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CSG Systems International Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

CSG

Reconfirming All 2021 Financial Guidance Targets; Preliminary 2022 Targets Announced Robust Q3 2021 Revenue & Adjusted Revenue Growth Up 7.8% and 8.5% Year-Over-Year Signed Landmark Charter Communications Contract Extension and Expansion through 2027 Successful Conversion of ~800,000 Charter Communications Customers in Midwest Signed DISH Network Contract Extension Through Mid-2026 CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Financial Results: Third quarter 2021 financial results: Total revenue was $263.2 million and total non-GAAP adjusted revenue was $247.0 million. GAAP operating income was $32.8 million, or 12.4% of total revenue, and non-GAAP operating income was $41.6 million, or 16.8% of non-GAAP adjusted revenue. GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) was $0.50 and non-GAAP EPS was $0.88. Cash flows used in operations were $46.1 million, with a non-GAAP free cash flow of $38.7 million. Shareholder Returns: In August 2021, CSG declared its quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock, or a total of approximately $8 million, to shareholders. During the third quarter of 2021, CSG repurchased under its stock repurchase program, approximately 143,000 shares of its common stock for approximately $7 million. Business Activities: In September 2021, CSG refinanced its existing credit agreement, extending the term of the agreement through September 2026, and increasing the revolving credit facility from $200 million to $450 million. In October 2021, CSG extended its contract with Charter, its largest client, through December 31, 2027. In October 2021, CSG extended its contract with DISH through June 30, 2026. “Our third quarter results and the landmark Charter contract expansion highlight the excellent momentum we currently have across our global business,” said Brian Shepherd, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSG. “With regards to the six-year Charter contract, which represents the largest deal ever signed in CSG’s history, we are extremely proud to become the revenue management provider of choice for all 32 million Charter subscribers across their residential and small-and-medium-sized business footprints. Additionally, we reported a robust set of financial results highlighted by our best quarterly organic revenue and adjusted revenue growth results since Q3 2010. And on the back of our strong year-to-date 2021 results, our continued sales success in the market, and the exciting renewals at both Charter and DISH Network, we are pleased to issue growth-oriented 2022 preliminary financial guidance targets. Looking ahead, CSG remains well positioned to create meaningful value for our customers, our employees and our shareholders as we lengthen and strengthen our relationships with existing customers, accelerate our organic revenue growth, close good new strategic acquisitions, and diversify into higher growth industry verticals.” Financial Overview (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages): For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Results of Operations GAAP Results: Total revenue for the third quarter of 2021 was $263.2 million, a 7.8% increase when compared to revenue of $244.1 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a 3.2% increase when compared to revenue of $255.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. These increases in revenue can be primarily attributed to the continued growth of CSG’s revenue management solutions, as substantially all was attributed to organic growth year-over-year. GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2021 was $32.8 million, or 12.4% of total revenue, compared to $28.9 million, or 11.9% of total revenue, for the third quarter of 2020, and $32.2 million, or 12.6% of total revenue, for the second quarter of 2021. The increase in year-over-year operating income can be primarily attributed to the revenue growth in 2021. GAAP EPS for the third quarter of 2021 was $0.50, as compared to $0.42 for the third quarter of 2020, and $0.60 for the second quarter of 2021. GAAP EPS for the third quarter of 2021 was impacted by a $6.2 million loss, or $0.14 per share, recorded on obtaining a controlling interest in a pre-existing equity investment. Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the third quarter of 2021 was $247.0 million, an 8.5% increase when compared to non-GAAP adjusted revenue of $227.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a 3.6% increase when compared to $238.5 million for the second quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2021 was $41.6 million, or 16.8% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue, compared to $39.1 million, or 17.2% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the third quarter of 2020, and $39.8 million, or 16.7% of total non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the second quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP EPS for the third quarter of 2021 was $0.88 compared to $0.76 for the third quarter of 2020, and $0.82 for the second quarter of 2021. The changes in non-GAAP adjusted revenue and non-GAAP operating income between quarters are primarily due to the factors discussed above. Balance Sheet and Cash Flows Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2021 were $224.5 million compared to $212.1 million as of June 30, 2021 and $240.3 million as of December 31, 2020. CSG had net cash flows from operations for the third quarters ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of $46.1 million and $65.3 million, respectively, and had non-GAAP free cash flow of $38.7 million and $55.4 million, respectively. Summary of Financial Guidance CSG is reaffirming its financial guidance for the full year 2021 and providing a preliminary financial outlook for certain full year 2022 financial measures, as follows: For additional information and reconciliations regarding CSG’s use of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached Exhibit 2 and the Investor Relations section of CSG’s website at csgi.com. Conference Call CSG will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET, to discuss CSG’s third quarter 2021 earnings results. The call will be carried live and archived on the Internet. A link to the conference call is available at http://ir.csgi.com. In addition, to reach the conference by phone, call 1-888-440-4531 and use the passcode 6134021. Additional Information For information about CSG, please visit CSG’s web site at csgi.com. Additional information can be found in the Investor Relations section of the website. About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For nearly 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that are based on assumptions about a number of important factors and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what appears in this news release. Some of these key factors include, but are not limited to the following items: • CSG’s business may be disrupted, and its results of operations and cash flows adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; • CSG