Business Wire News

ANKENY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Casey’s General Stores, Inc., ("Casey's" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CASY) one of the leading convenience store chains in the United States, today announced financial results for the three months and year ended April 30, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Key Highlights

  • Diluted EPS of $1.12.
  • Fuel margin of 33.0 cents per gallon. Fuel same-store gallons sold up 6.4%.
  • Inside same-store sales were up 12.8% as inside guest counts steadily improved. Inside margin improved 100 basis points to 39.9% as compared to prior year.

Fiscal Year 2021 Key Highlights

  • Closed fiscal 2021 with Diluted EPS of $8.38, an all-time high.
  • Casey's generated strong cash flow and ended the year with a healthy balance sheet.
  • Annual digital sales increased 96% compared to prior year with 3.6 million Casey’s Rewards members at fiscal year-end.
  • Casey's recently closed on the Buchanan Energy acquisition and anticipates closing on the previously disclosed Circle K acquisition in June.

Casey’s achieved remarkable results throughout the year in one of the most difficult retail environments of our lifetime," said Darren Rebelez, President and CEO. “The entire Casey’s team proved themselves resilient in spite of these challenges, and made excellent progress on our long-term strategic plan while keeping our people and communities safe. We have great momentum behind our digital engagement efforts, our private brand products have resonated with our guests, our prepared foods business is regaining traction, and we are in the process of welcoming two large acquisitions to the Casey's family. We are now poised to emerge from the pandemic an even stronger company.”

Earnings

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Net income (in thousands)

$

41,698

 

 

$

62,091

 

 

$

312,900

 

 

$

263,846

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

1.12

 

 

$

1.67

 

 

$

8.38

 

 

$

7.10

 

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)

$

140,556

 

 

$

158,961

 

 

$

728,924

 

 

$

650,136

 

Net income, Diluted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA (reconciled later in the document) in the fourth quarter were down as compared to the prior year due primarily to lower fuel margin and higher operating expenses, partially offset by higher inside gross profit.

Fuel

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Fuel gallons sold (in thousands)

535,274

 

 

487,708

 

 

 

2,180,772

 

 

 

2,293,609

 

 

Same-store gallons sold

6.4

%

 

(14.7

)

%

 

(8.1

)

%

 

(5.1

)

%

Fuel gross profit (in thousands)

$

176,664

 

 

$

198,803

 

 

 

$

761,247

 

 

 

$

614,847

 

 

Fuel margin (cents per gallon, excluding credit card fees)

33.0

¢

 

40.8

 

¢

 

34.9

 

¢

 

26.8

 

¢

 

Same-store gallons sold were up significantly in the back half of the quarter due to the favorable comparison to the start of the pandemic a year ago. The Company’s overall fuel gross profit was down 11% primarily due to the unusually high fuel margin achieved last year via supply and demand shocks from COVID-19 and macroeconomic conditions in the oil industry. The centralized fuel team coupled with procurement improvements contributed to the Company's fuel margin of 33.0 cents per gallon. The Company did not sell RINs during the fourth quarter, as compared to selling $2.6 million in the prior year.

Inside

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Inside sales (in thousands)

$

913,364

 

 

$

797,933

 

 

$

3,811,521

 

 

$

3,596,173

 

Inside same-store sales

12.8

%

 

(5.6)

%

 

4.0

%

 

0.8

%

Grocery and other merchandise same-store sales increase

12.5

%

 

(2.0)

%

 

6.6

%

 

1.9

%

Prepared food and fountain same-store sales (decrease) increase

13.4

%

 

(13.5)

%

 

(2.1)

%

 

(1.5)

%

Inside gross profit (in thousands)

$

364,872

 

 

$

310,695

 

 

$

1,526,262

 

 

$

1,468,232

 

Inside margin

39.9

%

 

38.9

%

 

40.0

%

 

40.8

%

Grocery and other merchandise margin

31.8

%

 

30.4

%

 

32.0

%

 

32.0

%

Prepared food and fountain margin

60.1

%

 

60.0

%

 

60.1

%

 

60.9

%

Inside same-store sales were driven by a resurgence in pizza slices, dispensed beverage, and bakery as Casey’s began lapping COVID-19 related traffic disruption. Whole pizza pie sales remained strong throughout the quarter as well. Inside margins improved primarily due to strategic sourcing initiatives and previous merchandise resets, along with a favorable mix shift of private brands, packaged beverage, and prepared foods.

Operating Expenses

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Operating expenses (in thousands)

$

426,308

 

 

$

367,489

 

 

$

1,637,191

 

 

$

1,498,043

 

Credit card fees (in thousands)

$

38,981

 

 

$

30,509

 

 

$

147,366

 

 

$

145,165

 

Same-store operating expense excluding credit card fees

6.5

%

 

0.0

%

 

3.0

%

 

2.9

%

Operating expenses for the fourth quarter were up primarily due to increased store-level operating hours and costs as we lapped COVID-19 related shutdowns from the same time a year ago. Also contributing to the increase were $8 million in incremental incentive compensation expense due to strong financial performance, higher credit card fees due to the rising retail price of fuel and increased volume, and operating 36 more stores than this time last year.

Expansion

 

Store Count

Stores at April 30, 2020

2,207

New store construction

40

Acquisitions

5

Acquisitions not opened

(3)

Prior acquisitions opened

5

Closed

(11)

Stores at April 30, 2021

2,243

Liquidity

At April 30, the Company had approximately $810 million in available liquidity, consisting of approximately $335 million in cash and cash equivalents on hand and $475 million in undrawn borrowing capacity on existing lines of credit.

Share Repurchase

The Company has $300 million remaining under its existing share repurchase program which expires in April 2022. There were no repurchases made against that authorization in the fourth quarter.

Dividend

At its June meeting, the Board of Directors voted to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share. The dividend is payable August 16, 2021 to shareholders of record on August 2, 2021.

Buchanan Energy Transaction

On May 13, 2021, Casey's closed on the Buchanan Energy acquisition. The transaction was financed with a $300 million draw on a bank term loan and cash. Buchanan Energy is expected to add approximately $45 million in annual EBITDA contribution in fiscal 2022, but will be dilutive in the first quarter due to the related transaction costs.

Fiscal 2022 Outlook

Casey's expects to build on the momentum of fiscal 2021, however, uncertainty remains regarding the timing of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company expects same-store fuel and inside sales to increase by mid-single digit percentages. Total operating expenses are expected to increase by mid-teen percentages, driven primarily by adding approximately 200 units during fiscal 2022, as well as expenses related to adding back operating hours to the stores and expected wage pressures. Depreciation and amortization is expected to be approximately $300 million, interest expense is expected to be approximately $50 million, and the tax rate is expected to be approximately 26.0%. The Company is also expecting to add approximately $500 million in property and equipment in the fiscal year, including acquisition remodels. As a reminder, with the exception of same-store sales, the estimates in this paragraph include the impact of the Buchanan Energy and Circle K acquisitions. 

 

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Total revenue

$

2,378,236

 

 

$

1,812,883

 

 

$

8,707,189

 

 

$

9,175,296

 

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)

1,817,244

 

 

1,287,813

 

 

6,350,754

 

 

7,030,612

 

Operating expenses

426,308

 

 

367,489

 

 

1,637,191

 

 

1,498,043

 

Depreciation and amortization

69,897

 

 

65,193

 

 

265,195

 

 

251,174

 

Interest, net

11,168

 

 

13,806

 

 

46,679

 

 

53,419

 

Income before income taxes

53,619

 

 

78,582

 

 

407,370

 

 

342,048

 

Federal and state income taxes

11,921

 

 

16,491

 

 

94,470

 

 

78,202

 

Net income

$

41,698

 

 

$

62,091

 

 

$

312,900

 

 

$

263,846

 

Net income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

1.12

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

$

8.44

 

 

$

7.14

 

Diluted

$

1.12

 

 

$

1.67

 

 

$

8.38

 

 

$

7.10

 

Basic weighted average shares

37,117,504

 

 

36,978,032

 

 

37,092,273

 

 

36,956,115

 

Plus effect of stock compensation

263,969

 

 

229,229

 

 

263,865

 

 

229,713

 

Diluted weighted average shares

37,381,473

 

 

37,207,261

 

 

37,356,138

 

 

37,185,828

 

 

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

April 30, 2021

 

April 30, 2020

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

336,545

 

 

$

78,275

 

Receivables

79,698

 

 

48,500

 

Inventories

286,598

 

 

236,007

 

Prepaid expenses

11,214

 

 

9,801

 

Income taxes receivable

9,578

 

 

14,667

 

Total current assets

723,633

 

 

387,250

 

Other assets, net of amortization

82,147

 

 

71,766

 

Goodwill

161,075

 

 

161,075

 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,206,405 at April 30, 2021 and $2,037,708 at April 30, 2020

3,493,459

 

 

3,323,801

 

Total assets

$

4,460,314

 

 

$

3,943,892

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Lines of credit

$

 

 

$

120,000

 

Current maturities of long-term debt and finance lease obligations

2,354

 

 

570,280

 

Accounts payable

355,471

 

 

184,800

 

Accrued expenses

254,924

 

 

188,348

 

Total current liabilities

612,749

 

 

1,063,428

 

Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current maturities

1,361,395

 

 

714,502

 

Deferred income taxes

439,721

 

 

435,598

 

Deferred compensation

15,094

 

 

13,604

 

Insurance accruals, net of current portion

26,239

 

 

22,862

 

Other long-term liabilities

72,437

 

 

50,693

 

Total liabilities

2,527,635

 

 

2,300,687

 

Total shareholders’ equity

1,932,679

 

 

1,643,205

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

4,460,314

 

 

$

3,943,892

 

 

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Twelve months ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

Net income

$

312,900

 

 

$

263,846

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

265,195

 

 

251,174

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

1,603

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

31,986

 

 

18,129

 

Loss on disposal of assets and impairment charges

 

9,680

 

 

3,495

 

Deferred income taxes

 

4,123

 

 

49,810

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Receivables

 

(26,278

)

 

(10,644

)

Inventories

 

(50,342

)

 

37,713

 

Prepaid expenses

 

(1,413

)

 

(2,308

)

Accounts payable

 

166,546

 

 

(140,151

)

Accrued expenses

 

65,497

 

 

26,400

 

Income taxes

 

5,714

 

 

15,783

 

Other, net

 

18,877

 

 

(8,933

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

804,088

 

 

504,314

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(441,252

)

 

(438,977

)

Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(9,356

)

 

(32,706

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

6,268

 

 

5,041

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(444,340

)

 

(466,642

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

650,000

 

 

 

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(571,661

)

 

(17,476

)

Payments of debt issuance costs

 

(5,525

)

 

 

Net (payments) borrowings of short-term debt

 

(120,000

)

 

45,000

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

1,784

 

 

2,958

 

Payments of cash dividends

 

(47,971

)

 

(45,951

)

