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  • Ivanti Wins Best Mobile Enterprise Services Partner from Deutsche Telekom

    Deutsche Telekom recognized Ivanti for being an excellent, long-standing solution partner

    SOUTH JORDAN, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ivanti, the provider of the Ivanti Neurons automation platform that discovers, manages, secures, and services IT assets from cloud to edge, today announced that Deutsche Telekom’s Mobile Enterprise Solutions unit has awarded Ivanti with Best Mobile Enterprise Services Partner.

    Deutsche Telekom, one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies, recognized Ivanti for being an excellent, long-standing solution partner. Deutsche Telekom and Ivanti have worked closely together for more than 10 years, with Deutsche Telekom acting as a managed service provider and reseller of Ivanti solutions via Telekom Deutschland and other respective national organizations in international business.

    “We are delighted to award Ivanti as Best Mobile Enterprise Services Partner for the great teamwork and success we continue to see from our partnership,” said Oliver Burgdorf, Deutsche Telekom. “This award reflects the excellent, longstanding cooperation we have experienced with Ivanti.”

    “We consider our partnership with Deutsche Telekom to be of the utmost importance,” said Günter Mayer, Vice President Carrier International at Ivanti. “Together, we are enabling and securing the mobile devices used in hybrid and remote work. We are grateful for the continued partnership between Deutsche Telekom and Ivanti and the opportunity we have to enable people to thrive from anywhere.”

    Ivanti sits at the convergence point of endpoint and network security, IT service and asset management, and Unified Endpoint Management. Ivanti is uniquely positioned to provide a complete digital experience viewpoint of the employee, and to drive improvements using our pre-ticket and post-ticket interactive technology, extensive remediation through our no-code and low-code platform and provide real-time contextual intelligence through the Ivanti Neurons platform.

    You can view a video of the award ceremony here.

    About Ivanti

    Ivanti makes the Everywhere Workplace possible. In the Everywhere Workplace, employees use myriad devices to access IT applications and data over various networks to stay productive and work from anywhere. The Ivanti Neurons automation platform connects the company’s industry-leading unified endpoint management, cybersecurity, and enterprise service management solutions, providing a unified IT platform that enables devices to self-heal and self-secure and empowers users to self-service. Over 40,000 customers, including 96 of the Fortune 100, have chosen Ivanti to discover, manage, secure, and service their IT assets from cloud to edge, and deliver excellent end-user experiences for employees, wherever and however they work. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti.

    Contacts

    Nanette Blake

    Ivanti

    PR Manager

     +1 801-316-9010

    nanette.blake@ivanti.com

  • WASTE MANAGEMENT ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Waste Management, Inc. on Behalf of Long-Term Stockholders and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

    WASTE MANAGEMENT ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Waste Management, Inc. on Behalf of Long-Term Stockholders and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

    NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Action–Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) on behalf of senior notes investors following a class action complaint that was filed against Waste Management on June 10, 2022 with a Class Period from February 13, 2020 to June 23, 2020. Our investigation concerns whether the board of directors of Waste Management have breached their fiduciary duties to the company.

    On April 14, 2019, Waste Management, Inc entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger”) to acquire Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc. for $4.9 billion, or $33.15 per share. The Merger was conditioned upon an Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc shareholder vote and obtaining antitrust clearance from regulators, including the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”).

    On May 14, 2019, Waste Management, Inc. issued $4 billion worth of senior notes in a public offering to finance Waste Management’s acquisition of Advanced Disposal Services. All series received an investment grade rating. As described in the final prospectus for the Notes, four of the five series, totaling $3 billion in principal, were subject to a special mandatory redemption (“SMR”) clause in the merger agreement. The SMR clause required Waste Management to repurchase the Notes for 101% of par in the event the Merger was not completed by July 14, 2020, the end date under the Merger Agreement (the “End Date”). In the Notes prospectus, Waste Management represented that the “Merger will close by the first quarter of 2020.” And to address the concerns raised by the DOJ, Waste Management and Advanced Disposal Services engaged in extensive negotiations with several potential divesture buyers, including GFL Environmental, Inc., for the divesture of assets well in excess of the Antitrust Revenue Threshold.

