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S & U "very pleased with the profits"

S & U PLC

S & U PLC (LSE:SUS) chairman Graham Coombs speaks to Proactive after releasing preliminary results for the year to 31st January 2023. Coombs says that he's "very pleased with the profits", that were the second highest in the specialist motor finance & bridging lender's 85-year history. He also gives his take on the outlook for the wider motor finance sector. Here's the earlier story: S & U PLC (LSE:SUS) increased its final dividend 5.3% and said current trading is good, with “very strong” demand for its products. The owner of motor finance lender Advantage and property bridging lender Aspen declared a final dividend of 60p per share, up from 57p a year ago, taking the total dividend proposed to 133p, up 5.6% from last time. Revenue came to £102.7mln in the year to 31 January 2023, up 17%, while profit before tax (PBT) came in at £41.4mln, which was down from £47mln the prior year. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

March 30, 2023 04:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAFA LAUNCHES ESG REPORTING RESOURCE FOR FLEET PROFESSIONALS

NAFA

NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, just announced a new ESG Reporting offering for the fleet community. Designed and vetted by fuel and fleet leaders specifically for fleet operations, this ESG reporting application allows fleet professionals to calculate and track their emissions and emissions reductions. “As the demand for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) planning and reporting continues to grow, fleet professionals need resources that can help them efficiently and effectively calculate everything from emissions to cost savings,” says Mike Camnetar, CAFM, NAFA Board President. “ESG will play a critical role in the future of our industry, which is why NAFA is excited to bring this new technology offering to our valued members and community.” Designed by ESG integrity, a program developed by the Fuels Institute, the ESGi application allows fleet managers to confidently track and share their organization’s fleet operations ESG metrics. Through this new ESGi application, fleet professionals will be able to: Understand the impacts of ESG initiatives and create greater value for their organization Collect, compute, and report ESG metrics using emissions data through automated ESG reporting Confidently track and share their organization’s fleet operations ESG metrics with exportable ready-to-use reports Set goals to improve and set metrics Discover what ESG scoring bodies are looking for Receive significant cost savings on ESG reporting Research has shown that investment in ESG initiatives can create greater value and contribute a positive return on investment for companies. ESG reporting is quickly moving from a voluntary corporate PR tool to a regulated B2B prerequisite, and consists of non-financial factors, such as carbon emissions, that organizations, including fleets, are increasingly expected to report data on. As ESG initiatives continue to create greater value for organizations, it is becoming more important for fleet managers to track and calculate fleet emissions and emissions reductions. Successful ESG programs can result in top-line growth, cost reductions, reduced regulatory and legal interventions, increased productivity, asset optimization, and enhanced operational performance. ESG reporting can help limit financial risk, improve an organization’s access to capital, and reduce operating expenses, among other impactful benefits. NAFA members will receive access to the ESGi application at a reduced license fee. For more information on the ESGi application, please visit: https://www.nafa.org/resource-center/esg/ NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes; and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year. For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Contact Details OnWrd & UpWrd, on behalf of NAFA Colleen Gallagher +1 315-447-2331 cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com Company Website https://www.nafa.org/

March 29, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Macon, GA Moves to New Location & Has Grand Opening