Tax withholdings on employee share-based awards

 

(8,105

)

 

(7,224

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(101,478

)

 

(22,693

)

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

258,270

14,979

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

 

78,275

63,296

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

$

336,545

$

78,275

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

 

Twelve months ended April 30,

 

2021

   

2020

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

   

 

 

Interest, net of amount capitalized

$

48,508

   

$

54,277

 

Income taxes, net

80,916

   

9,364

 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

 

   

 

 

Purchased property and equipment in accounts payable

9,204

   

5,328

 

Noncash additions from adoption of ASC 842

   

22,635

 

Summary by Category (Amounts in thousands)

Three months ended April 30, 2021

Fuel

 

Grocery &
Other
Merchandise

 

Prepared Food
& Fountain

 

Other

 

Total

Revenue

$

1,445,119

 

 

$

649,822

 

 

$

263,542

 

 

$

19,753

 

 

$

2,378,236

 

Gross profit

$

176,664

 

 

$

206,480

 

 

$

158,392

 

 

$

19,456

 

 

$

560,992

 

 

12.2

%

 

31.8

%

 

60.1

%

 

98.5

%

 

23.6

%

Fuel gallons sold

535,274

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended April 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

$

999,352

 

 

$

568,080

 

 

$

229,853

 

 

$

15,598

 

 

$

1,812,883

 

Gross profit

$

198,803

 

 

$

172,862

 

 

$

137,833

 

 

$

15,572

 

 

$

525,070

 

 

19.9

%

 

30.4

%

 

60.0

%

 

99.8

%

 

29.0

%

Fuel gallons sold

487,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary by Category (Amounts in thousands)

Twelve months ended April 30, 2021

Fuel

 

Grocery &
Other

Merchandise

 

Prepared Food
& Fountain

 

Other

 

Total

Revenue

$

4,825,466

 

 

$

2,724,374

 

 

$

1,087,147

 

 

$

70,202

 

 

$

8,707,189

 

Gross profit

$

761,247

 

 

$

872,573

 

 

$

653,689

 

 

$

68,926

 

 

$

2,356,435

 

 

15.8

%

 

32.0

%

 

60.1

%

 

98.2

%

 

27.1

%

Fuel gallons sold

2,180,772

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve months ended April 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

$

5,517,412

 

 

$

2,498,966

 

 

$

1,097,207

 

 

$

61,711

 

 

$

9,175,296

 

Gross profit

$

614,847

 

 

$

800,140

 

 

$

668,092

 

 

$

61,605

 

 

$

2,144,684

 

 

11.1

%

 

32.0

%

 

60.9

%

 

99.8

%

 

23.4

%

Fuel gallons sold

2,293,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel Gallons

 

Fuel Margin

Same-store Sales

(Cents per gallon, excluding credit card fees)

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

F2021

(14.6

)

%

 

(8.6

)%

 

(12.1

)%

 

6.4

%

 

(8.1

)%

F2021

38.2

¢

 

35.3

¢

 

32.9

¢

 

33.0

¢

 

34.9

¢

F2020

(2.0

)

 

 

(1.8

)

 

 

(2.0

)

 

 

(14.7

)

 

 

(5.1

)

 

F2020

24.4

 

 

22.9

 

 

21.7

 

 

40.8

 

 

26.8

 

F2019

0.5

 

 

 

(1.1

)

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

(2.8

)

 

 

(1.7

)

 

F2019

20.5

 

 

20.0

 

 

22.1

 

 

18.6

 

 

20.3

 

Grocery & Other Merchandise

 

Grocery & Other Merchandise

Same-store Sales

Margin

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

F2021

3.6

%

 

6.6

%

 

5.4

%

 

12.5

%

 

6.6

%

F2021

32.2

%

 

33.3

%

 

30.7

%

 

31.8

%

 

32.0

%

F2020

3.2

 

 

3.2

 

 

3.5

 

 

(2.0

)

 

 

1.9

 

F2020

31.3

 

 

33.3

 

 

32.9

 

 

30.4

 

 

32.0

 

F2019

3.2

 

 

2.7

 

 

3.4

 

 

5.7

 

 

 

3.6

 

F2019

32.4

 

 

32.4

 

 

31.9

 

 

31.5

 

 

32.1

 

Prepared Food & Fountain

 

Prepared Food & Fountain

Same-store Sales

Margin

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

 

Q1

 

Q2

 

Q3

 

Q4

 

Fiscal
Year

F2021

(9.8

)%

 

(3.6

)%

 

(5.0

)%

 

13.4

%

 

(2.1

)%

F2021

59.7

%

 

60.1

%

 

60.6

%

 

60.1

%

 

60.1

%

F2020

1.6

 

 

 

1.9

 

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

(13.5

)

 

 

(1.5

)

 

F2020

62.2

 

 

60.9

 

 

60.2

 

 

60.0

 

 

60.9

 

F2019

1.7

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

1.5

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

1.9

 

 

F2019

62.0

 

 

62.4

 

 

62.3

 

 

62.2

 

 

62.2

 

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

We define EBITDA as net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further adjusts EBITDA by excluding the gain or loss on disposal of assets as well as impairment charges. Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA are considered GAAP measures, and should not be considered as a substitute for net income, cash flows from operating activities or other income or cash flow statement data. These measures have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. We strongly encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because securities analysts and other interested parties use such calculations as a measure of financial performance and debt service capabilities, and they are regularly used by the Company for internal purposes including our capital budgeting process, evaluating acquisition targets, assessing performance, and awarding incentive compensation.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. It therefore may not be possible to compare our use of these non-GAAP financial measures with those used by other companies.

The following table contains a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and twelve months ended April 30, 2021 and 2020:

(In thousands)

Three Months Ended April 30,

 

Twelve Months Ended April 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Net income

$

41,698

 

 

$

62,091

 

 

$

312,900

 

 

$

263,846

 

Interest, net

11,168

 

 

13,806

 

 

46,679

 

 

53,419

 

Depreciation and amortization

69,897

 

 

65,193

 

 

265,195

 

 

251,174

 

Federal and state income taxes

11,921

 

 

16,491

 

 

94,470

 

 

78,202

 

EBITDA

$

134,684

 

 

$

157,581

 

 

$

719,244

 

 

$

646,641

 

Loss on disposal of assets and impairment charges

5,872

 

 

1,380

 

 

9,680

 

 

3,495

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

140,556

 

 

$

158,961

 

 

$

728,924

 

 

$

650,136

 

NOTES:

  • Gross Profit or Margin is defined as revenue less cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)
  • Inside is defined as the combination of Grocery and Other Merchandise and Prepared Food and Fountain

This release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those related to the Buchanan Energy and Circle K acquisition, expectations for future periods, possible or assumed future results of operations, financial conditions, liquidity and related sources or needs, business and/or integration strategies, plans and synergies, supply chain, growth opportunities, performance at our stores, and the potential effect of COVID-19. There are a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the timing and integration of the foregoing acquisitions, executing our strategic plan, the impact and duration of COVID-19 and related governmental actions, as well as other risks, uncertainties and factors which are described in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on our website. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release represent our current views as of the date of this release with respect to future events, and Casey’s disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in the release whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Corporate information is available at this website: https://www.caseys.com. Earnings will be reported during a conference call on June 9, 2021. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at 7:30 a.m. CST. To access the call, go to the Events and Presentations section of our website at https://investor.caseys.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. No access code is required. A webcast replay of the call will remain available in an archived format on the Events and Presentations section of our website at https://investor.caseys.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx for one year after the call.


Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Brian Johnson (515) 965-6587

Media Relations Contact:
Katie Petru (515) 446-6772

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sherritt International Corporation (“Sherritt”) (TSX: S), a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel and cobalt, today announced that it has received a combined total of US$28 million in distributions as a result of the latest dividend declared by the Moa Joint Venture (“Moa JV”).


The combined total consists of Sherritt’s 50% share of the distribution, or US$14 million, and US$14 million re-directed by the General Nickel Company, Sherritt’s joint venture partner, from its 50% share to be applied against amounts owed to Sherritt from Energas. Through June 4, Sherritt has received a total of US$33 million in distributions from the Moa JV in 2021.

“The receipt of 100% of dividends declared by the Moa JV is indicative of strong operational performance and improved nickel and cobalt prices in 2021,” said Leon Binedell, President and CEO of Sherritt International. “Just as important, it demonstrates the flexibility and resourcefulness of our Cuban partners in addressing overdue amounts owed in light of the economic challenges the country faces as a result of ongoing U.S. sanctions and the impact of COVID-19.”

The Corporation also announced that its planned full-facility maintenance shutdown of the refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta will be deferred to August from the previously scheduled June period to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 on employee and contractor health and safety.

“Ensuring the health and safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate are of paramount importance,” Mr. Binedell said. “While the number of local COVID-19 cases is declining and vaccinations accelerating, we elected to take extra caution and deferred the plant-wide maintenance shutdown until the third quarter. Although this rescheduling will not impact our guidance for the year, it will result in finished production totals to be higher in Q2 and lower in Q3 than previously anticipated.”

Consistent with previous disclosure, Sherritt’s full-facility shutdown will last approximately 11 days and include all of the refinery and utility plants. Sherritt’s guidance for 2021 production, unit cost and capital spend at the Moa JV will not be impacted by the rescheduling of the shutdown.

About Sherritt
Sherritt is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel and cobalt – metals essential for the growing adoption of electric vehicles. Its Technologies Group creates innovative, proprietary solutions for oil and mining companies around the world to improve environmental performance and increase economic value. Sherritt is also the largest independent energy producer in Cuba. Sherritt’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “S”.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of statements that include such words as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “forecast”, “likely”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “suspect”, “outlook”, “potential”, “projected”, “continue” or other similar words or phrases. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements regarding rescheduled shutdown timing and anticipated production, unit cost and capital spend at the Moa JV.

Forward looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations, assumptions and projections about future events, including commodity and product prices and demand; the level of liquidity and access to funding; production results; realized prices for production; rehabilitation provisions; availability of regulatory and creditor approvals and waivers; compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; and certain corporate objectives, goals and plans. By their nature, forward looking statements require the Corporation to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that those assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections.

