CEO and Co-Founder of Virgin Hyperloop Speaks to U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Emerging Mass Transportation Technology

Josh Giegel emphasized that hyperloop is a down payment towards a cleaner, more efficient transportation system, not only for the next decade, but the next century

WASHINGTON, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, at the Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing, “When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies,” Josh Giegel, the CEO and Co-Founder of Virgin Hyperloop, discussed how hyperloop can bring our transportation network into the 21st Century and the need for increased investment in hyperloop.

“We can have – in the near future – hyperloop, a new, more efficient, faster, and sustainable component of our national transportation system that brings communities together and opens up opportunities for all. We aim to create a mass-mobility experience that is available to the broad public,” said Giegel.

As Congress prepares surface reauthorization legislation, this hearing is timely to highlight the safety, environmental, and mobility benefits of hyperloop. Bipartisan support of hyperloop from Members of Congress has been crucial in the forward progression of the industry thus far, but continued support is necessary to deploy a hyperloop system across the United States.

Giegel stated that since U.S. DOT’s guidance issued last summer that hyperloop is subject to FRA safety jurisdiction, legislation should make clear that hyperloop is eligible for funding programs on the same terms as rail projects. Further, he also said the Federal government should provide additional funding opportunities for such cutting-edge technologies like hyperloop. Legislation could set aside funds for emerging technology developed in the United States.

About Virgin Hyperloop Technology
Hyperloop is a planned high-speed surface transportation system. Travel would occur within a low-pressure enclosure in a vehicle. This, along with Virgin Hyperloop’s proprietary magnetic levitation engine, would allow us to reach and maintain airline speeds with significantly less energy than other modes of transportation. Not only is hyperloop expected to be fast, but a high-capacity mass transit system, capable of comfortably moving people and goods at 670 miles per hour with 50,000 passengers per hour, per direction, on-demand and direct to your destination (meaning no stops along the way). That is the equivalent of a 30-lane highway.

Media Assets
Media assets can be found here. Please credit Virgin Hyperloop.

About Virgin Hyperloop
Virgin Hyperloop is the only company in the world that has successfully tested hyperloop technology with passengers, launching the first new mode of mass transportation in over 100 years. The company successfully operated an occupied hyperloop vehicle using electric propulsion and electromagnetic levitation under near-vacuum conditions, realizing a fundamentally new form of transportation that is expected to be faster, safer, cheaper, and more sustainable than existing modes. Learn more about Virgin Hyperloop’s technology, vision, and ongoing projects here.

Media Contacts
Ryan Kelly
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
press@virginhyperloop.com
+1 (610) 442-1896

Bombardier Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results, Affirms Full Year Financial Guidance and Delivery Outlook

  • Business jet revenues of $1.3 billion, up 18% year-over-year, mainly driven by a favourable mix of large-cabin aircraft deliveries, including eight Global 7500 aircraft

  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) from continuing operations of $123 million, up 43% year-over-year, reflecting an improved aircraft mix, Global 7500 aircraft learning curve progress and cost structure improvements; adjusted EBIT(1) from continuing operations of $29 million. Reported EBIT from continuing operations for the quarter was $19 million

  • Free cash flow usage(1) from continuing operations of $405 million, including ~ $100 million of non-recurring cash items(2), an improvement of $357 million year-over-year. Reported cash flows from operating activities – continuing operations for the quarter was a usage of $372 million and net additions to PPE & intangible assets – continuing operations for the quarter were $33 million
  • First quarter book-to-bill(3) > 1.0 on strong sales activity, which is expected to continue(4) into the second quarter

  • Strong pro-forma liquidity(4) of $2.6 billion, which includes $0.6 billion in proceeds from sale of Alstom shares. Bombardier has deployed ~ $2.4 billion toward balance sheet deleveraging year-to-date, expected to reduce annual cash interest costs by ~ $200 million versus its 2020 debt servicing cost

All amounts in this press release are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Amounts in tables are in millions, unless otherwise indicated.

MONTRÉAL, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bombardier (TSX: BBD.B) announced today its financial results for the first quarter of 2021 and affirmed its full year 2021 financial guidance and delivery expectations of 110-120 aircraft.