derives over forty percent of its revenue from its two largest customers; • Continued market acceptance of CSG’s products and services; • CSG’s ability to continuously develop and enhance products in a timely, cost-effective, technically advanced and competitive manner; • CSG’s ability to deliver its solutions in a timely fashion within budget, particularly large and complex software implementations; • CSG’s dependency on the global telecommunications industry, and in particular, the North American telecommunications industry; • CSG’s ability to meet its financial expectations; • Increasing competition in CSG’s market from companies of greater size and with broader presence; • CSG’s ability to successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses or assets to achieve expected strategic, operating and financial goals; • CSG’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; • CSG’s ability to maintain a reliable, secure computing environment; • CSG’s ability to conduct business in the international marketplace; • CSG’s ability to comply with applicable U.S. and International laws and regulations; and • Fluctuations in credit market conditions, general global economic and political conditions, and foreign currency exchange rates. This list is not exhaustive, and readers are encouraged to review the additional risks and important factors described in CSG’s reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other filings made with the SEC. For more information, contact: John Rea, Investor Relations (210) 687-4409 E-mail: john.rea@csgi.com CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME-UNAUDITED (in thousands, except per share amounts) CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS-UNAUDITED (in thousands) Beginning with the second quarter of 2021, CSG reclassified certain cash flows related to settlement and merchant reserve assets and liabilities from cash flows from operating activities to cash flows from financing activities within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. EXHIBIT 1 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE ANALYSIS Revenue by Significant Customers: 10% or more of Revenue Revenue by Vertical Revenue by Geography EXHIBIT 2 CSG SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. DISCLOSURES FOR NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Limitations To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), CSG uses non-GAAP adjusted revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP adjusted operating margin percentage, non-GAAP EPS, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP free cash flow. CSG believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with its GAAP financial measures, provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by CSG’s management in its financial and operational decision making. CSG uses these non-GAAP financial measures for the following purposes: • Certain internal financial planning, reporting, and analysis; • Forecasting and budgeting; • Certain management compensation incentives; and • Communications with CSG’s Board of Directors, stockholders, financial analysts, and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided with the intent of providing investors with the following information: • A more complete understanding of CSG’s underlying operational results, trends, and cash generating capabilities; • Consistency and comparability with CSG’s historical financial results; and • Comparability to similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of performance under GAAP, and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial information. Limitations with the use of non-GAAP financial measures include the following items: • Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles; • The way in which CSG calculates non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the way in which other companies calculate similar non-GAAP financial measures; • Non-GAAP financial measures do not include all items of income and expense that affect CSG’s operations and that are required by GAAP to be included in financial statements; • Certain adjustments to CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures result in the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in CSG’s financial statements in future periods; and • Certain charges excluded from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures are cash expenses, and therefore do impact CSG’s cash position. CSG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement only. Additionally, CSG provides specific information regarding the treatment of GAAP amounts considered in preparing the non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles each n on-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Basis of Presentation The table below outlines the exclusions from CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures: CSG believes that excluding certain items in calculating its non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding CSG’s performance and these items are excluded for the following reasons: Transaction fees are primarily comprised of interchange and other payment-related fees paid, in conjunction with the delivery of service to customers under CSG’s payment services contracts, to third-party payment processors and financial institutions by CSG. Because CSG controls the integrated service provided under its payment services customer contracts, these transaction fees are presented gross, and not netted against revenue; however, other payments companies who do not provide and/or control an integrated service present their revenue net of transaction fees. The exclusion of these fees in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted revenue provides management and investors an additional means to use to compare CSG’s current revenue with historical and future periods, as well as with other payments companies. Restructuring and reorganization charges are expenses that result from cost reduction initiatives and/or significant changes to CSG’s business, to include such things as involuntary employee terminations, changes in management structure, divestitures of businesses, facility consolidations and abandonments, and fundamental reorganizations impacting operational focus and direction. These charges are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. Executive transition costs include expenses incurred related to a departure of a CSG executive officer under the terms of the related separation agreement. These types of costs are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The exclusion of these costs in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. • Acquisition-related expenses include amortization of acquired intangible assets, earn-out compensation, and transaction-related costs. Transaction-related costs, which typically include expenses related to legal, accounting, and other professional services, are direct and incremental expenses related to business acquisitions, and thus, are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. The total amount of acquisition-related expenses can vary significantly between periods based