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CN to Invest $55 Million in Michigan Enabling Sustainable Growth, Improving Capacity and Advancing the Company’s Commitment to Safety

Image for CN to Invest $55 Million in Michigan Enabling Sustainable Growth, Improving Capacity and Advancing the Company’s Commitment to Safety

CN is building the premier railway of the 21st century by investing in Michigan

HOMEWOOD, Ill., June 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately $55 million in Michigan in 2022. This includes investments in technology, capacity, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonization initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods in Michigan and everywhere on CN’s transcontinental network.

“We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity. We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate.”

  • Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN

“CN’s railroad provides a key tunnel for commerce to flow between Port Huron and Sarnia, which is more critical now than ever before, due to supply chain issues. I’m grateful to CN for providing a quick and efficient way for goods to move between the United States and Canada, and appreciate their continued support and investment in our local economy.”

  • Lisa McClain, U.S. Congresswoman, Michigan’s 10th Congressional District

Maintenance program highlights include:

  • Replacing more than 4 miles of rail;
  • Installing approximately 50,000 new railroad ties;
  • Rebuilding 19 road crossing surfaces; and
  • Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure

Michigan in numbers:

  • Capital investments: More than US$350 million in the last five years
  • Employees: approximately 940
  • Railroad route miles operated: 905
  • Community partnerships: US$111,000 in 2021
  • Local spending: US$107 million in 2021
  • Cash taxes paid: US$2.4 million in 2021

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “outlook,” “plans,” “targets,” or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

About CN
CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Contacts: 
MediaInvestment Community
Mathieu GaudreaultPaul Butcher
Senior AdvisorVice-President
Media RelationsInvestor Relations
514-249-4735
media@cn.ca
(514) 399-0052
investor.relations@cn.ca

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Dada Publishes Its First ESG Report

Image for Dada Publishes Its First ESG Report

SHANGHAI, China, June 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dada Nexus Limited (“Dada” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DADA), China’s leading local on-demand delivery and retail platform, today released its first ESG report. The report details the Company’s key initiatives and development in areas pertaining to environmental, social and corporate governance issues.

Based on materiality assessment result, the Company identified ESG issues that matter most to its business and stakeholders, and summarized six key themes in the report. To view the report in full, please visit the ESG section on the Company’s IR website at https://ir.imdada.cn/corporate/environmental-social-and-governance. Highlights of the Company’s ESG efforts and performance include:

Responsible Governance

  • Board diversity: The Company has a diversified board structure with female directors exceeding 57%, and directors are experienced in a wide range of industries and expertise.
  • Anti-corruption efforts: Offline business ethics training covered 2,230 employees and online trainings covered 100% of employees in 2021. The Company’s anti-corruption efforts are recognized by both employees and partners.
  • Strengthening cybersecurity: The Company had no major cybersecurity-related incidents in 2021. The well-functioning cybersecurity management system lays a solid foundation for business continuity and security.
  • Improving ESG governance structure: The Company has strengthened the overall responsibility of the Board of Directors for ESG issues in 2021 and developed an ESG strategy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Human Resources Development

  • High-quality and diverse talent pool: In 2021, 1,482 employees newly joined the Company, with females accounting for more than 40%.
  • Enhancing employee competencies: In 2021, various trainings covered 100% of employees. The Company’s e-learning platform “Dadao Learning Hub” provides more than 600 courses for employees to access at any time.
  • Virtuous knowledge-sharing ecosystem: In 2021, the Company recognized around 150 employees as “Sharing Stars”, who created sharing contents of over 17,000-minute long.
  • Multi-channel employee communications: As of end of 2021, the Company signed collective agreements with around 70% of its employees, protecting employee rights and interests in all aspects.