    On October 25, 2019, Waste Management, Inc, Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc, and the DOJ entered into a timing agreement that provided for a minimum 70-day settlement period during which the parties would attempt to reach an agreement on DOJ approval for the Merger, which included DOJ approval of the amount of Waste Management, Inc ‘s asset divestures. Unbeknownst to investors, during this process the DOJ informed Waste Management, Inc that its agreement to divest $200 million in revenue-producing assets to address antitrust concerns would be insufficient for regulatory approval. The DOJ concluded that the combination of Waste Management, Inc and Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc would, without divestures significantly in excess of $200 million, cause harm to municipal solid waste disposal in 24 geographic markets across 8 states, and cause harm to small container commercial waste collection in 33 geographic markets located in 6 states.

    On June 24, 2020, Waste Management, Inc disclosed that the Company and Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc S had revised the terms of the Merger and that Waste Management, Inc needed to divest substantially more assets than previously disclosed to receive DOJ approval for the deal. Under the revised Merger terms, Waste Management, Inc agreed to purchase ADS for $4.6 billion, or $30.30 per share, thereby reducing Waste Management, Inc ‘s acquisition cost by approximately $300 million to $4.6 billion. In addition, Waste Management, Inc and Advanced Disposal Systems, Inc had agreed to sell $835 million worth of assets in an attempt to satisfy antitrust regulators, which assets were responsible for generating approximately $345 million in 2019 revenue. WM also revealed that the deal was now not expected to close until “the end of the third quarter of 2020” – six months later than had been represented by defendants at the start between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020 and, critically, after the end date which triggered the redemption feature of the Notes.

    On this news, the prices of the Notes fell significantly.

    According to the complaint the plaintiff alleges that between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020, the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the DOJ had indicated to Waste Management that it would require Waste Management to divest significantly more assets than the $200 million Antitrust Revenue Threshold; (ii) as a result, the merger would not be completed by the End Date; and (iii) the Notes would be subject to mandatory redemption at 101% of par.

    If you are a long-term stockholder of Waste Management, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at investigations@bespc.com, by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

    About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

    Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

    Contacts

    Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.

    Brandon Walker, Esq.

    Melissa Fortunato, Esq.

    (212) 355-4648

    investigations@bespc.com
    www.bespc.com

  • SHAREHOLDER ACTION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Encourages Investors in PayPal Holdings, Inc. with Losses of $100,000 to Contact the Firm

    SHAREHOLDER ACTION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Encourages Investors in PayPal Holdings, Inc. with Losses of $100,000 to Contact the Firm

    LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$PYPL #PYPL—The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against PayPal Holdings, Inc. (“PayPal” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: PYPL) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 3, 2021 and February 1, 2022, inclusive (the ”Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before December 5, 2022.

    If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

    We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm’s website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at bschall@schallfirm.com.

    The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

    According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. PayPal touted the Net New Active Accounts (“NNAs”) metric to investors, but failed to inform investors that cash incentive campaigns designed to drive success by this metric in fact caused millions of fraudulent accounts to be set up use bot farms. The Company also worked to keep inactive customers and even fake bot accounts on the platform to inflate its NNAs, amongst other things. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about PayPal, investors suffered damages.

    Join the case to recover your losses.

    The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

    This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

    Contacts

    The Schall Law Firm

    Brian Schall, Esq.,

    www.schallfirm.com
    Office: 310-301-3335

    info@schallfirm.com

  • General Motors Hit With $102.6 Million Jury Verdict in Class Action Over Defective Engines

    General Motors Hit With $102.6 Million Jury Verdict in Class Action Over Defective Engines

    DiCello Levitt trial team wins huge verdict on behalf of owners and lessees of GM trucks and SUVs with 5.3-liter Vortec engines

    SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a rare class action trial verdict, a California federal jury today found that the nation’s largest automobile manufacturer hid an engine defect that resulted in excessive oil consumption, leading to engine damage, stalling, and premature breakdown in tens of thousands of General Motors’s (NYSE: GM) 5.3-liter SUVs and light trucks. The jury returned a $102.6 million verdict against GM in a class action lawsuit led by national plaintiffs’ trial firm, DiCello Levitt, on behalf of owners and lessees of GM trucks and SUVs sold from 2011-2014 in California, North Carolina, and Idaho, which contained the company’s Generation IV Vortec 5300 LC9 engine. The case was tried in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

    Filed in late 2016, the lawsuit claimed that internal GM documents showed that the company was quickly alerted to a defect in the engine’s piston rings that resulted in the vehicles consuming too much oil. The excess oil infiltrated parts of the engine where it didn’t belong, resulting in damage and, eventually, premature engine breakdown and failure. By 2010, GM recommended to its dealers that they clean the pistons of the vehicles in question. That solution was ineffective and company engineers and other employees recommended that the piston ring design be changed. GM made other ineffective engine design changes in 2011, but the oil consumption issues persisted until GM finally discontinued production of the engine following the 2014 model year.

    “I am exceptionally proud of our trial team for its tireless preparation and aggressive advocacy is this case,” said Christopher Stombaugh, lead trial counsel in the case and a partner at DiCello Levitt. “I am also thankful for the courage of the jury, which did the right thing in holding GM responsible for its deceit and half-hearted efforts to address its problems. None of this would have been possible without the assistance of our co-lead trial counsel at Beasley Allen and our additional co-counsel Jennie Anderson of Andrus Anderson LLP, and Anthony Garcia of AG Law. I thank them for their contributions and commitment to our trial strategy.”

    The jury found that GM violated the breach of implied warranty of merchantability to California plaintiffs, the breach of implied warranty of merchantability to North Carolina vehicle owners, and breached the provisions of the Idaho Consumer Protection Act. It awarded each of the 38,000 class members $2,700, bringing total damages to $102.6 million.

    “Very few class action cases ever go to trial, let alone to verdict,” said Adam Levitt, co-trial counsel in the matter and a DiCello Levitt founding partner. “This one did and we did it. As a ‘trial first’ law firm, our responsibility is to obtain the best-possible results for our clients and the classes that we represent. It’s extremely gratifying to see the jury respond so favorably to our trial team’s relentless preparation and trial presentation.”

    The DiCello Levitt trial team members included Levitt, Stombaugh, John Tangren, Dan Ferri, Mark Abramowitz, and Joseph Frate.

    The case is Raul Siqueiros, et al. v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 3:16-cv-07244, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. A copy of the jury verdict is available upon request, and members of the DiCello Levitt trial team are available for interviews.

    About DiCello Levitt

    At DiCello Levitt, we’re dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases – whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise—for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens’ rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations—and our capital—on the line for our clients.

    About DiCello Levitt’s Trial Advocacy Center

    One of our firm’s proudest innovations is the DiCello Levitt Trial Advocacy Center. Litigation firms are common in the U.S.—but DiCello Levitt is a trial firm. We approach client cases from a trial-first perspective, identifying and analyzing critical issues at all stages of a litigation, enabling us to fine-tune our approach, mobilize our team, engage the right resources, and dictate the path to victory in each of our cases. We created the Trial Advocacy Center to address how the digital universe has reshaped the way people process information, how today’s jurors make decisions, and what truly motivates them at their core. Using a proprietary system, we survey, test, intuit, and then re-test to grasp the nuances of a jury’s mindset; pursuing the truth with a scientific focus on what persuades, what connects, and what wins.

