE is the first–ever FDA approved therapy for these rare genetic diseases of obesity. Rhythm is advancing a broad clinical development program for setmelanotide in other rare genetic diseases of obesity. The Company is leveraging the Rhythm Engine and the largest known obesity DNA database – now with approximately 37,500 sequencing samples – to improve the understanding, diagnosis and care of people living with severe obesity due to certain genetic deficiencies. The company is based in Boston, MA.

About Medison Pharma
Medison is a global pharma company focusing on commercializing highly innovative therapies for patients in international markets. Leveraging a track record of over 25 years and partnerships with leading biotech companies, Medison provides a complete spectrum of integrated services for companies interested in establishing presence in international markets. Medison also runs a corporate venture arm with a dedicated research and evaluation team boasting deep scientific and commercial expertise.
For more information, visit https://www.medisonpharma.com.

IMCIVREE (setmelanotide) Indication
IMCIVREE is indicated for chronic weight management in adult and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with obesity due to proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency. The condition must be confirmed by genetic testing demonstrating variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes that are interpreted as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or of uncertain significance (VUS).

Limitations of Use
IMCIVREE is not indicated for the treatment of patients with the following conditions as IMCIVREE would not be expected to be effective:

  • Obesity due to suspected POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency with POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR variants classified as benign or likely benign;
  • Other types of obesity not related to POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR deficiency, including obesity associated with other genetic syndromes and general (polygenic) obesity.

Important Safety Information

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Disturbance in Sexual Arousal: Sexual adverse reactions may occur in patients treated with IMCIVREE. Spontaneous penile erections in males and sexual adverse reactions in females occurred in clinical studies with IMCIVREE. Instruct patients who have an erection lasting longer than 4 hours to seek emergency medical attention.

Depression and Suicidal Ideation: Some drugs that target the central nervous system, such as IMCIVREE, may cause depression or suicidal ideation. Monitor patients for new onset or worsening of depression. Consider discontinuing IMCIVREE if patients experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Skin Pigmentation and Darkening of Pre–Existing Nevi: IMCIVREE may cause generalized increased skin pigmentation and darkening of pre–existing nevi due to its pharmacologic effect. This effect is reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. Perform a full body skin examination prior to initiation and periodically during treatment with IMCIVREE to monitor pre–existing and new skin pigmentary lesions.

Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions Due to Benzyl Alcohol Preservative in Neonates and Low Birth Weight Infants: IMCIVREE is not approved for use in neonates or infants.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

  • The most common adverse reactions (incidence 23%) were injection site reactions, skin hyperpigmentation, nausea, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, back pain, fatigue, vomiting, depression, upper respiratory tract infection, and spontaneous penile erection.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Discontinue IMCIVREE when pregnancy is recognized unless the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.

Treatment with IMCIVREE is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Rhythm Pharmaceuticals at +1 (833) 789–6337 or FDA at 1–800–FDA–1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

See Full Prescribing Information for IMCIVREE.

Forward–Looking Statements
This press release contains forward–looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward–looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the potential, safety, efficacy, and regulatory and clinical progress of setmelanotide, activities under the exclusive distribution agreement with Medison Pharma, and our business strategy and plans, including regarding commercialization of setmelanotide. Statements using word such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "may", "will" and similar terms are also forward–looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the impact of our management transition, our ability to enroll patients in clinical trials, the design and outcome of clinical trials, the impact of competition, the ability to achieve or obtain necessary regulatory approvals, risks associated with data analysis and reporting, our liquidity and expenses, the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on our business and operations, including our preclinical studies, clinical trials and commercialization prospects, and general economic conditions, and the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligations to make any revisions to the forward–looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Corporate Contact:
David Connolly
Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
857–264–4280
dconnolly@rhythmtx.com

Investor Contact:
Hannah Deresiewicz
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212–362–1200
hannah.deresiewicz@sternir.com