Minuteman Press International Inc

Richie Moore and his family have owned the Minuteman Press franchise in Macon, Georgia since June of 2017. As they approach six years in business, Richie, along with his father and his wife Elle, have moved to a brand new facility at 4341 Interstate DR, Suite B, Macon GA 31210. To celebrate the move, Minuteman Press in Macon held a grand opening on February 21, 2023, that was sponsored by the Greater Macon-Bibb Chamber of Commerce, the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce. Richie shares, “We have needed more space for the last 3 years. We wanted to get the equipment needed to do the things our customers have been asking us to do and now we have the space and a lot of the equipment needed! We want to show Middle Georgia that the big jobs don’t need to be sent out of our local area, and that Minuteman Press in Macon can produce and deliver for them.” Richie further explains the benefits of the new facility: “We now have a lobby that we can show off our larger jobs and spark ideas in our customers. If that doesn’t do it we want to set up tours of our facility to show the machines’ capabilities for prints. We have just upgraded our main production systems on all of our paper products so that we can print even faster and deliver higher quality. We are able to get longer lasting, higher quality signage done at a fraction of the time it would take a typical sign shop to print.” When it comes to marketing the business, Richie has followed the Minuteman Press system and reached out to his local business community through networking groups. He also focuses on education potential and established customers on the product capabilities that Minuteman Press in Macon has to offer. Richie shares: “We have participated in a lot of networking groups in the last 6 years and that has been some of the main drivers behind our growth. We’ve worked hard on getting out into the community and talking about our vision at Minuteman Press Macon to our customers. Our message is simple: We are showing Middle Georgia that having a quick turnaround doesn’t have to sacrifice quality. We educate them on the fact that having quality doesn’t have to come with the highest price tag. And above all, we make it a point to let our clients know that growing larger doesn’t sacrifice the customer care that our customers receive on a daily basis. “There is a big market for the medium-size niche jobs that sadly is getting left by the wayside. We have customers that want 500 boxes or direct printed bags. They are a small-to-medium sized companies and they don’t necessarily need 5,000 bags that are all the same. They want 500 of 10 different bags so they can sell more products. We want to offer an option to those people who need help with all of their printing needs and don’t want to go to 5 different places to get them all done.” -Richie Moore, co-owner, Minuteman Press, Macon, GA Franchise Support from Minuteman Press International Before franchising, Richie shares, “My wife Elle and I come from the insurance world and before that I worked with computers everywhere. My dad called me up one day and asked if I’d be interested in a printing franchise. One of our computer customers was Minuteman Press Macon and the owner called us and asked if we would be interested in buying the computers back from him. We offered to let us try running the business for a few months and see if it was for us.” He continues, “We did it and we loved helping out the customers. We loved that every day was something new to do. You definitely have to stay on your toes in a print shop! So, my wife and I cashed in our insurance bonuses and bought into a new business with my dad. From there, we have grown it dramatically and want to continue to grow with our customers.” Richie shares his thoughts on the support he and his family have received since joining the Minuteman Press franchise family. He says, “The Minuteman Press franchise has been around a long time and will be around a lot longer. If you have seen it printed, they have had experience with it. Our corporate office has been a great support to us when we had questions on how to help our customers. They have always been supportive in helping us reach our goals. This move to our new building has been the top goal for us for at least 3 years now, and we couldn’t have done it without the help and guidance of our local RVP Dave Walton and the local support team.” Richie adds, “We took over in 2017 but this Minuteman Press franchise has been in Macon for 35 years! We have a lot of experience and knowledge about the products that our clients want and possibly some that you don’t even know about that can help!” When asked about his final thoughts on the move and being business owner, Richie says, “I like to remind all of our clients that WE ARE LOCAL and that we can help. We would love to show prospects what we can do and invite them to tour our facility!” Richie concludes, “For business owners, I would say you need to s urround yourself with smart people that have done it all and are successful. This way, you will end up driving yourself to reach their level. That’s yet another reason franchising and Minuteman Press was right for us.” Minuteman Press in Macon is located at 4341 Interstate DR, Suite B, Macon GA 31210. For more information, call 478-474-6263 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ga/macon/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 29, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ARMOUR ACQUIRES ASSETS FROM TEXAS RANCHSCAPES LLC

Armour Excavating LLC

Armour Excavating LLC (“Armour”) a provider of aggregate delivery in Central Texas and cedar clearing services on Texas Hill Country ranches, is pleased to announce that it has acquired selected assets from Texas Ranchscapes LLC (“Texas Ranchscapes”) based in Harper, TX. “It was important to me that Armour has the same customer service values that Texas Ranchscapes had. We were known for rapid, on-time delivery and keeping our commitments to customers. Armour possesses those same values, so it was an obvious choice to ensure our customers continue to receive the best service,” said Curtis Warman, Owner of Texas Ranchscapes. “We are really excited to be adding additional assets to our fast-growing company. With these additional assets, Armour will be able to haul 21-ton loads (quad axle dump truck) which is complementary to our current tandem dump truck fleet. Armour is grateful for this opportunity from Curtis, and we look forward to welcoming Texas Ranchscapes customers to the Armour family,” said Stephen Day, Owner. Contact Details Armour Excavating LLC Media Contact info@armourexcavating.com Company Website https://www.armourexcavating.com