    For more, visit our website: https://dicellolevitt.com/

    Contacts

    Jason Milch

    312.379.9406

    jmilch@baretzbrunelle.com

    Luke Allingham

    312.286.1317

    lallingham@baretzbrunelle.com

  • INVESTOR ALERT: PayPal Holdings, Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead the PayPal Class Action Lawsuit – PYPL

    INVESTOR ALERT: PayPal Holdings, Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead the PayPal Class Action Lawsuit – PYPL

    SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#PYPLstock—Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) common stock between February 3, 2021 and February 1, 2022, inclusive (the “Class Period”) have until December 5, 2022 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the PayPal class action lawsuit. Captioned Defined Benefit Plan of the Mid-Jersey Trucking Industry and Teamsters Local 701 Pension and Annuity Fund v. PayPal Holdings, Inc., No. 22-cv-05864 (D.N.J.), the PayPal class action lawsuit charges PayPal and certain of its top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

    If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the PayPal class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

    https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-paypal-holdings-inc-class-action-lawsuit-pypl.html

    You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at jsanchez@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the PayPal class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than December 5, 2022.

    CASE ALLEGATIONS: The PayPal class action lawsuit alleges that PayPal throughout the Class Period touted the growth in its Net New Active Accounts (“NNAs”) and instructed investors to value the high growth in this metric as one of the most important indicators of how PayPal was performing.

    But as the PayPal class action lawsuit alleges, while touting its NNA growth, PayPal failed to disclose that many of the additional users acquired through its cash account creation incentive campaigns were illusory because those incentive campaigns were easily susceptible to fraud. Specifically, PayPal failed to disclose that its cash incentive campaigns significantly increased PayPal’s susceptibility to bot farms that were able to systematically take advantage of PayPal’s $10.00 account opening by creating millions of illegitimate accounts, which ultimately generated no future revenue for PayPal. In addition, the PayPal class action lawsuit alleges that investors were unaware of the lengths PayPal was going to keep inactive customers and fake bot accounts on the platform to prevent churn and inflate its NNA guidance which would have provided a more realistic view of the true demand for PayPal’s platform.

    On February 1, 2022, PayPal revealed that its NNAs were only 49 million for 2021, less than the guidance of 50 million it initially provided in February 2021. In doing so, PayPal admitted that “in connection with the increased use of [cash] incentive campaigns throughout 2021, [PayPal] identified 4.5 million accounts that [PayPal] believe[s] were illegitimately created,” and that as a result PayPal changed course on some of its customer acquisition strategies including incentive-led campaigns in the fourth quarter. Further, because PayPal was evolving its customer acquisition and engagement strategy, PayPal now expected only 15-20 million net new customer accounts for 2022 and that PayPal “no longer believe[s] that the 750 million medium-term account aspiration [PayPal] set last year is appropriate.” On this news, PayPal’s stock price fell by approximately 25%, damaging investors.

    THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased PayPal common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the PayPal class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the PayPal class action lawsuit. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the PayPal class action lawsuit.

    ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller is one of the world’s leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the 2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering nearly $2 billion for investors last year alone – more than triple the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs’ firm. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

    https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

    Attorney advertising.

    Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

    Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

    Contacts

    Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

    655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

    J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900

    jsanchez@rgrdlaw.com

  • Tech Data Asia Pacific & Japan inks exclusive distribution partnership with Cibecs

    Tech Data Asia Pacific & Japan inks exclusive distribution partnership with Cibecs

    Move in line with Tech Data’s strategy of empowering ISVs and partners to drive new business and strengthen capabilities in security solutions

    SINGAPORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#IT–Tech Data, a TD SYNNEX company, today announced that it has expanded its strategic partnership with Cibecs – a leading endpoint backup, protection and security solutions provider – in 6 markets across Asia Pacific & Japan region (Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam). This partnership brings Cibecs Endpoint Cloud, which offers best-in-class data protection with intelligent management capabilities, to customers in the APJ market. The partnership underscores Tech Data’s strategy of empowering ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) and partners to drive new business and further their channel capabilities across APJ. By leveraging a comprehensive data backup, protection, and security software package, ISVs and partners can now enable IT managers and CIOs to bridge the gaps in their endpoint environment and with complete visibility and control.