Media Contact:
Adam Daley
Berry & Company Public Relations
212–253–8881
adaley@berrypr.com

Medison Contact:
Maya Nix
Corporate Communications Lead
+972–3–925–0349
mayan@medison.co.il


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8284787)

The Carnrite Group Opens Another International Office – This time in the UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Carnrite Group, a management consulting firm headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, has opened a new office in the UAE. Located in both Abu Dhabi Global Markets and Abu Dhabi's Al Reem Island, the UAE office enhances Carnrite's offerings for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The expansion reflects Carnrite's commitment to meet client needs and create value despite the remaining logistical and economic challenges of COVID–19.

The UAE office was preceded by Carnrite's expansion into the United Kingdom and Europe, marked by the opening of its London office in 2019. Nick Carnrite, Partner and Head of Europe and Middle East, based in London, commented on the expansion "We are excited to continue growing our team internationally, and thankful for our clients worldwide who trust us to help them with difficult business decisions. We have completed engagements in 26 countries on six continents throughout our history. Establishing a deployment hub in the Middle East was a natural next step in our growth plans."

About The Carnrite Group:

The Carnrite Group ("Carnrite") is a management consultancy focused primarily in the energy, industrial and private equity sectors. From offices in Houston, Texas, London, United Kingdom and the UAE, Carnrite deploys its unique combination of consulting and industry expertise to projects globally. Carnrite is a dedicated, practical business partner with the ability to implement complex change. Areas of expertise include strategy and transaction support, business transformation, human capital, the Energy Transition and Digital Transformation. To further augment its offerings Carnrite has assembled an innovative ecosystem of strategic partners that spans leading technologies and adjacent consulting services. Carnrite recognizes that its clients face difficult business decisions "" its mission is to make it easier for them.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8284908)

Zoom Elevates Platform Experience with Launch of Zoom Apps and Zoom Events

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced the general availability of its latest innovations, Zoom Apps and Zoom Events. Zoom Apps seamlessly embeds third–party apps within the Zoom Meetings and desktop client experience, enhancing collaboration, productivity, and entertainment for today's hybrid workforce. Zoom Events is an all–in–one platform for creating a wide range of interactive and immersive virtual events to reach and engage audiences.

"I'm thrilled to see our platform vision expand through Zoom Apps and Zoom Events, as the world embraces hybrid work, empowering the workforce today and into the future," said Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom. "These innovations will enhance the ways in which we connect and collaborate with our colleagues, clients, friends, family members, and others, improving productivity and collaboration while maintaining elements of fun and well–being."

"Zoom Apps and Zoom Events are critical components in broadening Zoom's offering and reach," said Roopam Jain, Vice President, Information and Communications Technologies at Frost & Sullivan. "These solutions empower users to accomplish more with video communications and are a testament to Zoom's focus of enabling customers to create and grow businesses entirely on its platform""whether through applications, integrations, events, or other services."

Bringing Your Favorite Apps to the Zoom Platform
Zoom Apps expands the offerings of the Zoom App Marketplace, which already hosts over 1,500 third–party integrations. With Zoom Apps, you can boost productivity and stay focused on your workflows by incorporating your favorite apps into your meetings. There are over 50 Zoom Apps available now, ranging from enterprise to consumer use cases""including whiteboarding, project management, note–taking, and video games, with more in development and available soon. A few Zoom Apps currently available include:

