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Asure Software (NASDAQ: ASUR) Sets the Tone for 2023 with Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) TurboTax and ZayZoon Collaborations, While Institutional Investors Boost Positions

Benzinga

By Spotlight Growth U.S. stocks surged in January 2023, as Q4 2022 financial results were not quite as bad as many analysts and experts feared. As a result, the S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) jumped 6.18%, Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA) climbed 2.83% and the Nasdaq (NASDAQ: QQQ) shot up a whopping 10.6% in January 2023 alone. According to S&P Global, the somewhat better-than-expected Q4 results, combined with a late Santa Claus rally and early-year bargain hunting after a brutal 2022, are seen as the key catalysts that drove U.S. stocks to impressive returns to kick off the first month of 2023. However, as we approach March 2023, the “big three” stock indices have since given up nearly all of their gains. As of this writing, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average have turned slightly negative on the year, while the Nasdaq barely holds on to a 0.08% gain YTD. Despite the continued volatility and “kangaroo market” conditions in early 2023, Asure Software (NASDAQ: ASUR) is picking up right where it left off in 2022. The Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions provider has continued its outperformance, as the company continues to collaborate and leverage key partnerships and provide small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) with the tools needed to remain nimble during the economic uncertainty, while still attracting top-tier employee talent. Asure’s strong 2022 performance and strong start to 2023 are certainly turning heads in the institutional investor community. Let’s dive deeper to understand Asure’s early accomplishments so far this year. New ASUR Collaboration: TurboTax, H&R Block, & ZayZoon Kicking off 2023, Asure sought to bolster its tax prep integrations and features to help employees of SMBs to streamline their tax filing process. To accomplish this task, Asure Software teamed up with the two biggest consumer tax preparation companies in the United States: Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) TurboTax and H&R Block (NYSE: HRB). The TurboTax and H&R Block integrations are a massive milestone for Asure. Not only does the integration help boost Asure’s profile, but it is also a tremendous win for the company’s clients, which now can offer their employees with streamlined integration of their W-2 tax forms directly into the number 1 and 2 market leaders in the consumer tax prep industry. According to AccountingToday, TurboTax is the number one consumer tax prep company, with an estimated market share of around 30%. Slintel notes that H&R Block is second with a 24.48% market share. “Our goal is to simplify HR and payroll processes for small businesses, which includes identifying ways to help our clients attract new employees now that the war for talent has hit Main Street,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman and CEO of Asure. “We are thrilled to partner with Intuit and offer employees of our clients a seamless and efficient solution for tax filing.” Intending to help SMB clients continue increasing their competitiveness for top-tier employee talent, Asure’s most recent partnership with ZayZoon is a perfect match. ZayZoon is engaged as a market leader in earned wage access and employee financial wellness services. Under the partnership, ZayZoon will integrate its tech solutions with Asure’s payroll and time & attendance solutions to enable employees to obtain real-time wage data. The goal of this integration is to provide SMBs with tools to help employees stay engaged, reduce financial stress and increase retention and productivity. “Financial pressures can impact employees across all industries and job types. By partnering with ZayZoon we can help ease that burden by offering small business employees the option to access the funds they've earned faster when they need them most," said Pat Goepel, Chairman and CEO of Asure. “Earned wage access is fast becoming a necessity in the war for talent and we’re pleased to join forces with ZayZoon to deliver this competitive advantage to main street.” Wall Street Taking Notice of Asure Software One of the greatest forms of validation a public company can receive is strong support from the Wall Street community. Before October 2022, Asure’s top investors were mostly corporate insiders and managers. By the end of 2022, institutions were piling into the HCM provider. Aside from institutional investors, the Wall Street analyst community has been very bullish and supportive of Asure Software as well. Between November 2022 and February 2023, 50 institutions, insiders and big private investors added to their Asure Software positions, while 29 entities cut their positions in the HCM provider. This is a very good parity, which nearly shows there were two investors adding shares for each seller during the period. Top Institutional Shareholders 1. Private Capital Management, LLC: 3,797,305 shares of ASUR Private Capital Management, LLC is a Florida-based asset manager and the largest institutional shareholder of Asure Software, as of December 31, 2022, with a total stake of just under 3.8 million shares. This gives the investor 18.84% control of the company, as noted in a recent 13G filing. 2. ArrowMark Colorado Holdings, LLC: 1,778,292 shares ArrowMark Colorado Holdings aggressively added to its position in late 2022. The Denver, Colorado-based investor increased their stake by an additional 223,525 shares to reach a new total position of 1,778,292 shares, as of December 31, 2022. This represents an 8.82% ownership of Asure Software. 3. Archon Capital Management, LLC: 1,294,987 shares Based out of Seattle, Washington, Archon Capital Management is the third largest shareholder of the HCM provider, with a total stake of 1,294,987 shares, as of the end of 2022. This gives the asset manager a 6.42% stake in Asure. Analyst Updates Since the start of 2023, three analysts covering Asure stock have held their "buy" ratings and increased their price targets in the range of $12 to $14. Joshua Reilly of Needham reiterated his “buy” rating and a $14 price target in early January 2023. Four-star analyst, Eric Martinuzzi of Lake Street, also took the opportunity to reiterate a “buy” rating and a $12.00 price target in January. Vincent Colicchio, a five-star analyst from Barrington, assigned Asure a “buy” rating and a $12 price target in February 2023. Mr. Colicchio joins Richard Baldry of Roth Capital as the only two five-star analysts covering the HCM provider. Mr. Baldry last reiterated a “buy” rating and a $16 price target in March 2022. Overall, Asure Software is finally beginning to gain the recognition from Wall Street it has rightfully deserved. The company’s operational success and resilience amid a very volatile market and uncertain economic environment have certainly caught the attention of the investment community. Furthermore, Asure’s continued partnership outreach and integrations are not only giving SMB clients a notable edge in their HCM efforts but also serving as a validation for Asure as a business. Think about it…not too many other small-caps can say they have partnerships with major, household entities like Intuit TurboTax, H&R Block, Equifax (NYSE: EFX), and more. With 2023 shaping up to feature similar macroeconomic uncertainties as 2022, SMBs will likely continue to heavily rely on HCM services, like those offered by Asure, to help cut costs, streamline operations, and remain competitive in the employee talent search. Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be another break-out year for Asure Software. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated five thousand dollars cash by Asure Software for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management' beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