    Commenting on the development, Sundaresan Kanappan, Vice President High Growth Technologies, Tech Data Asia Pacific & Japan, said “The Asia Pacific enterprise data management market is expected to witness a market growth of 12.1% CAGR during the forecast period (2020-2026)1, with the data protection market expected to witness a growth of 16.1% CAGR during the forecast period (2017 – 2023)2. Given this backdrop, this new partnership is in line with Tech Data’s strategy of bringing out a transformational approach to driving solutions in the region as well as enabling ISVs to benefit from increased functional flexibility through the channel.”

    “With bad actors getting creative in exploiting endpoint systems vulnerabilities it is imperative to engage robust endpoint security measures to protect devices from unauthorised access, malware and data theft. Endpoint protection is a key part of endpoint security and Cibecs Endpoint Cloud solution can play an indispensable role in helping our customers by providing them full visibility or control over endpoint data and devices,” added Kanappan.

    According to Richard Dewing, CEO of Cibecs, “We are delighted to take our partnership with Tech Data to the next level and are excited to align with their APJ presence and ability to address all markets while helping to build the right partner profile. With cloud adoption on the rise across the region, we are confident that Cibecs Endpoint Cloud, by providing a single, unified platform to discover, manage, backup and secure business data, will play an important role in delivering the most advanced data management and protection technology.”

    Cibecs Endpoint Cloud is a powerful cloud platform built for Azure, allowing IT departments and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to easily manage highly distributed and remote workforces, centralise, consolidate, and secure business data remotely, meet compliance regulations and drastically reduce desktop support costs.

    1Research and Markets: Asia Pacific Enterprise Data Management Market By Component, By Deployment Type, By Organization Size, By End User, By Country, Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2020 – 2026

    2Research and Markets: Asia Pacific Data Protection Market Analysis (2017-2023)

    About Tech Data

    Tech Data, a TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) company, is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We’re an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX’ 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    About Cibecs Inc.

    Cibecs Inc is a privately held company headquartered in Delaware, USA with offices and distributors in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Cibecs is trusted by hundreds of thousands of business users globally. Representative customers include: Coca-Cola, Barclays, Kraft Foods, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Ingram Micro and CNBC. Additional Information about Cibecs can be found on the company website www.cibecs.com.

    Contacts

    Jason Loo

    Head of Communications

    Tech Data Asia Pacific & Japan

    Jason.loo@techdata.com

  • Novakid’s Proprietary Story-Based Curriculum Results in a 39% Improvement in Students’ Learning Performance

    Novakid’s Proprietary Story-Based Curriculum Results in a 39% Improvement in Students’ Learning Performance

    SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Novakid, a leading online English as a Second Language (ESL) learning platform, conducted research on its first-to-market story-based ESL curriculum – Novakid Magic Academy – to ascertain the impact of the gamified learning environment and storyline on young ESL students’ learning outcomes.


    Teaching children in a digital learning environment presents several challenges. Promoting deeper engagement with the content, maintaining their attention, and developing their online learning autonomy are of the utmost importance. These factors have a direct impact on learning outcomes due to a well-known motivational mechanism: the level of interest in an activity directly correlates with the success rate – the more you enjoy doing something, the better you will perform at the task.

    To provide young ESL learners with the opportunity to learn a foreign language in a way that leads to efficiency and fluency, Novakid developed an innovative ESL curriculum – Novakid Magic Academy – based on different storyline features and gamification elements such as animated comic stories, story-linked individual English lessons, mini-games, a gamified learning environment as well as interactive homework activities.

    To evaluate the impact of this story-based ESL curriculum on students’ learning outcomes, Novakid conducted research based on the data on the gamification elements’ effectiveness, level of students’ engagement as well as the learning content performance. The data was collected via progress monitoring of over 1,500 parameters and interactive mechanics implemented in the content of each English lesson. The data-driven approach to the research minimised the teacher’s evaluation, thus ensuring the accuracy of the results.

    The research was conducted between October 2021 to March 2022. The research sample consisted of 30,390 Novakid students between the ages of 4 and 12 years old, enrolled on the Novakid Magic Academy story-based English course.

    Storyline and gamification approach lead to a 39% increase in learning outcomes

    The results of the research clearly demonstrate that this curriculum increases the students’ performance in the key language competencies: reading, speaking and listening.