Quality Products and Services

  • Implementing personal information protection: In 2021, the Company conducted training programs related to personal information protection covering 100% of employees. Both JDDJ and Dada Now Apps are upgraded to be in compliance with regulations.
  • Ensuring fulfillment service quality: In the fourth quarter of 2021, the fulfillment rate of Dada Now intra-city delivery services exceeded 95%.
  • Enriching supplies and expanding geographical coverage: In 2021, number of active retail stores on JDDJ was around 150,000, covering 1,800 cities and counties.
  • Responding to users’ feedback and complaints: In 2021, the Company handled 920,000 cases of users’ complaints, with 100% of after-sales complaints settled.
  • Establishing customer protection mechanism during special period: In 2021, the Company dynamically adjusted customer service capacity in response to the impact of the epidemic and flood, to guarantee the answer rate and timeliness of customer service.
  • Exploring technology innovations: In 2021, the Company actively engaged in cooperation with industry partners and made innovative achievements such as the launch of “Dada autonomous delivery open platform”.

Enabling Partners

  • Engaging in new forms of employment: In 2021, Dada Now added more than 3 million registered riders. The next-month retention rate of active crowdsourcing riders maintained high at over 80%.
  • Enhancing rider health and safety protection: In 2021, the Company provided more than 1.5 million online training sessions for the riders, while actively preparing for the pilot program of work-related injury insurance.
  • Empowering retailer with digital tools: By end of 2021, the Company’s Haibo system had been deployed in 6,000 retail chain stores, significantly improving the efficiency of merchants’ O2O operations.
  • Expanding brand cooperation via digital marketing innovations: In 2021, the Company directly partnered with 215 brands, up 38% year over year.
  • Promoting industry development: The Company’s efficient local retail model and on-demand delivery network contribute to ensuring basic living needs, promoting growth and stabilizing employment. The Company also opens up its digital solutions to enhance the overall industry efficiency.

Promoting “Green” Philosophy

  • Responding to climate change: In 2021, the Company identified and assessed risks and opportunities arising from climate changes, laying a foundation for low-carbon transformation.
  • Committed to green packaging: In 2021, nearly 80% of packaging materials provided by JDDJ were biodegradable, covering more than 70% of orders on JDDJ.
  • Low-carbon operations throughout the value chain: The Company adopts low-carbon delivery modes while keeping optimizing delivery routes. In 2021, orders delivered by electric vehicles accounted for nearly 100% of total intra-city and last-mile delivery orders. Meanwhile, the Company provided a number of digital solutions to improve labor efficiency and thus helping reduce carbon emissions in upstream warehousing and picking operations.
  • Fostering a green office culture: The Company launched a light-off campaign in 2021 to turn off light at office for one hour during noon, leading to a 4% reduction in electricity consumption.

Delivering Social Values

  • Caring for children's education and well-being: In 2021, the Company launched the “Guardianship Program” and “Waiting for a Good Book - Squirrel Project” to promote children's healthy growth.
  • Responding to social needs in a timely manner: In 2021, as a key enterprise appointed by local governments to ensure supply in pandemic-struck areas, the Company engaged in various initiatives to meet consumer needs while supporting merchants.
  • Providing humanitarian assistance in disaster situations: In 2021, the Company supported the flood-stricken groups in Henan Province, including commission reduction to help merchants resume operations, and a series of caring measures to protect riders’ health and safety.
  • Promoting digital inclusion: In 2021, the Company actively engaged in aging-friendly and barrier-free design for JDDJ App, which passed the assessment by MIIT in Jan 2022. During Jan to May 2022, the average monthly visits of the JDDJ Elderly Edition reached approximately 200,000, with total orders exceeding 120,000 and GMV around RMB20 million.

About Dada

Dada is a leading platform of local on-demand retail and delivery in China. It operates JDDJ, one of China’s largest local on-demand retail platforms for retailers and brand owners, and Dada Now, a leading local on-demand delivery platform open to merchants and individual senders across various industries and product categories. The Company’s two platforms are inter-connected and mutually beneficial. The Dada Now platform enables improved delivery experience for participants on the JDDJ platform through its readily accessible fulfillment solutions and strong on-demand delivery infrastructure. Meanwhile, the vast volume of on-demand delivery orders from the JDDJ platform increases order volume and density for the Dada Now platform.