March 28, 2023 03:45 PM Central Daylight Time

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Orange Tree Employment Screening Accelerates Momentum with Expansion of Senior Leadership Team

Orange Tree Employment Screening

Orange Tree Employment Screening, a technology-driven services company in the background screening industry, today announced that it has expanded its leadership team to include three new senior roles. Justin Jovle will serve as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Bridget George will be the new Vice President of Client Services, and Brooke Boeser will help guide company expansion as the new Vice President of Marketing. The new hires will help the company continue to accelerate its strong growth while delivering unparalleled client service. “Over the past 18 months, Orange Tree has grown significantly, both organically and through acquisition. To continue this growth, it is important to strategically expand our leadership team,” said Renee Ernste, CEO of Orange Tree. “We are not stopping here. We have expansion plans which require expertise to enable the successful integration of the companies we’ve purchased and to support future acquisitions.” In addition to growing via acquisition and new sales, Orange Tree recently released an innovative online buying experience which provides buyers new levels of choice and pricing transparency. Available to all businesses, the online platform is targeted to the midmarket and small business customer who wants help in choosing the best solution with full visibility to pricing previously reserved for only enterprise businesses. “The buyers’ preferences have changed, and we are delivering what today’s customer expects and deserves,” said Jeff Ernste, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. “Customers want to buy solutions tailored to their needs, in a way and at a time that is convenient for them, and with full transparency to the pricing and terms of their program. We are delivering a solution which aligns precisely with their needs. “The strategic decision to bring in tested leadership and launch a game-changing online buying platform means that Orange Tree’s growth momentum is just beginning,” concluded Ernste. About Orange Tree Employment Screening For more than 30 years, Orange Tree has provided technology-enabled background screening, drug testing, and occupational health services that are fast, easy to use, and can be tailored to the unique needs of each employer. Orange Tree streamlines hiring decisions, integrates with HCM and ATS platforms, and empowers employers in Healthcare, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Retail, Staffing, and other major industries to quickly fill open positions while delivering an engaging candidate experience. Learn more at www.orangetreescreening.com. Contact Details Razor Sharp PR Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.orangetreescreening.com/

March 28, 2023 08:30 AM Central Daylight Time

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Lithium Race Accelerates as China Looks to Control Nearly One-Third of Global Supply