“In our first quarter as a pure-play business aviation company, Bombardier delivered solid financial performance,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. “This includes growth in business jet revenues, margin expansion and significantly improved cash performance. We also continue to make strong progress on each of our strategic priorities: maturing the Global 7500 aircraft program, delivering on our productivity initiative, executing our aftermarket growth strategy and deleveraging our balance sheet – setting the foundation for a more resilient and profitable business.”

First Quarter 2021 Financial Performance

Business jet revenues during the first quarter of 2021 totalled $1.3 billion, an 18% year-over-year increase. This increase was mainly driven by an improved mix of large-cabin aircraft deliveries, including eight Global 7500 aircraft. Total aircraft deliveries in the quarter equalled 26, in line with expectations and the company’s full-year delivery targets. Order activity in the quarter was strong, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of greater than 1.0. Robust sales activity and positive market trends are expected to continue(5) into the second quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA for continuing operations in the quarter was $123 million, a 43% increase year-over-year, reflecting a favourable aircraft mix, progress on the Global 7500 aircraft learning curve, cost structure improvements and the divestitures of margin dilutive businesses. Adjusted EBIT for continuing operations was $29 million.

First-quarter free cash usage for continued operations totalled $405 million, including approximately $100 million of non-recurring cash items, representing a $357 million year-over-year improvement.

Balance Sheet Deleveraging Actions

As previously disclosed by Bombardier, the sale of its Transportation business was completed on January 29, 2021. Since the divestiture of Bombardier Transportation, Bombardier has deployed approximately $2.4 billion of liquidity, including proceeds from the Transportation sale, toward deleveraging its balance sheet. This includes the full repayment of the total outstanding balance of $750 million drawn on the $1.0 billion senior secured term loan facility with HPS Investment Partners, LLC and the recently concluded approximately $1.6 billion tender offer to purchase certain outstanding notes. Together, these actions are expected to reduce the company’s annual cash interest costs by approximately $200 million versus its 2020 debt servicing cost.

The company continues to consider various options to address other debt maturities in an opportunistic manner, with a focus on clearing a three-year runway providing the company with a path to execute its strategy.

Affirming Full Year 2021 Guidance and 2025 Objectives

“With our solid performance in the first quarter, and our markets in recovery and key initiatives well underway, we remain confident in our ability to deliver on both our full-year financial guidance and longer-term objectives,” Martel continued. “This includes: (i) diversifying the company’s revenue mix by growing aftermarket services to ~ 27% of revenues by 2025; (ii) achieving a 20% reduction in Global 7500 aircraft unit costs between the 50th and 100th aircraft delivery; and (iii) obtaining $400 million in recurring savings by 2023. Through these actions, we work on transforming Bombardier into a more predictable, profitable and resilient company.”

SELECTED RESULTS

Results of the Quarter
Three-month periods ended March 31 2021
2020 Variance
restated(6)
Revenues(7) $ 1,341 $ 1,522 (12)%
Adjusted EBITDA $ 123 $ 86 43 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin(1)(7) 9.2 % 5.7 % 350 bps
Adjusted EBIT $ 29 $ 9 222%
Adjusted EBIT margin(1)(7) 2.2 % 0.6 % 160 bps
EBIT(7) $ 19 $ 105 (82)%
EBIT margin(7) 1.4 % 6.9 % (550) bps
Net loss from continuing operations $ (251 ) $ (281 ) 11 %
Net income from discontinued operations $ 5,321 $ 81 6,469 %
Net income (loss) $ 5,070 $ (200 ) nmf
Diluted EPS from continuing operations (in dollars) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.12 ) $ 0.02
Diluted EPS from discontinued operations (in dollars) $ 2.13 $ 0.01 $ 2.12
$ 2.03 $ (0.11 ) $ 2.14
Adjusted net loss(1)(7) $ (173 ) $ (182 ) (5)%
Adjusted EPS (in dollars)(1)(7) $ (0.07 ) $ (0.08 ) $ 0.01
Cash flows from operating activities
Continuing operations $ (372 ) $ (686 ) (46)%
Discontinued operations $ (621 ) $ (857 ) (28)%
$ (993 ) $ (1,543 ) (36)%
Net additions to PP&E and intangible assets
Continuing operations $ 33 $ 76 (57)%
Discontinued operations $ $ 23 (100)%
$ 33 $ 99 (67)%
Free cash flow (usage)
Continuing operations $ (405 ) $ (762 ) (47)%
Discontinued operations $ (621 ) $ (880 ) (29)%
$ (1,026 ) $ (1,642 ) (38)%
As at March 31, 2021
December 31, 2020 Variance
Cash and cash equivalents excluding Transportation $ 3,153 $ 1,779 77 %
Cash and cash equivalents from Transportation $ $ 671 (100)%
$ 3,153 $ 2,450 29 %
Available short-term capital resources(8) $ 3,153 $ 3,203 (2)%
Aviation order backlog (in billions of dollars)
Business aircraft(9) $ 10.4 $ 10.7 (3)%


KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND EVENTS

Progress on the Reshaping of Bombardier’s Balance Sheet

Following the conclusion of the sale of its Transportation business, Bombardier has proceeded to deploy approximately $2.4 billion of available cash towards debt repayment, including proceeds from the sale of the Transportation business. As a result, Bombardier expects to reduce its annual cash interest costs by approximately $200 million versus its 2020 debt servicing cost. Following the first quarter results, as well as the conclusion of these actions, the Corporation’s pro-forma liquidity remains strong at $2.6 billion, which includes $0.6 billion in proceeds from the sale of Alstom shares.

The deployment of the proceeds consisted of the following initiatives:

  • On February 19, 2021, Bombardier deployed $0.8 billion and completed the full repayment of its senior secured term loan with HPS Investment Partners, LLC.
  • On April 19, 2021, Bombardier announced the expiration of its tender offer to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding Notes. The aggregate purchase amount of the cash tender offer amounted to a total consideration of $1.6 billion.

First Quarter Financial Performance

  • Business jet revenues up 18% year-over-year, totalling $1.3 billion; this increase is mainly driven by a favourable mix of large-cabin aircraft deliveries and the fact that we are now operating at a steady delivery rate for the Global 7500.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $123 million from continuing operations for the quarter up 43% year-over-year reflecting an improved aircraft mix, an acceleration of the Global 7500 learning curve benefits, and improvements in the cost structure. Reported EBIT from continuing operations for the quarter was $19 million.
  • Free cash flow usage from continuing operations for the quarter totalled $405 million including approximately $100 million of non-recurring cash items, representing an improvement of $357 million year-over-year. Reported cash flows from operating activities – continuing operations for the quarter was a usage of $372 million and net additions to PPE & intangible assets – continuing operations for the quarter were $33 million.
  • Business aircraft deliveries for the quarter totalled 26 units, on par with 2020; company remains on plan for 110-120 deliveries in 2021 within a market showing preliminary signs of recovery(5). Stronger sales activity in the first quarter yielded a unit book-to-bill ratio above 1.0, which is expected to continue into the second quarter.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of approximately 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals.

News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Bombardier, Global and Global 7500 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Francis Richer de La Flèche Anna Cristofaro
Vice President, Financial Planning Manager
and Investor Relations Communications
Bombardier Bombardier
+514 855 5001 x13228 +514 855 8678

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements are available at ir.bombardier.com.

bps: basis points
nmf: information not meaningful
(1) Non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the Non-GAAP financial measures section in Overview for definitions of these metrics and to the Analysis of consolidated results section and Liquidity and capital resources section in Overview for reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measures.
(2) Non-recurring cash items include the impact of winding down the reverse factoring programs, payments of residual value guarantee liability and restructuring costs.
(3) Ratio of new aircraft orders in units over aircraft deliveries in units.
(4) Non-GAAP measure. Pro-forma liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents as at March 31, 2021, of $3.2 billion, plus approximately $0.6 billion of Alstom shares, plus $0.4 billion of short-term restricted cash as collateral for bank guarantees, and less $1.6 billion paid to repurchase certain outstanding Notes in April 2021.
(5) See the forward-looking statements disclaimer.
(6) Restated for the sale of Transportation, refer to Note 17 – Disposal of business to our Interim consolidated financial statements for more details.
(7) Includes continuing operations only.
(8) Defined as cash and cash equivalents as at March 31, 2021; defined as cash and cash equivalents including cash and cash equivalents from Transportation plus the undrawn amounts under Transportation’s revolving credit facility and our senior secured term loan as at December 31, 2020.
(9) Includes order backlog for both manufacturing and services.