on the number and size of acquisition activities, previously acquired intangible assets becoming fully amortized, and ultimate realization of earn-out compensation. In addition, the timing of these expenses may not directly correlate with underlying performance of the CSG’s operations. Therefore, the exclusion of acquisition-related expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. • Stock-based compensation results from CSG’s issuance of equity awards to its employees under incentive compensation programs. The amount of this incentive compensation in any period is not generally linked to the level of performance by employees or CSG. The exclusion of these expenses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to evaluate the non-cash expense related to compensation included in CSG’s results of operations, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash generating capabilities of CSG’s business. • The convertible notes OID is the result of allocating a portion of the principal balance of the debt at issuance to the equity component of the instrument, as required under current accounting rules. This OID is then amortized to interest expense over the life of the respective convertible debt instrument. The interest expense related to the amortization of the OID is a non-cash expense, and therefore, the exclusion of this item allows investors to further evaluate the cash interest costs of CSG’s convertible notes for cash flow, liquidity, and debt service purposes. Gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt are a result of the refinancing of CSG’s credit agreement and/or repurchase of CSG’s convertible notes. These activities are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Gains or losses related to the acquisition or disposition of certain of CSG’s business activities are not considered reflective of CSG’s recurring business operating results. Any resulting gain or loss is generally non-cash income or expense, and therefore, the exclusion of these items allows investors to further evaluate the cash impact of these activities for cash flow and liquidity purposes. In addition, the exclusion of these gains and losses in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP EPS allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current operating results with historical and future periods. Unusual items within CSG’s quarterly and/or annual income tax expense can occur from such things as income tax accounting timing matters, income taxes related to unusual events, or as a result of different treatment of certain items for book accounting and income tax purposes. Consideration of such items in calculating CSG’s non-GAAP financial measures allows management and investors an additional means to compare CSG’s current financial results with historical and future periods. CSG also reports non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow. Management believes non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure to investors in evaluating CSG’s operating performance, debt servicing capabilities, and enterprise valuation. CSG defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency transaction adjustments, acquisition-related expenses, and unusual items, such as restructuring and reorganization charges, executive transition costs, gains and losses related to the extinguishment of debt, and gains and losses on acquisitions or dispositions, as discussed above. Additionally, management uses non-GAAP free cash flow, among other measures, to assess its financial performance and cash generating capabilities, and believes that it is useful to investors because it shows CSG’s cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, repurchase its common stock, pay cash dividends, and fund ongoing operations. CSG defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash flows from operating activities less the purchases of software, property and equipment. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliations of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands): Non-GAAP Operating Income: The reconciliations of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except percentages): (1) Stock-based compensation included in the tables above and following excludes amounts that have been recorded in restructuring and reorganization charges. Non-GAAP EPS: The reconciliations of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS for the indicated periods are as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts): (2) During the third quarter of 2021, CSG acquired a controlling interest in a mobile money fintech payment company that it previously held only an equity interest in. Upon acquisition of the controlling interest, CSG recognized a non-cash loss in other income (expense) related to the fair value remeasurement of the pre-existing equity investment. (3) For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021 the GAAP effective income tax rate was approximately 28% for both periods, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rate was approximately 27% for both periods. For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2020 the GAAP effective income tax rates were approximately 40% and 31%, respectively, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rate was approximately 27% for both periods. The difference between the GAAP and non-GAAP effective income tax rates was due primarily to the unfavorable GAAP basis tax impact related to the separation agreement entered into during the third quarter of 2020 with CSG’s then CEO. (4) The outstanding diluted shares for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were 32.0 million and 32.3 million for both periods, respectively. Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to GAAP net income is provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands, except percentages): (5) Interest expense includes amortization of deferred financing costs as provided in Note 5 below. (6) Amortization on the statement of cash flows is made up of the following items for the indicated periods (in thousands): (7) Included in interest and investment income and other, net is the $6.2 million loss on acquisition of controlling interest, discussed above. Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow: CSG’s calculation of non-GAAP free cash flow and the reconciliation of CSG’s non-GAAP free cash flow measure to cash flows from operating activities are provided below for the indicated periods (in thousands): Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2021 Financial Guidance Refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2021 Financial Guidance” in Exhibit 2 to CSG’s earnings release dated August 4, 2021, which can be found on the Investor Relations page of CSG’s website at csgi.com for the reconciliation of our 2021 financial guidance. Non-GAAP Financial Measures – 2022 Preliminary Financial Outlook Non-GAAP Adjusted Revenue: The reconciliation of GAAP revenue to non-GAAP adjusted revenue, as included in CSG’s 2022 full year preliminary financial outlook, is as follows: Contact Details CSG John Rea +1 210-687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