  • Asana: Host purposeful meetings with the ability to create in–meeting action items and next steps beforehand so your teams are always moving forward with clarity. You can also create, edit, and assign tasks, all without leaving your Zoom meeting.
  • Dot Collector: The Dot Collector app allows everyone in a meeting to share their perspective through real–time feedback and polling. Dots are systematically collected, shared and preserved enabling adjustments to be made in the moment and over time. The Dot Collector app fosters more inclusive collaboration, transparency, and meaningful relationships among colleagues, while empowering individuals with insights that help them to unlock their full potential.
  • Dropbox Spaces: Get more out of your meetings with the Dropbox Spaces app for Zoom. Keep everyone on the same page by collaborating in real time in a single shared workspace before, during, and after Zoom Meetings.
  • Heads Up!: Heads Up! is a fun and hilarious game by Ellen DeGeneres. Heads Up! is the perfect party game to play with your colleagues and friends, and is a fun way to pass time with your coworkers while waiting for meetings to start. The app is developed for Zoom by Ellen Digital and Playco.
  • SurveyMonkey Enterprise by Momentive: Drive more engaging and inclusive meetings with in–the–moment feedback from surveys and polls available directly within the Zoom meeting experience. Capture optimal stakeholder insights from customers, employees, patients""any meeting attendees. Take action to increase employee engagement, improve the customer or patient experience, and make remote meetings more productive.
  • Wellness That Works by WW: Wellness that Works by WW, a leader in weight loss and wellness, helps users move more, eat better and shift their mindset with push notifications to stand and stretch, along with a hydration tracker, mindset tools, and go–to recipes. Wellness that Works reinforces WW's credentials in behavior change science by helping users build and maintain healthy habits wherever they are… even in meetings!

Improving the Hybrid and Virtual Event Experiences
Zoom Events gives organizations the power to create engaging hybrid and virtual experiences. Zoom Events enables large and small businesses alike to seamlessly manage and host back–to–back event sessions from sales summits, customer events, trade shows, and internal events. Zoom Events offers features such as event hubs, dedicated corporate virtual event spaces, customizable registration, and networking through a chat–enabled virtual event lobby. Zoom Events also allows event–specific reporting around registration, attendance, and ticket sales. Zoom will be hosting its annual user conference, Zoomtopia, and Zoom Academy, on Zoom Events this year.

OnZoom, the consumer–focused Zoom Events solution, helps brands and small businesses reach a consumer audience by creating, hosting, and monetizing events, including fitness and cooking classes, theatrical presentations, and more. OnZoom will remain in beta and serve as a place where small businesses and entrepreneurs can host and publish events to our public event directory.

More Information

  • To learn more about Zoom Apps, please visit the Zoom Apps page and read our blog detailing how Zoom Apps is bringing critical business applications directly within Zoom meetings.
  • To learn more about Zoom Events, please visit the Zoom Events page and read our blog detailing how Zoom Events allows the seamless creation and management of virtual events of any size.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. We help you express ideas, connect to others, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ:ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Farshad Hashmatulla
Product PR Manager
press@zoom.us


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8284179)

Blue California Commercializes Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) for Supporting an Increased Healthspan

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., July 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue California joins with the innovative Massachusetts–based biotech company Conagen to announce the commercialization of high–purity, fermentation–derived nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). A nature–based metabolic component which has caught the attention of health–conscious consumers for supporting energy and longevity.

The quest to age healthily and support longevity is surging among health–conscious consumers. "Consumers are reassessing their dietary regimen to make room for ingredients that can support an increased healthspan," said Chief Science Officer at Blue California, Dr. Priscilla Samuel.

NMN supplements are highly sought–after for healthy aging applications, including brain health, vitality, heart health, metabolic health, and even cosmetics. However, current NMN ingredients used in products on the market are mostly produced by chemical synthesis.

While consumers are exploring dietary supplements for a holistic approach to health, they are also demanding clean labels from their supplements, and moving away from synthetic ingredients. Blue California's fermentation–derived NMN opens new opportunities for producers to consider consumers' health more holistically while acquiring a closer–to–nature position.

NMN serves as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme present in all living cells and critical for mitochondrial function.

Increased intracellular levels of NAD+ boost energy production and improve cellular health, but levels decline dramatically with age. Replenishing NAD+ in the body with its precursor NMN has been proposed as a way to possibly combat age–related degeneration and increase healthy lifespan.