For more information, please visit https://ir.imdada.cn/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Among other things, quotations in this announcement, contain forward-looking statements. Dada may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Dada’s beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Dada’s strategies; Dada’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Dada’s ability to maintain its relationship with major strategic investors; its ability to provide efficient on-demand delivery services and offer quality on-demand retail experience; its ability to maintain and enhance the recognition and reputation of its brands; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Dada’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Dada does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Dada Nexus Limited
Ms. Caroline Dong
E-mail: ir@imdada.cn

Christensen

In China
Mr. Rene Vanguestaine
Phone: +86-178-1749 0483
E-mail: rvanguestaine@christensenir.com

In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
E-mail: lbergkamp@christensenir.com

For media inquiries, please contact:

Dada Nexus Limited
E-mail: PR@imdada.cn


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Pythian India Achieves “Great Place to Work” Certification After Building High-Trust, High-Performance Culture

Image for Pythian India Achieves “Great Place to Work” Certification After Building High-Trust, High-Performance Culture

The Great Place to Work designation demonstrates the company’s dedication to promoting a workplace of credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie

HYDERABAD, India, June 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pythian Services Inc. (“Pythian”), a leading data, analytics, and cloud services company, announced today that its Indian subsidiary, Pythian India Private Limited Ltd. (“Pythian India”), has been Great Place to Work-Certified™ in India. The recognition is a testament to Pythian's commitment and ongoing efforts to build a transparent, High-Trust, High-Performance Culture™ for all employees. 

Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies exhibit equal opportunities for advancement and inclusive engagement practices. The Great Place to Work Model© is a workplace assessment used to evaluate an organization's culture and people practices based on their Trust Index© and Culture Audit©. The anonymous evaluation gathers employee feedback on several fundamental elements: credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.

“We are honored to receive this workplace designation in India where we have a growing and thriving part of our company,” said Keith Angell, CEO at Pythian. “This recognition as a top employer is a testament to what we try to live every day—an inclusive, equitable, and transparent culture. One of our mottos at Pythian is “people always” and we empower our teams to find work-life balance, give back to their communities, and function with integrity and respect. I believe combining these attributes with an environment that continually challenges our teams to learn and grow makes Pythian an extraordinary place to work.”

Pythian’s employee footprint in India has grown significantly in the last three years, from 25 team members in 2019 to 170 as of June 30, 2022. To accommodate this accelerated growth, Pythian India expanded its offices in Hyderabad by relocating to Aurobindo Galaxy, Hitech City. The organization also plans to open a new Bangalore office in Fall 2022. 

With nearly 500 employees worldwide, Pythian employs industry experts to help the world’s leading enterprises unlock the value of their data. Learn more about Pythian’s unique culture and career opportunities at https://pythian.com/careers/.

About Great Place to Work® Institute 

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in more than 60 countries and has conducted pioneering research on the characteristics of great workplaces for over three decades. For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.in

In India, the institute partners with more than 1,100 organizations annually across over 22 industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures™ designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work FOR ALL™.

About Pythian

Founded in 1997, Pythian is a leading global services company that helps organizations digitally transform by leveraging the power of data, analytics and the cloud. With a spectrum of solutions ranging from infrastructure modernization and data enablement to application acceleration and business collaboration, Pythian delivers full-lifecycle consulting, professional services and managed services to create outstanding business outcomes. For more information visit www.pythian.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and on our Blog.

Media Contacts

Elizabeth Walsh
Senior Vice President of Marketing
ewalsh@pythian.com
+1 612-605-3559        

Elisabeth Grant
Branch Out Public Relations
egrant@branchoutpr.com
+1 612-599-7797


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CN Ranked as one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens by Corporate Knights

Image for CN Ranked as one of Canada’s Best 50 Corporate Citizens by Corporate Knights

MONTREAL, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the fourteenth consecutive year, CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has earned a place on the Corporate Knights Best 50 Corporate Citizens list.