November 03, 2021 02:05 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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CSG selected by Charter as Billing Solution Provider of Choice for Residential and Small and Medium Business Internet, Video and Voice Customers

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS), the leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions, today announced a six-year contract renewal and extension with Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR). The deal marks a milestone in the nearly 25-year relationship as CSG’s revenue management platform becomes Charter’s billing solution of choice for its residential and small and medium business internet, video and landline voice customers. “CSG’s partnership, willingness to innovate at the speed of our business, and operational reliability align well with how we operate,” said Cliff Hagan, executive vice president of customer operations, Charter Communications. “Our number one goal is to deliver the best experience for our customers, while also providing the best tools for our employees. CSG’s platform helps make both a reality.” “CSG’s unwavering commitment to put our customers first and deliver results are what earned us the right to do more for Charter and become their provider of choice,” said Ken Kennedy, COO and president of revenue management, CSG. “This renewal is a testament to the dedication of our collective teams, who worked side-by-side, day in and day out to help bring Charter’s innovative products and meaningful experiences to its customers. CSG is proud and humbled by Charter’s continued confidence in us to serve and transform its business. We will keep investing in our people and solutions to deliver agile, game-changing technologies that ensure Charter and other leading brands are poised and ready for future growth.” CSG is a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for its Revenue and Customer Management solutions, which help companies around the world digitally transform their business to monetize and enable exceptional customer experiences. Through this transformation process, CSG empowers companies to focus on core business functions, reduce costs, and increase the reliability, scalability, security, and overall performance of their business and network operations to drive new revenues. For more information on CSG revenue management, visit https://www.csgi.com/capabilities/revenue-and-customer-management/. # # # About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For nearly 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Charter Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 31 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names that are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Public Relations +1 (917) 520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details CSG Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

November 03, 2021 02:01 PM Mountain Daylight Time

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Improving the Lives of Caregivers

YourUpdateTV

There will be more people over 65 than under 18 by 2030 -- the boomer generation is living longer and wants to age at home. The result is more than 53 million family caregivers in the U.S., caring for more than 80 million people, and spending more than $187 billion on home health care. Recently, Bianca Padilla, CEO and Co-Founder of Carewell, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the importance of supporting caregivers around the country. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Z8i-N0yyx30 One-fifth of Americans will act as informal caregivers at some point in their lives, but there is little in the way of vetted products, product knowledge, guidance, and service to help those in the position of caring for a loved one. The biggest trend in caregiving over the past few years is aging at home. 90% of Americans want to stay in their homes for the rest of their lives. They don’t want change, and it’s up to the younger generations to help them do this safely and comfortably. 84% of caregivers report needing more information, so providing access to educational resources is vital for this audience, especially as conditions change - and usually worsen - over time. Carewell is redefining home healthcare by helping caregivers manage their loved one’s conditions, as well as their own lives. Carewell strives to make this population feel seen and understood by providing the products, service, and community support they need along with a level of customer service and convenience rarely found in healthcare. Carewell offers support to family caregivers with a library of information and caregiving guides to remove guesswork. For more information, visit Carewell.com About Bianca Padilla: Bianca Padilla is the CEO and co-founder of Carewell, a family-founded company that simplifies life for caregivers by providing personalized service, compassionate content, and expert-vetted home care products. A graduate of New York University with a B.A. in Economics, Bianca attended the Disney Institute and formed the Charlotte chapter of Aging 2.0, for which she currently serves as an ambassador. Prior to founding Carewell, Bianca worked as a software engineer at LiveNinja and as an analyst for CCMP Capital Advisors and Pantheon Ventures. A Miami native, Bianca enjoys spending time with her co-founder husband Jon and dog Henry, traveling, being an unabashed foodie, and reading books about entrepreneurship, leadership, tech, and comedy. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 03, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Adsmovil Invests in Brilla Media to Develop Original Content Properties, Boost Adsmovil Studios, and Enhance Social Media Distribution

