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One Company’s Innovative Solution to the Pilot Shortage Crisis

MarketJar

While the US airlines face a daunting pilot shortage threatening their operations, one leading commuter airline in the US is charting a course to tackle the issue head-on. While there are glimmers of hope with a slight easing of the situation over the past year, the shortfall remains a significant hurdle, especially for smaller US markets. The pilot shortfall is not just a temporary blip; experts like Geoff Murray from Oliver Wyman warn of its persistence well into the 2030s. The continued growth of major US airlines will serve as an additional headwind for regional airlines attempting to bridge the gap. In the next decade, a whopping 75% of major airlines’ new pilots will be sourced from regional airlines, further straining these carriers. The Regional Airline Association advocates legislative action, such as raising the mandatory pilot retirement age to 67, but congressional progress has been slow. Efforts to address the issue include improving testing protocols for high school aviation programs, facilitating the transition of military mechanics into civilian aviation, and exploring tax incentives for pilot training and FAA reauthorization. As regional airlines continue to grapple with a significant pilot shortage, legacy airlines are looking to solve the problem by taking pilot training into their own hands. Fortunately, Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE:SRFM) has stepped in to address the pilot shortage and other challenges related to air travel following the acquisition of Southern Airways Express, a regional airline. Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility platform that is focused on expanding regional air travel and transforming flying through the power of electrification. Surf Air 's strategic pilot pipeline agreement with SkyWest, the largest regional airline in the US, gives them a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting pilots. Navigating the Pilot Shortage and Reshaping Regional Air Travel Surf Air 's unique cadet program is the brainchild behind its success amidst pilot shortages. Operating under a Part 135 certification, the airline can welcome pilots with 500 hours, as opposed to the industry-standard 1,500 hours, offering a rapid pathway to career progression. Upon joining the program, pilots commit to stay until they amass 1,800 flight hours. In the initial stages, up to the 1,200-hour mark, they serve as first officers, and advance to captain as they accrue additional hours. “It’s a career jumpstart,” said Surf Air Mobility CEO Stan Little, who described the whole pipeline as “pilot creation” rather than “retention.” On completion of specific milestones, these pilots find opportunities awaiting at SkyWest and other associate airlines. While the partnership with SkyWest addresses the immediate crisis in the aviation space, Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE:SRFM) is primarily focused on revolutionizing regional air travel by harnessing the potential of electrification. To achieve this, Surf Air is collaborating with commercial partners to develop electrified powertrain technology for upgrading existing fleets with electric propulsion and introducing electric aircraft on a large scale to the market in order to lower costs and emissions. Following its debut on the public market, Surf Air Mobility confirmed its exclusive relationship with Textron Aviation, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), which includes an order of 100 Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircrafts. Surf Air Mobility expects deliveries of the first 20 Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircrafts from Textron Aviation to begin in the first half of 2024, marking a key initial step in Surf Air Mobility 's pursuit of developing a fleet of electrified Cessna Grand Caravans, with the goal of obtaining FAA certification in 2026. These aircraft will undergo conversion to incorporate Surf Air Mobility 's proprietary electric or hybrid-electric powertrain technology. Surf Air Mobility intends to make electrified aircrafts accessible to a wide range of operators, both existing and new, with the aim of providing customers with the advantages of cost-effective, low-emission air travel on a large scale. Additionally, Surf Air Mobility will serve as the exclusive provider of its proprietary battery electric and hybrid electric powertrain technology for the Cessna Grand Caravan to Textron Aviation. “We know from our experience that people are looking for faster, affordable, and cleaner regional travel, and we are building the ecosystem to accelerate the industry’s adoption of electric flight,” explained Sudhin Shahani, co-founder of Surf Air Mobility. “We believe that significantly reducing the emissions from this category of aircraft will be the biggest step we can take toward de-carbonization in this decade.” Surf Air Mobility envisions employing both electric and hybrid-electric Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft throughout its network, connecting more airports through short-haul direct services. Simultaneously, the company aims to establish a regional mass transport platform that fosters sustainable connectivity among communities across North America. The anticipated advantages of the new electrified architecture include a substantial reduction in direct operating costs, with targets ranging from 25% to 50%, and a significant decrease in direct carbon emissions, with targets ranging from 50% to 100%, all while maintaining performance levels similar to the current models. Without the need for charging stations in the case of hybrid-electric powertrain versions, these aircraft have the potential to be operational at over 5,000 public use airports across the United States. Surf Air Mobility is also partnering with leading AI platform developer Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) to help develop the definitive AI software and operator tools for the regional air mobility (RAM) industry. For more information about Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE:SRFM) and its integrated model fueling regional air mobility market’s growth, click this link or visit their website. Disclosure: 1) The author of the Article, or members of the author’s immediate household or family, do not own any securities of the companies set forth in this Article. The author determined which companies would be included in this article based on research and understanding of the sector. 