CAUTION REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release is based on reported earnings in accordance with IFRS and on the following non-GAAP financial measures:

Non-GAAP financial measures
Adjusted EBIT EBIT excluding special items. Special items comprise items which do not reflect the Corporation’s core performance or where their separate presentation will assist users of the consolidated financial statements in understanding the Corporation’s results for the period. Such items include, among others, the impact of restructuring charges, impact of business disposals and significant impairment charges and reversals.
Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBIT plus amortization and impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets.
Adjusted net income (loss) Net income (loss) excluding special items, accretion on net retirement benefit obligations, certain net gains and losses arising from changes in measurement of provisions and of financial instruments carried at FVTP&L and the related tax impacts of these items.
Free cash flow (usage) Cash flows from operating activities less net additions to PP&E and intangible assets.

Non-GAAP financial measures are mainly derived from the consolidated financial statements but do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. The exclusion of certain items from non-GAAP performance measures does not imply that these items are necessarily non-recurring. Other entities in our industry may define the above measures differently than we do. In those cases, it may be difficult to compare the performance of those entities to ours based on these similarly-named non-GAAP measures.

Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss)
Management uses adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) for purposes of evaluating underlying business performance. Management believes these non-GAAP earnings measures in addition to IFRS measures provide users of our Financial Report with enhanced understanding of our results and related trends and increases the transparency and clarity of the core results of our business. Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) exclude items that do not reflect our core performance or where their exclusion will assist users in understanding our results for the period. For these reasons, a significant number of users of the MD&A analyze our results based on these financial measures. Management believes these measures help users of MD&A to better analyze results, enabling better comparability of our results from one period to another and with peers.

Free cash flow (usage)
Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less net additions to PP&E and intangible assets. Management believes that this non-GAAP cash flow measure provides investors with an important perspective on the Corporation’s generation of cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long-term value creation. This non-GAAP cash flow measure does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity generation.

Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable IFRS financial measures are provided in the table hereafter, except for the following reconciliations:

  • adjusted EBIT to EBIT – see the Consolidated results of operations section; and
  • free cash flow usage to cash flows from operating activities – see the Free cash flow usage table in the Liquidity and capital resources section in the MD&A.
   Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to EBIT(1)
Three-month periods
ended March 31

2021 2020
EBIT $ 19 $ 105
Amortization 94 77
Impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets(2) 3 11
Special items excluding impairment charges on PP&E and intangible assets(2) 7 (107 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 123 $ 86
(1) Includes continuing operations only.
(2) Refer to the Consolidated results of operations section for details regarding special items.

SALE OF THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS TO ALSTOM SA

On September 16, 2020, the Corporation, Alstom and CDPQ and certain related parties signed a definitive sale and purchase agreement for the sale of the Transportation business through the sale of the entire issued share capital of BT Holdco (“SPA”). On January 29, 2021, the Corporation closed the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom.

See Note 21 – Commitments and contingencies, to our interim consolidated financial statements, for more information regarding the indemnities and guarantees related to the sale of Transportation.

The transaction resulted in a gain of $5,321 million reflected in net income from discontinued operations.

For details, refer to Note 17 – Disposal of businesses, to our interim consolidated financial statements.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which may involve, but are not limited to: statements with respect to our objectives, anticipations and outlook or guidance in respect of various financial and global metrics and sources of contribution thereto, targets, goals, priorities, market and strategies, financial position, financial performance, market position, capabilities, competitive strengths, credit ratings, beliefs, prospects, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions; general economic and business outlook, prospects and trends of an industry; customer value; expected demand for products and services; growth strategy; product development, including projected design, characteristics, capacity or performance; expected or scheduled entry-into-service of products and services, orders, deliveries, testing, lead times, certifications and execution of orders in general; competitive position; expectations regarding revenue and backlog mix; the expected impact of the legislative and regulatory environment and legal proceedings; strength of capital profile and balance sheet, creditworthiness, available liquidities and capital resources, expected financial requirements, and ongoing review of strategic and financial alternatives; the introduction of, productivity enhancements, operational efficiencies, cost reduction and restructuring initiatives, and anticipated costs, intended benefits and timing thereof; the anticipated business transition to growth cycle and cash generation; expectations, objectives and strategies regarding debt repayment, refinancing of maturities and interest cost reduction; expectations regarding availability of government assistance programs, compliance with restrictive debt covenants; expectations regarding the declaration and payment of dividends on our preferred shares; intentions and objectives for our programs, assets and operations; and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the foregoing and the effectiveness of plans and measures we have implemented in response thereto; and expectations regarding gradual market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As it relates to the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom, this press release also contains forward-looking statements with respect to the benefits of such transaction, the use of the proceeds derived from the transaction and its impact on our outlook, guidance and targets, operations, infrastructure, opportunities, financial condition, business plan and overall strategy.

Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “shall”, “can”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “foresee”, “believe”, “continue”, “maintain” or “align”, the negative of these terms, variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are presented for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding certain key elements of our current objectives, strategic priorities, expectations, outlook and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of our business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

By their nature, forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecast results set forth in forward-looking statements. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable and appropriate based on information currently available, there is risk that they may not be accurate. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release include the following material assumptions: the deployment of the proceeds from the sale of the Transportation business to Alstom on terms allowing the Corporation, when combined to other financing sources and free cash flow generation, to repay or otherwise manage its various maturities for the next three years; growth of the business aviation market and increase of the Corporation’s share of such market; proper identification of recurring cost savings and executing on our cost reduction plan; optimization of our real estate portfolio, including through the sale or other transaction in respect of real estate assets on favorable terms; and access to working capital facilities on market terms. For additional information, including with respect to other assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements made in this press release, refer to the Forward-looking statements — Assumptions section in the MD&A of our financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Given the impact of the changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the related response from the Corporation, governments (federal, provincial and municipal), regulatory authorities, businesses, suppliers, customers, counterparties and third-party service providers, there is inherently more uncertainty associated with the Corporation’s assumptions as compared to prior years.

Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks associated with general economic conditions, risks associated with our business environment (such as risks associated with the financial condition of business aircraft customers; trade policy; increased competition; political instability and force majeure events or global climate change), operational risks (such as risks related to developing new products and services; development of new business ; order backlog; the transition to a pure-play business aviation company; the certification of products and services; the execution of orders; pressures on cash flows and capital expenditures based on seasonality and cyclicality; execution of our strategy, productivity enhancements, operational efficiencies, restructuring and cost reduction initiatives; doing business with partners; product performance warranty and casualty claim losses; regulatory and legal proceedings; environmental, health and safety risks; dependence on certain customers, contracts and suppliers; supply chain risks; human resources; reliance on information systems; reliance on and protection of intellectual property rights; reputation risks; risk management; tax matters; and adequacy of insurance coverage), financing risks (such as risks related to liquidity and access to capital markets; retirement benefit plan risk; exposure to credit risk; substantial debt and interest payment requirements; restrictive debt covenants; reliance on debt management and interest cost reduction strategies; and reliance on government support), market risks (such as foreign currency fluctuations; changing interest rates; increases in commodity prices; and inflation rate fluctuations). For more details, see the Risks and uncertainties section in Other in the MD&A which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any one or more of the foregoing factors may be exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and may have a significantly more severe impact on the Corporation’s business, results of operations and financial condition than in the absence of such outbreak. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economic conditions and financial markets and the resulting impact on our business, operations, capital resources, liquidity, financial condition, margins, prospects and results; uncertainty regarding the magnitude and length of economic disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting effects on the demand environment for our products and services; uncertainty regarding market and economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic; emergency measures and restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions; disruptions to global supply chain, customers, workforce, counterparties and third-party service providers; further disruptions to operations, orders and deliveries; technology, privacy, cyber security and reputational risks; and other unforeseen adverse events.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future growth, results and performance is not exhaustive and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth herein reflect management’s expectations as at the date of this press release and are subject to change after such date. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we expressly disclaim any intention, and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

 

JW Player Acquires VUALTO to Strengthen Its Comprehensive Video Platform for Success in the Digital Video Economy

The merger combines complementary video offerings to empower established and emerging broadcasters with independence and control, as digital video becomes a must-have for all organizations.

NEW YORK and PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom and AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JW Player, the leading video software and data insights platform, today announced it is acquiring VUALTO, a leading provider of live and on-demand video streaming and Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions. The acquisition deepens JW Player’s already robust offering to global broadcasters and further accelerates its vision to empower customers with independence and control in today’s Digital Video Economy by offering easy-to-use, scalable video technology.