February 23, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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RIPKEN BASEBALL TO DEBUT ALL-RIPKEN GAMES IN 2023

Ripken Baseball

Ripken Baseball today announced it will host the inaugural All-Ripken Games, a platform that will attract the top youth players from across the country to compete at The Ripken Experience® world-class facilities. Players must be nominated by their peers and coaches for the opportunity to train the Ripken Way, compete against elite young athletes, and receive the ultimate Big League Experience. Ripken Baseball is partnering with YTH Sports, a youth sports organization known for its Soccer Youth® brand and All-American Series, to launch the inaugural All-Ripken Games. “Cal and I started Ripken Baseball with a focus on player development,” said Ripken Baseball Co-Founder Bill Ripken. “Over the years, we saw an opportunity to provide a Big League Experience for teams to travel to our world-class facilities, and we’ll continue to excel in that area. With the All-Ripken Games, we are returning to our roots this summer. Our approach to player development is more than just skill. The Ripken Way also focuses on hard work, respect, and sportsmanship.” To be eligible, players must be in high school graduation classes between the Class of 2026 and the Class of 2033 and exhibit an elevated level of baseball knowledge, dedication, sportsmanship, and skill. Participating players will receive All-Ripken uniforms, compete in skills challenges, and play for the ultimate team goal - the All-Ripken Games Tournament Championship. Starting July 27 and continuing through Sept 3, the following complexes will host one series of All-Ripken Games in 2023: July 27-30: The Ripken Experience® Elizabethtown (Kentucky) Aug. 3-6: The Ripken Experience® Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) Aug. 10-13: The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge (Tennessee) Aug. 31 - Sept. 3:The Ripken Experience® Aberdeen (Maryland) To nominate and register a player for the All-Ripken Games, parents, coaches, and leagues can visit www.AllRipken.com or email questions to scout@allripken.com. Any participants of The Ripken Experience who are nominated will automatically be selected for the All-Ripken Games. Details about the All-Ripken Softball Games will be announced soon. Families, players, teams, and fans can follow @AllRipken on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest information. About Ripken Baseball Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big League Experiences while teaching children how to play sports the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through tournaments, camps, clinics, and spring training at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience® Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience® Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge (Tennessee), The Ripken Experience® Elizabethtown (Kentucky), and Cooperstown All Star Village (New York). Ripken Baseball also brings its youth sports experience to satellite locations through Ripken Select Tournaments. Learn more at ripkenbaseball.com. About YTH Sports YTH Sports is the leading marketing agency that focuses on developing new brands that help shape the youth sports industry. YTH Sports is the expert in event creation, branding, social media engagement, and activation. Global brands included on company’s portfolio are Soccer Youth®, All-American Series, All-American Golden Cup, All-American Super Cup, and Summer Nationals. Learn more at ythsports.com. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://ripkenbaseball.com/