2) The Article was issued on behalf of and sponsored by, Surf Air Mobility Inc. Market Jar Media Inc. has or expects to receive from Surf Air Mobility Inc..’s Digital Marketing Agency of Record (Native Ads Inc.) forty-two thousand, five hundred USD for 36 days (26 business days). 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not Market Jar Media Inc., its directors or officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Market Jar Media Inc. for this Article. Market Jar Media Inc. was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this Article. Market Jar has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of Market Jar or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Market Jar Media Inc. relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Market Jar Media Inc. has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The Article does not constitute investment advice. All investments carry risk and each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional. Any action a reader takes as a result of the information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Market Jar Media Inc.'s terms of use and full legal disclaimer as set forth here. This Article is not a solicitation for investment. Market Jar Media Inc. does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on PressReach.com should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market Jar Media Inc. does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on PressReach.com. 5) Market Jar Media Inc. and its respective directors, officers and employees hold no shares for any company mentioned in the Article. 6) This document contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), which reflect management's expectations regarding Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s future growth, future business plans and opportunities, expected activities, and other statements about future events, results or performance. Wherever possible, words such as “predicts”, “projects”, “targets”, “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “anticipate” or “does not anticipate”, “believe”, “intend” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (a) revenue generating potential with respect to Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s industry; (b) market opportunity; (c) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s business plans and strategies; (d) services that Surf Air Mobility Inc. intends to offer; (e) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s milestone projections and targets; (f) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s expectations regarding receipt of approval for regulatory applications; (g) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s intentions to expand into other jurisdictions including the timeline expectations relating to those expansion plans; and (h) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s expectations with regarding its ability to deliver shareholder value. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this document including, without limitation, assumptions about: (a) the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s business plan; (b) that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; (c) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; (d) the accuracy of budgeted costs and expenditures; (e) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; (f) political and regulatory stability; (g) the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, licenses and permits on favorable terms; (h) changes in applicable legislation; (i) stability in financial and capital markets; and (j) expectations regarding the level of disruption to as a result of CV-19. Such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of Surf Air Mobility Inc. to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: (a) Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; (b) public health crises such as CV-19 may adversely impact Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s business; (c) the volatility of global capital markets; (d) political instability and changes to the regulations governing Surf Air Mobility Inc.’s business operations (e) Surf Air Mobility Inc. may be unable to implement its growth strategy; and (f) increased competition. Except as required by law, Surf Air Mobility Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither does Surf Air Mobility Inc. nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this document. Neither Surf Air Mobility Inc. nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this document by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this document. 7) Any graphs, tables or other information demonstrating the historical performance or current or historical attributes of Surf Air Mobility Inc. or any other entity contained in this document are intended only to illustrate historical performance or current or historical attributes of Surf Air Mobility Inc. or such entities and are not necessarily indicative of future performance of Surf Air Mobility Inc. or such entities. 8) Investing is risky. The information provided in this article should not be considered as a substitute for professional financial consultation. Users should be aware that investing in any form carries inherent risks, and as such, there is a possibility of losing some or all of their investment. The value of investments can fluctuate significantly within a short period, and investors must understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Additionally, users should exercise caution as transactions involving investments may be irreversible, even in cases of fraud or accidental actions. It is crucial to acknowledge that rapidly evolving laws and technical issues can have adverse effects on the usability, transferability, exchangeability, and value of investments. Furthermore, users must be cognizant of potential security risks associated with their investment activities. Individuals are strongly encouraged to conduct thorough research, seek professional advice, and carefully evaluate their risk tolerance before engaging in any investment endeavors. Market Jar Media Inc. is neither an investment adviser nor a broker-dealer. The information presented on the website is provided for informative purposes only and is not to be treated as a recommendation to make any specific investment. No such information on PressReach.com constitutes advice or a recommendation. Contact Details James Young +1 800-340-9767 campaigns@pressreach.com Company Website https://pressreach.com