"Our fermentation–derived offering is well–positioned to capitalize on the growing recognition of NMN as an important ingredient in the food and supplement spaces," said Samuel. "NMN is a well–known molecule in the longevity research community, and emerging research also suggests potential applications for immune health as well as sports nutrition."

Harvard professor David Sinclair, a well–recognized leader in the field of aging research, is an advocate of NMN for improving the health of aging populations.

"NMN is a logical extension to our line of "longevity ingredients" which includes ergothioneine and pyrroloquinoline quinone. All of these molecules are made by our own proprietary fermentation processes, enabling our customers to better serve consumers who might reject chemically–derived ingredients," said VP of Innovation at Conagen, Dr. Casey Lippmeier. "Because of the way we make it, Conagen's NMN is of the highest purity and quality. It is also very cost–effective and compatible with clean–label trends, all of which demonstrates our strength as a strategic partner with Blue California."

As innovation in dietary supplemental nutrition advances, so does the growth of global vitamin, mineral and supplement (VMS) launches. Mintel reported a growth of 67% of global VMS launches in Apr 2020 – Mar 2021, as compared to Apr 2016 – Mar 2017 —– where the United States leads the VMS market.

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About Blue California

Blue California is a vertically integrated technology company providing innovative ingredient solutions to global partners. With more than 20 years of innovation success, our ingredients are used in commercial products and applications in the industries of nutrition, personal care, healthy aging and wellness, functional food and beverage, and beauty. www.bluecal–ingredients.com

About Conagen

Conagen is making the impossible possible. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high–quality sustainable nature–based products through systems of manufacturing on a molecular level and fermentation basis. We focus on the bioproduction of high–value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8283439)

Sol-Gel Technologies to Report Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results on August 4th, 2021

NESS ZIONA, Israel, July 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sol–Gel Technologies, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SLGL), a clinical–stage dermatology company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing branded and generic topical drug products for the treatment of skin diseases, will report second quarter 2021 financial results on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 7:05 AM ET.

About Sol–Gel Technologies

Sol–Gel is a clinical–stage dermatology company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing branded and generic topical drug products for the treatment of skin diseases. Sol–Gel leverages its proprietary microencapsulation technology platform for the development of TWYNEO under investigation for the treatment of acne vulgaris with an NDA filed with the FDA and a PDUFA goal date set for August 1, 2021; and EPSOLAY , under investigation for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea with an NDA filed with the FDA and a PDUFA goal date set for April 26, 2021. Both product candidates are exclusively licensed for U.S. commercialization with Galderma Holding SA. Action on the NDA for EPSOLAY has not yet been taken due to the inability of the FDA to conduct a pre–approval inspection of the production site of EPSOLAY as a result of COVID–19 travel restrictions. The Company's pipeline also includes SGT–210, an early–stage topical epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, erlotinib, under investigation for the treatment of palmoplantar keratoderma, and preclinical assets tapinarof and roflumilast. For additional information, please visit www.sol–gel.com.

Contact:

Irina Koffler
Investor relations, LifeSci Advisors
ikoffler@lifesciadvisors.com
+1 917 734 7387

Sol–Gel Technologies
Gilad Mamlok
Chief Financial Officer
gilad.mamlok@sol–gel.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8282737)

Publication relating to a transparency notification

PRESS RELEASE
REGULATED INFORMATION

Publication relating to a transparency notification

Mont–Saint–Guibert (Belgium), July 19, 2021, 10.30pm CET / 4.30pm ET "" In accordance with article 14 of the Act of 2 May 2007 on the disclosure of large shareholdings, Nyxoah SA (Euronext Brussels/Nasdaq: NYXH) announces that it received a transparency notification as detailed below.

On July 16, 2021, Nyxoah received a transparency notification from BNP Paribas Asset Management SA following the passive downward crossing of the lowest threshold on July 7, 2021. As of such date, BNP Paribas Asset Management SA (through its affiliate BNP Paribas Asset Management France SAS) held 696,562 shares, representing 2.79% of the total number of voting rights on July 7, 2021 (25,002,609).