The Corporation cautions readers of this press release not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statement as a number of factors could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the global price for nickel, cobalt, oil and gas, fertilizers or certain other commodities; level of liquidity; access to capital; access to financing; the risk to Sherritt’s entitlements to future distributions from the Moa Joint Venture; risks associated with the Corporation’s joint venture partner; variability in production at Sherritt’s operations in Cuba; risks related to Sherritt’s operations in Cuba; risks related to the U.S. government policy toward Cuba, including the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the Helms-Burton legislation; potential interruptions in transportation; uncertainty of gas supply for electrical generation; the Corporation’s reliance on key personnel and skilled workers; the possibility of equipment and other failures; risks associated with mining, processing and refining activities; uncertainty of resources and reserve estimates; the potential for shortages of equipment and supplies, including diesel; supplies quality issues; risks related to environmental liabilities including liability for reclamation costs, tailings facility failures and toxic gas releases; risks related to the Corporation’s corporate structure; political, economic and other risks of foreign operations; risks associated with Sherritt’s operation of large projects generally; risks related to the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates; foreign exchange and pricing risks; compliance with applicable environment, health and safety legislation and other associated matters; risks associated with governmental regulations regarding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions; risks relating to community relations and maintaining the Corporation’s social license to grow and operate; credit risks; competition in product markets; risks in obtaining insurance; uncertainties in labour relations; uncertainty in the ability of the Corporation to enforce legal rights in foreign jurisdictions; uncertainty regarding the interpretation and/or application of the applicable laws in foreign jurisdictions; legal contingencies; identification and management of growth opportunities; uncertainty in the ability of the Corporation to obtain government permits; risks to information technologies systems and cybersecurity; failure to comply with, or changes to, applicable government regulations; bribery and corruption risks, including failure to comply with the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act or applicable local anti-corruption law; the ability to accomplish corporate objectives, goals and plans for 2021; and the Corporation’s ability to meet other factors listed from time to time in the Corporation’s continuous disclosure documents. Additional risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to achieve its financial goals; the ability of the Corporation to implement and successfully achieve its business priorities; and the ability of the Corporation to comply with its contractual obligations, including, without limitation, its obligations under debt arrangements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in this press release and in the Corporation’s other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the Annual Information Form of the Corporation dated March 17, 2021 for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The Corporation may, from time to time, make oral forward-looking statements. The Corporation advises that the above paragraph and the risk factors described in this press release and in the Corporation’s other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities should be read for a description of certain factors that could cause the actual results of the Corporation to differ materially from those in the oral forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any oral or written forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information and statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.


Contacts

Joe Racanelli, Director of Investor Relations
Telephone: 416-935-2457
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.sherritt.com

MONTREAL & KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) and Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) (“KCS”) today issued the following statement in response to the Surface Transportation Board’s (“STB”) decision to issue a timetable for reviewing the voting trust in connection with the companies’ definitive merger agreement:


We are happy with the timetable that the STB has set for reviewing our voting trust, marking another important step on the path to creating the premier railway for the 21st century. We look forward to the STB’s review and we are confident that our voting trust will be approved.

The plain vanilla voting trust, which is identical to the CP trust approved for use by the STB, is an integral component of the CN-KCS combination. It prevents premature control of KCS, allows KCS to maintain independence and protects KCS’ financial health during the STB’s review of the ultimate combination of CN and KCS. It also enables KCS shareholders to realize the full value of their shares without the delay related to this review.

As CN and KCS explained in their May 26, 2021, motion for voting trust approval, the CN-KCS combination offers multiple public interest benefits, including seamless single-owner, single-operator service, new and faster routes, significant environmental protections and increased supply chain efficiency. Specifically, through the creation of this true end-to-end merger, CN and KCS will:

  • Facilitate coordinated investment into new single-line routes and will eliminate delays associated with interchanges;
  • Reduce cycle and transit times while also providing for more reliable and timely service for customers;
  • Offer more cost-effective access to Southern markets in the United States and Mexico, accelerating USMCA’s economic benefits; and
  • Provide significant environmental benefits by reducing the amount of long-haul trucking traffic on the road in six major shipper market segments.

The proposed combination creates an end-to-end merger and provides no risk to competition. Customers will not lose any existing routing options because CN and KCS are committed to preserving access to all existing gateways to enhance route choices and to ensure robust price competition. This is underscored by the overwhelming support we continue to receive from customers and other stakeholders. We have received more than 1,400 letters of support filed to date, highlighting advantages such as improved service, more shipping options and greater efficiency. 293 of the latest support letters filed on June 2, 2021 cite specific support for use of the voting trust.

We look forward to receiving further public comment and engagement during the STB’s official public comment period, which will be open until June 28, 2021. We are confident that the STB will approve our voting trust and allow us to complete the transaction so that we can deliver the many compelling benefits of this combination to customers, ports, employees, communities and the environment.

For more information on CN’s pro-competitive combination with KCS, please visit www.ConnectedContinent.com.

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 19,500-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.

About Kansas City Southern

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) is a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama. Its primary U.S. holding is The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, serving the central and south central U.S. Its international holdings include Kansas City Southern de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., serving northeastern and central Mexico and the port cities of Lázaro Cárdenas, Tampico and Veracruz, and a 50 percent interest in Panama Canal Railway Company, providing ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger service along the Panama Canal. KCS' North American rail holdings and strategic alliances with other North American rail partners are primary components of a unique railway system, linking the commercial and industrial centers of the U.S., Mexico and Canada. More information about KCS can be found at www.kcsouthern.com

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, including statements based on management’s assessment and assumptions and publicly available information with respect to KCS, regarding the proposed transaction between CN and KCS, the expected benefits of the proposed transaction and future opportunities for the combined company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. CN 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 are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of CN, or the combined company, to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the outcome of the proposed transaction between CN and KCS; the parties’ ability to consummate the proposed transaction; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction; that the regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule or at all; CN’s indebtedness, including the substantial indebtedness CN expects to incur and assume in connection with the proposed transaction and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; CN’s ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the possibility that CN may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate KCS’ operations with those of CN; that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; that operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the proposed transaction or the public announcement of the proposed transaction; the retention of certain key employees of KCS may be difficult; the duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, general economic and business conditions, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; industry competition; inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations; changes in fuel prices; legislative and/or regulatory developments; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; actions by regulators; the adverse impact of any termination or revocation by the Mexican government of KCS de México, S.A. de C.V.’s Concession; increases in maintenance and operating costs; security threats; reliance on technology and related cybersecurity risk; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; transportation of hazardous materials; various events which could disrupt operations, including illegal blockades of rail networks, and natural events such as severe weather, droughts, fires, floods and earthquakes; climate change; labor negotiations and disruptions; environmental claims; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; timing and completion of capital programs; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should also be made to Management’s Discussion and Analysis in CN’s annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F, filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators and available on CN’s website, for a description of major risk factors relating to CN. Additional risks that may affect KCS’ results of operations appear in Part I, Item 1A “Risks Related to KCS’s Operations and Business” of KCS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in KCS’ other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

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.

No Offer or Solicitation

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, CN will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 to register the shares to be issued in connection with the proposed transaction. The registration statement will include a preliminary proxy statement of KCS which, when finalized, will be sent to the stockholders of KCS seeking their approval of the merger-related proposals. This news release is not a substitute for the proxy statement or registration statement or other document CN and/or KCS may file with the SEC or applicable securities regulators in Canada in connection with the proposed transaction.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S), TENDER OFFER STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC OR APPLICABLE SECURITIES REGULATORS IN CANADA CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CN, KCS AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Any definitive proxy statement(s), registration statement or prospectus(es) and other documents filed by CN and KCS (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of CN and/or KCS, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada by CN free of charge through at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Copies of the documents filed by CN (if and when available) will also be made available free of charge by accessing CN’s website at www.CN.ca. Copies of the documents filed by KCS (if and when available) will also be made available free of charge at www.investors.kcsouthern.com, upon written request delivered to KCS at 427 West 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by calling KCS’s Corporate Secretary’s Office by telephone at 1-888-800-3690 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Participants

This news release is neither a solicitation of a proxy nor a substitute for any proxy statement or other filings that may be made with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada. Nonetheless, CN, KCS, and certain of their directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transactions. Information about CN’s executive officers and directors is available in its 2021 Management Information Circular, dated March 9, 2021, as well as its 2020 Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on February 1, 2021, in each case available on its website at www.CN.ca/investors/ and at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Information about KCS’ directors and executive officers may be found on its website at www.kcsouthern.com and in its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2021, available at www.investors.kcsouthern.com and www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents filed with the SEC and applicable securities regulators in Canada if and when they become available. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and from www.sedar.com, as applicable.


Contacts

Media: CN
Canada
Mathieu Gaudreault
CN Media Relations & Public Affairs
(514) 249-4735
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Longview Communications & Public Affairs
Martin Cej
(403) 512-5730
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

United States
Brunswick Group
Jonathan Doorley / Rebecca Kral
(917) 459-0419 / (917) 818-9002
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media: KCS
C. Doniele Carlson
KCS Corporate Communications & Community Affairs
(816) 983-1372
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Tim Lynch / Ed Trissel
(212) 355-4449

Investment Community: CN
Paul Butcher
Vice-President
Investor Relations
(514) 399-0052
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Investment Community: KCS
Ashley Thorne
Vice President
Investor Relations
(816) 983-1530
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
Dan Burch / Laurie Connell
(212) 929-5748 / (212) 378-7071

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enevate, a pioneering battery innovation company featuring extreme fast charge and high energy density battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs) and other markets, announced a new production license agreement with EnerTech International to commercialize Enevate's silicon-dominant, XFC-Energy™ battery technology in the transportation, mobility and reserve power markets.


South Korea-based EnerTech International is a leader in delivering lithium-ion cells using state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to high-performance, large format batteries in demand by today’s rapidly growing markets.

This production license agreement with EnerTech is the next milestone in Enevate's technology roadmap that leads to commercialization scheduled for 2022. Pre-production batteries have been built and tested using EnerTech's existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment. With the agreement, Enevate will deliver enabling technology to accelerate EnerTech's market expansion and triple its manufacturing capacity output.

Enevate's next-gen lithium-ion battery technology delivers up to 10 times faster charging than conventional lithium-ion batteries with high energy densities along with a host of other benefits, including improved safety and low-temperature operation for cold climates. With its Extreme Fast Charge capability, Enevate technology allows for a battery to charge in as fast as five minutes.

"Combining EnerTech's world-class manufacturing base with Enevate's revolutionizing technology will enable our growth plans across multiple segments as we match development pace with our customers' ever-increasing battery specification requirements, now and into the future," said Duke Oh, CEO EnerTech International.

"This production license agreement with EnerTech represents another step toward establishing Enevate technology as the de facto standard for offering fast charge, high energy density, and improved safety," said Enevate CEO Robert A. Rango. "The next-generation battery technology is here today."

As the global advanced battery markets push the limits of battery technology, cost targets remain a critical parameter to making next-generation battery technology accessible and affordable to everyone. Therefore, technology versatility and manufacturability are necessary, and those attributes are defining features of Enevate's technology. Enevate's breakthrough battery technology is compatible with lithium-ion cathode chemistries plus solid-state electrolytes and is manufacturable using existing production lines and capital equipment.