October 16, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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GSM marks its first global expansion milestone by entering into Lao electric vehicle ride-hailing service market

VinFast Auto

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 13 October 2023 - Vietnam’s Green and Smart Mobility JSC. (GSM) has imported 150 VinFast electric cars into the Lao market in preparation to launch its electric taxi service under the brand Green SM. The event marked an important milestone in its development journey towards becoming a leading regional and global ride-hailing service. This momentous occasion also demonstrated GSM's commitment to promoting the use of electric vehicles among consumers. Green SM plans to introduce its electric taxi services in Laos by 2023, with 1,000 VF 5 Plus and VF e34 electric cars making up its fleet. Initially, the company will focus on expanding its electric taxi services. Furthermore, GSM aims to provide a complete service ecosystem, including electric vehicle lease and more advanced services like package car rental, travel and personalized car rental. GSM Laos will not only focus on its corporate-owned business but also engage in B2B activities, including the sale and lease of VinFast electric cars. This model has already been successfully implemented in Vietnam. GSM sights to promote the use of eco-friendly vehicles in everyday life in Laos through a diverse approach. By introducing the Green SM Taxi, GSM not only provides the locals with noiseless and emission-free transportations, but it will also promote the VinFast brand in the regional market. Laos, a country neighboring Vietnam, has a strong focus on promoting and encouraging the widespread use of electric vehicles. The country aims to boost the adoption of electric vehicles to 30% and establish 200 public charging stations across its territory by 2030. As of the end of 2022, there were 1,326 registered electric vehicles in Laos, according the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Furthermore, in the first four months of 2023, an additional 526 electric cars were imported into the country. The development of the charging station network in Laos is currently underway, with 17 stations already operational. Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, CEO of GSM said: “Laos is a neighboring country that shares many similarities with Vietnam in terms of culture and lifestyle, and is very open to electric vehicles. Laos is an ideal starting point for GSM to expand internationally. After Laos, GSM continues to expand its operations to other countries, as part of its commitment to “fostering a green future for all”. Additionally, GSM has set the goal to promote Vietnamese electric vehicles to a global consumers.” GSM was officially established and launched its ride-hailing service in April 2023 in Vietnam as the world's first multi-platform green transportation model with a 100% pure electric vehicle fleet. After just 6 months on the market, GSM has experienced remarkable growth, reaching the 6 millionth ride and earning high praise from both customers and transportation companies. By the end of 2023, Green SM will expand its operations to 27 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam, boasting a fleet of 30,000 electric taxis and over 90,000 electric scooters. Not limited to Vietnam, GSM is also planning to extend its reach beyond the region and become a global ride-hailing company, starting with the ASEAN markets. This endeavor aligns with its goal of fostering a green future for all. Contact Details Chi Duong +84 96 196 65 65 v.chidqd1@vingroup.net Company Website https://vinfastauto.com