February 23, 2023 09:34 AM Eastern Standard Time

Understand the Impact of Recession, AI and ChatGPT With FiscalNote’s (NYSE: NOTE) Board.org Community

Benzinga

By Jad Malaeb, Benzinga History tells us that recessions are a troubling time for businesses and their leaders. In a report by Statista, it was found that even the “short-term” economic downturn instigated by the pandemic in 2020 led to 244 annual U.S. bankruptcy filings. This was the greatest figure recorded since the Great Recession of 2008-09, which saw 225 and 293 bankruptcies in 2008 and 2009 respectively. After an extended bull run between late 2020 and into 2021, it seems that threats of a recession are beginning to surface once more. The International Money Fund (IMF) expects the economies responsible for one-third of global output to shrink during part of this year or next. In the U.S., the job market has teetered along the edge of safety, marking no significant declines yet, but marks of a slowing gross domestic product (GDP) have already been etched into news headlines. Decision-making during these difficult times could mean the difference between survival and bankruptcy – businesses with access to decision-optimization tools or a strong network of proven leaders could have a competitive advantage over their counterparts. FiscalNote’s (NYSE: NOTE) Board.org feature is one of the few places where business leaders can go for help in troubled times. FiscalNote Can Help Leaders Execute Important Decisions In 2021, FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE), a leading technology provider that helps organizations navigate government policy and regulations and geopolitical risk using AI and machine learning, acquired Board.org, a company providing vendor-free, peer-to-peer communities for people leading the world’s biggest companies. At its core, Board.org is a decision-optimization organization. It creates communities for leaders facing difficult tasks and helps them source advice from their peers. The Data Privacy Board, DEI Board and Talent Marketing Board are just three of the names involved in Board.org, and they’ve been helping the world’s experts since 2007. With this acquisition, FiscalNote enveloped Board.org’s communities into its portfolio of market intelligence products, providing customers with unparalleled access to the world’s leading voices. FiscalNote aims to grow the number of Board.org communities and to encompass more industries through this growth. Board.org Experts Discuss Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT’s rise to stardom is indicative of a coming-of-age of artificial intelligence (AI). While the technology has existed since 1951, it has mostly taken subtle forms in the shape of “intelligent” search browser recommendations, voice assistants (“Hey, Siri.”) and image recognition software on smartphones. ChatGPT encapsulated what most envisioned AI would eventually become: A human-like program that can be asked nearly anything and produce an intelligent answer. The emergence of ChatGPT, however, has introduced new problems. Prompted by instances like ChatGPT’s refusal to describe the characters of Donald Trump and Jordan B. Peterson, AI critics posit that ethical and political consideration in the construction of AI will be key to successfully navigating AI in the future. This is especially true for corporations that aim to leverage AI. In a blog post, the Enterprise Data Strategy Board, a member of Board.org, shows a plethora of case studies of AI gone wrong, including Amazon scrapping an AI recruitment tool that discriminated against women. The blog discusses the threats future corporations face by not appropriately considering AI ethics, an idea reiterated by experts at Forbes, KPMG, and TechTarget. Without pesky vendors or expensive consultants, Board.org packs insight gleaned from corporate experts and rigorous data to produce actionable insights. These insights help corporations tackle relevant problems like AI, recessions, and rising interest rates. Board.org – A Trove Of Insight From The World’s Business Leaders Board.org has strict guidelines for its communities. It screens members to include only leaders in their fields; it prohibits vendors from entering communities, meaning no one will attempt to sell you anything; it facilitates confidential conversations between leaders via its online staff; and it only communicates via phone and email. According to the company, they’ve had an 80% renewal rate for 14 consecutive years. “In a continuously evolving and more globalized world, our customers require access to the information, workflow tools, and communities that propel them to excel at their jobs,” noted FiscalNote founder and CEO, Tim Hwang. “We are excited about deploying Board.org and its proven model to better serve our customers as they wrestle with the various issues that impact their organizations on a daily basis.” FiscalNote’s acquisition of Board.org is just one of the many acquisitions the company has made. With a mission to expand its product holdings and improve its market intelligence, the company has also acquired FactSquared, Oxford Analytica, TimeBase, and FireSide, all of which provide unique intelligence-gathering features in the political domain and beyond. Click here for more information on FiscalNote. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