MarketJar

Despite US and EU efforts to diversify important mineral supply chains, China is anticipated to increase its share of global supply of certain critical metals to expedite the energy transition. China, which is a major source of lithium and cobalt, is expected to increase its global market share of these minerals, which are essential components for renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs). According to UBS, China will control approximately one-third of global lithium supply by 2025. Beijing-controlled mines will see their overall lithium output more than triple in three years, from 194,000 tonnes in 2022 to 705,000 tonnes by 2025. This spike in supply would increase China's share of global lithium supply to 32% in 2025, up from 24% in 2022. Lithium prices have lately fallen, but economists predict price increases in the medium and long term as demand for lithium in the energy transition grows. As China seeks to increase its share of key battery minerals, the United States and the European Union seek to diversify their supply chains and lessen reliance on China for the minerals vital to their net-zero aspirations. US President Joe Biden hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the White House to address a variety of concerns, including the availability of essential minerals. Both the US and the EU are working to minimize their reliance on China for vital raw minerals and rare earth elements. Global lithium production is led by Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina, which produce more than 95% of the mineral. The United States is estimated to contain the world's largest lithium resources, after the Lithium Triangle region in South America, with Nevada, North Carolina, and California estimated to hold 4% of the world's lithium reserves. Canada is also proving to be a viable contender in the lithium supply race after the government of Canada recently approved the James Bay Lithium Project in Quebec. Sayona Mining is also moving forward with the planned restart of the North American Lithium (NAL) mine, a 54.3 million tonne measured and indicated lithium oxide resource also in Quebec. Usha Resources Acquires Lithium-Tantalum Project in Ontario On March 28, Usha Resources announced the acquisition of the White Willow Lithium-Tantalum Property, located in the Thunder Bay Mining Division of Ontario. The 15,510 hectare project, which is located in proximity to other lithium projects including the Seymour Lake Lithium Project, the Georgia Lake pegmatite field, and the Separation Rapids Lithium deposit, representing “a unique and timely opportunity to capitalize on the rapidly growing lithium metal and green energy markets in Canada.” The White Willow Lithium-Tantalum Property is confirmed to host a fertile lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) system containing two highly evolved LCT-pegmatite dikes. These dikes have been the focus of the limited exploration work completed to date, with samples as high as 0.5% lithium oxide (Li 2 O) and 14.64% tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ) in and around the dikes. Limited surface sampling elsewhere on the property has also identified very anomalous lithium values with several samples assaying above 0.40% Li 2 O as well as very anomalous tantalum and cesium, with two assays showing 3.41% and 3.78% Ta 2 O 5. The high-grade tantalite indicates the potential for higher-grade lithium to be present in adjacent zones within the LCT-system at the property. Usha believes the White Willow acquisition is highly complementary to its 100% owned flagship Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Project in Nevada, where it recently tripled its land position and is undertaking its maiden drill program to define a 43-101 resource at the property. Nevada Is One of the World's Top Mining Jurisdictions In the US lithium space, Nevada is quickly establishing itself as a key player in the production of EV battery materials and meeting global climate goals. With the Thacker Pass Lithium Project, which is currently the largest known lithium deposit in the US, under construction, analysts are beginning to refer to Nevada as the "Silicon Valley of lithium." Usha Resources Ltd. ( TSXV:USHA ) ( OTCQB:USHAF ) is exploring the Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Property, located in Clark County, Nevada, 35 kilometers northeast of Las Vegas. The drill ready brine project consists of 442 mineral claims totaling 8,714 acres (approximately 35.3 km 2 ). The company has permitted 2,700 meters over six holes. The geologic model of Jackpot Lake is similar to that of Albemarle's Silver Peak Nevada Lithium Mine, the only producing lithium mine in North America that has been in operation since 1966, in which sediments from lithium-rich surrounding source rocks accumulate and fill the deposit, potentially leading to a concentration of lithium brine due to successive evaporation and concentration events. Usha Resources provided an update on its progress at the Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Property, announcing that the second hole (JP22-2) of its drill program had reached 1,755 feet and that the exploration team had detected a high-porosity zone of sand followed by conglomerate beginning at 1,533 feet. Usha Resources also recently closed a non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of C$3 million. For more information on Usha Resources Ltd. ( TSXV:USHA ) ( OTCQB:USHAF ), please visit this link or the company’s website. Disclaimer 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, Usha Resources Ltd. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from Usha Resources Ltd.’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) one hundred thirty eight thousand and six hundred USD for 26 days (19 business days). 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. All investments carry risk and each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional. Any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.'s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on pressreach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on pressreach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management's expectations regarding Usha Resources Ltd.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to Usha Resources Ltd.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) Usha Resources Ltd.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that Usha Resources Ltd. intends to offer; (e) Usha Resources Ltd.’s milestone projections and targets; (f) Usha Resources Ltd.’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) Usha Resources Ltd.’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) Usha Resources Ltd.’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute Usha Resources Ltd.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) Usha Resources Ltd.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) Usha Resources Ltd.’s ability to enter into contractual arrangements with additional Pharmacies; (e) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (f) Usha Resources Ltd.’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (g) political and regulatory stability; (h) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (i) changes in applicable legislation; (j) stability in financial and capital markets; and (k) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of Usha Resources Ltd. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) Usha Resources Ltd.’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact Usha Resources Ltd.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing Usha Resources Ltd.’s business operations (e) Usha Resources Ltd. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, Usha Resources Ltd. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Usha Resources Ltd. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Usha Resources Ltd. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of Usha Resources Ltd. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of Usha Resources Ltd. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of Usha Resources Ltd. or such entities. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

March 28, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Two EVs at Plymouth State University Delivered 1 MWh of Energy with Fermata Energy Bidirectional EV Charging Platform