October 13, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Demand for Online Writing and Content Creation Jobs Intensifies, finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released its quarterly report revealing the most in-demand online jobs on the platform for Q3 2023. The Fast 50 Q3 2023 report, a quarterly dataset ranking the fastest growing and falling jobs on the platform, analyzed over 277,000 jobs posted by employers to Freelancer.com between July and September 2023. According to the data, the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth in Q3 2023 were mostly writing, content creation and marketing related. As AI continues to advance, the need for human creativity remains strong. Employers are once again seeking freelancers to support with Creative Writing and Content Writing projects, which are up 22.4% and 19.4% respectively. A surge in demand for writing skills across the platform means there were more than 10,000 additional writing projects available in Q3 2023, which were already a trending skill evident in the previous quarter. The Q3 2023 data also indicates a consistent trend in businesses seeking freelance marketing support, with Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%), Videography (up 17.4%) and Telemarketing (up 16.5%) seeing notable growth across the quarter. This aligns with the previous quarter's emphasis on business marketing activities. “Our Freelancer Fast 50 Report is a forward leading indicator of the skills and expertise businesses need today. Artificial Intelligence is powering a boom in content creation, particularly focusing on writing, marketing and video production skills” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer. “Generative AI is superskilling freelancers and their ability to produce extremely high quality content and faster than ever before. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard have changed the game when it comes to producing and refining written content, while advances in video AI such as Runway Gen-2, HeyGen and Pika Labs means that video production and editing can be done with a click of a button.” Growth in skills like User Interface / IA (up 17.4% from 3,071 to 3,607) and UX / User Experience (up 13.9% from 1,193 to 1,359) highlight the importance of user-centric design in today's digital landscape. Data Mining (up 14.9% from 2,374 to 2,728) and Data Processing (up 10% from 11,013 to 12,115) were also amongst the top growing jobs. These skills are often associated with Sales functions and Lead Generation, which are also growing in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. By leveraging freelancers to research leads, businesses can operate more efficiently and focus more on relationship building in the sales process. Design, Marketing and Video Creation Jobs Lead Year-on-Year Growth Several skills have surged in demand when comparing Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. Jobs for User Interface (UI) Design have doubled, growing by 101.9% to 3,607 from 1,786 in the same period last year. Search Engine Marketing jobs grew 80.4% (from 1,597 to 2,881) and Videography jumped by 77.1% (from 2,716 to 4,809). Fastest Falling Jobs of Q3 2023 The recent data highlights a shift in the demand for specific technical skills, which saw a significant increase last year as many tech companies laid off technical staff. There's a noticeable decline in jobs for certain established programming languages and frameworks. For instance, Matlab and Mathematica saw a 25.1% decrease (from 1,349 to 1,011 jobs). Similarly, projects requiring skills in AngularJS jobs dropped by 23.5% (from 1,722 to 1,318), while those requiring Django experts experienced a decline of 23.4% (from 1,216 to 932). C Programming, C++ Programming, and Python, which were all in-demand skills in Q3 2022, also all decreased on the platform in Q3 2023. While algorithms remain integral to many processes, there's been a reduction in specialized roles in this domain. This trend is evident in the decrease in demand for Algorithm skills, which saw a decrease of 22.5% (from 1,438 to 1,114 jobs). This might be a consequence of the advent of more intuitive tools and platforms that simplify algorithmic tasks. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Writing Jobs Show No Sign Of Slowing Down The introduction of highly sophisticated and powerful generative AI tools have led many experts and commentators to predict that skills such as writing will be replaced by AI. However, the latest Fast 50 Q3 data demonstrates that writing jobs are here to stay, as content writing, creative writing, copy typing and ghostwriting jobs increase by more than 20% over the last quarter. These skills continue to flourish after reporting growth in the previous quarter on Freelancer.com, with Creative Writing ranked as the fastest growing skills in Q2 2023 (up 58%, from 1,868 to 2,961). An Increase in writing skills for two quarters in a row suggest that businesses are placing more emphasis on content creation by hiring freelancers to write articles and produce creative content. Copy Typing, the fastest growing skill for Q3’23 (up 28.7% from 6,381 to 8,213) encompasses all types of jobs from data entry to helping write e-books to transcription and typist projects. While technical projects do require degrees and past experience, most