The notification dated July 16, 2021 contains the following information:

  • Reason for the notification: passive crossing of a threshold; downward crossing of the lowest threshold
  • Notification by: a parent undertaking or a controlling person
  • Persons subject to the notification requirement: BNP Paribas Asset Management SA (with address at SA 47000–75318 Parias cedex 09–France)
  • Date on which the threshold was crossed: July 7, 2021
  • Threshold that is crossed: 3%
  • Denominator: 25,002,609
  • Notified details:
A) Voting rights Previous notification After the transaction
# of voting rights # of voting rights % of voting rights
Holders of voting rights Linked to securities Not linked to the
securities		 Linked to securities Not linked to the
securities
BNP Paribas Asset Management SA 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
BNP Paribas Asset Management France SAS 134,907 696,562 0 2.79% 0.00%
BNP Paribas Asset Management UK Ltd 529,473 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Subtotal 664,380 696,562 2.79%
TOTAL 696,562 2.79%
  • Chain of controlled undertakings through which the holding is effectively held: BNP Paribas Asset Management France SAS and BNP Paribas Asset Management UK Ltd are controlled by BNP Paribas Asset Management SA, which in turn is controlled by BNP Paribas SA which benefits from the exemption to aggregate its participations with the participations of its subsidiaries that are investment companies, in accordance with article 21 paragraph 2 of the Royal Decree of 14 February 2008 on the disclosure of large shareholdings.
  • Additional information: BNP Paribas Asset Management France SAS is an investment company that exercises voting rights in a discretionary way.

*

* *

Contact:

Nyxoah
Fabian Suarez, Chief Financial Officer
fabian.suarez@nyxoah.com
+32 10 22 24 55

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000517029)

Madison Realty Capital Closes $105 Million Acquisition and Modernization Loan for Four Seasons Hotel in Prime Miami Location

NEW YORK, July 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Madison Realty Capital, a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies, today announced it has provided a $105 million loan to Fort Partners for the acquisition and modernization of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami located at 1435 Brickell Avenue in Brickell, Florida. The loan was originated from Madison's income strategy that offers transitional loans to institutional sponsors. In 2019, Madison provided a $210 million loan to Fort Partners for its construction of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale.

"We are pleased to continue our work with Fort Partners, a best–in–class developer with a strong track record in South Florida, and deliver a timely, customized financing solution for this exciting project," said Josh Zegen, Managing Principal and Co–Founder of Madison Realty Capital. "Fort Partners, in close collaboration with Four Seasons, have put forth a strong plan that will modernize the property focused on enhancing room configurations, pool deck and lobby, and upgrade the food & beverage options by partnering with renowned chefs and restaurateurs. Moreover, Brickell is an attractive, established neighborhood in Miami that caters to both tourists and business clients given its proximity to South Beach. We look forward to supporting Fort Partners in the future."

"This is our second large loan with Madison Realty Capital, and again they executed quickly and delivered certainty of execution. Madison offered a highly competitive rate with a flexible structure that will allow us to effectively implement our renovation and repositioning plan for this strategic asset," said Michael Conaghan, partner with Fort Partners LLC.

The 221–key hotel is part of a 70–story mixed–use tower that includes class–A office space, residential condominiums, an Equinox health club, retail space and a parking garage. Millennium Partners developed the property in 2003 and Handel Architects led the design. The acquisition marks the fourth Four Seasons property in Fort Partners' Florida portfolio alongside hotels located in Surfside, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach.

JLL Managing Director Jim Dockerty, Senior Managing Director, Kevin Davis, and Managing Director, Mark Fisher represented Fort Partners in the deal.