Brilla Media

Hispanic digital media powerhouse, Adsmovil, today announced that it has made a strategic investment in Miami-based Brilla Media to develop original content properties, boost its branded entertainment studios, and enhance its social content distribution. The partnership unites the innovator of the Hispanic mobile advertising industry with the founders of the U.S. Latino social media marketing and influencer industry, Manny Ruiz and Angela Sustaita-Ruiz, co-founders of Hispanicize. “This investment underscores our commitment to better serving the Hispanic market, with top-tier, authentic storytelling and compelling, resonant narratives,” said Adsmovil CEO and founder Alberto Pardo. “Brilla’s founders bring a powerful track record for creativity and innovation that will help Adsmovil evolve faster, stronger and more strategically into the next phase of our own story.” As part of the agreement, the companies will work closely to develop innovative digital media content properties, including films and documentaries, to better serve the dynamic Hispanic cohort in its entirety - across languages and generations. All content will be created for Hispanics by Hispanics and all properties will be 100% Latino owned and operated. Brilla Media will also support all social content distribution efforts. “We are especially proud of this investment because Adsmovil is positively advancing quality storytelling, filmmaking, and marketing in the Hispanic marketplace,” said Brilla Media Co-founder Manny Ruiz. “In Adsmovil, we’ve found a partner that is committed to elevating our U.S. Latino community and building bold, creative storytelling platforms, and that’s truly exciting.” About Brilla Media Latina-owned and operated, Brilla Media provides brand marketers with premium Latinx branded storytelling, distribution, and guaranteed digital and social media engagements. Created by Angela and Manny Ruiz, the innovative entertainment company features five pillars: Brilla Media (digital and social distribution), Nuestro Studios (original storytelling), Brilla Social (influencer marketing with social media amplification), Brilla Live (festivals and virtual broadcast TV and live streams), and Brilla Purpose (social good). Brilla’s innovative management team founded the Hispanic social media marketing, Hispanic influencer marketing, and Hispanic press release wire industries. About Adsmovil Minority-owned and certified, Adsmovil ( www.Adsmovil.com ) is a leading pioneer in Hispanic mobile advertising and digital media. The company reaches almost half (48%) of the total Hispanic digital population in the U.S. across cultural diversity and acculturation levels and has direct relationships with over 2,500 digital premium publishers in the US, LATAM and Spain. Its multi-channel offering spans screens, senses and languages as well as full production capabilities, via Adsmovil Studios. The company consistently ranks #1 within ComScore’s Hispanic Ad Focus Mobile Reporting. The company was founded in 2011 by its CEO, Alberto Pardo, and its U.S. headquarters is in Miami, FL with additional offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. The company also has offices in twelve other countries in Latin America and Spain. More information can be found at www.adsmovil.com or info@adsmovil.com. SOURCE ( LATINXNEWSWIRE.COM ) Contact Details Maria Twena maria@adsmovil.com

November 03, 2021 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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FORTRESS BRAND, a Leading Global Marketplace Accelerator, and SCHOOL HOUSE, a Powerhouse Creative Agency, Announce Strategic Partnership

Fortress Brand and School House

Fortress Brand and School House are joining forces to create a global omni-channel accelerator that addresses all Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) brand and product lifecycle needs. This first-of-its-kind agency partnership allows both Fortress Brand, a leading global marketplace accelerator, together with School House, a leading creative agency known for dynamic storytelling, to provide its brand partners with a proven competitive edge that drives business value at scale, from creation and brand identity, to retail, marketing, and sales. Fortress Brand and School House will leverage their expanded infrastructure and combined capabilities to drive continued game-changing growth for their beauty, health, and wellness brand partners. Headquartered in New York, NY, Fortress Brand is a technology-enabled direct-to- consumer channel partner specializing in driving growth for its clients on Amazon® and other e-commerce marketplaces. The Company offers a fully outsourced, turnkey e-commerce solution for leading CPG brands, providing re-seller protection, product development, and advertising services while leveraging proprietary data analytics within the world’s largest marketplaces. Fortress Brand’s customized strategies enable its brand partners to navigate the rapidly evolving marketplace landscape. Today, the Company represents over 45 leading beauty, health, and wellness brands, including Glow Recipe, Youth to the People, and HUM Nutrition. “The accelerating number of beauty, health, and wellness brand launches, combined with rising global supply chain concerns and competition, underscores Fortress Brand’s primary focus on identifying forward-thinking solutions for its client needs,” noted Alex and Matt Beer, Fortress Brand’s Co-CEOs and Founders. “The collective Fortress Brand and School House vision is to redefine the concept of client relations and brand partnerships by thoroughly understanding our brand partners’ every need. Together, we can then drive growth through each stage of the brand lifecycle, equipping our brand partners with the right tools, teams, and support to meet those needs. The School House partnership represents an important milestone in our continued evolution into the leading global omni-channel accelerator for beauty, health, and wellness brands.” Based in New York, NY, School House was founded nearly seven years ago with a vision to provide cut-through creative services based on compelling storytelling for the world’s most in-demand beauty brands. Through engaging and thoughtful design in an array of specialties under the disciplines of strategy and creative development, creative production, architectural design, and industrial design, School House has collaborated with over 75 client partners ranging from independent brands such as Ami Cole and IDEO Skincare, to founder-led brands including Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, J oanna Czech, Kosas, Pat McGrath Labs, and Tata Harper Skincare, to icons La Mer, Elemis and L'Occitane en Provence, to name a few. “At School House, our mission has always been to ensure a distinct point of difference in every beauty brand we touch – from voice and tone, visual identity, and creative strategy, to campaign content and environmental design. This is our mainstay. The creative outcome is always unique,” commented Christopher Skinner, Founder and Principal of School House. “We are thrilled to now expand this philosophy by offering our clients a trusted partner in Fortress Brand that can continue the brand’s lifecycle through a powerful presence on the world’s most rapidly growing marketplaces and channels.” The Company is excited to announce that its next phase of strategic partnership will be the School House Studios, an immersive physical creative content studio, which is set to open in New York City in Spring 2022. Fortress Brand and School House welcome inquiries from beauty, health, and wellness brands looking to accelerate their brand equity and growth across all channels. About Fortress Brand Established in 2012 and based in the heart of SoHo in NYC, Fortress Brand represents acclaimed beauty, health, and wellness brands on the Amazon® marketplace. With nearly a decade in business and 45 exclusive partnerships with names like Glow Recipe, Youth to the People and HUM Nutrition, our core strengths are channel control, protecting brand integrity, and driving growth on Amazon®. Recognized as one of Inc.’s 5,000 Fastest-Growing Companies and trusted by Amazon® as a verified partner, we are fully invested in our clients’ success from day one and stay on top of today’s rapidly changing market by investing deeply into technology, data and international capabilities. https://fortressbrand.com About School House School House is a creative agency, founded by former LVMH Executive Christopher Skinner, specializing in cut-through strategy, engaging creative and immersive environments for the world's most in-demand beauty brands. School House is built to mirror that of an in-house creative studio with dedicated talent across key creative disciplines needed in today's beauty market: brand and commercial strategy, branding and visual design, creative production, digital and social design, industrial design, visual merchandising, and architectural design. Select clients include Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, Perfect Diary, La Mer, Malin + Goetz, Tata Harper Skincare, L'Occitane en Provence, Joanna Czech, Elemis, Volition Beauty and MyGlamm. https://weareschoolhouse.com Contact Details School House: The Collective PR Debbie Burke-Smith +1 917-224-1415 debbie@thecollective-pr.com School House: The Collective PR Jennine Hannaway Lavyne +1 917-447-1192 jennine@hannawaypr.com Fortress Brand Gabby Barikian gabrielle.barikian@fortressbrand.com