copy typing jobs can be performed by freelancers with no prior knowledge, making it a lucrative side hustle for freelancers globally. AI’s Impact on Whitecollar Jobs While writing jobs continue to flourish over the past 6 months, there is a need to understand how generative AI will impact jobs and various freelancing skills. In a longform essay titled ‘ AI know what you did last summer ’, Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie discusses the bleeding edge of AI technology and how he predicts these will go on the shape white-collar jobs. Barrie suggests that to be competitive in a world of AI, workers will need to adapt or move up the stack: “Those in white collar jobs will need to move ‘up the stack’. Illustrators become cinematographers. Writers become editors. Software developers become product managers. Grad students now run a research group.” Barrie also highlights that there is a major opportunity for freelancers, arguing that AI-powered freelancers will ultimately be the winners as they have the ability to compete against middle class workforces all around the world. AI’s impact on work productivity is evident in a recent AI study conducted by Freelancer.com which found that in a survey of over 1,300 US workers, a majority of those US workers (75%) are using generative AI tools in their work. One in three (33%) workers are using AI tools all the time in their work, while one quarter of US workers (25%) are using these tools sometimes and one sixth (16%) admit to never using AI at work. Marketing & Video Production Sustain Growth, Growing Every Quarter in 2023 Marketing and Video Production skills are one of the most in-demand skill categories on the platform, with data showing they’ve now grown every quarter since the beginning of the year. Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%, from 2,321 to 2,881) ranked as the third fastest growing skill on the platform. Telemarketing (up 16.5%, from 1,054 to 1,228) has grown in Q3 as businesses turn towards more traditional marketing tactics. Sustained growth in different types of marketing skills means there are many opportunities for skilled freelancers to find unique projects on the platform. As for video production, not only is the skill up quarter-on-quarter, but both Video Production and Videography have almost doubled when compared to the same time last year, up 58.1% and 77.1% respectively. The surge in freelancer video production jobs can be attributed to the booming demand for online content, especially on platforms like YouTube (up 10.3%, from 1,174 to 1,295 jobs in Q3) and TikTok. As content is a staple in many marketing strategies, businesses are turning to freelancers to help them produce content, boosting this as a potential category for workers. Businesses Delegating Sales Functions to Freelancers As found in the Freelancer.com World’s Most Boring Job research, businesses often delegate research heavy tasks to on-demand freelancers. In turn, this allows businesses the ability to operate more efficiently and focus on more impact-based tasks. A unique trend uncovered in the Fast 50 Q3 2023 shows that businesses are leaning on freelancers to help with the research portion of the sales function. Sales and Lead Generation ranked as some of the fastest growing jobs in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. Interestingly, Sales and Lead Generation both featured in the top 25 fastest growing jobs in Q2 2023. Growth in sales and lead generation is an example of how businesses are employing freelancers to help them streamline the sales process. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 report is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 277,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer.com platform between July 1 to September 30 2023. Fast 50 Q3 2022 vs Q3 2023 Fast 50 Q2 2023 vs Q3 2023 Data About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 69 million registered users have posted over 23.1 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$5 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometers of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Forward-looking statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements". The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "forecast", "estimate", “outlook”, “upside”, "likely", "intend", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance, including Freelancer’s FY23 outlook, are also forward-looking statements, as are statements regarding Freelancer’s plans and strategies and the development of the market. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Freelancer, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Freelancer cannot give any assurance or guarantee that the assumptions upon which management based its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or exhaustive beyond the date of its making, or that Freelancer's business and operations will not be affected by other factors not currently foreseeable by management or beyond its control. Such forward-looking statements only speak as at the date of this announcement and Freelancer assumes no obligation to update such information. The release, publication or distribution of this document in jurisdictions outside Australia may be restricted by law. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