About Madison Realty Capital

Madison Realty Capital is a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm that manages approximately $6 billion in total assets on behalf of an institutional global investor base. Since 2004, Madison Realty Capital has completed more than $15 billion in transactions in the U.S. providing reputable borrowers with flexible and highly customized financing solutions, strong underwriting capabilities, and certainty of execution. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles and Miami, the firm has over 60 employees across all real estate investment, development, and property management disciplines. Madison Realty Capital has been frequently named to the Commercial Observer's prestigious "Power 100" list of New York City real estate players and is consistently cited as a top construction lender, among other industry recognitions. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn and visit www.madisonrealtycapital.com.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8282341)

Dante Labs appoints Illumina acclaimed COO Bob Ragusa as Board Member to support the execution of its global integrated precision medicine strategy

  • Bob Ragusa leads Illumina global operations and is a key contributor to Illumina's growth and global scaling.
  • Dante Labs integrated precision medicine offering leverages the intersection of local lab operations with centralised software and database.
  • Dante Labs mission is to accelerate science to patients to save more lives.

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, July 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dante Labs, a global leader in genomics and precision medicine, announced today the appointment of Bob Ragusa as a board member. Bob is the Chief Operations Officer of Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN), the world leader in sequencing platforms.

Mr. Ragusa stated, "I am very excited to work with Dante to help bridge from improved genomic tools and scientific discovery to positive impact for patients."

Dante Labs CEO Andrea Riposati stated, "As Illumina customers, we have been amazed by Illumina's global customer support and operational excellence. Bob is responsible for leading these achievements and for supporting clinical and research labs globally. Bob is a life science rockstar and will help us deploy our global commercial and clinical offering for multi–omics and integrated precision medicine. The entire team at Dante Labs is excited to have his leadership and guidance to support our ambitious growth plan."

Intersection of Data and Clinical Outcomes

Massive adoption of whole genome sequencing requires changing the paradigm of lab operations and data analysis. Dante Labs has learned the hard way and built the skills to enable massive adoption of whole genome sequencing on a global scale, by working with patients, doctors and companies in 97 countries and generating thousands of clinical and consumer reports every day.

The appointment of Bob Ragusa as a board member has a great strategic fit with the company's global scaling and growth aspirations. Dante Labs leverages local labs to develop local domain expertise while connecting all local operations in its global network to have superior collective wisdom in every market.

  • Dante Labs integration of software and data with the actual biology in the labs generates unique insights and enables a continuous feedback loop.
  • Dante Labs acquisition of CCG has created a global excellence in precision oncology with the potential of impacting patients worldwide, with a total addressable market of $75 billion.
  • Dante Labs built a stellar team for population genomics and precision medicine.
  • Over 40 countries are actively involved in population genomics programs with many more that can benefit from genome–based preventative medicine for their citizens.
  • Dante Labs serves its customers across 97 countries from clinical laboratories and sequencing centres in the United Kingdom and Italy, with at least two more planned in 2021 to expand its global footprint.

About Dante Labs

Dante Labs is a global genomic data company building and commercialising a new class of transformative health and longevity applications based on whole genome sequencing and AI. Our assets include one of the largest private genome databases with research consent, a proprietary software platform designed to unleash the power of genomic data at scale and proprietary processes which enable an industrial approach to genomic sequencing.

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with a research laboratory in Wolverhampton, Dante Labs supported the UK Government's urgent requirement to scale–up a high–capacity, highly automated testing solution for Covid–19, including infected patients as well as those with antibodies. Dante Labs was able to deliver by leveraging existing technology that had been developed for whole genome sequencing.

Giorgio Lodi, media@dantelabs.com. +39 0862 191 0671

www.dantelabs.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8282434)

Zoom to Acquire Five9

SAN JOSE, Calif. and SAN RAMON, Calif., July 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Five9, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVN), a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact center, in an all–stock transaction valued at approximately $14.7 billion. Combining Five9's Contact Center as a Service ("CCaaS") solution with Zoom's broad communications platform will transform how businesses connect with their customers, building the customer engagement platform of the future.