Fermata Energy

Two Nissan LEAF electric vehicles (EVs) at the Plymouth State University (PSU) provided 1 MWh of energy to the PSU’s ALLWell Center, offsetting some of the building’s electricity needs. EVs are more than sustainable transportation; they are “batteries on wheels” that can send energy stored in their batteries to a building when paired with a bidirectional EV charging platform. The university is able to reduce its electricity bill and support grid resilience by taking part in an innovative utility rate program developed by its local utility New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), electrification software provider Bellawatt, and Fermata Energy, the developer of the leading AI-driven bidirectional EV charging platform. The program at PSU is groundbreaking because it brings together EVs, a bidirectional EV charging system, and advance notice on hourly electricity pricing – called a Transactive Energy Rate (TER), enabling the university to easily make decisions about using the Nissan LEAF batteries as mobile energy storage assets. Under the program, PSU sent energy stored in the EVs’ onboard batteries to offset the ALLWell Center’s building load for approximately 90 hours during a 6-month period. One MWh is equivalent to the electricity used by about 330 homes for one hour. Through the NHEC application, TER forecasts electricity pricing one day in advance. Daily alerts about the next day’s hour-by-hour electricity prices are sent by NHEC to Fermata Energy’s AI-powered bidirectional charging platform, which then analyzes those rates, simplifies the information, and advises PSU about times the vehicles can discharge the batteries to maximize value for the university. The university controls whether to discharge by parking the EVs and plugging them into the Fermata Energy bidirectional charger. “Through this program, we better understand how we use electricity and can actively reduce our electricity costs. We could do that with stationary energy storage systems, but EVs are more affordable and are easy to manage,” said Donald Brix, president of Plymouth State University. “NHEC has always been a great partner for us. Fermata Energy's technology puts the EV batteries ‘behind the meter,’ sending electricity to the ALLWell Center to reduce our costs. Anything left over is shared with the grid. Not only did the university save money, but we provided a fantastic learning experience to our students.” The day-ahead electricity pricing enables PSU to buy electricity from the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative at low prices and store that energy in the EV batteries. When the price of electricity is higher, PSU can then discharge the batteries and sell the energy back to NHEC. This is known as electricity arbitrage. The successful outcome of this hourly electricity pricing program creates a pathway for NHEC to compensate its members for power exported from Distributed Energy Resources, such as EV batteries and solar. "V2G is working today. Bidirectional EVs are valuable assets that can help stabilize the grid by dispatching energy stored in batteries - when and where that energy is needed most,” said David Slutzky, founder and CEO of Fermata Energy. "The NHEC program is one of the country’s most innovative rates and works very well with our AI-driven, vehicle-to-grid platform." "We are fortunate to have such great collaborators like Fermata Energy and Plymouth State University (PSU) on this project,” said NHEC Vice President of Power Resources and Access Brian Callnan. “Technology from Fermata Energy allows us to purchase the necessary grid services to serve our members from PSU, who happen to be a member themselves. We’re thrilled to see members serving members with this program.” Callnan continued, “Bidirectional charging and TER allow the university to redefine their electric vehicles as a distributed energy resource (DER) that benefits them and all our members in the electric cooperative." The Nissan LEAF is one of the few EVs currently on the road and able to participate in bidirectional charging. Fermata Energy’s bidirectional charging platform manages the EV’s state of charge, sends alerts to customers, and allows fleet owners to both charge and discharge EV batteries. Until recently, commercial fleet EV operators could only use unidirectional chargers, meaning the power went from the grid to the EV, costing the EV owner money. Unidirectional charging is also an unpredictable electricity demand that utilities need to manage and plan for. Bidirectional charging changes that dynamic. Fermata Energy’s platform can also monitor building load data, helping to manage electricity usage better. The technology is referred to as vehicle-to-everything and includes V2G (vehicle-to-grid), V2B (vehicle-to-building), and V2H (vehicle-to-home) projects. Fermata Energy has V2X bidirectional programs working in several New England utilities, including Green Mountain Power, Eversource, and Rhode Island Energy. These programs have proven effective at offsetting surging customer demand by dispatching power from customer-owned batteries. About Fermata Energy Park it. Plug it. Profit. Fermata Energy’s proprietary vehicle-to-everything (V2X) bidirectional charging platform turns EVs into batteries on wheels, enabling EV fleet owners to earn money from their local utility. With managed bidirectional charging, utilities can add EVs as grid edge resources to increase resilience, easily add them to virtual power plants, and avoid building new peaker plants. V2X includes V2G (vehicle-to-grid), V2B (vehicle-to-building), and V2H (vehicle-to-home) installations. Fermata Energy is a technology-agnostic developer of AI-driven bidirectional charging platforms. Learn more at www.fermataenergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn. About Bellawatt Bellawatt is a software consultancy that specializes in assisting energy industry participants with researching, designing, and building their most innovative ideas. Visit bellawatt.com to learn more. About NHEC NHEC is a nonprofit, member-owned electric distribution cooperative providing energy and energy solutions to members in 86,000 homes and businesses in 118 New Hampshire communities. Visit www.nhec.com to learn more. Contact Details Fermata Energy Daniel Cherrin +1 313-300-0932 dcherrin@northcoaststrategies.com Company Website https://www.fermataenergy.com