ABOUT ENEVATE (www.enevate.com)

Enevate develops and licenses advanced battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs) and other advanced battery markets, with a vision of EVs charging as fast as refueling gas cars, accessible and affordable to everyone, and accelerating EVs' mass adoption. With a portfolio of more than 400 patents issued and in process, Enevate's pioneering advancements (leveraging accelerated battery testing and machine learning) in silicon-dominant anodes and cells have resulted in battery technology that features five-minute extreme fast charging with high energy density, low-temperature operation for cold climates, low cost and safety advantages over conventional batteries.

Enevate's vision is to develop and propagate battery technology that contributes to a clean and sustainable environment. The Irvine, California-based company's investors include Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (Alliance Ventures), LG Chem, Samsung Venture Investment Corp, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Mission Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Tsing Capital, Infinite Potential Technologies, Presidio Ventures – a Sumitomo Corporation company, Lenovo, CEC Capital, and Bangchak. Enevate®, the Enevate logo, HD-Energy®, and eBoost® are registered trademarks of Enevate Corporation.


Contacts

Media Contact:
Bill Blanning
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
714-916-4309

BOGOTA, Colombia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GeoPark Limited (“GeoPark” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GPRK), a leading independent Latin American oil and gas explorer, operator and consolidator with operations and growth platforms in Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Argentina, today announced the appointment of an independent chair and the nomination of a new independent member of the Board for election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (“Annual Meeting”), to be held on July 15, 2021. These changes further strengthen the Company’s governance profile and create a majority independent and more diverse Board of Directors.


Appointment of an Independent Chair

Sylvia Escovar Gomez, independent director, has been appointed by the Board and succeeds Mr. Gerald O’Shaughnessy, 72, as the new Chair of the Board.

Ms. Escovar, 60, has served on the Board since August 2020 and is currently a member of the Board’s Audit Committee and Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee. She has significant government, multilateral organization and private sector experience. From 2012 to January 2021, she was the CEO of Terpel S.A., a fuel distribution company with operations in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Ms. Escovar transformed and improved Terpel’s business model, expanding the range and quality of its services and enhancing its performance in the long-term. Under Ms. Escovar’s leadership, Terpel delivered its best financial results in its over 50-year history, became Colombia’s second largest company with annual revenues over $4.0 billion and consistently achieved high rankings in the RobecoSAM Sustainability Yearbook.

Over her career, Ms. Escovar has worked for the World Bank, the Central Bank of Colombia and the Colombian National Department of Planning. She has served as Deputy Secretary of Education and Deputy Secretary of Finance for the Bogota municipal government, as well as Vice President of Finance for Fiduciaria Bancolombia. In 2014, Ms. Escovar was named the top businessperson of the year by Portafolio, Colombia’s leading financial daily. In 2018, she received the National Order of Merit for spearheading private sector support for peacebuilding and reconciliation in Colombia. And in 2020, she was the only woman to rank in the top 10 on the Corporate Reputation Business Monitor’s list of Colombian leaders with the best reputation. Ms. Escovar’s other Board memberships include Grupo Bancolombia, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogotá, Compañía de Medicina Prepagada Colsanitas S.A. and Organización Corona S.A.

James F. Park, CEO of GeoPark, said: “The Board would like to express its sincere gratitude to Sylvia for accepting the Chair at this exciting and dynamic time for GeoPark. Her significant public and private sector experience across many of the countries where we operate will be invaluable as we continue to expand within Latin America. As a successful CEO, running one of Latin America’s largest companies, Sylvia brings critical operating and governance experience to our organization. Since joining the Board last year, Sylvia has impressed the rest of the Board with her insights and commitment to advancing our business strategy to build value for all shareholders. We look forward to her oversight and continued contributions as Chair.”

Ms. Escovar said: “It is an honor to take over as Board Chair of this entrepreneurial and well-respected company. GeoPark’s talented team and strong culture provide a powerful foundation for continued growth. I look forward to leading GeoPark’s diverse and collaborative board and contributing to this great company going forward.”

Mr. Park continued: “The Board thanks Gerry for his years of leadership and invaluable service to GeoPark as co-founder and Chairman. Through Gerry’s vision, trust and persistence, we have built GeoPark into a preeminent Latin American E&P company with an 18-year track record of growth and performance delivery, the strongest oil and gas team in the region, an extensive asset portfolio for continued future growth, and deep bonds to the communities in which we operate. Personally, I am grateful for Gerry’s special friendship and partnership and the fun we had – as well as the challenges we faced – building GeoPark together.” Mr. O’Shaughnessy has been GeoPark’s Chairman and a Board member since he co-founded the Company in 2002.

Nomination of a New Independent Director

GeoPark also announces that its Board has nominated Maria Fernanda Suarez for election as a new independent director at its Annual Meeting.

Ms. Suarez, 46, has a highly distinguished career in both the public and private sectors, including serving as Minister of Energy and Mines of Colombia and as Vice President of Strategy and Finance (CFO) of Colombia’s national oil company Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC).

As Colombia’s Minister of Energy — a cabinet level position — she led efforts to bring safe and affordable energy to wide sectors of the Colombian population by increasing hydrocarbons production and promoting the development of non-conventional renewable sources. Under her leadership, Colombia’s wind and solar installed capacity increased to 12 percent of the energy mix from 0.1 percent. Previously, she also served as Director of Public Credit and the National Treasury in the Colombian Finance Ministry.

In more than 15 years in the private sector, Ms. Suarez also served as the Vice President of Porvenir, a leading Colombian pension fund, and Vice President at Citibank, ABN AMRO and Bank of America. Ms. Suarez currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Nature Conservancy Colombia, and the boards of CorfiColombiana and Organización Corona S.A. Ms. Suarez has also been a member of the board of directors of several companies in the energy sector, including Cenit, Ocensa, ISA, ISAGEN and Reficar.

Mr. Park concluded, “We are excited to welcome Maria Fernanda to the GeoPark Board as our newest independent director. She brings a wealth of experience in both energy and finance with outstanding experience within Colombia as the former Minister of Energy and Mines and Vice President of Strategy and Finance (CFO) at Ecopetrol. Maria Fernanda is a successful performance-driven executive who has made a positive impact in every organization she has worked in – public or private. From hydrocarbons to renewables, her experience in energy will be beneficial in guiding GeoPark in a transitioning world. We all look forward to working closely with Maria Fernanda to build on GeoPark’s strong foundation and continue generating sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”

Ms. Suarez said: “I look forward to joining GeoPark’s Board and to work alongside its other directors to further develop the Company’s enormous success across Latin America. Having spent my career working in Colombia in both public and private sector energy roles, I believe that GeoPark is a company with great growth opportunities in the future."

With the naming of Ms. Escovar as Chair and the nomination of Ms. Suarez, the Board is directed by an independent director and will have a majority of independent directors, in line with corporate governance best practices.

NOTICE

Additional information about GeoPark can be found in the “Investor Support” section on the website at www.geo-park.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward- looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘will,’’ ‘‘estimate’’ and ‘‘potential,’’ among others.

Forward-looking statements that appear in a number of places in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, regarding various matters, including the new Chair and composition of the Board of Directors. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions, and on information currently available to the management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a discussion of the risks facing the Company which could affect whether these forward-looking statements are realized, see filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).


Contacts

For further information, please contact:

INVESTORS:

Stacy Steimel This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shareholder Value Director
T: +562 2242 9600

Miguel Bello This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Market Access Director
T: +562 2242 9600

Diego Gully This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Investor Relations Director
T: +5411 4312 9400

MEDIA:

Communications Department
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bidgely and Utility Dive survey reveals utility EV investment drivers, challenges, and opportunities through improved EV customer insights

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bidgely and leading energy industry outlet Utility Dive have released a new report, What Utilities Know (And Don’t Know) About EV Drivers and How Better Customer Insights Can Maximize Utility Investments in Electric Vehicles, which includes survey results from around 150 leading mostly North American utility professionals. The report underscores the EV momentum underway at their organizations while also highlighting the benefits improved EV customer insights could provide in guiding utility incentives, outreach, resource planning, education and ratemaking.



Key findings include that nine out of 10 utility executives surveyed reported their companies plan to increase investments in customer programs and infrastructure to support EV ownership over the next two to three years. By large majorities, survey respondents said that their EV investments and programs were being driven by customer demand (61 percent) and revenue opportunities (57 percent), although corporate sustainability goals (46 percent) and company carbon reduction commitments (32 percent) were also cited.

Importantly, only 13 percent of utility executives said the quality of their companies’ insights into both the charging behavior of their current EV customers and the likelihood that other customers would buy an EV in the future was excellent. The report concluded that precise, house-level data insights derived from smart meters can identify EV charging patterns, Level 1 or Level 2 chargers in the home and even customers’ propensity to buy an EV without installation of additional equipment by the utility.

“Historically speaking, utilities have relied on Department of Motor Vehicles data in order to understand where EVs are registered. But that data is really difficult to obtain in a timely manner, it doesn’t update on an ongoing basis and it doesn’t provide any insight into the charging behaviors or driving patterns of the EV owners,” says Heather Williams, director of strategy and growth for Bidgely in North America. “Lack of EV insights can impact where and how many charging stations are installed. You can end up putting in either the wrong number of chargers or chargers in the wrong locations because the decisions are based on an incomplete understanding of driving patterns.”

Other notable findings from the survey included:

  • 61 percent of utilities have already installed company-owned chargers to support EV ownership
  • 51 percent offer financial incentives to encourage purchases of EVs
  • 42 percent have made investments to raise awareness about EV benefits
  • 37 percent offer special EV charging rates

To access the full report, visit: go.bidgely.com/UtilityDive-EV-Whitepaper

Join the upcoming Bidgely and Utility Dive webinar How to Use Data to Drive Your EV Investment Plans on Thursday, June 17 at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time for a deep dive into the results of the survey and insights that can guide utilities’ incentives, outreach, resource planning, ratemaking and more.

About Bidgely

Bidgely is an AI-powered SaaS Company accelerating a clean energy future by enabling energy companies and consumers to make data-driven energy-related decisions. Powered by our unique patented technology, Bidgely's UtilityAI™ Platform transforms multiple dimensions of customer data - such as energy consumption, demographic, and interactions - into deeply accurate and actionable consumer energy insights. We leverage these insights to empower each customer with personalized recommendations, tailored to their individual personality and lifestyle, usage attributes, behavioral patterns, purchase propensity, and beyond. From a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Grid Edge perspective, whether it is smart thermostats to EV chargers, solar PVs to TOU rate designs and tariffs; UtilityAI™ energy analytics provides deep visibility into generation, consumption for better peak load shaping and grid planning, and delivers targeted recommendations for new value-added products and services. With roots in Silicon Valley, Bidgely has over 17 energy patents, $50M+ in funding, retains 30+ data scientists, and brings a passion for AI to utilities serving residential and commercial customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bidgely.com or the Bidgely blog at bidgely.com/blog.