February 23, 2023 09:26 AM Eastern Standard Time

VLASIC PICKLES NAMED OFFICIAL PICKLE OF THE APP AND TITLE SPONSOR OF 2023 CINCINNATI TOURNAMENT

APP

The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) has announced a title sponsorship with Vlasic Pickles, the leading American pickle brand 1, to become the Official Pickle of the APP. The agreement makes Vlasic® Pickles the first-ever pickle brand to sponsor an official pro pickleball tour. Pickleball is America’s fastest growing sport, now played by over 36.5 million people across America. As part of Vlasic’s title sponsorship of the 2023 APP tour, pickleball players will compete this season in The 2023 APP Vlasic Classic™. The event will take place on the beautiful riverfront at Sawyer Point in Cincinnati, Ohio, from May 9-14. The tournament will be televised on CBS Sports Network and livestreamed on APPTV. "We are thrilled to partner with the APP to support the pickleball community," says Lucy Brady, President, Grocery and Snacks at Conagra Brands. "Pickleball has grown significantly over the past few years, and we’re excited that Vlasic can be part of it.” The 2023 APP Vlasic Classic™ will be the third USA Pickleball Golden Ticket event of the 2023 APP Tour, granting winners direct passage to the 2023 USA Nationals. The 2023 APP Vlasic Classic™ will feature several of the best pro pickleball players in the world, competing alongside hundreds of amateurs, senior and super senior pros. “We are proud to welcome Vlasic Pickles into the APP family,” commented Tom Webb, APP Chief Marketing Officer. “This is a truly groundbreaking partnership. We are honored the team at Vlasic shares our vision for the sport’s growth and how it can benefit people across America. Not only is Vlasic investing in the APP Tour, it is helping us share our love for the sport with communities far and wide. Pickleball has so many positive attributes, from its fitness and community benefits, to its ability to be a platform for learning. We’re excited to have a partner like Vlasic Pickles to help us bring the sport to audiences across the country." To stay updated on the APP, visit apptour.org, follow the APP via APPTour.org, on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. Explore the flavors and varieties of Vlasic Pickles at vlasic.com. 1 Source: IRI US Total MULO 2022 About Conagra Brands Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com. About the APP Founded in 2019, the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) elevates the sport of pickleball by providing elite platforms for the best players in the world, right through to the millions of people picking up a paddle for the first time. Serving professional pickleball players, senior professionals, amateurs and recreational players in the fastest growing sport in the USA, the APP is the first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball. The 2023 APP Tour slate has 16 tournament stops planned, in addition to International and Collegiate Series events. The APP also prides itself on developing the next generation of champions through its Next Gen Series and other youth initiatives. Follow the APP via APPTour.org, on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contact Details The APP Daniel Sagerman +1 847-800-8182 dsagerman@intersportnet.com Company Website https://apptour.org/

February 23, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

U.S. Army Rapper Takes Center Stage

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/cr-uqJDUPfk Most people don't know that there are more than 200 different careers in the Army, including musicians. Endless opportunities await Soldiers who are seeking an opportunity to serve the country while pursuing their passions and finding their purpose. There is no better example of the unexpected career paths for Soldiers than Staff Sergeant Lamar Riddick. As one of the first hip-hop artists in the Army, Staff Sergeant Riddick is an example of how the Army supports the dreams of Soldiers in and out of uniform. “Find out what your passion is. What do you love to do? See if that is available to you in the Army and you can still serve your country doing what you love” Staff Sgt. Riddick told an interviewer with Greensboro, NC station WGHP (Fox). If music is not your passion, the Army also has careers in the fields of science, medicine, technology, engineering, cyber and more. Soldiers also enjoy competitive benefits to help them continue to advance their careers and personal lives, including everything from healthcare, tuition assistance, home buying benefits, and so much more. “The Army has provided a great opportunity to have stability in my life through health coverage, to mental and physical therapy, to my finances. A great thing about the Army is being supported by an organization that also encourages travel and provides the resources. I had the opportunity to spend 26 days in Scotland preforming with the Army Field Band in front of thousands of people, that blew my mind and felt like a dream and I was able to do that through the support of the Army” Riddick added in an interview on WTTG TV in Washington, D.C. “The possibilities are endless” Riddick shared with the audience on Chicago’s WFLD TV. For more information on life in the Army, www.GoArmy.com Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2023 02:28 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Flagship Collector Brand Tamashii Nations Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary TAMASHII NATIONS WORLD TOUR -TAMASHII NATIONS 15th ANNIVERSARY-

BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD.

