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EQT and Kühne Holding invest in Flix, the global travel company

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EQT Future and Kühne Holding to acquire a 35% stake in FlixInvestment is part of a long-term strategic partnership built on a common vision for Flix’s next phase of profitable growth across new and existing markets and offeringsEQT is investing through EQT Future, its impact-driven, longer-hold fund, and will support Flix’s ambition to expand the offering of sustainable and affordable travel options

STOCKHOLM, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Flix SE (“Flix” or the “Company”), the global travel tech company, and EQT, the global investment organisation, together with Kühne Holding, representing one of the world’s leading logistics entrepreneurs and investors, today announce that a definitive agreement has been reached for EQT Future and Kühne Holding to acquire a 35% minority stake in Flix.

In addition to a primary investment in Flix, EQT Future and Kühne Holding will acquire shares from existing shareholders to build a long-term anchor shareholding in Flix. This investment will further strengthen Flix’s balance sheet and help accelerate the Company’s successful trajectory of profitable growth. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

“We are delighted to welcome EQT Future and Kühne Holding as strong and purpose-driven investors with proven track records of building upon sustainable long-term investment strategies. Their capital and know-how will be a strong asset to our company’s overall strategic vision. We couldn’t ask for better partners to embark on the next chapter of Flix’s journey”, commented André Schwämmlein, CEO and Co-Founder of Flix.

“EQT Future backs high-quality, growing companies that have the potential to be sustainability leaders in their fields. Flix is the perfect example of this. We are deeply impressed by what André and his team have built, having developed Flix from a startup into the clear global market leader, operating in 43 countries,” said Andreas Aschenbrenner, Founding Partner and Deputy Head of the EQT Future advisory team. “For us at EQT, it is always about providing more than capital. We are proud to partner with Kühne Holding, one of the leading transportation and logistics investors, and together with André and his team, we are excited to support Flix’s strategic growth agenda over the long-term. We aim to ensure Flix’s low carbon solution to long-distance travel reaches even more people across the world and believe that Flix is on a path to being the category defining player in mass ground transportation, with huge potential to become a household name in the industry and beyond.”

Dominik de Daniel, CEO Kühne Holding AG, commented: “Flix is driving the next generation of collective transport. The Kühne Holding is proud to actively support them as a strategic partner in their next phase of expansion. Over the past few months, we have established a great relationship with the colleagues of EQT Future. We have great confidence in André Schwämmlein and his team and very much look forward to supporting Flix’s future in a beneficial partnership.”

Karl Gernandt, Chairman Kühne Holding AG, added: “As one of the largest strategic investors in the transport and mobility sector, the Kühne Holding is now taking a further step into the market for collective transport by bus. With Flix’s proven asset-light operating model, we see great synergies with our other investments in the transport sector. Furthermore, we want to support the expansion strategy of their international network. We are building on the great successes that Flix has achieved in establishing the bus as the leading sustainable means of transport – for more than a decade in Europe and now also overseas.”

Driving profitable growth

The investment comes at a time of continued significant growth momentum and strategic expansion at Flix. The company reported 30 percent total revenue growth in 2023 and thus, for the first time, reached EUR 2 billion in annual total revenue. This comes at an increased profitability with adjusted EBITDA of EUR 104 million in 2023. The strong momentum enables Flix to deliver on strategic targets such as the expansion of its global footprint, transforming the North American bus market and further scaling FlixTrain to respond to the rising demand for alternative rail services in Germany.

Expanding the global footprint

To further strengthen its geographical presence, Flix has recently entered two of the most important bus markets worldwide: Chile and India. The company’s global footprint now stretches across 43 countries worldwide. With both FlixBus and FlixTrain, the European expansion is moving forward. FlixBus is significantly expanding its services in UK, Portugal and Ukraine and has launched in Norway and Finland. Flix’s clear ambition is to reach market leadership in these markets.

Advancing the North America business

Flix has been operating in the United States since 2018. In 2021, the company acquired Greyhound Lines, an iconic intercity bus service provider, further expanding its reach, including in Canada and Mexico. The transformation and integration of operations into the Flix platform is well underway and increasingly reflected in a growing asset-light share, driving growth and profitability in the market.

With growth comes responsibility

Flix is on a continuous mission to deliver a great travel experience while constantly reviewing the impact of its business. To underpin the Company’s commitment to a responsible business model, Flix recently published its second voluntary ESG report for 2023. With its vision to drive sustainable and affordable travel, Flix aligns strongly with EQT Future’s mission to support market leading businesses which improve our planet through the products and services they deliver, while having the potential to shape their industries.

Contacts

EQT: Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

Flix: Lara Hesse, globalpress@flixbus.com 

Kühne Holding: Dominique Nadelhofer, Dominique.nadelhofer@kuehne-holding.com 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-and-kuhne-holding-invest-in-flix–the-global-travel-company,c4011452

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Who’s Working Remotely? Virtual Vocations Survey Highlights Evolving Jobseeker Demographics

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This survey underscores the diverse backgrounds and experiences of remote jobseekers, highlighting the growing demand for flexible work arrangements across various demographics.