November 03, 2021 10:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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British fintech Nimbla attracts £5.1m investment as embedded insurance takes off

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business insurance startup Nimbla has today announced a £5.1m funding round led by Silicon Valley venture fund Fin VC with participation from Barclays Bank. The funding comes as Nimbla seeks to scale its operations with increased demand from embedded credit risk solutions through its API with banks and alternative lending platforms. Founded in 2016, the Nimbla platform has given businesses the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance with quotes provided within seconds. Their proprietary digital automated credit risk platform is able to process requests immediately and provide real time quotes. Nimbla has processed over 67m invoices worth £2.5b. During the pandemic, volumes of invoices tripled as economic uncertainty and supply chain concerns increased and Nimbla continued writing new business. Flemming Bengtsen, CEO at Nimbla commented: “We have been growing steadily over the past few years, ramping up our technology and team to better understand businesses, the nature of B2B debt and to make faster decisions to serve our growing customer base. 2020 was a seminal year for Nimbla, at a time of global crisis, we were there for businesses enabling them to trade with a peace of mind and giving them confidence to carry on. This funding round will enable us to expand our platform, grow the team as we enable a confident and trusted trading environment for businesses across the UK and beyond”. Nimbla has worked directly with businesses and brokers to provide invoice insurance cover and more recently has launched a new API for Banks, fintech lenders and B2B platforms to enable more business to access the service. Nimbla partnered with Barclays Bank in 2020 to give their one million small business customers the ability to take out insurance against individual invoices, rather than the whole book. “We have built a powerful and robust credit risk model, automated large parts of the process and have now launched a new API to enable others to embed seamless credit risk solutions into their platforms” added Flemming Bengtsen. On investing in funding round Henry Cashin, Head of EMEA at Fin VC, commented: “Nimbla is giving businesses the confidence to trade again. They have a proven credit risk model and its tech is being adopted by top tier banks and a host of lending platforms. We believe this will scale their reach and help more businesses benefit long term”. Looking ahead, Flemming Bengtsen commented: “UK companies have added £1.9tn debt in 2020 to their balance sheets, taking the total amount outstanding to over £6.6tn. This number was inflated by the various government loan schemes. Over half of them are carrying ‘toxic debts’ which carries enormous risk for their trade creditors, there is a huge opportunity and responsibility for Nimbla to give companies a peace of mind and insure their invoices against insolvencies”. About Nimbla Nimbla makes sure businesses get paid for their hard work, even if a customer becomes insolvent. Founded in 2016, the company is on a mission to give SMEs the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance. Nimbla’s digital insurance platform backed by expert risk analysts, allows businesses to check a buyer’s ability to pay and insure individual invoices against non-payment in a fast and affordable way. This will enable business owners to safeguard against insolvent customers, expand into new and existing markets and secure better borrowing terms. The platform can be accessed directly (www.nimbla.com) and through partnerships with Barclays and insurance brokers. Based in London, Nimbla aims to bring the trade credit industry into the 21st century. Challenging traditional insurance models, the cover is flexible and adapts to fit your business — whether it’s a one-off invoice or multiple transactions. Contact Details Nimbla Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.nimbla.com/