Contacts

Christine Bennett
Bidgely
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Will increase efficiency and power density of renewable-energy power supply systems rated DC1500V

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today the coming launch of its T-series 2.0kV Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) Module for Industrial Use, the world’s first IGBT1 with 2.0kV withstand voltage, on June 30. The module is ideally suited to increase the efficiency and reduce the size of renewable-energy power converters, which are in high demand due to the growing use of renewable-energy power supplies. The module will be exhibited at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2021 Virtual Exposition from June 15 to 16.
1 According to Mitsubishi Electric research as of June 9, 2021


Product Features

1) World-first IGBT with 2.0kV withstand voltage for more compact DC1500V power converters

  • World’s first 2.0kV-rated IGBT suitable for DC1500V-rated power converters, which are difficult to design using conventional 1.7kV-rated IGBTs.
  • Enables development of simpler and smaller DC1500V-rated power converters without need for complex topology, such as three-level NPC (I-type connection).2
    2
    Circuit topology consisting of four series-connected IGBTs and two clamp diodes connected to voltage-neutral point in one leg

2) 7th-generation IGBT and RFC diodes help reduce power loss in power converters

  • Suitable for high-voltage, lower-power-loss applications as latest (7th-generation) IGBT with CSTBTTM 3 structure and RFC (Relax Field of Cathode) diodes4 optimized for high withstand voltage.
    3 Mitsubishi Electric’s unique IGBT that utilizes the carrier cumulative effect
    4 Mitsubishi Electric’s original diode that optimizes electron mobility on cathode side

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/


Contacts

Customer Inquiries
Power Device Overseas Marketing Dept. A and Dept. B
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
www.MitsubishiElectric.com/semiconductors/

Media Inquiries
Takeyoshi Komatsu
Public Relations Division
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Tel: +81-3-3218-2346
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: CLII) (“CRIS”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, and EVgo Services LLC (“EVgo”), the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (“EVs”) and first powered by 100% renewable electricity, announced that the companies will host a fireside chat with IPO Edge today, Tuesday, June 8 at 2pm EDT, to discuss their pending business combination.

The live event will feature David Crane, CEO of CRIS, and Cathy Zoi, CEO of EVgo. IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone will moderate the video session which will include a Q&A session with the audience.

To register, CLICK HERE.

To view IPO Edge’s announcement about today’s fireside chat, CLICK HERE.

Mr. Crane and Ms. Zoi will discuss:

  • An overview of the business combination and investment highlights
  • The supportive fundamentals driving EV growth and adoption and demand for EV fast charging
  • The evolution of the SPAC market and involvement of more individual investors
  • Why it is important for all record date shareholders to vote, regardless of how many shares they own
  • How investors vote shares through their brokers

“We remain committed to engaging with all our investors, and believe it is especially important as we approach the final steps of our business combination with EVgo,” said Mr. Crane. “In partnership with IPO Edge, we look forward to highlighting EVgo’s leadership position and its significant opportunity for long-term growth in the climate critical electrification of transport sector, discussing the voting process and its importance, and addressing investor questions. We hope to hear from you at today’s virtual event.”

Shareholder Vote Information

The Special Meeting to approve the pending business combination is scheduled to be held on June 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Special Meeting will be conducted completely virtually, and can be accessed via live webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/climatechangecrisisrealimpacti/2021. If the proposals at the Special Meeting are approved, the parties anticipate that the business combination will close shortly thereafter, subject to the satisfaction or waiver, as applicable, of all other closing conditions.

Every stockholder's vote is important, regardless of the number of shares held. Accordingly, CRIS requests that each stockholder of record as of the close of business on May 19, 2021 (the “Record Date”), vote as soon as possible and by no later than June 28, 2021 to ensure that the stockholder's shares will be represented at the Special Meeting. CRIS’s board of directors recommends you vote “FOR” the Business Combination with EVgo and “FOR” all of the related proposals described in the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) filed by CRIS with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 27, 2021.

Stockholders who owned common stock of CRIS as of the Record Date continue to have the right to vote their shares for the Special Meeting, regardless of whether such stockholders subsequently sold their shares and do not own such shares as of the date they cast their vote.

Additional information is available at https://www.climaterealimpactsolutions.com/cris1-vote. Investors are encouraged to contact Morrow Sodali LLC, CRIS's proxy solicitor, with questions or for assistance via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or toll-free call at (800) 662-5200

Important Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination between EVgo and CRIS and related transactions (the “Proposed Transactions”), CRIS has filed the Proxy Statement with the SEC, which was distributed to holders of CRIS’s common stock in connection with CRIS’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by CRIS’s stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transactions and other matters as described in the Proxy Statement. Investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the Proxy Statement, and any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety because they contain important information about CRIS, EVgo and the Proposed Transactions. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents filed with the SEC by CRIS through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation, 300 Carnegie Center, Suite 150, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

CRIS and EVgo and their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Proposed Transactions. Information about the directors and executive officers of CRIS and EVgo is set forth in the Proxy Statement. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Proxy Statement carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding CRIS’s proposed business combination with EVgo, CRIS’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and the combined company’s future financial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the respective management of CRIS and EVgo and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of CRIS or EVgo. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the business combination, including the risk that any regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the business combination or that the approval of the stockholders of CRIS or EVgo is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of business combination; risk relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to EVgo; the amount of redemption requests made by CRIS’s stockholders; the overall level of consumer demand for EVgo’s products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence, preferences, and behavior; disruption and volatility in the global currency, capital, and credit markets; the financial strength of EVgo’s customers; EVgo’s ability to implement its business strategy; changes in governmental regulation, EVgo’s exposure to litigation claims and other loss contingencies; disruptions and other impacts to EVgo’s business, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response; stability of EVgo’s suppliers, as well as consumer demand for its products, in light of disease epidemics and health-related concerns such as the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact that global climate change trends may have on EVgo and its suppliers and customers; EVgo’s ability to protect patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights; any breaches of, or interruptions in, CRIS’s information systems; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of electricity and other raw materials and contracted products as well as foreign currency fluctuations; changes in tax laws and liabilities, tariffs, legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. More information on potential factors that could affect CRIS’s or EVgo’s financial results is included from time to time in CRIS’s public reports filed with the SEC, as well as the Proxy Statement that CRIS has filed with the SEC in connection with CRIS’s solicitation of proxies for the meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination. If any of these risks materialize or CRIS’s or EVgo’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither CRIS nor EVgo presently know, or that CRIS and EVgo currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect CRIS’s and EVgo’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. CRIS and EVgo anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. However, while CRIS and EVgo may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, CRIS and EVgo specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing CRIS’s or EVgo’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

About CRIS

CRIS is a special-purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) formed to identify and acquire a scalable company making significant contributions to the fight against the climate crisis. CRIS is co-sponsored by private funds affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”), which has more than $640 billion in sustainability investments across its portfolios. CRIS is led by a seasoned operations and leadership team that has decades of experience at the intersection of climate change and capitalism, and includes veterans from NRG, Credit Suisse, General Electric and Green Mountain Power. For more information, please visit www.climaterealimpactsolutions.com/.

About EVgo

EVgo is the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles, and the first to be powered by 100% renewable energy. With more than 800 fast charging locations, EVgo’s charging network serves over 65 metropolitan areas across 34 states, owns and operates the most public fast charging locations in the US. and serves more than 250,000 customers. Founded in 2010, EVgo leads the way on transportation electrification, partnering with automakers; fleet and rideshare operators; retail hosts such as hotels, shopping centers, gas stations and parking lot operators; and other stakeholders to deploy advanced charging technology to expand network availability and make it easier for drivers across the U.S. to enjoy the benefits of driving an EV. As a charging technology first mover, EVgo works closely with business and government leaders to accelerate the ubiquitous adoption of EVs by providing a reliable and convenient charging experience close to where drivers live, work and play, whether for a daily commute or a commercial fleet. EVgo’s parent company is LS Power, a New York-headquartered development, investment and operating company focused on leading edge solutions for the North American power and energy infrastructure sector. On January 22, 2021, EVgo announced that it entered into a definitive business combination agreement with CRIS (NYSE: CLII). For more information visit evgo.com and lspower.com.


Contacts

CRIS
For Investors:
Dan Gross
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Media:
Isaac Steinmetz
Director of Media Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
646-883-3655

EVgo
For Investors:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Media:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

LS Power
Steven Arabia
Director, Government Affairs & Media Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
609-212-3857

MUNICH & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On June 5 (World Environment Day*), Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study on the joint development of high-voltage switching solutions with zero global-warming potential (GWP) that substitute greenhouse gases with clean air for insulation. Both companies will research methods for scaling up the application of clean-air insulation technology to higher voltages. They’ll start with a 245-kV dead-tank circuit breaker that will speed up the availability of climate-neutral high-voltage switching solutions for customers around the globe. Both partners will continue to manufacture, sell, and service switchgear solutions independently.


In most of the world's substations, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) – the most potent greenhouse gas in the world, with a potential for global warming roughly 23,500 times greater than CO2, – is still the insulating gas of choice. Even with a very low number of leakages, the impact on global warming is significant. In light of the drive toward global decarbonization, the demand for alternatives is growing as operators seek future-proof technologies that significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their systems. At the same time, regulations to reduce or prohibit the use of fluorinated gases in the electrical industry are being reviewed and implemented in various parts of the world.

Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric are pioneers in the development of high-voltage switching solutions. Both companies have been working on the development of SF6-free gas-insulated switching solutions that replace the greenhouse gas with clean air, a pure mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, in order to contribute to global carbon-neutrality goals. To date, clean-air insulation is the only alternative to greenhouse gases and therefore poses zero health and safety risks. In conjunction with vacuum interrupters, a higher performance for switching applications is ensured, even compared with all known SF6 circuit breakers.

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/


Contacts

Siemens Energy
Christina Hümmer
Tel: +49 152 07158923
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Takeyoshi Komatsu
Public Relations Division
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Tel: +81-3-3218-6758
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/ 

  • Despite 2020’s challenges, women’s representation in the U.S. energy technology and services sector neared the Energy Workforce & Technology Council’s goal of 20%.
  • Ethnic minority representation is close to the overall U.S. oil and gas workforce, but lags compared to minorities in the total national workforce.
  • Continuing to drive for diversity and inclusion across the sector requires sustained focus on recruitment, retention and advancement opportunities for women and ethnic minorities. 
  • Explore the full report here.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and lower oil prices in 2020, the percentage of women in the U.S. energy technology and services sector has risen to nearly 20% over the past three years, countering a recent trend of women dropping out of the overall national workforce, according to the latest study by The Energy Workforce & Technology Council (the Council).


In its second edition, the study, published in collaboration with Accenture, draws on insights on approximately 250,000 workers, including more than 63,000 in the United States. This year’s report, which reflects jobs figures through January 2021, uses a revised methodology, which also considers race and ethnicity dimensions along with gender.

The study found that the percentage of women in the sector rose to 19%, almost reaching the Council’s 20% goal set in 2018 and up from 16% that year. However, this figure trails women’s 47% representation in the overall U.S. workforce.