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With over 500 participants from the U.S. (69%) and international locations (31%), Virtual Vocations‘ 2024 demographics survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of remote work. By comparing responses across these groups, the survey highlights shared experiences and unique challenges faced by jobseekers worldwide.

“Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.” –Laura Spawn, CEO and co-founder of Virtual Vocations

Although Virtual Vocations is a U.S.-based company, it supports international jobseekers through its fully remote job board and career resources, addressing the global demand for remote work opportunities. The company frequently receives inquiries from international members seeking to access fully remote roles, punctuating the worldwide appeal of flexible work arrangements.

“The 2024 demographics survey results reinforce what we’ve known for years—professionals around the world are seeking flexibility, balance, and opportunities to work from home,” said Virtual Vocations CEO Laura Spawn. “Whether based in the U.S. or abroad, jobseekers are embracing remote roles to align their careers with their personal goals, and we’re proud to be a part of their journey.”

Fully Remote Jobs Remain Most Desired

A significant 43% of U.S.-based jobseekers and 42% of international respondents named fully remote, no-travel jobs as their top preference. These roles, which allow employees to work entirely from home, offer flexibility, aligning with both personal and professional goals. Although occasional in-person requirements may arise, fully remote roles are favored over hybrid, partially remote, and “work from anywhere” options. These positions provide businesses with access to a broader talent pool and enable employees to prioritize workplace values and culture.

Top Industries for Remote Jobseekers

The survey also highlights four key industries attracting remote jobseekers worldwide. Information Technology (IT) stands out as the leading industry for remote roles, with significantly more job postings than any other field. Healthcare follows closely, benefiting from the growth of telehealth and remote medical roles. Customer service offers engaging opportunities for professionals interested in client interaction, while education presents a wide array of roles in online teaching, tutoring, and instructional design, fueled by the expansion of virtual learning.

Jobseekers’ Common Frustrations

Both U.S. and international jobseekers shared frustrations, particularly with online job scams. Jobseekers expressed dissatisfaction with the prevalence of scams, especially when searching for work-at-home positions. Despite relying on online job boards, only a quarter (23% of U.S. respondents and 24% of international respondents) use dedicated remote job boards, like Virtual Vocations, where job postings are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are free of scams. Additionally, many jobseekers expressed frustration with excessive job requirements and employers failing to provide feedback or “ghosting” applicants during the hiring process, with one-third of respondents from both groups reporting these issues.

Income Insecurity: A Global Concern

Income insecurity remains a pressing issue for both U.S. and international jobseekers, with many reporting their earnings as insufficient for comfortable living. Sixty-five percent of U.S. respondents and 77% of international respondents reported inadequate household incomes. Nearly half (48%) of U.S. jobseekers earn less than $60,000 annually, while 68% of international jobseekers earn under $30,000. To improve financial stability, many jobseekers have set income targets, with 30% of U.S. jobseekers aiming for $60,000–$89,999 and another 30% targeting at least $120,000. In contrast, international respondents generally require lower salaries, with 38% seeking $30,000–$59,999 and 32% aiming for $60,000–$89,999.

For a comprehensive analysis and additional insights, read the full demographics survey report here: https://www.virtualvocations.com/blog/annual-statistical-remote-work-reports/remote-work-demographics-survey-results-2024/

ABOUT VIRTUAL VOCATIONS
Founded in 2007 by CEO Laura Spawn and her brother, CTO Adam Stevenson, Virtual Vocations is a small company with a big mission: to connect jobseekers with legitimate remote job openings. To date, Virtual Vocations has helped more than four million jobseekers in their quests for flexible, remote work.

In addition to providing a database of current, hand-screened, and 100% remote job openings, Virtual Vocations offers jobseekers a number of tools to aid in their job searches, including exclusive career courses, downloadable jobseeker content, and career coaching and resume writing services. Virtual Vocations also releases several data-driven reports each year on current trends in remote work.

Virtual Vocations, Inc. is a private, family-owned, and 100% virtual company incorporated in Tucson, Arizona.

Media Contact

Kimberly Back, Virtual Vocations, Inc., 1 (800) 379-5092 x. 703, kim@virtualvocations.com, https://www.virtualvocations.com

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SOURCE Virtual Vocations, Inc.

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Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families Provides Notice of Data Security Incident

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BOSTON, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Judge Baker Children’s Center d/b/a The Baker Center for Children and Families (“The Baker Center”), a nationally recognized provider of services for children’s mental health, has learned of a data security incident that may have impacted certain personal and / or protected health information. On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center formally notified potentially affected individuals with available address information and provided resources to assist them.

On July 28, 2024, The Baker Center discovered unusual activity within its local digital storage environment. After taking immediate steps to ensure the environment was secure, The Baker Center enlisted independent cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation to determine what happened and whether sensitive information may have been impacted. According to the investigation, an unauthorized actor gained access to The Baker Center’s systems between July 26 – 28, 2024 and may have downloaded certain files. Following a thorough review of the impacted files, on October 28, 2024, The Baker Center determined that certain individuals’ personal and/or protected health information was potentially impacted during the incident.