“We are pleased to have made the top 50 Best Corporate Citizens list. CN believes in Delivering Responsibly. This means moving our customers’ goods safely and efficiently, ensuring we deliver in an environmentally responsible manner; attracting, developing, and retaining top diverse talent; helping to make the communities we serve safer and stronger; and adhering to the highest ethical standards. This is the way we approach our job.”

  • Tracy Robinson, president and chief executive officer of CN.  

To determine the ranking, Corporate Knights analyzed 332 large Canadian organizations against Canadian and global industry peers. Corporate Knights assessed companies’ performance using 24 quantitative key performance indicators (KPIs) related to resource management, employee management, financial management, clean revenue, clean investment and supplier performance. For more information about the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada and the full rankings, visit https://www.corporateknights.com/rankings/best-50-rankings/2022-best-50-rankings

CN has committed to reducing emissions and improving its carbon intensity by 43% by 2030 based on 2019 levels, consistent with stabilizing global temperatures. CN has also formally committed to a 2050 net-zero target for carbon emissions by joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the United Nations’ Race To Zero campaigns, as announced in November 2021. As part of its sustainability strategy to reduce freight transportation emissions through innovation, CN plans to continue to lead the sector by deploying low and no-carbon technologies. The Company has recently announced the purchase of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive, the first 100% battery heavy-haul locomotive in support of its ambitious long-term goals.

For more information on CN’s commitment to a sustainable future, please visit the 2020 Delivering Responsibly Sustainability Report.

About Corporate Knights
Corporate Knights Inc. includes the sustainable-business magazine Corporate Knights and a research division that produces rankings and financial product ratings based on corporate sustainability performance. To read the press release, please visit https://www.corporateknights.com/us/press-releases/.

About CN
CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Contacts:

MediaInvestment Community
Mathieu GaudreaultPaul Butcher
Senior AdvisorVice-President
Media RelationsInvestor Relations
514-249-4735
media@cn.ca
(514) 399-0052
investor.relations@cn.ca

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Unigold provides update on activities; releases first ESG report

Image for Unigold provides update on activities; releases first ESG report

TORONTO, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unigold Inc. (“Unigold” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:UGD; OTCQX: UGDIF; FSE:UGB1) is pleased to provide an update on permitting, engineering and environmental activities surrounding the Candelones Oxide Project. Activities remain on schedule and the Company expects to be able to deliver a NI43-101 compliant feasibility study (“FS”), an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) and an approved Exploitation Concession licence during the third quarter of this year.

In late February 2022, the Company submitted an application to convert a portion of the Neita Exploration Concession into an Exploitation Concession. The application was accepted as complete by the Dirección General de Minería and published in the national press as required by Dominican Mining Law. No material comments were received from the public regarding the application. The perimeter survey work and control points have been checked and verified by the General de Minería who are now finalizing their review. Once this review is complete the Company expects is that a favourable opinion on the technical, economical and social aspects will be granted at which point the application will be passed up to the Ministerio de Energía y Minas for review by the Minister’s office and ultimately sent for Presidential review. The Company is hopeful of receiving the completed Exploitation Concession Licence in the third quarter of this year. Once granted, the licence gives the Company the sole right to extract most metallic minerals from the concession area for 75 years.

The Company is pleased to report that it has filed it’s inaugural Environmental and Social Governance (“ESG”) report. This reporting is an integral part of good corporate governance practice and is absolutely essential as the Company moves towards a production decision. The report is available through our website at www.unigoldinc.com.