This acquisition arrives as the consumption of digital video continues its push to the mainstream. Video now comprises over 80% of all traffic on the internet, and according to JW Player data, people are consuming over two hours of digital video each day, a 40% increase since the beginning of 2020. As a result, a digital video strategy has become a ‘must have’ not only for broadcasters and media companies, but also for organizations of all types, including for JW Player customers in fitness (Centr app), e-commerce (Tag Heuer), sports (Miami Heat) and e-learning (GoNoodle), among others. These new entrants have a diverse range of needs and require a scalable and flexible video platform that allows them to connect and engage with their audiences on the screens of their choice. Given these dynamics, the addressable market will grow from $14B today to $50B by 2027, a 20% CAGR.

“Over the past two years, digital video has become ubiquitous. We now live in the Digital Video Economy, and as a platform company that empowers our customers with independence and control, JW Player is uniquely positioned to succeed in this environment,” said Dave Otten, CEO and co-founder of JW Player. “Joining forces with VUALTO further solidifies our position. Their world-class technology stack expands our platform to include broadcast-level live streaming and content protection services, which are critical for today’s customers. We could not be more excited about this partnership and look forward to innovating together with the highly-talented VUALTO team.”

JW Player’s platform combines highly-scalable video delivery with data insights from 2.7 billion unique monthly devices to help its customers achieve their business goals with video. VUALTO complements JW Player’s offering with market-leading, high-end live streaming and DRM services for broadcasters. The combined result is a single platform for high-quality live and on-demand video delivery across mobile, web and OTT platforms; secure content delivery; and unique insights, intelligence and monetization features to help customers grow their revenue.

Camilla Young, CEO and co-founder, VUALTO, said, “This is a huge growth opportunity for us as a business, as well as for our team. Our successful partnership with JW Player over the past year has given our teams the opportunity to successfully go-to-market under real-world circumstances. Through this, a natural culture match between our teams has already developed, which gives us incredible confidence that together we will be hugely successful. As we embark on this new chapter, our commitment to our existing broadcast customers and our DRM service remains, and we will continue to provide the same high level of support and service that our customers have come to expect from VUALTO.”

VUALTO will expand JW Player’s customer base with prominent customers in the European market and elsewhere, including ITV, the UK’s most popular commercial TV channel, French national public broadcaster France TV, and the European Parliament. These broadcasters join over 12,000 media companies already using the JW Player platform, including broadcasters such as FOX, BBC, CNBC, EuroSport and VICE.

About JW Player
JW Player is the leading video software and data insights platform that gives customers independence and control in today’s Digital Video Economy. Started in 2008 as a hugely popular open source video player, JW Player ’s technology platform now powers digital video for hundreds of thousands of businesses, including half of the comScore top 50 sites in the US, leading broadcasters across EMEA, APAC and Latin America. Each month 1 billion viewers, or one third of all people on the Internet, consume video on JW Player’s technology across 2.7 billion devices, creating an unmatched and powerful consumption and contextual data graph that helps customers grow audiences and generate incremental video from digital video. The company is headquartered in New York, with offices in London and Eindhoven, visit http://www.jwplayer.com.

About VUALTO
VUALTO are experts in cloud-based OTT Video Delivery & Orchestration, developing streaming solutions on a global scale. With three products, the VUALTO CONTROL HUB (VCH) video orchestration tool, CLIP2VU live & VOD video clipping & syndication tool, and VUDRM Digital Rights Management, VUALTO deliver an adaptable, scalable & intelligent video delivery solution, taking your content from camera, right through to your chosen users, on multi devices. Working globally, VUALTO develops video solutions for a host of industries to include: Broadcasters, Sports, Governments, Media & Entertainment, OTT Service Providers and Telecoms & Operators. To learn more, please visit www.VUALTO.com.

Contact: videosuccess@VUALTO.com

JW Player Media Contact:
Fatimah Nouilati
Scratch Marketing + Media for JW Player
fatimah@scratchmm.com

VUALTO Media Contact:
Amber Chawner
Whiteoaks International – PR for VUALTO
amberc@whiteoaks.co.uk

Huber Signs Agreement to Acquire Remaining Stake in MAGNIFIN Joint Venture

ATLANTA, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On May 4, J.M. Huber Corporation (“Huber”) signed a definitive agreement with RHI Magnesita (“RHIM”) to acquire their 50% ownership stake in the companies’ 50/50 joint venture, MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG (“MAGNIFIN”). This transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021, pending regulatory approvals.