March 28, 2023 08:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAVEX 2023 Global Incident Management Benchmark Study Reveals Shifts in Workplace Culture and Reporting Trends

NAVEX Global

NAVEX, the leader in integrated risk and compliance management software, has released its 2023 Hotline & Incident Management Benchmark Report. The bellwether annual benchmark report provides valuable insight into the workplace culture of 52 million employees across 3,430 organizations, examining the trends of 1.52 million reports from across the globe. "We use NAVEX's annual benchmark report to help inform our risk management strategy," says FedEx Chief Compliance Officer Justin Ross. "As an industry leader, we do our best to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest incident reporting and risk management trends. The insight this report provides helps us do just that." “NAVEX has long been the gold standard for risk and compliance data analytics in the industry. This annual benchmark study is derived from the world’s largest incident reporting database by far,” says Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk and compliance officer. “Our expanded analytics in 2023 allowed for a deeper examination of the issues and behaviors that are most impactful to today’s workplaces. Chief among them is workplace civility, which is likely driven by increased societal tension generally.” This year’s analysis of the data revealed four key themes and several notable findings: Reporting at an all-time high, but reporters proceeded with more caution. This year’s analysis revealed the highest median level of Reports per 100 Employees (1.47) in the history of this report. Further, 21% of organizations received five or more Reports per 100 Employees, a positive finding. However, data also showed a return to higher levels of anonymous reporting (56%), indicating more reporter concern about providing their name. HR-related reports are still the majority, but more granular analysis reveals workplace stresses. The median organization had nearly 54% of its reports in the HR, Diversity & Workplace Respect category, up from 50% in 2021. Reviewing the reporting frequency across deeper issue types offers more insight into organizational stresses and behaviors – particularly an increase in workplace civility concerns involving abusive or disrespectful behavior. The data also shows the frequency of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and substance abuse reports in 2022 all increased. These metrics are important to watch as a measure of cultural health and potentially a measure of mental health risks. People want to talk live, but a written web-based report is more likely to be substantiated. While general communications modes move more to texting and instant messaging, this year's data shows an increase in telephonic helpline reports, from 31% in 2021 to 34% in 2022. Hybrid work models have made it easier for employees to make a telephone report from home and more challenging to report in person. However, more thoughtful written reports, submitted via the web, are more likely to be substantiated than phone reports. In 2022, the median Substantiation Rate for web reports was 39% compared to 33% for phone. Size matters – smaller organizations have higher reporting rates; mid-size companies are experiencing some challenges. The 2022 analysis reveals that smaller organizations with fewer than 2,500 employees registered the highest Reports per 100 Employees at 2.99. In contrast, the largest organizations, with over 100,000 employees, had a much lower rate of only 1.20 Reports per 100 Employees. Mid-sized companies with 2,500-49,999 employees had the lowest rate of all, with fewer than 1.0 Reports per 100 Employees. Organizations with 2,500 to 5,999 employees recorded the highest rate of anonymous reporting at 60%. "Data is at the heart of making smart decisions about risk management and spotting potential problems throughout the organization. This is particularly important for issues affecting workplace culture. NAVEX's integrated data platform provides industry-leading insights and a unique window into the performance of their risk and compliance program, which in turn helps them achieve the business outcomes that matter most," says A.G. Lambert, NAVEX chief product officer. Additional notable findings include: The frequency of bribery and corruption reports increased in 2022, as did product quality and safety reports. Conflicts of interest reporting dropped significantly but is still in the top five. Data privacy and protection also made the top five. While overall Substantiation Rates remained steady at 41%, the five issue types with the highest frequency of substantiation were: global trade (76%), imminent threat to a person or property (75%), environment (71%), Data privacy and protection (68%), misuse or misappropriation of assets (67%) and health and safety (65%). More than half of organizations have a median Case Closure Time under 30 days. The largest organizations had the shortest Case Closure Time. Notable, and perhaps concerning, is a median of 18% of cases were closed on the same day they were received. This finding indicates instances that may have been forwarded to a different department and resolved prior to complete resolution, implying that a case classified as "closed" for compliance does not necessarily denote closure for the organization. For more insights on the 2023 Incident Management Benchmark Report, join Justin Ross, FedEx chief compliance officer, Carrie Penman, NAVEX chief risk & compliance officer, and Anders Olsen, NAVEX senior data scientist, for an informative webinar where they will discuss the results of this year’s analysis in detail. Register here or, read our blog, Don’t Miss Out – World’s Leading Hotline Webinar & Report Released March 28. NAVEX is trusted by thousands of customers worldwide to help them achieve the business outcomes that matter most. As the global leader in integrated risk and compliance management software and services, we deliver solutions through the NAVEX One platform, the industry’s most comprehensive governance, risk and compliance (GRC) information system. For more information, visit NAVEX.com and our blog. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact Details NAVEX Scott Levesque +1 617-388-5773 scott.levesque@navex.com Company Website https://www.navex.com