Certain ethnicities, which were not part of the 2018 study, comprised 25% of the sector, compared with 36% for all areas of the U.S. workforce, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

“This year’s study results are encouraging, especially considering the pandemic-related jobs losses that peaked at more than 100,000 in the energy services sector,” said Leslie Beyer, the Council’s CEO. “As women and minorities left at larger rates from the overall U.S. workforce, this brings greater pressure on oil and gas companies that are pursuing inclusion and diversity goals, and that is a challenge. Diversity will remain key to creating the new ideas that companies need to deliver a safe, affordable and sustainable low-carbon future.”

The report highlighted areas where companies in the energy technology and services sector globally can increase participation in equality and leadership advancement for women and minorities, including:

  • 40% of companies have C-level endorsed inclusion and diversity strategies
  • 56% offer paid primary caregiver parental leave
  • 66% offer learning and development initiatives targeted at inclusion and diversity
  • 32% offer basic flexible work programs, such as telecommuting
  • 40% offer formal mentorship programs

“Retention and advancement programs can grow with increased endorsement from C-suite leaders, whose visibility is key to boosting workforce diversity,” said Ben Carey, a managing director who leads Accenture’s energy equipment and services practice. “For example, leaders should collaborate more closely with employee resource groups where more women and minority leaders can share how they navigated their careers so that others can better follow their examples. This will be vital for all roles, but especially the digital technology and service functions that will help drive the industry’s recovery.”

The report makes three additional recommendations to enhance the resilience of the future energy workforce:

  • Attract diverse, innovative talent, strengthen employee value propositions and identify new sources of talent to shape the future of the industry.
  • Focus on retention – keeping women and ethnic minorities in the workplace.
  • Amplify advancement opportunities – mentorship and leadership role-modelling.

METHODOLOGY
Energy Workforce & Technology Council surveyed 25 companies, covering approximately 250,000 working men and women globally — including more than 63,000 employees in the United States. Companies with less than 1,000 global employees were specifically included, in addition to the largest sector participants, to gain insight into practices prevalent throughout the sector. The Council also analyzed published data related to a range of workforce issues, including labor force, progression, talent gaps, culture at work, company statistics by level and company best practices.


Contacts

Kevin Broom
Energy Workforce & Technology Council
+1 703 232 7864
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Guy Cantwell
Accenture
+1 281 900 9089
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

MILLBRAE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#STEM--Stem, Inc. (“Stem” or “the Company”) (NYSE: STEM), a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven clean energy storage services, today provided additional information related to its previously announced participation at the upcoming Cowen Sustainability and Energy Transition Summit virtual investor conference. To access a live webcast of the Company’s presentation on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11:50am EST, please register ahead of the scheduled start time at https://wsw.com/webcast/cowen93/stem/1973160. A link to the live webcast will also be made available on the Events and Presentations section of Stem’s investor relations website at https://investors.stem.com. At the conclusion of the presentation, a webcast replay will be available at the same website until September 8, 2021.


About Stem, Inc.

Stem (NYSE: STEM) provides solutions that address the challenges of today’s dynamic energy market. By combining advanced energy storage solutions with Athena™, a world-class AI-powered analytics platform, Stem enables customers and partners to optimize energy use by automatically switching between battery power, onsite generation and grid power. Stem’s solutions help enterprise customers benefit from a clean, adaptive energy infrastructure and achieve a wide variety of goals, including expense reduction, resilience, sustainability, environmental and corporate responsibility and innovation. Stem also offers full support for solar partners interested in adding storage to standalone, community or commercial solar projects – both behind and in front of the meter. For more information, visit www.stem.com.


Contacts

Stem Investor Contacts
Ted Durbin, Stem
Marc Silverberg, ICR
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Stem Media Contacts
Cory Ziskind, ICR
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brigham Minerals, Inc. (NYSE: MNRL) (“Brigham Minerals,” “Brigham,” or the “Company”) announced plans to participate in the RBC Capital Markets Energy, Power & Infrastructure Conference. The Company is presenting on June 8th at 2:40 pm ET.


ABOUT BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

Brigham Minerals is an Austin, Texas based company that acquires and actively manages a portfolio of mineral and royalty interests in the core of some of the most active, highly economic, liquids-rich resource basins across the continental United States. Brigham Minerals’ assets are located in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the SCOOP and STACK plays in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma, the DJ Basin in Colorado and Wyoming, and the Williston Basin in North Dakota. The Company’s primary business objective is to maximize risk-adjusted total return to its shareholders by both capturing organic growth in its existing assets as well as leveraging its highly experienced technical evaluation team to continue acquiring minerals.


Contacts

At the Company:
Brigham Minerals, Inc.
Blake C. Williams
Chief Financial Officer
(512) 220-1500
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Expands Hunting’s Tubing Conveyed Perforating Product Line

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Titan Division of Hunting Energy Services, a subsidiary of Hunting PLC, the international energy services company, today added a dual mode firing head to its comprehensive tubing conveyed perforating (TCP) equipment line.


Utilized as either a bar-drop or a hydraulic firing head, this latest addition is an economical solution to maintaining two different firing head inventories, while allowing the operational flexibility to run either type of toolstring.

Hunting’s TCP technology, which is extensive enough to complete any TCP operation, is accessible through Hunting’s network of distribution centers strategically located in all the world’s oil-producing regions.

About Hunting

Hunting PLC is an international energy services provider to the world's leading upstream oil and gas companies. Established in 1874, it is a premium-listed public company traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Company maintains a corporate office in Houston and is headquartered in London. As well as the United Kingdom, the Company has operations in Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

The company’s Hunting Energy Services Titan Division engineers and manufactures perforating systems, wireline selective firing systems, cased hole logging instruments, nuclear detectors, energetics, and associated wireline hardware and accessories.


Contacts

Business Contact:
John Feuerstein, Hunting, 281-442-7382, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KBC will leverage the BHC3 AI Suite and Enterprise AI applications from the BakerHughesC3.ai alliance for the company’s downstream oil & gas sectors

HOUSTON & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) and C3 AI (NYSE: AI) today announced that KBC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology from the BakerHughesC3.ai (BHC3) alliance to enhance KBC’s existing software portfolio for oil and gas process simulation, supply chain optimization, and energy management.


KBC is a leading consultancy and software provider for energy, chemical, and offshore oil and gas operations. The company’s process simulation software is widely adopted across hydrocarbon processing facilities, playing a critical role in helping operators meet production goals and maximize profitability.

KBC will leverage BHC3 technology across KBC’s oil and gas portfolio, adding enterprise AI capabilities to their existing digital transformation software. Petro-SIM, KBC's leading process simulation software and optimization platform for driving excellence in facility performance and organizational productivity, has demonstrated bi-directional interoperability with the BHC3 AI Suite. By augmenting KBC’s simulation software with capabilities from BHC3, KBC will further help oil and gas assets improve process planning accuracy, deliver operational agility, and significantly reduce processing time.

These robust enterprise AI solutions will provide continuous automated updates to physics-based simulations through a flexible, extensible model that scales to any industrial configuration and environment, with benefits extending into the supply chain. KBC anticipates the enterprise AI-enabled solutions will generate significant annual economic value for customers, estimating that improved operations will yield more than $0.65 per barrel.

Yokogawa previously announced its adoption of the C3 AI® Suite to enhance enterprise AI applications across its vertical industries, including power generation, renewables, mining and metals, and chemicals.

“Integration of enterprise AI capabilities into our current software will enable us to further and rapidly drive digital transformation for our customers,” said Shigeyoshi Uehara, KBC chief executive officer. “Working with domain experts for oil and gas specific applications will enable the people, process, and technology changes necessary for more efficient and productive operations.”

“KBC is a leader in digital solutions that transform processes for their customers, and the integration of our industry-leading enterprise AI solutions will continue to create greater efficiencies and productivity for those users,” said Uwem Ukpong, executive vice president of regions, alliances and enterprise sales at Baker Hughes. “BHC3’s scalable AI capabilities for the energy industry will augment KBC’s existing software and enable future application development. These solutions are focused on energy and highly engineered products, demonstrating further momentum for the BakerHughesC3.ai alliance as Baker Hughes continues to invest for growth in industrial digitization.”

“KBC’s use of the flexible, scalable enterprise AI technology from BHC3 will infuse AI capabilities into an already leading portfolio of simulation software for the oil and gas industry,” said Thomas M. Siebel, chairman and CEO of C3 AI. “The transformation of energy requires new approaches, including the constant evolution of existing solutions on the market today. This agreement represents an exciting combination of visionary and market-leading companies working together to digitally-transform the oil and gas industry.”

About KBC

KBC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, is all about excellence in the Energy and Chemical industry. We make excellence real for our customers through the actions of our people fused with our technology and best practices. We provide leading software and expert services, powered by the cloud, to assure process operations achieve their full potential. Our customers achieve operating performance that surpasses ordinary standards, now and into the future. For more information, visit www.kbc.global.

About Baker Hughes:

Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and with operations in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

About C3.ai, Inc.

C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) is the Enterprise AI application software company that accelerates digital transformation for organizations globally. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products: C3 AI® Suite, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating large-scale AI applications; C3 AI Applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS AI applications; C3 AI CRM, a suite of industry-specific CRM applications designed for AI and machine learning; and C3 AI Ex Machina, a no-code AI solution to apply data science to everyday business problems. The core of the C3 AI offering is an open, model-driven AI architecture that dramatically simplifies data science and application development. Learn more at www.c3.ai.


Contacts

KBC Media Relations
Duncan Micklem
+1 281 293 8200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Baker Hughes Media Relations
Sharon So
+82 10-6220-2405
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ashley Nelson
+1 925-316-9197
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

C3 AI Public Relations
Edelman
Lisa Kennedy
415-914-8336
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Investor Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • Mineral Resource estimates have increased by 40% for quartz (11.5Mt), feldspar (17.8Mt), and mica (1.6Mt)
  • Piedmont has added John Walker, former CEO of The Quartz Corp, as a strategic advisor to the Company
  • Market analysis indicates far greater potential demand for Piedmont industrial mineral products than prior Company estimates
  • The Company is advanced in discussions with prospective regional customers and strategic partners in the solar glass, engineered quartz, ceramic tile, and other industrial minerals markets
  • Expanded quartz, feldspar, and mica production will feature in the Company’s upcoming technical studies

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Piedmont Lithium Limited (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:PLL; ASX:PLL) is to announce an updated Mineral Resource estimate for industrial mineral products quartz, feldspar, and mica. The estimate is based on the lithium Mineral Resource previously reported on April 8, 2021 (39.2Mt @ 1.09 Li2O%) for spodumene bearing pegmatites at the Company’s flagship Piedmont Carolina Lithium Project (“Project”) in North Carolina, USA.


Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimates for Industrial Minerals – Piedmont Carolina Lithium Project

Category

Tonnes
(Mt)

Quartz

Feldspar

Mica

Grade
(%)

Tonnes
(Mt)

Grade
(%)

Tonnes
(Mt)

Grade
(%)

Tonnes
(Mt)

Indicated

21.6

29.4

6.34

45.0

9.69

4.2

0.90

Inferred

17.6

29.3

5.16

45.9

8.08

4.1

0.73

Total

39.2

29.4

11.50

45.4

17.77

4.2

1.63

To help advance the marketing of these mineral products, John Walker joined the Piedmont team last fall as a Strategic Consultant. John has extensive experience in the quartz and feldspar markets having worked with Imerys for more than twenty years and spending another eight years with The Quartz Corp as CEO. John has provided invaluable input on market dynamics, desired product quality and other customer criteria, allowing Piedmont to develop a robust business model for marketing these materials.

Keith D. Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Piedmont continues to find increased value in our industrial mineral products quartz, feldspar, and mica. Our location in close proximity to potential customers helps advance our goal of becoming one of the world’s most sustainable lithium manufacturing businesses. Placing more of our valuable resources into the market creates circular economy opportunities through waste reduction while providing substantial credits towards our cost of lithium hydroxide production. Our upcoming technical studies are expected to demonstrate both the environmental and economic benefits that our team is creating through their ongoing efforts to make beneficial use of every part of our ore body.”

Click here to view the complete announcement.


Contacts

Keith Phillips
President & CEO
T: +1 973 809 0505
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Brian Risinger
VP – Corporate Communications
T: +1 704 910 9688
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) announced today it will host virtual investor meetings at the BofA Securities Energy Credit Conference Wednesday, June 9, 2021.


The latest investor deck, which may be used to facilitate investor meetings, can be accessed under the Investors tab on the Enterprise website.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is one of the largest publicly traded partnerships and a leading North American provider of midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. Our services include: natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transportation and storage; NGL transportation, fractionation, storage and export and import terminals; crude oil gathering, transportation, storage and export and import terminals; petrochemical and refined products transportation, storage, export and import terminals and related services; and a marine transportation business that operates primarily on the United States inland and Intracoastal Waterway systems. The partnership’s assets include approximately 50,000 miles of pipelines; 260 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals; and 14 Bcf of natural gas storage capacity. Please visit www.enterpriseproducts.com for more information.


Contacts

Randy Burkhalter, Investor Relations, (713) 381-6812 or (866) 230-0745, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rick Rainey, Media Relations, (713) 381-3635, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Hillary Yaffe to Lead Spire’s Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Strategy Worldwide

VIENNA, Va. & RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Spire Global, Inc. (“Spire” or the “Company”), a space-based Earth data analytics and solutions company, announced that it has appointed Hillary Yaffe as Head of Communications, effective June 1, 2021. Ms. Yaffe will report to Peter Platzer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spire, and will be based in New York.

In her new role, Ms. Yaffe will oversee Spire’s corporate communications and investor relations engagement worldwide as well as Spire’s communications strategy across the Company’s key business units, including Maritime, Weather, Aviation, Space Services, Federal, and Earth Intelligence. She will additionally guide Spire’s engagement with the investor community as the Company works to complete its previously announced merger with NavSight Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NSH) to become a publicly traded company.

“We are thrilled to welcome a communications industry veteran of Hillary’s caliber to the Spire team at this watershed moment for our company,” said Mr. Platzer. “Hillary’s communications expertise across multiple industries, and specifically the capital markets, will prove invaluable as we look to convey Spire’s business plan, strategic growth initiatives, and corporate values to all stakeholders, including investors, customers and the media.”

Ms. Yaffe most recently served as Senior Vice President and Head of Communications for Lazard Asset Management LLC (“Lazard”) in the United States, where she was responsible for both internal and external communications activity. Prior to joining Lazard, Ms. Yaffe served as an Associate Vice President at Prosek Partners, where she helped build out the firm’s hedge fund practice and advised large institutional investment firms. Ms. Yaffe began her career at Edelman and subsequently worked at Burson-Marsteller in their corporate/financial practice before joining Prosek Partners. Ms. Yaffe holds a BBA in International Business and Marketing from The George Washington University.

About Spire Global, Inc.

Spire is a global provider of space-based data and analytics that offers unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth from the ultimate vantage point so organizations can make decisions with confidence, accuracy, and speed. Spire uses one of the world’s largest multi-purpose satellite constellations to source hard to acquire, valuable data and enriches it with predictive solutions. Spire then provides this data as a subscription to organizations around the world so they can improve business operations, decrease their environmental footprint, deploy resources for growth and competitive advantage, and mitigate risk. Spire gives commercial and government organizations the competitive advantage they seek to innovate and solve some of the world’s toughest problems with insights from space. Spire has offices in San Francisco, CA, Boulder, CO, Washington DC, Glasgow, Luxembourg, and Singapore. On March 1, 2021 Spire announced plans to go public through an anticipated business combination with NavSight Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NSH), to be traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “SPIR.” To learn more, visit spire.com.

About NavSight Holdings, Inc.

NavSight Holdings, Inc. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. NavSight was organized with the opportunity to pursue a business combination target in any business or industry, with the intent to focus its search on identifying a prospective target business that provides expertise and technology to U.S. government customers in support of their national security, intelligence and defense missions.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the planned business combination with Spire (the “Proposed Transaction”), NavSight has filed a Form S-4 Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC, which includes a preliminary proxy statement to be distributed to holders of NavSight’s common stock in connection with NavSight’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by NavSight’s stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transaction and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, a prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Proposed Transaction, and an information statement to Company’s stockholders regarding the Proposed Transaction. After the Registration Statement is declared effective, NavSight will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus, when available, to its stockholders. Investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about NavSight, the Company and the Proposed Transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and definitive proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by NavSight through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: NavSight Holdings, Inc., 12020 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 100, Reston, VA 20191.

Participants in Solicitation

NavSight and the Company and their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of NavSight is set forth in its Form 10-K/A and Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2021 and May 24, 2021, respectively. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Registration Statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC regarding the Proposed Transaction. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Registration Statement carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the Proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations of corporate communications strategy and investor relations engagement across Spire and the applicability of such strategies and engagement to Spire’s market, expectations of accelerating Spire’s sales and marketing efforts, expectations of product development and the applicability of such products to Spire’s market, the strengthening of Spire’s competitive advantage, the importance of Spire’s products and capabilities to its target markets, the expansion of Spire’s business to new regions and markets, Spire’s future growth, estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, expectations of achieving and maintaining profitability, projections of total addressable markets, market opportunity and market share, net proceeds from the Proposed Transactions, potential benefits of the Proposed Transaction and the potential success of the Company’s market and growth strategies, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the Proposed Transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of NavSight’s and the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of NavSight and the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including (i) the risk that the Proposed Transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of NavSight's securities; (ii) the risk that the Proposed Transaction may not be completed by NavSight's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by NavSight; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction, including the approval of the Proposed Transaction by the stockholders of NavSight, the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following any redemptions by NavSight's public stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the Proposed Transaction; (v) the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Proposed Transaction on Spire’s business relationships, performance, and business generally; (vii) risks that the Proposed Transaction disrupts current plans of Spire and potential difficulties in Spire employee retention as a result of the Proposed Transaction; (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against NavSight or Spire related to the business combination agreement or the Proposed Transaction; (ix) the ability to maintain the listing of NavSight’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (x) the ability to address the market opportunity for Space-as-a-Service; (xi) the risk that the Proposed Transaction may not generate expected net proceeds to the combined company; (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the Proposed Transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xiii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; (xiv) the risk of downturns, new entrants and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive space data analytics industry; and those factors discussed in NavSight’s Form S-4 filed on May 14, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents of NavSight filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither NavSight nor the Company presently know or that NavSight and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect NavSight’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. NavSight and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause NavSight’s and the Company’s assessments to change. However, while NavSight and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, NavSight and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing NavSight’s and the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.


Contacts

For Spire Global, Inc.:
Investor Contact:
Michael Bowen and Ryan Gardella
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media Contact:
Phil Denning
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For NavSight Holdings, Inc.:
Investor Contact:
Jack Pearlstein
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KBC will leverage the BHC3 AI Suite and Enterprise AI applications from the BakerHughesC3.ai alliance for the company’s downstream oil & gas sectors

HOUSTON & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) and C3 AI (NYSE: AI) today announced that KBC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology from the BakerHughesC3.ai (BHC3) alliance to enhance KBC’s existing software portfolio for oil and gas process simulation, supply chain optimization, and energy management.


KBC is a leading consultancy and software provider for energy, chemical, and offshore oil and gas operations. The company’s process simulation software is widely adopted across hydrocarbon processing facilities, playing a critical role in helping operators meet production goals and maximize profitability.

KBC will leverage BHC3 technology across KBC’s oil and gas portfolio, adding enterprise AI capabilities to their existing digital transformation software. Petro-SIM, KBC's leading process simulation software and optimization platform for driving excellence in facility performance and organizational productivity, has demonstrated bi-directional interoperability with the BHC3 AI Suite. By augmenting KBC’s simulation software with capabilities from BHC3, KBC will further help oil and gas assets improve process planning accuracy, deliver operational agility, and significantly reduce processing time.

These robust enterprise AI solutions will provide continuous automated updates to physics-based simulations through a flexible, extensible model that scales to any industrial configuration and environment, with benefits extending into the supply chain. KBC anticipates the enterprise AI-enabled solutions will generate significant annual economic value for customers, estimating that improved operations will yield more than $0.65 per barrel.

Yokogawa previously announced its adoption of the C3 AI® Suite to enhance enterprise AI applications across its vertical industries, including power generation, renewables, mining and metals, and chemicals.

“Integration of enterprise AI capabilities into our current software will enable us to further and rapidly drive digital transformation for our customers,” said Shigeyoshi Uehara, KBC chief executive officer. “Working with domain experts for oil and gas specific applications will enable the people, process, and technology changes necessary for more efficient and productive operations.”

“KBC is a leader in digital solutions that transform processes for their customers, and the integration of our industry-leading enterprise AI solutions will continue to create greater efficiencies and productivity for those users,” said Uwem Ukpong, executive vice president of regions, alliances and enterprise sales at Baker Hughes. “BHC3’s scalable AI capabilities for the energy industry will augment KBC’s existing software and enable future application development. These solutions are focused on energy and highly engineered products, demonstrating further momentum for the BakerHughesC3.ai alliance as Baker Hughes continues to invest for growth in industrial digitization.”

“KBC’s use of the flexible, scalable enterprise AI technology from BHC3 will infuse AI capabilities into an already leading portfolio of simulation software for the oil and gas industry,” said Thomas M. Siebel, chairman and CEO of C3 AI. “The transformation of energy requires new approaches, including the constant evolution of existing solutions on the market today. This agreement represents an exciting combination of visionary and market-leading companies working together to digitally-transform the oil and gas industry.”