NEW YORK, US - Media OutReach - 22 February 2023 - Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd. (President and Chief Executive Officer: Nao Udagawa/ HQ: Tokyo Minato Ward) will commemorate its 15 th anniversary in 2023. To celebrate, it will take its flagship collector brand Tamashii Nations on a world tour: TAMASHII NATIONS WORLD TOUR -TAMASHII NATIONS 15 th ANNIVERSARY-. This event will visit five cities across the world, starting with New York (4/28 – 4/30). ▲New York Venue Key Visual Tamashii Nations was first established in 2008, and has produced many well-known brands such as the S.H.Figuarts and Chogokin series. With a rich lineup of high-quality figures, robots, and more, it quickly earned itself a dedicated worldwide following. April 2023 marks its 15 th birthday, and to both celebrate and show its appreciation for all of its passionate fans across the globe, it is launching a world tour. Tamashii Nations will kick off its world tour with its first location in New York, USA from Friday, April 28 th to Sunday, April 30 th. The second leg will be held from Friday, May 26 th to Tuesday, July 18 th in Tokyo, Japan (Akihabara), at its flagship store (Tamashii Nations Store Tokyo). It will be held to Mexico City, Mexico, Shanghai, China, and Paris, France. The New York event will be located in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal (Vanderbilt Hall) and Times Square (Duffy Square). The latest figures and robot for popular series such as Dragon Ball series and Mobile Suit Gundam series will be on display. There will also be specially-crafted photo spots, and first-ever reveals of brand-new products. Special commemorative items will also be handed out to visitors, and limited-edition event items will be available for purchase.Lastly, unique content has been planned for each world tour location. We will continue to do our utmost to share the fun and joy of figures and robots with our customers all around the world, and to innovate and evolve. Event Summary ◆TAMASHII NATIONS WORLD TOUR -TAMASHII NATIONS 15th ANNIVERSARY- Commemorative Products *Details on how to purchase these are available on the official website: https://tamashiiweb.com/special/tour/?wovn=en *Prices shown are for Japan only. Actual prices will vary by location. For details, see our official website. ◆Event Attendee Special Gift (One of Several) Event visitors will receive a number of special gifts. Details will be available on our official website at a later date: https://tamashiiweb.com/special/tour/?wovn=en STAGE TAMASHII NATIONS WORLD TOUR -TAMASHII NATIONS 15th ANNIVERSARY- SPECIAL DESIGN A display stand for S.H.Figuarts and other series products. This stand features a special Tamashii Nations 15 th anniversary design. *Gifts and how to obtain them will vary by event location. *Stocks are limited, and distribution will end once stocks run out. Bandai Spirits Collector Brand: Tamashii Nations Overview Established in 2008, Tamashii Nations has produced many well-known product series, such as S.H.Figuarts and Chogokin. With a rich lineup of quality figures, robots, and more, it has earned itself a worldwide following. Today, it continues to expand its global outreach. Official website (Tamashii Web): https://tamashiiweb.com/ Tamashii Nations World Tour Official Site: https://tamashiiweb.com/special/tour/?wovn=en Tamashii Nations Official Site (Tamashii Web): https://tamashiiweb.com/ Bandai Spirits Corporate Home Page: https://www.bandaispirits.co.jp/ *Information contained in this press release is current as of February 22 nd, 2023, but may change without prior notice. *Images contained in this press release may differ from actual products. *This event and all products therein are intended for ages 15+. Contact Details Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd. Collectors Toy Department Sakuma c-sakuma@bandai-sp.jp

February 22, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Global C-Pop Artist and Fashion Icon Tia Lee makes waves at London Fashion Week