The Company commenced ESIA work in Q4/2021. Field work to document flora, fauna, socioeconomic and cultural topics is substantially complete. Hydrographic surveys are on-going and water usage is being documented. This work will continue throughout most of the July-November rainy season. To date, no issues of concern have been identified. A draft report is expected to be tabled for public comment in late September or early October. The Company would like to be in a position to table a final report for approval by the end of the year once all public comments have been deferred or addressed. Environmental permits will be required in advance of construction.

Engineering work continues on the Oxide project in order to convert the 2021 PEA into a feasibility level report. Infill drilling of inferred resource blocks was completed in Q1 of this year and the results incorporated into a new block model and mine plan for the deposit. Final data from large diameter column tests was released in Q1 which showed over 90% recovery could be achieved from Run-of-Mine (“RoM”) material. Detailed topographic surveys were completed in early Q2 in order to support capital cost estimates for earthworks. Geotechnical work around the proposed heap leach pad location also commenced in Q1 and this work is on-going. Detailed testing of mineralized material will likely continue throughout the rest of this year in order to verify the material handling procedures for an eventual operation. Mining contractors have been identified and operating cost estimates for a contract mining operation are being refined. Domestic sources of lime and cement have been identified and budget quotes for delivery have been assembled. Bulk samples of oxidized material have been collected for characterization studies and more thorough column testing in advance of production. This metallurgical work will likely continue into next year. Feasibility design will be based on testwork completed to date. The Company expects to be able to release the results of feasibility level engineering, including updated capital and operating cost estimates, in Q3 of this year. Although inflation will undoubtedly impact both operating and capital cost estimates the PEA utilized Q2/2021 numbers such that the company expects any impact to minimal.

Work on the sulphide portion of the deposit has been suspended for the first half of this year as the Company concentrated on the work necessary to bring the oxide deposits towards a production decision. As this work nears completion in Q3, the Company will start to devote resources to the engineering of the sulphide deposits. The Company would like to be in a position by year-end to demonstrate how the resources available in the sulphide portion of the deposit will fit into a long-term plan for Candelones.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Corporation (as defined herein), information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, including any information as to the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Information concerning the interpretation of drill results, mineral resource and reserve estimates and capital cost estimates may also be deemed as forward-looking statements as such information constitutes a prediction of what mineralization might be found to be present and how much capital will be required if and when a project is actually developed. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about availability of skilled labour, equipment, and materials; the potential of the Corporation's properties to contain economic metals deposits; the Corporation's ability to meet its working capital needs for the future periods and the plans, costs, timing and capital for future exploration and development of the Corporation's property interests. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in market conditions, risks associated with the impact of COVID-19 on the Corporation's operations and business, variations in ore reserves, resources, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to international operations (including legislative, political, social, or economic developments in the jurisdictions in which the Corporation operates), economic factors, government regulation and approvals, environmental and reclamation risks, actual results of exploration activities, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, costs, changes in project parameters, conclusions of economic evaluations, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and the availability of skilled labour, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, capital expenditures and requirements for additional capital, risks associated with internal control over financial reporting, and other risks of the mining industry, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Corporation's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis filed with the securities regulatory authorities in all of the Corporation's reporting jurisdictions in Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the risk factors incorporated by reference herein.

For more information see our full disclosure regarding forward-looking statements on our website at https://unigoldinc.com/profile/forward-looking-statement/ and more information regarding specific risks in Section "3.2 Risk Factors" in our most recent AIF filed on www.sedar.com.

CONTACT: For further information please visit http://www.unigoldinc.com or contact:
Mr. Joseph Hamilton
Chairman & CEO
jhamilton@unigoldinc.com
T. (416) 866-8157

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NFI named one of Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights

Image for NFI named one of Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, today announced that it has been ranked among Corporate Knights’ 2022 Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.

The Best 50 Corporate Citizens represent a rising standard and ambition for corporate sustainability leadership in Canada. To determine the ranking, Corporate Knights analyzed 332 large Canadian organizations against domestic and global industry peers against a suite of 24 quantitative environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) key performance indicators. NFI received top quartile scores on water and nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) productivity, clean revenue (earned from the production of zero-emission buses), clean investment, and above-average performance on board gender diversity.