October 12, 2023 07:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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VinFast to acquire VinES Energy Solutions to step up its integrated supply and production chain

Vingroup

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 11 October 2023 – Vingroup’s Chairman, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, announces that he will donate 99.8 percent of VinES Energy Solutions Joint Stock Company’s shares to VinFast. The merger is designed to enhance VinFast’s self-sufficiency in battery technology and its production chain, while increasing its competitive edge in the ever-growing electric vehicle market. Following the donation, VinES will be merged into VinFast to enhance its self-efficiency in battery technology and leverage resources to increase battery research and development for its vehicles. VinES is a member company of Vingroup with legal capital of VND6,500 billion ($270 million). The company specializes in researching, developing, and manufacturing advanced lithium-ion batteries for mobility and energy storage applications. VinES also cooperates with leading global battery technology partners and seeks to become a comprehensive energy solution provider. Under the terms of the merger, VinFast will acquire all VinES’ intellectual property related to battery cells, battery packs, manufacturing facilities, technology, partnerships, and supplier contracts. This comprehensive acquisition of VinES’ battery technology and modern manufacturing facilities is an important step in completing VinFast’s fully integrated production chain and creates an unparalleled competitive advantage for VinFast in the global electric vehicle market. Ms. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and Global CEO of VinFast shared: “The acquisition of VinES will help VinFast control our battery technology and supply chain, thus optimizing operating expenses and enriching technology content in our electric vehicles. This is also an important step towards developing and controlling an integrated supply chain as well as comprehensive manufacturing system to further strengthen our competitiveness." In April 2023, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong signed an agreement committing him to donate USD 1 billion from his personal assets to VinFast. Vingroup, together with Mr. Vuong, also announced the contribution of a further USD 500 million to VinFast in non-refundable grants as well as a guarantee for a loan of USD 1 billion carrying a maximum tenor of five years to support VinFast’s growth and global expansion plans. For more information, please visit: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001913510/000119312523253903/d535412d6k.htm Contact Details Media Contact +84 96 196 65 65 v.chidqd1@vingroup.net Company Website https://vinfastauto.com

October 11, 2023 11:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Center Street Finance’s Jessica Allen Selected 2023 Women in Auto Finance

Center Street Finance, LP

Center Street Finance, a boutique advisory and auto loan servicing firm, proudly announces the inclusion of Jessica Allen, Senior Vice President of Risk Management and Senior Partner at Center Street Finance, in the 2023 list of Women in Auto Finance. The prestigious recognition presented by Auto Fin Journal acknowledges outstanding leaders in the auto finance industry who hold some of the most essential auto finance positions while providing critical guidance and producing high-level results. Honorees are featured in the September issue of Auto Fin Journal and will be recognized at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 8th during Used Car Week. “Jessica oversees all aspects of risk and operations, provides critical guidance, and delivers exceptional results, making her an invaluable asset to the firm,” said Matt Burke, CEO of Center Street Finance and COO of Agora Data, Inc. “Jessica's impressive level of responsibility and can-do attitude demonstrates an unparalleled work ethic rooted in integrity. She is an inspiring colleague and influential leader in the auto finance industry, deserving of recognition as a recipient of the prestigious Women in Auto Finance award.” Jessica joined Center Street Finance in 2015 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Senior Partner. Her key responsibilities include overseeing risk management and loan servicing operations. She also manages ongoing engagements with our capital markets clients, providing expertise in portfolio management, valuation, cash-flow projections, reporting, and consulting services. Jessica has made invaluable contributions to the company and has been the architect of several unique and cutting-edge projects. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from the University of Texas at Arlington and holds a Master of Business Administration from Texas Women's University. Center Street Finance provides multiple services in all facets of consumer, commercial, and specialty finance, such as acquisitions management, portfolio management, line of credit administration, and loan servicing. The team of auto finance experts has managed over $30 billion in consumer finance loans and uses proprietary analytical models to deliver accurate and customized results. The company offers project-based and ongoing services tailored to auto dealers, banks, finance companies, and credit unions' specific needs. About Center Street Finance, LP Center Street Finance, LP is a boutique advisory and loan servicing firm with an experienced management team that actively manages auto and various other consumer finance assets, provides ongoing portfolio management for multiple clients, and advises on all facets of the consumer finance industry. Our senior team has real-world finance experience and can provide turn-key solutions with unmatched service and expertise. For more information on Center Street Finance LP, visit https://csflp.com/, contactus@csflp or 1-682-777-2000. # # # Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://csflp.com/

October 10, 2023 08:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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DB Schenker Earns Coveted Secretary of Defense Freedom Award