The information affected during this incident varies between individuals but may have involved the following: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license or other government identification number, financial account information, health insurance information, medical treatment or diagnosis information, and/or clinical information.

On December 27, 2024, The Baker Center mailed notification letters to potentially impacted individuals with verifiable address information. The letters include information about this incident and about steps that potentially impacted individuals can take to monitor and help protect their personal and protected health information. The Baker Center has established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and to address related concerns. The call center can be reached at 844-920-8988, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern time

The Baker Center takes the security and privacy of information in its possession very seriously and is taking steps to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future. The Baker Center deeply regrets any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause.

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SOURCE The Baker Center for Children and Families

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outboundIQ Achieves Certified Implementation Partner (CIP) Status with Five9

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Delivering Optimized, Outbound-Focused Contact Center Solutions for Modern Businesses

LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla., Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — outboundIQ www.outboundiq.com proudly announces its accreditation as a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner (CIP), a distinction that reflects its deep expertise in optimizing and streamlining outbound-focused contact center operations. With a team of seasoned Five9 veterans, expert programmers, and industry thought leaders, outboundIQ is uniquely equipped to help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of Five9’s Virtual Contact Center platform.

Optimized Solutions for Complex Contact Center Needs
outboundIQ specializes in providing expedited, outbound-focused contact center implementations, integrating advanced features such as inbound and outbound Voice, SMS, Chat, Email, Salesforce Integration, and other third-party app integrations. Clients can also leverage ongoing optimization engagements and monthly retainers for strategic consulting designed to support long-term, outreach-focused success.

“Who better to handle your domain configuration than the experts that understand the outbound contact center world. To be an outbound expert, you must know 3 things; how to configure the domain front end, how the architecture interprets that design, and how carriers respond to your dialing behavior as a result of the build. outboundIQ has the advantage of deeply understanding all 3 things. Our experts are seasoned professionals that will guide toward the best build for your business. You tell us about your business, your needs and your processes, and we will build you a domain fit for purpose. outboundIQ offers best in class Domain Optimization, Implementation and Consulting for customers of all sizes and complexity. Due to our methodology and proprietary automations, we are able to bring our customers’ projects to life within accelerated timeframes.”

Jessica Clay, VP Support and Services

“We launched our business in June and were fortunate to connect with the incredible team at outboundIQ early on. Navigating the world of outbound calling and building efficient prospecting systems isn’t easy, but the entire team at outboundIQ brought our vision to life seamlessly. They implemented our ideas quickly and executed them flawlessly. Since partnering with them, our contact rates have significantly improved, our conversions have increased, and our overall business is thriving. We’re deeply grateful for this collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together on future endeavors!”

– Tim, Lit Financial

“I genuinely don’t know enough ways to thank the entire outboundIQ team. I inherited a domain riddled with mistakes, tangled beyond belief, and I had essentially planned to scrap the whole thing and start over. That’s when this team, led by Jessica Clay’s brilliance, took over to understand exactly what I wanted to create and completely revitalized my domain. We are all beyond thankful as they continue to consult for us to this day and I see no reason to stop. Thank you, Jessica, Jason, Rudy, Bruno, Sandy and everyone who gets the pleasure of working with these domain geniuses!”

– Michael, Lifetime Home Remodeling

A Holistic Approach to Outbound Excellence
Creating a competitive, consumer-focused outreach program requires more than just advanced technology. As outboundIQ explains, a thriving contact center functions like a high-performing racing team:

The Car: Five9 Virtual Contact Center provides a cutting-edge technology foundation.The Driver: Strong Dialer Administrators who skillfully manage operations.The Pit Crew: IT/Support teams ensuring seamless functionality.The Spotters: Data Analytics and Reporting experts optimizing performance.The Fuel: High-quality data driving better outcomes.

outboundIQ’s professional services team brings these critical elements together, ensuring clients achieve best-in-class outbound operations that prioritize consumer experience while maintaining a competitive edge.

A Call to Collaboration
With its new CIP certification, outboundIQ invites businesses to explore select partnership opportunities and projects to reimagine their contact center operations. Whether through expedited implementations or ongoing strategic consulting, outboundIQ is committed to driving measurable results for its clients.

About outboundIQ
outboundIQ delivers optimized, outbound-focused contact center implementations, combining years of Five9 expertise with cutting-edge strategies to help businesses achieve exceptional outreach outcomes. As a Five9 Certified Implementation Partner, outboundIQ provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of modern organizations.

About Five9
Five9 is a digital enterprise’s leading cloud contact center and software provider. The Five9 Intelligent CX Platform is reliable, secure, compliant, and scalable, designed to create exceptional personalized customer experiences.
www.five9.com

Media contact: 
Sandy Tafur
Phone: 404-660-5314
mail: sandy@outboundiq.com

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SOURCE outboundIQ

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