“It is an honour for NFI Group to be named among the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada, and we are grateful to Corporate Knights for recognizing our initiatives and accomplishments,” said Janice Harper, Executive Vice President, People and Culture, NFI. “Our team has worked exceptionally hard to build our ESG program, and in nurturing deeper diversity across our global team which better positions us for future innovation and growth. As leaders in mass mobility solutions, we play a critical role in driving tangible environmental and social impact: our products help lower emissions, create economic opportunities, and build healthier communities. In addition, through our workplace initiatives, we are generating positive impact for our employees, surrounding communities, and other stakeholders.”

Details on NFI’s workplace initiatives, environmental results, and ESG priorities can be found at nfigroup.com/ESG. As part of the ranking, Corporate Knights published a case study on NFI’s leadership in electric mobility, located at corporateknights.com/earth-index/#nfi.

NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with electric vehicles operating (or on order) in more than 80 cities in six countries. NFI offers the widest range of zero-emission battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches, and its vehicles have completed over 65 million EV service miles, which equates to the prevention of 182,000 imperial tons of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions from entering the environment.

NFI continues to lead the evolution to zero-emission transportation, or ZEvolution™. NFI’s Sustainability Pledge - “Better Product. Better Workplace. Better World” - first adopted in 2006, guides the Company’s daily actions and long-term planning. More information, including NFI’s latest ESG Report, can be found at nfigroup.com/ESG.

NFI supports growing North American cities with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions through a four-pillar approach that includes buses and coaches, technology, infrastructure, and workforce development. NFI also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center (“VIC”), the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development. Since opening in late 2017, the VIC has hosted over 300 interactive events, welcoming 5,000 industry professionals for EV and infrastructure training.

About NFI

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world. With zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.

With 7,500 team members in nine countries, NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motor coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base of over 105,000 buses and coaches around the world. NFI’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol NFI and its convertible unsecured debentures trade on the TSX under the symbol NFI.DB. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com, www.arbocsv.com, and www.carfaircomposites.com.

For sustainability inquiries, please contact:
esg@nfigroup.com

For investor inquiries, please contact:
Stephen King
P: 204.224.6382
Stephen.King@nfigroup.com 


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Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. Releases 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report

Image for Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. Releases 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., June 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH), one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., today announced the release of its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, which is available at investors.tripointehomes.com/ESG. The report details the company’s ideals and endeavors regarding important ESG policies, actions and commitments to advance its sustainability initiatives and positively impact society.

“In 2021, we continued to refine and improve on the initiatives we established for our company in our ESG report last year,” said Doug Bauer, Chief Executive Officer of Tri Pointe Homes. “We are committed to making a difference through responsible business practices, and care deeply about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace for our employees. This report outlines the ways in which Tri Pointe strives to live up to these ideals.”

Tri Pointe Homes’ ESG report highlights its corporate governance practices; commitment to healthy, environmentally and socially responsible business practices and building connected communities; and establishment of a passionate workplace culture, including its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, employee engagement, training and development programs and health and safety practices.

“One of the highlights from an ESG perspective in 2021 was the establishment of a baseline for our company’s carbon emissions,” Bauer added. “This new initiative will help us better understand our carbon footprint and allow us to take a step forward in our efforts to provide greater transparency regarding our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

The report leverages the reporting framework established by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards promulgated by the Value Reporting Foundation for companies within the “Home Builders” industry and the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard for purposes of greenhouse gas emission disclosures, and also highlights several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to which Tri Pointe Homes believes its current strategies and priorities most closely align.