DB Schenker

DB Schenker U.S. Land Transport division, formerly USA Truck, has received the prestigious 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The honor marks the first-ever Freedom Award for the organization. A contingent of leadership and staff from DB Schenker received the award on behalf of the company in late August at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. "We are truly honored to be recognized by the Department of Defense with the prestigious Freedom Award," said Joe Jaska, DB Schenker EVP, Land Transport, Region Americas. "We take pride in our programs that help create avenues for veterans and reservists to bring their talents to civilian careers. We are a stronger company because of the skills, capabilities, and unique perspectives they bring to our team. A huge thank you goes out to our military recruiting department for spearheading our work with military personnel." Issued by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Freedom Award began in 1996 and has only 340 honorees to date. The Freedom Award was created to recognize employers supporting their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest employer recognition award given by the Department of Defense. DB Schenker has a proud legacy of hiring and supporting veterans. It is among the 15 employers in the United States to receive recognition this year, and one of just two trucking companies to receive the prestigious Freedom Award. Before USA Truck became a part of the DB Schenker family, it was poised to be the fifth Arkansas-based company to receive the Freedom Award in its 27-year history. "We have been a significant employer of Veterans and Reservists for many years now," said George Henry, DB Schenker Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Land. "We are proud to support our military families who have selflessly sacrificed to defend our nation's freedom, and we believe that this is the least we can do. It is incredibly humbling to be recognized with this elite award for all DB Schenker employees who continuously strive to lead the experience for our veterans and reservists. We thank the ESGR for the recognition and look forward to many more years supporting their mission." The 2023 recipients were selected from nearly 1,900 nominations, including private and public sector employers nominated by a National Guard or Reserve Component employee employed in their organization. The selected employers came from the 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam-CNMI, and the District of Columbia. The DB Schenker military recruiting program helped make the Freedom Award possible. The program is headed by Carroll Davidson and William Geoghagan. As U.S. Army veterans, they are dedicated and passionate about facilitating service members entering the transportation industry. DB Schenker military program focuses on service members transitioning from active-duty status and recognizes service members' real-world experience. The company has a Veteran Experience Program (VXP) within its military program, where transitioning, qualified personnel can use a Military Skills Waiver and bypass training. "Citizens and businesses alike can never do enough to support our reservists and veterans," stated David Buss, DB Schenker CEO of North America. "USAT has a great record of hiring these valued members of the community that have sacrificed for the betterment of all of us. The leadership at DB Schenker USA is working diligently to expand the USAT recruiting program to our Airfreight, Ocean Freight, and Contract Logistics Business Units. We look forward to the continued partnership with The Department of Defense." About DB Schenker DB Schenker is one of the largest Integrated Logistics Service Providers in the Americas with more than 10,000 employees in 123 locations providing over 27 million sq. ft. of distribution operations to its clients. DB Schenker’s Americas presence includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States, and Venezuela. DB Schenker offers land transport and air and ocean freight, as well as comprehensive logistics solutions and global supply chain management services from a single source. With integrated partners across the Americas, DB Schenker provides the best combination of intimate local practices knowledge and global capabilities. About the Freedom Award The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Secretary of Defense William Perry authorized the first award in 1996 and presented it to Schneider National, McDonnell Douglas, United Parcel Service Central Florida District, Tektronix, Inc., and National Life of Vermont. In the years since 340 employers have received this prestigious award. The nomination process is open to all Guard and Reserve personnel or a family member acting on their behalf, and applications are submitted online to ESGR. A national selection board of senior Defense officials and business leaders selects the award recipients. For more about the Freedom Award, visit freedomaward.mil. About ESGR ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in resolving conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR develops and promotes supportive work environments for Service members in the Reserve Components through outreach, recognition, and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. It also aids in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. Recognizing supportive employers is vital to ESGR's mission. ESGR's 54 State Committees actively promote awards as a critical element in furthering employer support while strengthening relationships between Service members and employers. These Department of Defense awards honor the sacrifices made by so many employers year after year. To learn more about ESGR, a Defense Personnel and Family Support Office program, visit www.ESGR.mil. Contact Details Nicholas Leighton +1 949-478-5880 nick.leighton@nettresultsLLC.com Company Website https://www.dbschenker.com/usa

October 10, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ilika receives £400,000 grant to help fund its "crusade toward net zero"