Redhill Asia

LONDON, UK - Media OutReach - 21 February 2023 - Tia Lee (Lee Yu Fen), a global C-pop singer and fashion icon, made waves at the London Fashion Week (LFW) on Sunday (19 Feb) as she arrived at Julien Macdonald’s Fall-Winter 2023 (FW23) show in a stunning one-of-its-kind couture dress and cape, specially hand-picked by the leading British fashion ace himself. Tia’s outfit was then later presented to the world for the first time as part of Julien Macdonald’s FW23 collection show. Tia was specially selected by Julien Macdonald as the only celebrity to be dressed in a Julien Macdonald couture prior to it being presented for the first time in the Julien Macdonald FW23 collection show. Traditionally, the Sunday evening shows during the London Fashion Week are one of the most anticipated shows, of which this prime time slot was given to the Julien Macdonald FW23 collection show. Caption: Tia Lee in a tailored lace slip dress and flowing black chiffon cape, exclusively handpicked from Julien Macdonald’s FW23 collection The breath-taking and delicately tailored couture dress designed by Julien Macdonald for the new FW23 collection was hand-embroidered with crystals. Together with a flowing cape, a pair of glittering heels from Gina and Jessica McCormack jewellery, Tia’s glamourous look outlined a feminine silhouette that celebrates endless female strength and empowerment. Tia was amongst the exclusive international of A-list celebrities who covet Julien Macdonald’s work to be dressed by the King of Glamour, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell. Caption: Tia Lee at the FROW of the Julien Macdonald showcase L to R: Lorraine Pascale, Dennis O’Brien, Tia Lee, Amber Le Bon On arrival to the Julien Macdonald fashion showcase, Tia was seen in the FROW amongst international A-list celebrities and fashion icons where Julien Macdonald’s FW23 collection was unveiled. Caption: Tia Lee with Julien Macdonald, in couture from his FW23 collection Julien Macdonald was appointed by Karl Lagerfeld as the head designer of knitwear at Chanel at very young age and later in 2001 was appointed as successor to Alexander McQueen as the creative director of the French fashion house Givenchy. He launched his own label in 1997 and swiftly became a leading British fashion designer. Julien received various awards including British Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in 2001, British Glamour’s Designer of the Year and GQ ‘s Womenswear Designer of the year in 2003. He was also nominated at the Olivier awards and awarded an order of the British empire (OBE) in 2004 for his services to the fashion industry. Caption: Tia Lee at Richard Quinn’s FW23 runway show In addition to the Julien Macdonald FW23 collection show, Tia was also invited to a number of top-notch brand showcases of London Fashion Week, such as David Koma, Richard Quinn, Moncler Genius and the ES & Perfect Magazine fashion bash - joining actress Joan Collins, TV presenter Ashley Graham, supermodel Sara Sampaio, British Vogue’s editor in chief Edward Enninful, singers Alicia Keys, Ronan Keating, Pharrell Williams, socialite Lennon Gallagher and many others. As a front row celebrity at the shows amongst other A-listers, Tia’s appearance at London Fashion Week is testament to her stature in the fashion scene as a style icon. Caption: Tia Lee at the FROW of the Richard Quinn showcase L to R: Tia Lee, Sara Sampaio, Ashley Graham In an embroidered coat from his Spring 2023 collection, Tia was spotted alongside supermodel Sara Sampaio, TV presenter Ashley Graham enjoying front row views of Richard Quinn’s latest reveal. Her elegant outfit was further elevated with a teardrop-shaped headpiece from Victoria Grant, suede platform sandals from Jimmy Choo and pearl earrings from Theo Fennel. Caption: Tia Lee with Richard Quinn Tia attended the David Koma FW2023 runway show, her first appearance at London Fashion Week this year. Caption: Tia Lee arriving at the David Koma FW23 runway show A nod to David Koma’s signature body-contouring statement pieces, Tia arrived in a shimmering silver two-piece suit over bomber and boots from his collection. Amina Muaddi's stunning Diamond Chain earrings added shine to Tia's outfit, while Noir Sleek Sunglasses from Gentle Monster were the ultimate statement accessory to finish her look. Caption: Tia Lee at the FROW of David Koma’s FW23 runway show L to R: Tia Lee, Tade, Elodie Russell Tia was also present at David Koma’s invitation only exclusive after party, enjoying the night with David Koma himself, in celebration of the success of the collection’s reveal. Caption: Tia Lee with David Koma Just as styles come and go and clothing evolves, Tia has taken on a metamorphosis of epic proportions from a highly scrutinized artist into a strong independent woman, ready to take on the world. “Goodbye Princess” pays homage to the struggles of life, but ultimately showcases Tia’s determination to rise from the negativity, stereotypes and bias being placed on her. In fact, it is even more iconic because the track is the first ever Chinese song produced by Grammy-Award-winning producer Swizz Beatz, who has previously worked on mega-hits with music icons such as Justin Bieber, Jay-Z and Madonna. In the spirit of female empowerment, Tia launched the #EmpowerHer campaign, and she has used her song as a vehicle to spread awareness for women-centric charities to further their missions. Some of the charities include Beats By Girlz and Women in Music in the United States, Daughters Of Tomorrow in Singapore and Teen’s Key in Hong Kong, all of which are committed to supporting women and girls around the world. One of the highlights was the #EmpowerHerDance challenge, where 16 KOLs across 15 geographies in the world have led the charge in this dance challenge to gain the attention of more than 158m followers globally, to support and empower fellow females. The infectious beat of the song also saw top Grammy-Award-winning female DJ duo NERVO coming onboard in support of the #EmpowerHerMusic campaign, creating an electrifying remix of the record-breaking Goodbye Princess. Together, these female powerhouses around the world have pushed the song to great heights, enabling Tia to become the fastest artist to break 100M views on YouTube with a Chinese pop song. With an empowered mission and vision, redefining her career as a musician and fashion icon, Tia is stepping out of her comfort zone and saying goodbye to her past self. Official press materials: Tia Lee Official Channels: Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/ Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/ About Tia Lee: Tia Lee (李毓芬), is a global C-pop singer and international fashion icon. In addition to being an award-winning musician and setting the record for the fastest C-pop music video ever to achieve a 100 million views, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels. Contact Details Redhall Asia Media Contact +852 6077 7342 global@redhill.asia