About Tri Pointe Homes®

One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company and a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities in 10 states, with deep ties to the communities it serves—some for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, most recently in 2019, and made Fortune magazine’s 2017 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list. Named one of the Best Places to Work by the Orange County Business Journal for four consecutive years, Tri Pointe Homes was also named as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company in both 2021 and 2022. For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Drew Mackintosh, Mackintosh Investor Relations

InvestorRelations@TriPointeHomes.com, 949-478-8696


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STACK Infrastructure Achieves Industry-Leading Score From Uptime Institute’s Management and Operations Assessment

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Latest M&O scores affirm execution on world-class performance standards for reliability, safety, and consistency

DENVER, June 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STACK Infrastructure (“STACK”), the digital infrastructure partner to the world’s most innovative companies, today announced an industry-leading score of 95 for all STACK Americas’ data centers that recently completed the Uptime Institute’s Management & Operations (M&O) Assessment Program. This achievement confirms STACK’s dedication to exceptional reliability and top-tier operational practices at its facilities.

Uptime Institute is a global authority on data center standards and conducts data center operations assessments by applying learnings and best practices of critical facilities around the world. STACK’s recognition for its operational excellence from Uptime Institute is a testament to its dedication to management and operations practices that increase reliability, reduce risk, and make its locations safer to operate.

“By implementing strategic management and operations standards, as well as first-rate training for our team, we have achieved high M&O scores across our facilities,” said Chief Data Center Officer, Mike Casey. “We utilize the same comprehensive playbook for maintenance, training, policies, and procedures across all of STACK’s sites, which allows us to scale quickly while maintaining operational consistency. I am extremely proud of our entire Critical Operations Department for their ongoing efforts to operate each of our data centers at world-class standards.”

STACK credits its continued recognition for industry-leading operational performance to practices that were perfected and implemented across all STACK data centers by its Operations Department, paired with vigilant safety standards set forth by STACK’s Environment, Health and Safety Department.

“Our commitment to offering maximum scalability alongside stringent reliability and utmost safety is clear in everything we do and is a core value of our business,” said Chief Executive Officer, Brian Cox. “STACK is a proud participant in and supporter of Uptime Institute assessments that give our stakeholders confidence in our industry-leading data center management and operations.”

This top-tier rating assessment for operations builds on STACK’s other recent announcements of new partnerships and best practices that continue to elevate its standards. This includes STACK joining the Infrastructure Masons (“iMasons”) Climate Accord demonstrating its commitment to lead carbon reduction efforts in digital infrastructure, as well as news that STACK accomplished its 2021 sustainability goal to operate its Americas portfolio on 100% renewable energy. Furthermore, STACK announced a new 84MW Northern Virginia campus in April, signed the acquisition of Swiss data center leader Safe Host in May, and announced its entrance to three new markets in Australia in June.


ABOUT STACK INFRASTRUCTURE
STACK provides digital infrastructure to scale the world’s most innovative companies. With a client-first approach, STACK delivers a comprehensive suite of campus, build-to-suit, colocation, and powered shell solutions in the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. With robust existing and flexible expansion capacity in the leading availability zones, STACK offers the scale and geographic reach that rapidly growing hyperscale and enterprise companies need. The world runs on data. And data runs on STACK.

For more information about STACK, please visit: www.stackinfra.com.

Media Contacts
Sammer Khalaf
press@stackinfra.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d2d2e6d-2d6a-4603-826b-2bb83785c173


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Velocity Reports AGM Results

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Publishes 2021 ESG Report

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velocity Minerals Ltd. (TSX.V: VLC) (“Velocity” or the “Company”) reports the results of its annual general meeting (the “Meeting”) of shareholders held on June 24, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia. All the motions presented to the shareholders were approved.

Votes representing 115,802,047 shares were cast, representing 72.25% of the issued and outstanding shares at the record date. A summary of the Meeting results is outlined below.