    Although the students present the most impressive results in the reading comprehension (a 46% higher performance), the speaking performance results are also high: the outcomes are 21% higher in the curriculum based on gamification and storyline. The listening competencies increased by 16%.

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    The average learning performance rate is 12% higher after a minimum of four months of lessons, resulting in a 39% better learning performance for students enrolled in the Level I Novakid Magic Academy ESL course.

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    A narrative environment positively affects the students’ motivation to complete homework and additional ESL activities: the students enrolled in story-based curriculum tend to spend 24% more time completing their homework tasks and dedicate 20% more time to games than the students who are not. The daily share of students enrolled in Novakid Magic Academy with character purchase is 30% higher than the daily share of those enrolled in Classic curriculum courses: they tend to spend more time using different gamification features, their learning time is increasing, and in turn, their engagement rate is higher.

    Animated comic stories (Novakid Tales) also have a positive impact on the students’ learning progress: the students of Novakid Magic Academy watch the comic videos nearly 15% more often than students enrolled on the Classic curriculum. The performance data confirms that the outcomes are better for those students who enroll on the Novakid Magic Academy English course. Moreover, the students who regularly watch comic stories have a 30% higher retention rate.

    About Novakid

    Novakid is an online English school for children founded in 2017 in Silicon Valley (USA) by Max Azarov, Dmitry Malin and Amy Krolevetskaya.

    Over 2,000 experienced and qualified teachers conduct English lessons for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old via this interactive online platform. In 2021, over 2.4 million lessons were taught to approximately 75,000 active students. Total customers on the Novakid platform exceed 500,000 users.

    The Novakid English as a Second Language (ESL) educational program complies with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and was developed with the individual interests and ages of the children in mind. Novakid uses gamification and virtual reality technologies in order to create an English-speaking environment and helps children all over the world to learn English in a fun and interesting way.

    The unique Novakid progress evaluation method (over 1,500 parameters, A/B testing, and other components of a data-driven approach) ensures great results and lets teachers adapt the program for the individual needs and interests of each child.

    Official website: https://www.novakidschool.com

    Contacts

    hellopress@novakidschool.com

  • CrossFirst Bank Releases 2021 Impact Report

    CrossFirst Bank Releases 2021 Impact Report

    LEAWOOD, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CrossFirst Bank, a subsidiary of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CFB), with a presence in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona, released its 2021 Impact Report. The report highlights the meaningful difference the company is making in the lives of its employees, with its clients and shareholders, and in the communities where the bank operates.

    “As we continue to focus on long-term sustainable growth, I am proud to highlight our second annual corporate Impact Report,” said CrossFirst CEO, Mike Maddox. “As we grow and evolve as a company, we continue to adapt to find the right balance of business practices and resources to do good. In a rapidly changing and complex world it is not always easy, but we are committed to making a positive impact and being a force for good.”

    In this second-annual report, which covers calendar year 2021, the Bank builds on the foundations established during 2020 and shares more about the progress it is making across numerous benchmarks, including ESG, diversity and inclusion, employee satisfaction, and philanthropic support.

    To view CrossFirst Bank’s 2021 Corporate Impact Report and learn more about, visit https://www.crossfirstbank.com/making-an-impact.

    About CrossFirst Bank

    CrossFirst Bank, headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, is a subsidiary of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: CFB), a Kansas corporation and a registered bank holding company. CrossFirst Bank has nine full-service banking offices in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Texas. For more information on CrossFirst Bank, visit www.crossfirstbank.com.

    Contacts

    Media Contact
    Meggin Nilssen | CrossFirst Bank

    913-302-1915 | meggin.nilssen@crossfirstbank.com

    Investor Contact
    Heather Worley | CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc.

    214-676-4666 | heather@crossfirst.com

  • myFICO: How Does a Home Equity Loan Affect Your Credit?

    myFICO: How Does a Home Equity Loan Affect Your Credit?

    SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–If you own your home and have significant equity in it, you may be able to tap some of that equity through a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Before you do, however, it’s important to consider how taking on an additional loan or line of credit may affect your FICO® Score.

    Here’s what you need to know about how home equity loans and HELOCs work and how they may impact your credit, from myFICO.

    For more loan and credit education, visit myFICO’s blog at https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog

    How Do Home Equity Loans and HELOCs Work?

    A type of second mortgage, home equity loans and HELOCs are similar in that they both allow homeowners to access some of the equity they have in their home, either in the form of an installment loan or revolving line of credit.

    With a home equity loan, you’ll receive the full loan amount up front and then pay it back over a fixed period, which can be between five to 30 years, with a fixed interest rate.

    In contrast, a HELOC is a revolving line of credit, similar to a credit card. Upon approval, you can take draws from your line of credit, typically via a debit card, bank transfer or even paper checks.

    During the draw period, which can last up to 10 years, borrowers are only required to pay interest on the amount they’ve borrowed. However, if they max out their credit limit, they’ll need to pay down the balance if they want to continue making draws. Once the draw period ends, they’ll enter a repayment period, which can last up to 20 years, during which they’ll pay down the remaining balance.

    Unlike home equity loans, HELOCs typically have variable interest rates, which can fluctuate over time. In some cases, though, the lender may allow you to convert some or all of your balance to a fixed-rate payment plan.

    With both types of credit, you may be able to deduct the interest you pay if you use the loan funds to buy, build or substantially improve the home used as collateral for the debt. If you use the proceeds for other purposes, though, the interest is not tax-deductible.

    How Do Home Equity Loans and HELOCs Affect Your FICO® Scores?

    There are several different ways that these second mortgages may impact your credit, for better or for worse. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

    Payment History

    If you can manage to make your payments on time, home equity loans and HELOCs can help you increase your FICO® Scores over time.

    However, if you miss a payment by 30 days or more, it could have a significant negative impact on your credit. Additionally, because you’re using your home as collateral for the loan or line of credit, defaulting on your payments could result in the lender foreclosing on the home, damaging your FICO® Scores even more and leaving you without your primary residence.

    As a result, it’s crucial that you make sure that you can afford the additional monthly payments before you commit.

    Amounts Owed

    How much you owe is another important factor in your FICO® Scores. With a home equity loan and a HELOC, how much you owe is another important factor in your FICO Scores. The debt carried via a home equity loan or a HELOC can impact your FICO Scores via the “Amounts Owed” category of your credit score, under the “amount owed on all accounts” subcategory. How much of the installment loan amounts is still owed, compared with the original loan amount, may also be a factor.

    Length of Credit History

    Adding a new tradeline to your credit reports will result in the average age of your accounts going down, which could have a negative impact on your FICO® Score. However, because home equity loans and HELOCs often have long terms, they can have a positive impact on your credit over time, particularly if you manage them responsibly.

    New Credit

    Each time you apply for credit, the lender will typically run a hard inquiry on your credit reports to evaluate your creditworthiness. A new inquiry may knock fewer than five points off your FICO® Score, but if you apply for multiple credit accounts it could have a compounding effect. Keep in mind, though, that inquiries (and other changes to your credit report) impact everyone’s scores differently, depending on their credit history. Some people might see bigger changes than others.

    The good news is that if you want to shop around and compare interest rates and terms before deciding on a lender, you can usually do so without worrying about damaging your credit score too much. With newer FICO® Score models, mortgage, auto and student loan hard inquiries made within a 45-day rate-shopping period are combined into one for scoring purposes.

    Credit Mix

    Having different types of credit can help boost your FICO® Scores because it shows that you can manage a range of credit options. So, adding a second mortgage could potentially improve the credit mix component of your credit scores.

    Make Sure Your Credit Is Ready for a Home Equity Loan or HELOC

    If you’re thinking about applying for a home equity loan or HELOC, it’s important to understand the requirements and to prepare your credit for the application process.

    Like conventional mortgage loans, second mortgage loans typically require a FICO® Score of 620 or above, though some lenders may provide some flexibility. Regardless, the higher your FICO Score, the better your chances of securing a lower interest rate.