Huber originally acquired its 50% ownership interest in MAGNIFIN as part of the purchase of the Martinswerk operation from Albemarle in 2016. Located in Bergheim, Germany, Martinswerk became part of the Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) strategic business unit (SBU), which produces a wide range of halogen-free products for flame retardant and smoke suppression applications and aluminum oxides.

Based in Breitenau, Austria, MAGNIFIN has been producing and selling premium magnesium hydroxide (MDH) products since 1991. MAGNIFIN® coated and uncoated magnesium hydroxides are environment friendly, non-halogenated flame retardants used in a wide range of polymer applications, especially thermoplastic materials and elastomers requiring high processing temperatures in excess of 300 °C. Typical flame retardant applications include energy and LAN (local area network) data cables, automotive wire and cable, engineering thermoplastics (e.g. connectors) and construction foils.

“This transition is a strong strategic fit with HEM’s mission to own and operate specialty chemical and mineral companies with market leading positions,” says Dan Krawczyk, President of Huber Engineered Materials.

“This step forward demonstrates our commitment towards our customers to support their growth and our clear strategy to grow our halogen-free fire retardant business globally,” adds Victor Dean, General Manager of HEM’s FRA Business.

About Huber Engineered Materials
Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), is a global leader in the production of fine precipitated alumina trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide, both non-halogenated fire retardants. Its FRA business unit has four manufacturing sites in North America and two in Europe, one of which is the MAGNIFIN plant.

HEM has been a trusted supplier of halogen-free fire retardants and smoke suppressants for almost 40 years, manufacturing a large portfolio of value-added Hydral®, Hymod®, Martinal® and Micral® alumina trihydrates; MAGNIFIN®, Vertex® and Zerogen® magnesium hydroxides; and Kemgard® molybdate compounds for a variety of end-use applications, including reinforced polyester molding and pultrusion, engineering thermoplastics, roofing, silicone rubber, wire and cable, coatings and carpet backing. In addition, Huber produces Martoxid® calcined aluminum oxides, Compalox® specialty oxides and Pergopak® carriers and matting agents.

HEM is focused on engineered specialty chemical and minerals that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, agricultural and consumer applications and also has a portfolio of high value agricultural nutrients and adjuvants and industrial, food and USP grade calcium carbonate products. For more information, visit www.hubermaterials.com.

About J.M. Huber Corporation
J.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), operates a diverse portfolio of companies: CP Kelco, Huber Engineered Materials, Huber Engineered Woods and Huber Resources Corp. With locations around the world, our businesses create products used in a broad range of applications including personal care, food and beverage, agricultural nutrients and adjuvants, building materials, flame retardants and smoke suppressants, as well as sustainable forestry services. Founded in 1883, Huber is one of the largest family-owned companies based in the US. For more information, visit www.huber.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lea Volpe
Director, Corporate Communications
J.M. Huber Corporation
678.247.7128 phone
lea.volpe@huber.com

Madison Realty Capital Originates $395 Million Loan for Portfolio of Three Multifamily Projects in Bayonne, Raritan and Linden, NJ and Eight-Acre Land Key to Downtown Newark’s Revitalization

Residential Portfolio Comprised of Four Mid-Rise Buildings with 1,161 Units Nearing Completion; Eight-Acre Newark Project Site Includes Plans to Develop 4,200 Residential Units

NEW YORK, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Madison Realty Capital, a fully integrated real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies, today announced it has provided a $395 million loan to Accurate Builders & Developers for a portfolio of assets that includes three nearly-complete multifamily properties located in Bayonne, Raritan and Linden, NJ that includes 1,161 units nearing completion and an eight-acre development located at the site of the Former Bears Stadium in Newark, NJ, that includes plans to develop 4,200 residential units.

“This transaction reflects Madison Realty Capital’s ability to provide a complex, hybrid financing solution to a high-quality borrower across price points and all stages of the project lifecycle, from land acquisition, ground up development and leasing,” said Josh Zegen, Managing Principal and Co-Founder of Madison Realty Capital.  “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Jack Klugmann of Accurate Builders & Developers and to work with the Town of Newark on this exciting, once-in-a-generation project that benefits the economic revitalization of downtown and will bring much needed high quality housing options to Newark’s hard-working residents.  Bayonne, Raritan and Linden are attractive, transit-oriented locations with growing demand for high-quality rental housing options.”