November 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SMEs “keep calm and carry on” despite rising costs from suppliers

Stockwood Strategy

Supply chain issues and increasing costs have impacted SMEs countrywide and yet they seem to be handling it in their usual resilient stride. Fintech business lender MarketFinance asked 1,000 SME owners 1 across the UK how they are managing rising supplier prices, what measures they have put in place and sought their long term outlook on the increasing costs of doing business. Supplier costs Four out of five (79%) SMEs have faced increased prices from suppliers over the past 6 months. An increase of cost of raw materials was the top ranked rationale for price increases by suppliers, most keenly felt by businesses in the north west of England (85%). This was followed by staff shortages, the ongoing impact of the pandemic slowdown and supply chain disruptions owing to a shortage of truck drivers. Across the UK, a quarter of SMEs reported supplier prices have almost doubled over the past 6 months. Impact A third of SMEs (32%) have been able to absorb the increased costs without passing them on to customers, suggesting that these businesses have the necessary cash reserves to handle the impact. Only a fifth (21%) are passing a portion of the increased costs onto customers. Businesses in the south west of England and Northern Ireland are least likely to absorb the costs while businesses in the north west and Yorkshire are the most likely to do so. Their customers are proving to be equally understanding of the wider supply chain situation with only a fifth (20%) challenging business owners about the price rises. Outlook Looking ahead to the festive season, SMEs feel they will be able to manage the situation but some could increase prices if the pressure gets too much. Two fifths reported they could increase their prices by as much as 10% in the run up to Christmas. Longer term, three quarters (73%) of SMEs are already preparing for the current higher prices to be the norm until at least the end of 2022. A third of SMEs (34%) have taken out loans or are using other finance facilities to manage the increased cost of doing business. Anil Stocker, CEO at MarketFinance, commented: “ The current economic environment with rising costs is presenting some headwinds and headaches for SME owners but they are proving to be as resilient as ever. The vast majority have been thinking ahead and accounted for the longer term scenario, which will hold them in good stead to do business. It’s great to see that SME owners are taking the long view and preserving their customer relationships and managing suppliers by having a finance facility in place to deal with the overhead for now. The British Business Bank announced last week that it will extend its Recovery Loan Scheme to June 2022. This extension will give SMEs easier access to more affordable finance they need to continue running and growing operations in the face of ongoing challenges such as staff shortages and supplier price increases.” 1 Research findings based on a survey of 1,000 UK companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £100,000) conducted for MarketFinance in October 2021 by LMRMC Research (a Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About MarketFinance MarketFinance is a fintech business lender which believes that SMEs are building the world. By making finance frictionless, they’re solving the cash flow issues getting in the way of progress. MarketFinance uses smart technology to deliver better access to faster, more affordable finance; with one-to-one help whenever businesses need it. Since 2011, MarketFinance has advanced over £2.6 billion worth of invoices and loans, enabling thousands of UK businesses to bridge today’s funding gaps and fuel tomorrow’s big ambitions. MarketFinance is an accredited Recover Loan Scheme lender and has a wide-reaching network of strategic partners including Barclays Bank UK PLC, Tide, Equals Group and Ebury. MarketFinance is backed by Barclays Bank UK PLC, Mouro Capital, Paul Forster (co-founder of Indeed.com) European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), Viola Capital and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett). Contact Details MarketFinance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://marketfinance.com/

November 02, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Akeneo Product Release Takes PXM to the Next Level