    Additionally, many lenders only allow you to borrow up to a combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of 80%, which means that the balances on both your primary and second mortgages cannot exceed 80% of the value of your home. But again, some lenders may be more flexible than others, and you may be able to borrow up to a CLTV of 100%.

    In addition to your credit history and home value, lenders will also consider your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. DTI requirements can vary by lender, but you can generally expect a limit of 43%.

    Before you apply for a home equity loan or HELOC, check your FICO® Scores and review your credit reports to determine if you need to make improvements first. Then, calculate your DTI and how much equity you have in your home to determine your approval odds.

    If you have any questions about eligibility, consider reaching out to individual lenders to learn more.

    Whatever you do, it’s critical that you take the time to consider whether a home equity loan or HELOC is financially feasible for you and whether you can use the debt to improve your financial situation and credit history over time.

    About myFICO

    myFICO is the consumer division of FICO. For more information, visit https://www.myfico.com/credit-education

    Contacts

    myFICO Contact:
    Elizabeth Warren

    ElizabethWarren@fico.com

  • Nearly 1 in 3 consumers stopped doing business with a company known to have compromised cybersecurity, says new ISACA study

    Nearly 1 in 3 consumers stopped doing business with a company known to have compromised cybersecurity, says new ISACA study

    New four-country study finds one in three consumers has also had personal information stolen

    SCHAUMBURG, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#isaca–In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ISACA recently released the results from its inaugural consumer cybersecurity research, which reveals a growing sense of hopelessness in consumers who think nothing can be done to protect them from cybercrime. The international study of more than 3,000 consumers across the UK, Australia, US and India, found that more than one in three consumers in these regions (37%) has had their personal information stolen by cyber criminals.

    Expectations that they may be the victim of cybercrime are high, with only one in three believing it is unlikely to happen.

    Worryingly for the companies in these regions that experienced a breach in security of their customers’ personal identifiable information (PII), 33% of consumers report having severed ties with a company known to have experienced a breach.

    Regardless of the data privacy regulations across the globe, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 36% of consumers surveyed in the US, UK, Australia and India believe companies under-report breaches, even if required by law, and 23% are not confident a business can safely secure their personal identifiable information.

    With consumer confidence waning, the research indicates a significant number of consumers in these regions (65%) would be more confident doing business with companies that hire certified cybersecurity professionals.

    In addition, 69% of consumers surveyed believe companies should be independently graded on data security practices and the scores shared with the public.

    “The prevalence of cyberattacks worldwide understandably leaves an impact on consumer confidence, which in turn has a ripple effect,” says Shannon Donahue, ISACA senior vice president, publishing. “Organizations that prove to consumers that they are bolstering their cybersecurity programs and strengthening their security workforce to protect their customers will differentiate themselves and build digital trust in the process.”

    During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ISACA is providing a 20% discount on its Cybersecurity Fundamentals Online Review Course with the code PRODCYBERMONTH22. To learn more, visit https://store.isaca.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a2S4w000004Koh6EAC.

    Additionally, ISACA will feature several cybersecurity sessions at ISACA Conference Europe, taking place 19-21 October 2022 in Rome.

    For a complimentary copy of ISACA’s consumer cybersecurity research report and related content, visit www.isaca.org/cyber-month-2022.

    About ISACA

    For more than 50 years, ISACA® (www.isaca.org) has equipped individuals with knowledge, credentials, education and community to progress their careers and transform their organisations, and enabled enterprises to train and build quality teams. A global professional association and learning organisation, ISACA leverages the expertise of its more than 150,000 members who work in information security, governance, assurance, risk and privacy to drive innovation through technology. It has a presence in 188 countries, including more than 220 chapters worldwide. In 2020, ISACA launched One In Tech, a philanthropic foundation.

    Contacts

    Emily Ayala, +1.847.385.7217, communications@isaca.org
    Kristen Kessinger, +1.847.660.5512, kkessinger@isaca.org