Details of the portfolio of three multifamily projects near completion, are as follows:

  • The four-story Raritan multifamily building offers 276 studio, one- and two-bedroom units, 20 of which are affordable units, and luxury amenities, such as fitness centers, courtyards, BBQ and a parking garage. Leasing for this property is already underway.
  • In Linden, the four-story rental property will offer 234 studio, one- and two-bedroom units with access to top-tier amenities including courtyards, pool, fitness centers, roof deck and children’s playroom. Leasing for this property is expected to begin over the summer.
  • The Bayonne property consists of two, five-story multifamily properties with a mix of 651 studio, one-, and two-bedroom units and will offer top-tier amenities including a roof deck, concierge, pet center, spa facility, rooftop pool, fitness center and outdoor terraces. Leasing is for the buildings is expected to occur at the end of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively.

The eight-acre Newark project site includes plans to develop 4,200 residential units as part of a master-planned community to be built in nine phases that enables the borrower to develop the assets over time and monetize the assets individually in partnership with the City of Newark. The ground up development project will include 200 affordable units, up to 3,000 parking spaces; at least 100,000 square feet of hospitality/destination retail, co-working space for small business, entrepreneurs, and freelancers; and publicly accessible green space. Shaya Ackerman of Meridian Capital Group arranged the acquisition financing for this transaction.

 

About Madison Realty Capital

Madison Realty Capital is a New York City based real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies with regional offices in key markets including Los Angeles and Dallas. Founded in 2004, MRC has closed on approximately $14 billion of transactions in the multifamily, retail, office, industrial and hotel sectors nationwide. The firm manages investments in the United States on behalf of a global investor base. MRC is a fully integrated firm with over 60 employees across all real estate investment, development, and property management disciplines. Among other industry recognitions, MRC has been named to the Commercial Observer’s prestigious “Power 100” list of New York City real estate players and is consistently cited as one of the industry’s top construction lenders. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn and visit www.madisonrealtycapital.com.

Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170
madisonrealty@gasthalter.com

 

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) Highlights 2021 Growth Milestones

NEW YORK, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), an innovative corporate communications agency and diversified content distributor, today announces significant growth milestones in early 2021.

Since launching the first brand of its communications platform in 2006, IBN has consistently attained transformative growth. Today, the IBN Investor Brand Platform boasts a portfolio of 50+ brands with a collective social media audience that includes millions of followers and an expansive network of 5,000+ key syndication partners. The company’s proven track record serving 500+ client partners demonstrates its unique value proposition for companies operating across a broad array of industries.

InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) is pleased to announce recent milestones that include:

  • Expansion of Active CORE Client Partners to include over 85 public and private companies.
  • Media partnerships with 93 events thus far in 2021, bolstered by re-engagements and supported by IBN’s portfolio of brands targeting specific market sectors.
  • Publication of 685+ corporate profiles for companies presenting at partner events.
  • Syndication of IBN’s 80,000th editorial article, representing more than a decade of original content that reaches an expanding audience of prospective investors.
  • Introduction of IBN Spotlights, offering up-to-the-minute coverage of the market’s most in-demand companies.

IBN has also expanded its Podcast Solutions by collaborating with well-known hosts and producers that have sizable existing audiences, further increasing recognition for IBN clients. Following each episode, IBN issues a news release through InvestorWire as part of continued efforts to position its clients as top-priority guests for popular podcasts that have considerable reach.

“IBN is already reaching incredible growth metrics early in 2021, and our team will actively build on this momentum in the months to come,” stated Jonathan Keim, IBN’s Director of Communications. “We are uniquely structured to help clients and event organizers more effectively communicate with the investment community using our proprietary digital distribution network.”

About InvestorBrandNetwork

The InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”) consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 15+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Through NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”) and its affiliate brands, IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (6) a total news coverage solution.

For more information on IBN, visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.fm/Disclaimer

Managing Editor | http://www.IBN.fm
InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN) – Digital Media Syndication
Los Angeles, CA | O: 310.299.1717
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com