The acquisition is expected to help enhance Zoom's presence with enterprise customers and allow it to accelerate its long–term growth opportunity by adding the $24 billion contact center market. Five9 is a pioneer of cloud–based contact center software. Its highly–scalable and secure cloud contact center delivers a comprehensive suite of easy–to–use applications that allows management and optimization of customer interactions across many different channels.

"We are continuously looking for ways to enhance our platform, and the addition of Five9 is a natural fit that will deliver even more happiness and value to our customers," said Eric S. Yuan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Zoom. "Zoom is built on a core belief that robust and reliable communications technology enables interactions that build greater empathy and trust, and we believe that holds particularly true for customer engagement. Enterprises communicate with their customers primarily through the contact center, and we believe this acquisition creates a leading customer engagement platform that will help redefine how companies of all sizes connect with their customers. We are thrilled to join forces with the Five9 team, and I look forward to welcoming them to the Zoom family."

"Businesses spend significant resources annually on their contact centers, but still struggle to deliver a seamless experience for their customers," said Rowan Trollope, Chief Executive Officer of Five9. "It has always been Five9's mission to make it easy for businesses to fix that problem and engage with their customers in a more meaningful and efficient way. Joining forces with Zoom will provide Five9's business customers access to best–of–breed solutions, particularly Zoom Phone, that will enable them to realize more value and deliver real results for their business. This, combined with Zoom's "ease–of use' philosophy and broad communication portfolio, will truly enable customers to engage via their preferred channel of choice."

Zoom's acquisition of Five9 is complementary to the growing popularity of its Zoom Phone offering. Zoom Phone is a modern, cloud phone system that offers a digital alternative to legacy phone offerings, enabling organizations to connect and interact in new and convenient ways to keep businesses moving.

The combination also offers both companies significant cross–selling opportunities to each other's respective customer bases. As a result of the acquisition, Zoom will play an even greater role in driving the digital future and bringing companies and their customers closer together.

Following the close of the transaction, Five9 will be an operating unit of Zoom and Rowan Trollope will become a President of Zoom and continue as CEO of Five9, reporting to Eric Yuan.

Details on the Proposed Transaction
As part of the agreement, Five9 stockholders will receive 0.5533 shares of Class A common stock of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. for each share of Five9, Inc. Based on the closing share price of Zoom Class A common stock as of July 16, 2021, this represents a per share price for Five9 common stock of $200.28 and an implied transaction value of approximately $14.7 billion.

The Boards of Directors of Zoom and Five9 have approved the transaction. The Board of Directors of Five9 recommends that Five9 stockholders approve the transaction and adopt the merger agreement. The transaction, which is anticipated to close in the first half of calendar year 2022, is subject to approval by Five9 stockholders, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Additional details and information about the terms and conditions of the acquisition will be available in current reports on Form 8–K to be filed by Zoom and Five9 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Advisors
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to Zoom. Qatalyst Partners is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Latham and Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Five9.

Transaction Conference Call Information
Zoom and Five9 will host a Zoom Video Webinar for investors on Monday, July 19, 2021 at 5:30 am Pacific Time / 8:30 am Eastern Time. Investors are invited to join the Zoom Video Webinar by visiting: https://investors.zoom.us/. A replay will be available shortly after the call ends.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. We help you express ideas, connect to others, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

About Five9
Five9 is an industry–leading provider of cloud contact center solutions, bringing the power of cloud innovation to more than 2,000 customers worldwide and facilitating billions of customer engagements annually. The Five9 Intelligent Cloud Contact Center provides digital engagement, analytics, workflow automation, workforce optimization, and practical AI to help customers reimagine their customer experience. Designed to be reliable, secure, compliant, and scalable, the Five9 platform helps increase agent and supervisor productivity, connects the contact center to the business, and ultimately deliver tangible business results including increased revenue and enhanced customer trust and loyalty.

Forward–Looking Statements
This communication contains forward–looking information related to Zoom, Five9 and the acquisition of Five9 by Zoom that involves substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward–looking statements in this communication include, among other things, statements about the potential benefits of the proposed transaction for Zoom, Five9 and their respective customers, Zoom's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to the combined company, the size of the opportunity for Zoom in contact centers, the financial condition, results of operations and business of Zoom or Five9, and the anticipated timing of closing of the proposed transaction.

Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the ability of Zoom to consummate the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all; Zoom's ability to successfully integrate Five9's operations and personnel; Zoom's ability to implement its plan, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Five9's business after the completion of the transaction and realize expected synergies; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to consummation of the proposed transaction; Zoom's ability to secure regulatory approvals on the terms expected in a timely manner or at all, especially in light of recent regulatory developments in the United States and elsewhere; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; any negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the proposed transaction on the market price of Zoom's Class A common stock or on Zoom's operating results; the impact of significant transaction costs and unknown liabilities on Zoom's operating results; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the proposed transaction; the exertion of management's time and Zoom's resources, and other expenses incurred in connection with any regulatory or governmental consents or approvals for the transaction; the possibility that competing offers will be made to acquire Five9; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Zoom and Five9's business relationships, operating results, and business generally; the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic and related public health measures on Zoom and Five9's businesses and general economic conditions; the impact of geopolitical events; Zoom's service performance and security, including the resources and costs required to avoid unanticipated downtime and prevent, detect and remediate potential security breaches; cyberattacks and security vulnerabilities that could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, or harm to Zoom's reputation or competitive position; excessive outages and disruptions to Zoom's online services if Zoom fails to maintain an adequate operations infrastructure; competitive factors, including new market entrants and changes in the competitive environment and increased competition; customer demand for Zoom's products and services; Zoom and Five9's ability to attract, integrate and retain qualified personnel; Zoom's ability to protect its intellectual property rights and develop its brand; Zoom's ability to develop new services and product features; Zoom's operating results and cash flow; the impact of the transaction on Zoom's strategy of acquiring or making investments in complementary businesses, joint ventures, services, technologies and intellectual property rights; changes in tax and other laws, regulations, rates and policies; and the impact of new accounting pronouncements.

These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed transaction, will be described in the registration statement on Form S–4 and proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the registration statement on Form S–4 are, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward–looking statements, please refer to Zoom's and Five9's respective periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in Zoom's and Five9's most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10–Q and Annual Reports on Form 10–K.

The forward–looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Zoom assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward–looking statements, except as required by law.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Zoom intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S–4, which will include a document that serves as a prospectus of Zoom and a proxy statement of Five9 (the "proxy statement/prospectus"). After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, the proxy statement/prospectus will be delivered to stockholders of Five9. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, SECURITY HOLDERS OF ZOOM AND FIVE9 ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE MERGER THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed by Zoom and Five9 with the SEC, without charge, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Zoom will be available free of charge under the SEC Filings heading of the Investor Relations section of Zoom's website at https://investors.Zoom.us/. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Five9 will be available free of charge under the Financials & Filings heading of the Investor Relations section of Five9's website at https://investors.five9.com/.

Participants in the Solicitation

Zoom and Five9 and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Zoom's directors and executive officers is set forth in Zoom's Form 10–K for the year ended January 31, 2021 and the proxy statement for Zoom's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which were filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021 and May 5, 2021, respectively. Information about Five9's directors and executive officers is set forth in Five9's Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the proxy statement for Five9's 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which were filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021 and March 29, 2021, respectively. Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed merger when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Zoom Press Relations
Colleen Rodriguez
Global Media Relations Lead
press@zoom.us

Zoom Investor Relations
Tom McCallum
Head of Investor Relations
investors@zoom.us

Five9 Press Relations
Allison Wilson
352–502–9539
allison.wilson@five9.com

Five9 Investor Relations
Barry Zwarenstein
Chief Financial Officer
925–201–2000 ext. 5959
ir@five9.com

The Blueshirt Group for Five9, Inc.
Lisa Laukkanen
415–217–4967
lisa@blueshirtgroup.com


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