MotionVotes for the MotionPercentage of Votes in Favour
Number of Directors115,802,047100%
Keith Henderson115,802,047100%
Mark Cruise115,802,047100%
Daniel Marinov115,802,047100%
Michael Hoffman115,802,047100%
Chris Batalha115,802,047100%
Appointment of Auditor115,802,047100%
Ratification and Approval of Stock Option Plan115,802,047100%

2021 ESG Report

The Company has published its 2021 ESG Report (the “Report”), which is available for download on the Velocity Minerals web site. In the 2021 ESG report we maintain our focus on reducing emissions, protecting diversity, as well as the safety and training of our people. The 2021 report has been expanded to include, among many activities, volunteering at Earth Day, establishing honeybees at our project, providing healthcare to employees, and receiving international standards (ISO) certification for Environmental Management, Occupational Health & Safety Management, and Quality Management Systems.

About Velocity Minerals Ltd.

Velocity is an exploration and development company focused on southeastern Bulgaria.  Velocity’s strategy is to develop a low cost centralized “Hub and Spoke” operation whereby multiple projects within this emerging district produce concentrates for trucking to a central processing plant for production of doré. Velocity has a 70% interest in the Tintyava property, which includes the Rozino project, a 70% interest in the Momchil property, which includes the Obichnik project, a 70% interest in the Nadezhda property, which includes the Makedontsi project, and a 100% interest in the Iglika property. Velocity’s management and board includes mining industry professionals with combined experience spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas as employees of major mining companies as well as founders and senior executives of junior to mid-tier public companies.  The team’s experience includes all aspects of mineral exploration, resource definition, feasibility, finance, mine construction and mine operation as well as a track record in managing publicly listed companies.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

“Keith Henderson”

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson
Phone: +1-604-484-1233
E-mail: info@velocityminerals.com
Web: www.velocityminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, but not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration and testing carried out on the Project; use of funds; and the future business and operations of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by words such as “pro forma”, “plans”, “expects”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “potential” or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company’s projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company’s projects and the Company’s ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities for the Project, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs for the Project, actual results of exploration activities, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, if any, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital to fund the Company's business plan, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the existence, timing and possible outcome of litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.


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Euroseas Ltd. Announces 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report

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ATHENS, Greece, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA), an owner and operator of container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for containerized cargoes, announced today the publication of its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report which was developed in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the NASDAQ ESG reporting guidelines.

To download a copy of the report, please visit the Company’s website:
http://www.euroseas.gr/company/sustainability.html

The Report highlights the priorities and goals, and provides extensive information about the Company’s activities, including corporate governance, operational excellence, and the ways in which it measures and manages its impact on the environment, its people and society.

Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO commented: “This second annual ESG Report further demonstrates our commitment to industry decarbonization and reflects our sustainability vision along with future plans for digital innovation, fleet renewal and expansion using efficient technologies and lower emission fuels. Sustainability remains at the core of our business operations, and we continue to work on initiatives that drive growth and create lasting value for the maritime sector, seafarers and communities.”

About Euroseas Ltd.
Euroseas Ltd. was formed on May 5, 2005 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to consolidate the ship owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 140 years.

Euroseas trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker ESEA. Euroseas operates in the container shipping market. Euroseas' operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company, which is responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. Euroseas employs its vessels on spot and period charters and through pool arrangements.

The Company has a fleet of 18 vessels, including 10 Feeder containerships and 8 Intermediate containerships. Euroseas 18 containerships have a cargo capacity of 58,871 teu. After the delivery of nine feeder containership newbuildings in 2023 and 2024, Euroseas’ fleet will consist of 27 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 81,071 teu.

Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy; including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include but are not limited to changes in the demand for containerships, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Visit the Company’s website www.euroseas.gr

Company ContactInvestor Relations / Financial Media 
Tasos Aslidis Nicolas Bornozis
Chief Financial Officer  Markella Kara
Euroseas Ltd. Capital Link, Inc.
11 Canterbury Lane 230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540
Watchung, NJ 07069 New York, NY 10169
Tel. (908) 301-9091  Tel: (212)661-7566
Email: aha@euroseas.gr  Email: euroseas@capitallink.com 

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