February 21, 2023 09:15 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Chronicle raises $7.5M seed round from Accel and Square Peg to reimagine presentations

Chronicle

The slide format was created in the 1980s to design overhead projector slides. 40 years later, the way we work has completely transformed but we are still stuck with this slide format. Not only is it extremely time consuming and tedious to make great presentations, the affordances of this format make it extremely easy to make bad presentations. Today, Chronicle is announcing a new storytelling format to revolutionize storytelling for modern teams. Founded by Mayuresh Patole and Tejas Gawande, Chronicle believes that this problem needs to be solved with world-class information design. They are making a completely new way to make impactful, interactive presentations that are effortless to create. Creating presentations on Chronicle is completely different from hours of pixel pushing. Instead of spending hours tweaking slides, Chronicle allows users to create with ‘pre-designed blocks’. These blocks are interactive and are designed with world-class information design in mind. This radically reduces the time required to create a story that is highly impactful. Chronicle wants to deliver a dummy-proof creation experience - layouts are created much like arranging widgets on your iPhone meaning it's impossible to make a bad-looking Chronicle presentation. The founders have spent the last decade helping thousands of people make presentations while working in product, growth, and management consulting roles. Mayuresh Patole, Co-Founder and CEO at Chronicle, commented: “This started at university where I accidentally ended up teaching lecture halls full of students to build presentations because they thought I'd developed some kind of new interactive format. In reality, I was spending hours hacking Powerpoint to deliver a novel, interactive and engaging format. Today, with the explosion of social media, remote work, and a plethora of modern design tools, the world is ready for a new way to tell stories. I’m so excited that I can now bring that power to create visually stunning stories to anyone in seconds or minutes, not hours.” The founders realized big changes were happening in how people were telling stories - both in the creation and consumption experiences. Tejas Gawande added: “Social media has completely hijacked how people consume complex information. Attention spans have reduced by 33% since 2000 and have given rise to shorter formats across almost everything we consume. Today, most audiences stop paying attention to the presentation at the 10-minute mark. As younger generations have entered the workplace this feeling of ‘death by Powerpoint’ has only grown more acute.“ Simply making tools that lead to faster creation of poorly designed slides with chartjunk and bad information design only further aggravates this issue. Users are also spending hours making bad presentations. Employees spend, on average, more than a month every year writing and finessing these presentations. Mayuresh and Tejas were struck with a strong realization when they saw users move from conventional slide-based design tools to simpler formats that offer one core thing that users want - convenience. According to the founder, the problem is not that you cannot create great presentations with existing tools but rather that it is that the tools do not help in the process. Not only do existing tools and formats make it very difficult to deliver great presentations, they make it quite easy to make bad ones. Chronicle wants everyone to be able to share their story and be proud of the output they create. They also want to make storytelling a joyful experience. To do this they’re breaking the tyranny of the slide and replacing it with interactive blocks that work like magic. Mayuresh Patole added: “Our early adopters are able to use Chronicle to create some of the best decks in just 8 minutes instead of 8 hours. Eventually, we see Chronicle being the best way to anchor any meeting or discussion, in-person, remote, or asynchronous. It is a huge opportunity to impact millions of people who aren’t happy with how stories are told today and we are incredibly excited about it.” The founders used their platform to make their investor pitch deck that caught the eye of Accel’s Shekhar Kirani and it was quickly evident how much impact a simple, well-designed, interactive format could create. Shekhar Kirani, Partner at Accel, commented: “Chronicle is reimagining storytelling. The team is obsessed with fixing the problem and making the experience of crafting impactful stories not just bearable but joyful. Mayuresh and Tejas have put together a global, remote-first team that is fixated on solving the pressing issues that prevent people from delivering their best story, both sync and async. With its opinionated design and delightful experience, Chronicle has already started emerging as the choice of storytelling tool with modern ventures. We are thrilled to be a part of their mission and kick off a new generation of no-design tools.” Paul Bassat, founder at Square Peg, said, “It is rare to find a founder who has such a special connection with the problem. Mayuresh is absolutely obsessed and uniquely skilled to craft a new storytelling medium. When he showed us what he means by ‘a new format’ it was immediately clear that the opportunity is huge and they are thinking about this very differently. We are thrilled to be a part of their mission.” Over the course of their journey, the founders have attracted some of the most prominent thought leaders mapping out the future of work from organizations such as Apple, Google, Slack, Stripe, Superhuman, OnDeck, and Adobe. Chronicle is a fully remote team of 15, operating across the US, India, and Australia. They are currently in closed beta, rapidly iterating with their early adopters on the first version of their product that focuses on helping founders make pitch decks - a use case that is very close to the founders. They will soon be expanding to other internal and external storytelling use cases. About Chronicle Chronicle is a new format of presentations that lets you create impactful stories effortlessly. Chronicle is doing to presentations what Notion did to docs. We are not making a faster tool to make slides, we are fundamentally reimagining the format itself by taking away the design burden, making it interactive and engaging. Find out more and join the waitlist at Chronicle (chroniclehq.com) Chronicle is led by a strong team of storytellers, and product and information design leaders. Mayuresh Patole co-founded Chronicle after witnessing a significant void in the way stories are created and shared. After being repeatedly asked at talks and events about how he made his presentations, he ran a workshop on effective presentations which was a surprise success. He went on to join BCG where he would spend the next 5 years surrounded by presentations again. Tejas Gawande is a product geek who brings his deep expertise in customer and go-to-market from working across the US and 10 APAC countries in eCommerce and management consulting. He also writes a product newsletter for thousands of subscribers. Mayuresh and Tejas met at university (IIT Bombay) and have known each other for a decade. About Accel Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, BrowserStack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra. Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others.We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com About Square Peg Square Peg is a global investment firm on a mission to empower exceptional founders. Square Peg was founded in 2012 and has grown into a global investment firm with teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Tel Aviv, and Singapore. Square Peg invests in emerging technology companies across the internet economy. Since 2012, it has invested in over 50 companies including Canva, Fiverr, Stripe, Tomorrow, and Airwallex. For more, visit www.squarepegcap.com Contact Details Chronicle Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://chroniclehq.com/