About KBC

KBC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, is all about excellence in the Energy and Chemical industry. We make excellence real for our customers through the actions of our people fused with our technology and best practices. We provide leading software and expert services, powered by the cloud, to assure process operations achieve their full potential. Our customers achieve operating performance that surpasses ordinary standards, now and into the future. For more information, visit www.kbc.global.

About Baker Hughes:

Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and with operations in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

About C3.ai, Inc.

C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) is the Enterprise AI application software company that accelerates digital transformation for organizations globally. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products: C3 AI® Suite, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating large-scale AI applications; C3 AI Applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS AI applications; C3 AI CRM, a suite of industry-specific CRM applications designed for AI and machine learning; and C3 AI Ex Machina, a no-code AI solution to apply data science to everyday business problems. The core of the C3 AI offering is an open, model-driven AI architecture that dramatically simplifies data science and application development. Learn more at www.c3.ai.


Contacts

KBC Media Relations
Duncan Micklem
+1 281 293 8200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Baker Hughes Media Relations
Sharon So
+82 10-6220-2405
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ashley Nelson
+1 925-316-9197
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

C3 AI Public Relations
Edelman
Lisa Kennedy
415-914-8336
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Investor Relations
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#LNG--LNG produced in Rockies basins and exported from the North American West Coast to China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan would produce net life cycle emissions reductions of between 42%-55% if used to replace coal-fired energy generation, according to a new study released by Western States and Tribal Nations (WSTN) Natural Gas Initiative.


The study, entitled “Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Liquefied Natural Gas Exports from North America’s West Coast for Coal-Displaced Electricity Generation in Asia,” accounts for the entire greenhouse gas emissions impact of Rockies-sourced gas by assessing every point of the LNG supply chain. That starts with production at the well head and ends with the emissions from natural gas transmission and distribution in China, India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Produced in partnership with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), the study builds on earlier academic studies that examined the global greenhouse gas savings potential of LNG exports. This new study is authored by Adebola S. Kasumu, Ph.D, P.Eng., who was the lead author of a previous similar emissions study while at the University of Calgary, and Kerry Kelly, Ph.D, and Lauren P. Birgenheier, Ph.D, of the University of Utah.

Other key findings from the report include:

  • Net life cycle reductions of 42%-55% would remain intact even if LNG exports to the five nations were doubled, while reducing the overall amount of coal generation displacement and the accompanying coal emissions.
  • Country-level data to show where LNG exports that displace coal generation would have the highest impact, which arms policymakers and corporate decision-makers to make export choices from both the diplomatic and commercial perspectives. For example, on a life cycle basis, South Korea and Japan could reduce their emissions by 54.8% and 52.1% respectively.
  • China and India, as the largest emitters with substantial coal generation footprints, the absolute coal emissions reductions are smaller based on the same export levels. However, both share the potential for a substantial life cycle emissions decreases – 42.0% for China and 49.8% for India.

“WSTN is excited to announce that there is now definitive scientific evidence that exporting Rocky Mountain natural gas can significantly reduce global greenhouse emissions,” said Jason Sandel, Chairman of the Board of WSTN. “To me, it is a no-brainer that LNG exports should be encouraged and fast-tracked with broad community and political support. LNG exports are right for the U.S.A. and right for the globe. This study demonstrates that the U.S. can literally export tangible emissions reductions that will benefit the global environment by exporting responsibly produced LNG.”

“If we can facilitate global export of our gas through LNG facilities on the West Coast, we will be able to foster economic development in our tribal and rural communities, promote tribal self-determination, and improve the environment by eliminating natural gas flaring and making cleaner fuels available to Asian energy markets,” said Luke Duncan, chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee.

SITLA is encouraged by the emission reduction results quantified in the study and hopes it will help guide domestic federal and state policies aimed at helping to achieve lower global greenhouse emissions with Rockies natural gas, while spurring economic activity and additional revenue for Utah's public schools,” SITLA Director Dave Ure said.

“This study provides the building blocks needed to develop a pathway that elevates Rockies gas into the global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) gold standard for LNG,” WSTN President Andrew Browning said. “Our goal was to create a rigorous technical baseline on which policymakers and corporate decision-makers can make forward-thinking geopolitical and commercial decisions that help chart a course toward greater American economic strength and environmental leadership at home and across the world.”

“We sponsored this report to establish concrete data on the environmental and economic value that LNG exports to Asia from the western U.S. can deliver, along with real economic activity and job creation in the rural west and tribal nations,” Frank Hawk, vice president, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, said. “Exporting LNG will require new domestic infrastructure that can meet our current and future needs, and create real, concrete jobs now and for the next generation of workers. No country produces energy in a cleaner way than America, and it’s time our policies reflect this while leveraging our natural resources to benefit Americans and the global environment simultaneously.”

The study was made possible through the financial contributions of the following sponsors: The Ute Indian Tribe; The United Brotherhood of Carpenters; LiUNA/Colorado Laborers; Duchesne County, UT; Uintah County, UT; Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development; Four Corners Innovation; Four Corners Economic Development; and Wyoming Energy Authority.

To view a Summary of Findings, please click here. The full study is available here.

About Western States and Tribal Nations

Western States and Tribal Nations is a unique, trans-national initiative led by, state, county and sovereign tribal nation governments focused on creating rural economic development, advancing tribal self-determination and reducing global emissions by exporting western North American natural gas to international markets that need lower-emitting fuel.


Contacts

Bryson Hull
P: 202-657-2855
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Li-Cycle and Renewance to offer integrated commercial lithium-ion battery recycling and decommissioning solution across North America

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Li-Cycle Corp. (“Li-Cycle” or “the Company”), an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, today announced a partnership with Renewance, a leading life-cycle battery management company, to deliver a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective lithium-ion battery recycling solution for end-of-life energy storage systems.


The deployment of energy storage systems has significantly progressed in recent years and the U.S. energy storage market is set to grow to nearly 26.5 gigawatt hours annually by 2025 and will account for 50% of the global market this year, according to the U.S. Energy Storage Monitor and IHS Markit. Lithium-ion batteries are the primary technology used to store energy and as systems go offline or are upgraded, it is imperative to sustainably return the end-of-life batteries back into the supply chain. By combining their respective strengths in lithium-ion battery recycling and battery life cycle management software and services, Li-Cycle and Renewance expect to play an important role in helping developers and utilities decommission energy storage systems safely, recovering the valuable materials from within the end-of-life batteries, and returning those materials to the economy.

“This partnership with Renewance is a major breakthrough for us as we make considerable inroads in the energy storage market, which is going through substantial growth and in turn will produce a substantial supply of end-of-life batteries that need to be recycled,” said Kunal Phalpher, Chief Commercial Officer of Li-Cycle. “We will enhance Renewance’s abilities to deliver value through efficiently managing its clients’ batteries through our Spoke facilities, strategically located close to regions with high penetration of energy storage systems.”

Li-Cycle and Renewance have been collaborating on energy storage projects since the beginning of 2020, and the parties believe that, with the formalization of their partnership, they are well positioned to grow the scope and scale of energy storage system lithium-ion batteries requiring recycling continue to grow. Li-Cycle’s recently announced third commercial lithium-ion battery recycling facility (or “Spoke”) will be critical in this regard due to its proximity to California, which was an early adopter of energy storage projects and leads the rest of the United States. Li-Cycle’s Spoke facility in Rochester, NY will also be essential in recovering resources from end-of life-lithium-ion batteries from energy storage systems on the U.S. East Coast.

“Renewance and Li-Cycle share the same mission to enable a more sustainable battery energy storage ecosystem,” said Tom Newhall, Chief Operating Officer of Renewance. “We bring a wealth of experience on regulatory considerations to decommissioning and reverse supply chain processes and Li-Cycle brings a strong capability of recovering critical battery materials from lithium-ion batteries in a sustainable and safe manner. We are looking forward to working closely with Li-Cycle on this mutually beneficial partnership.”

On February 16, 2021, Li-Cycle announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Peridot Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: PDAC) (“Peridot”). Upon the closing of the business combination, which is expected in the third quarter of 2021, the combined company will be named Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (“Newco”). Li-Cycle intends to apply to list the common shares of the combined company on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol, “LICY.”

About Li-Cycle

Li-Cycle is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications. The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.

About Renewance

Renewance provides battery life cycle management software and services to some of the world’s largest energy storage companies. Users of the online platform Renewance Connect™ are provided with the most cost effective and environmentally friendly turnkey industrial battery reuse and recycling solutions. Renewance is a winner of the Department of Energy Battery Recycling Prize, focused on improving the reverse supply chain. Renewance has extensive related experience, including such projects as: executing turnkey decommissioning, repurposing and recycling of several large multi-MWh energy storage systems and leading a global battery take back program. Renewance plays a leadership role in driving the creation of reverse supply chain best practices and actively participates in programs such as the ESA Corporate Responsibility Initiative. For more information, visit http://batterystewardship.com/.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed business combination involving Li-Cycle and Peridot, Newco has prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 that includes both a prospectus of Newco and a proxy statement of Peridot (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). Once effective, Peridot will mail the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders and file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents Peridot or Newco may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY PERIDOT OR NEWCO WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Peridot or Newco through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Investors and securityholders will also be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed by Peridot and/or Newco with the SEC on Peridot’s website at www.peridotspac.com or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

Li-Cycle, Peridot, Newco, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Peridot is contained in Peridot’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2021 and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Peridot or Newco or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the proposed transaction involving Li-Cycle and Peridot and the ability to consummate the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely”, “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction are not satisfied, including the failure to timely or at all obtain shareholder approval for the proposed transaction or the failure to timely or at all obtain any required regulatory clearances, including under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transaction and the ability of each of Li-Cycle and Peridot to consummate the proposed transaction; (iii) the possibility that other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized, and the anticipated tax treatment of the combination; (iv) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (v) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the proposed transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (vi) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (vii) possible disruptions from the proposed transaction that could harm Li-Cycle’s business; (viii) the ability of Li-Cycle to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (ix) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (x) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the proposed transaction that could affect Li-Cycle’s financial performance; (xi) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (xii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19), as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; and (xiii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Peridot’s reports filed with the SEC, including Peridot’s annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Neither Li-Cycle nor Peridot can give any assurance that the conditions to the proposed transaction will be satisfied. Except as required by applicable law, neither Li-Cycle nor Peridot undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Contacts

Investor Relations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Press: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Offshore Source Logo

Offshore Source keeps you updated with relevant information concerning the Offshore Energy Sector.

Any views or opinions represented on this website belong solely to the author and do not represent those of the people, institutions or organizations that Offshore Source or collaborators may or may not have been associated with in a professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.

Corporate Offices

Technology Systems Corporation
8502 SW Kansas Ave
Stuart, FL 34997

info@tscpublishing.com