Ilika PLC

Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF) CEO Graeme Purdy speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the innovative battery developer announced it will receive £400,000 of a £2.7 million grant from the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF). The funding is part of a 16-month, £2.7 million collaboration programme that kicked off on 1 October. Ilika is collaborating with Mpac Group (LSE:MPAC) PLC and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) for this initiative. Purdy explains that the funding will be used to enhance the production of their large "Goliath" battery. In collaboration with Mpac, Ilika plans to establish an assembly line, increasing their manufacturing capacity from 0.5 to 1.5 Watt hours annually. This move aligns with their strategy to implement a fully automated pilot line. Additionally, the grant will support their partnership with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry, focusing on electrode production for pouch cells using giga factory scale equipment. Purdy emphasised that this grant underscores Ilika's commitment to the automotive sector and their alignment with the UK's industrial strategy towards achieving Net Zero. The company reported a robust cash balance of £14.6 million at the end of their last fiscal year. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 10, 2023 04:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Comes to Poundbury and Dorchester, Moves to Brand New Premises

Minuteman Press International Inc

Sprint Digital, Dorchester's leading small business printers, have successfully completed the transition into a Minuteman Press franchise. Owners David and Juanita Prince have relocated from their town centre premises, shared with the Dorchester Post Office, into their own stand alone premises in Poundbury at 13 & 14 Jubilee Court, Paceycombe Way. David Prince said, “With easy access and free parking, the offices just down from the Buttermarket are well placed for access for our clients. We will also continue to deliver to our existing business customers in Dorchester should they need to ensure a seamless transition for our clients.” Operating for over 50 years to serve local business communities, Minuteman Press International has almost 1000 independently owned and operated franchise locations worldwide. The transition from Sprint Digital to Minuteman Press will give small businesses in Dorchester, Poundbury and its surrounds more access to an extremely wide range of print solutions, from business cards and fliers to small signage, branded promotional items and much more. In response to the rebranding, David and Juanita stated, "The move to Minuteman Press will allow our print business to grow offering the businesses of Dorchester, Poundbury and its surrounds a quality affordable print solution. We are also inviting businesses to shop locally knowing that the product is as environmentally sourced as possible and supported by the expertise of world's leading print franchise.” Mark Jones, Regional VP of Minuteman Press International added, "We are excited to be working with David and Juanita, helping them to grow their franchise whilst supporting the local community with all their print requirements." As part of the conversion David Prince has reaffirmed that MMP Dorchester will take over Sprint Digital's sponsorship of the Dorchester Ladies football team into the 2023/24 season and they will continue to support the developers of Dorchesters Bike Park by providing a range of print solutions for their promotional needs. For more information on Minuteman Press in Dorchester and Poundbury, call 01305 264171 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/uk/locations/england/dorchester/ Minuteman Press provides digital print, design, promotional products and services to businesses. Today they are much more than just print. They can provide anything you can put a name, image or logo on! Minuteman Press International was once again rated the #1 Printing & Marketing Services Franchise in the printing industry by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2023. This is the 32nd time overall and 20th straight year that they have achieved this stellar rating. Learn more about Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at http://minutemanpressfranchise.co.uk Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

October 05, 2023 09:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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S&U "has to be careful" amid difficult macroeconomic circumstances

S & U PLC

S&U PLC (LSE:SUS) chairman Anthony Coombs speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the specialist motor finance & bridging lender released its interim results for the six months to 31 July. Coombs gives an overview of how the business performed during the period, highlighting a 12% rise in revenues with a slight profit increase. Despite facing economic headwinds, reflected in current stock market valuations and high interest rates affecting business finance costs, he remains optimistic. He notes concerns about the cost of living impacting their customers and emphasises the importance of sustainable loan repayments, especially in motor finance. The property market has seen a slowdown, with a potential 5% reduction in residential values. He says the company "has got to be careful in terms of our underwriting, we've got responsibilities not only in commercial terms but in maintaining excellent relationships with our customers." However, S&U maintains conservative loan-to-value ratios and has witnessed excellent collections in their aspirin bridging operation. Coombs highlights the company's commitment to maintaining high standards in customer relations, especially with new regulatory measures in place. He concludes by saying that while the economic and political landscape remains uncertain, S&U continues to prioritise customer service and fairness. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

October 05, 2023 04:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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