Akeneo

Product experience management (PXM) leader Akeneo today announced some major new product features and benefits as part of their Autumn Product Release Cycle. Akeneo released over 70 product enhancements this year alone, adding powerful new capabilities to its industry-leading suite of SaaS solutions. The new release includes substantial upgrades to Akeneo PXM Studio, underscoring Akeneo’s commitment to continuous cloud-first and API-centric innovation as part of a well-connected product and partner ecosystem. The new release brings a series of key updates to Akeneo’s flagship Akeneo PIM product, including: Table Attributes which give users a simple but compelling way to present complex product information in tables — an ideal approach for use-cases such as product dimensions, packaging information, nutritional information, and product comparisons. Tailored Exports lets users easily customize product data export structure, content, and sources, with customization for different data sharing needs. Thanks to Tailored Exports, manipulating product data in spreadsheets will become a thing of the past, making exporting data and sharing product information easier than ever before. Enhanced user interface, because continuously optimizing the user experience is what makes Akeneo the most powerful product collaboration tool in the market. Users will experience an updated proposal screen, faster category management, enhanced settings navigation, an intuitive activity dashboard, and more. The new release also brings important updates to Akeneo Shared Catalogs and Akeneo Onboarder, enhancing product data collaboration and synchronization between brands/manufacturers and their retailers, distributors, and suppliers. Users can access all attributes and metrics for shared products, with improved sorting, filtering, and advanced search capabilities, as well as support for additional languages to facilitate global collaboration. Building on the industry’s most robust and comprehensive partner ecosystem, Akeneo’s Marketplace also gets a major upgrade: now fully embedded in Akeneo PIM, customers can quickly access powerful functionality to easily discover connectors and third-party extensions –– all without leaving the Akeneo PIM dashboard. The new Embedded Marketplace makes it easier than ever for all levels of users to tap into the latest and greatest innovations from Akeneo partners to unleash their PIM productivity without having to toggle between different interfaces. Users, prospects and partners can also find out more about Akeneo’s path forward with its new public-facing product roadmap, “ What’s Next with Akeneo PIM.” The highly anticipated page featured in Akeneo’s Help Center highlights new and upcoming product features, and gives a taste of innovations currently in development. This enables brands and digital agencies to closely align their product experience initiatives with Akeneo PIM’s exciting new features, so they can make the most of their PXM investments while freeing up precious IT resources. Akeneo is one of the first in the PIM market to bring true transparency to its product evolutions and deliver on its commitment to Open SaaS, trust and collaboration. “With this ambitious release, we’re showing Akeneo’s continuing commitment to innovating in the PXM space, and also to being completely transparent about our journey forward as a truly cloud-native Open SaaS solution provider,” said Akeneo CEO Fred de Gombert. “We already have the richest partner ecosystem and most powerful PIM solution on the market, and we’re continuing to redefine the industry and reimagine the possibilities for powerful, partnership-driven PIM solutions.” About Akeneo Akeneo is a global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM), helping businesses to unlock growth opportunities by delivering a consistent and compelling product experience across all channels, including eCommerce, mobile, print, points of sale, and beyond. With its open platform, leading PIM, add-ons, connectors, and marketplace, Akeneo PXM Studio dramatically improves product data quality and accuracy, simplifies catalog management, and accelerates the sharing of product information across channels and locales. Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, including Staples Canada, Fossil, Air Liquide, and Myer, trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo, brands and retailers can improve customer experience, increase sales, reduce time to market, go global, and boost team productivity. More information at https://www.akeneo.com. Contact Details Ran Xu +1 213-309-2373 ran@rosebudpr.io Company Website https://www.akeneo.com

November 02, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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DISH Extends Contract with CSG as Long-Standing Revenue Management Provider of Choice

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) is transforming the way companies engage with their customers by equipping today’s leading brands with future-ready, innovative solutions that drive best-in-class customer experiences. Today CSG announced that DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) has agreed to a multi-year contract extension that will enhance DISH’s digital engagement and revenue management operations. For over 25 years, CSG has helped DISH be an industry leader in customer satisfaction. “CSG has been a trusted partner since we launched our first satellite in 1995,” said John Swieringa, DISH COO and group president, retail wireless. “As we build on our decades of disruptive innovation, we’re excited CSG will continue to be a partner and help us deliver the innovative products and services we have relied on to consistently exceed our customers’ expectations.” “It is a huge accomplishment for DISH to earn the distinction of being named #1 nationally in ‘overall customer satisfaction’ by J.D. Power four years in a row. It underscores how DISH puts its customers first,” said Brian Shepherd, CEO, CSG. “Being customer-obsessed is also part of CSG’s DNA, and we’re honored to be able to continue to play a part in DISH’s future success. It has been a privilege to work collaboratively with DISH since their beginning and to continue, even after 25 years, to earn the right for CSG to keep helping them grow their business.” CSG’s end-to-end SaaS platform supports the world’s leading global brands, providing them with the efficient, scalable, and flexible solutions they need to monetize and digitally enable extraordinary customer experiences. Recognized as an industry leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Integrated Revenue and Customer Management, CSG delivers innovative solutions that put the customer first and helps companies solve their toughest business challenges. ### About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For nearly 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Public Relations CSG +1 (917) 520-275 tammy.hovey@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations CSG +1 (210) 687 4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details CSG Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

November 02, 2021 06:35 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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