February 21, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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OPPO to Unveil New Core Technologies and Innovations at MWC 2023

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 21 February 2023 - OPPO today announced its participation in Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023, in Barcelona from February 27 to March 2. Exhibiting under the theme of “Inspire to Believe”, OPPO will showcase a selection of flagship devices including the OPPO Find N2 Flip, new connectivity products and IoT technology, as well as its latest R&D breakthroughs in chip technology, smart health, AR, and fast charging. OPPO will also share details of its progress towards global sustainability goals and future plans to continue this momentum. OPPO will showcase its extensive exploration of smart living at MWC, with products spanning smart entertainment, smart productivity, smart learning, and smart health. Products such as the flagship foldable smartphone, OPPO Find N2 Flip, and the new generation of Assisted Reality smart glasses, OPPO Air Glass 2, will be available to experience, while OPPO’s second self-developed chip MariSilicon Y, and the OHealth H1 family health monitor concept device can also be explored further. Other innovations related to fast charging and a range of telecommunications and connectivity technologies will also highlight the breadth of OPPO’s expertise and belief in the potential of smart technology to improve people’s daily lives. As an official partner of the UEFA Champions League, OPPO will also invite UEFA Champions League Ambassador, Michael Owen and Luis Garcia, to OPPO’s booth at MWC as part of its plan to spark inspirational moments with UEFA. The OPPO booth can be found in Hall 3, section 3M10, at the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona from February 27 to March 2, 2023. For further details, please visit the OPPO MWC23 website. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. Contact Details OPPO Media Contact press@oppo.com

February 21, 2023 02:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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