March 28, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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NAFA LAUNCHES TWO NEW PROGRAMS TO SPARK INNOVATION AT UPCOMING 2023 INSTITUTE & EXPO CONFERENCE

NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry’s largest membership association, just announced the addition of two new programs at their 2023 Institute & Expo (I&E) Conference. The first is a special Innovations Showcase where attendees can experience new products from I&E exhibitors. NAFA is also excited to connect with Braindates, a networking experience that gives attendees the opportunity to spark meaningful conversations with peers at I&E. “I&E has long been the can’t miss event for those in the fleet and mobility world, and given the rapid pace of evolution happening in this space right now, the all-new Innovations Showcase is designed to highlight the newest products and services changing the game in our industry,” said Mike Camnetar, CAFM, NAFA Board President. “On top of that, we’ll be enhancing the I&E attendee experience through our new Braindate Lounge, which will drive authentic and meaningful networking opportunities.” NAFA’s first ever I&E Innovations Showcase invites attendees into an interactive innovation zone where they can explore the exciting new products and product updates being launched by exhibiting companies. Attendees will get to experience innovation like never before, and will have the opportunity to vote for a People’s Choice award for most innovative product. The following companies will be participating in the I&E 2023 Innovations Showcase: AssetWorks Cipia Clean Fuels Alliance America Derive Systems Digital Ally, Inc Fermata Energy Fleetio Forward Thinking Systems, LLC Industrial Propane Service IntelliShift Monro Auto Service and Tire Centers ReviverMX, Inc. Scent Renu TigerTough Utilimarc Wagan Corporation NAFA will also be partnering with Braindate – a peer learning experience – to give attendees the opportunity to intentionally network during I&E. Taking place one-on-one or in a small group, attendees can participate in conversations focused on a topic of their choice at I&E’s Braindate Lounge. Braindates are innovating the way people brainstorm, solve challenges and share experiences by giving I&E attendees the chance to connect with like-minded fleet professionals over meaningful, and authentic conversations. Attendees can use a Braindate to learn from others, to brainstorm and find solutions to the unique challenges they are facing at work. Attendees will be able to sign up for Braindates ahead of I&E starting on April 3, 2023. To learn more about how to make the most of this exciting opportunity at I&E, visit: https://www.nafainstitute.org/program-schedule/braindates/ To explore all of the networking opportunities available at I&E, visit: https://www.nafainstitute.org/networking-events/ NAFA’s I&E will take place from April 17-19, 2023 in Baltimore, MD. For more information, visit: https://www.nafainstitute.org/ About NAFA Fleet Management AssociationNAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA’s members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA’s members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year.For more information, please visit www.nafa.org, and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Contact Details Colleen Gallagher +1 315-447-2331 cgallagher@onwrdupwrd.com Company Website https://www.nafa.org/

March 27, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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