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Bloomberg Law DEI Framework Recognizes 57 Firms Leading in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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ARLINGTON, Va., July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bloomberg Law announced that it has named 57 U.S.-based law firms to its fourth annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Framework, a listing of law firms that meet or exceed an established threshold of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their firm.

Annual Bloomberg Law DEI Framework standardizes law firm diversity metrics.

The Bloomberg Law DEI Framework is the legal industry’s first and only standardized, fully transparent methodology to measure law firms’ performance in this critical arena.

Firms were assessed based on standardized disclosure of diversity-related data measured against standards in six pillar areas: recruitment and retention, leadership and talent pipeline, business strategy and innovation, firm demographics, diversity and inclusion + marketing, and disclosure.

Submissions to this year’s DEI Framework increased by 15%, the third year in a row of double-digit growth, providing an even more robust view of diversity in the legal industry.

The full 2024 DEI Framework report, including a detailed methodology and lists of member firms, is available for complimentary download at https://aboutblaw.com/beIJ.

In the four years since Bloomberg Law launched the DEI Framework, the data shows incremental but important changes in law firm demographics:

Overall, 44% of firms have a succession plan in place that specifically emphasizes greater inclusion of diverse / minority attorneys.4 in ten firms (41%) track origination credit that diverse attorneys receive, and a quarter (27%) have a strategic plan to improve this.Nearly all firms (97%) reported having a public statement regarding their commitment to diversity and inclusion, up from 91% last year.65% of firms mandate and monitor that minority and women attorneys have equal access to clients, quality work assignments, committee appointments, marketing efforts and firm events, down slightly from 72% last year and matching 2022.

This year’s DEI Framework included new questions on accessibility. The report finds that just over half (52%) of firms have a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2) compliant website and that 80% of firms allow employees to access basic accessibility aids like ergonomic office equipment and screen reading software without requesting an accommodation.

Bloomberg Law is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal industry, and we are excited to reveal the findings from our latest DEI Framework survey, including the 57 law firms that have made the list this year,” said Joe Breda, president, Bloomberg Law. “We’re proud to leverage our industry expertise and data analytics to evaluate and benchmark law firm performance in order to help general counsel select law firms that align with their values.”

About Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law combines the latest in legal technology with workflow tools, comprehensive primary and secondary sources, trusted news, expert analysis, and business intelligence. For more than a decade, Bloomberg Law has been a trailblazer in its application of AI and machine learning. Bloomberg Law’s deep expertise and commitment to innovation provide a competitive edge to help improve attorney productivity and efficiency. For more information, visit Bloomberg Law.

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SOURCE Bloomberg Law

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Pyxus Upsizes Asset-Based Lending Facility with PNC Bank

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MORRISVILLE, N.C., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX) (“Pyxus” or the “Company”), a global value-added agricultural company, is pleased to announce the amendment of its asset-based lending (ABL) credit facility with PNC Bank, which was initially established February 8, 2022. As part of the amendment, the Company will have access to increased borrowing availability, lower interest rates and fees in the credit agreement, and an extended maturity date.

“The successful completion of the new ABL facility highlights the strength of our partnership with PNC and demonstrates our continued progress in enhancing our credit profile,” said Dustin Styons, Pyxus’ interim CFO. “These amendments further strengthen our capital structure, increase our financial and operational flexibility, and reinforce our commitment to maintaining a disciplined and strategic approach to credit improvement.”

The amended agreement provides Pyxus with access to an additional $30 million of funding, increasing the committed facility size to $150 million. It also reduces the interest rate margin by 25 basis points annually, from 300 basis points to 275 basis points, as well as reducing or eliminating several other fees in the credit agreement.

About Pyxus International, Inc.

Pyxus International, Inc. (“Pyxus” or the “Company”) is a global agricultural company with more than 150 years of experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purpose—to transform people’s lives, so that together we can grow a better world—Pyxus, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Readers are cautioned that the statements contained in this report regarding expectations of our performance or other matters that may affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which are based on current expectations of future events, may be identified by the use of words such as “guidance”, “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets,” and other words of similar meaning. These statements also may be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected.  These risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include: our reliance on a small number of significant customers; continued vertical integration by our customers; global shifts in sourcing customer requirements, the imposition of tariffs and other changes in international trade policies; shifts in the global supply and demand position for tobacco products; variation in our financial results due to growing conditions, customer indications and other factors; loss of confidence in us by our customers, farmers and other suppliers; migration of suppliers who have historically grown tobacco and from whom we have purchased tobacco toward growing other crops; risks related to our advancement of inputs to tobacco suppliers to be settled upon the suppliers delivering us unprocessed tobacco at the end of the growing season; risks that the tobacco we purchase directly from suppliers will not meet our customers’ quality and quantity requirements; weather and other environmental conditions that can affect the quantity and marketability of our inventory; international business risks, including unsettled political conditions, uncertainty in the enforcement of legal obligations, including the collection of accounts receivable, fraud risks, expropriation, import and export restrictions, exchange controls, inflationary economies, currency risks and risks related to the restrictions on repatriation of earnings or proceeds from liquidated assets of foreign subsidiaries; many of our operations are located in jurisdictions that pose a high risk of potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; risks and uncertainties related to geopolitical conflicts, including the conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions affecting Red Sea shipping; impacts of international sanctions on our ability to sell or source tobacco in certain regions; exposure to foreign tax regimes in which the rules are not clear, are not consistently applied and are subject to sudden change; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates; competition with the other primary global independent leaf tobacco merchant and independent leaf merchants; disruption, failure or security breaches of our information technology systems and other cybersecurity risks; continued high inflation; regulations regarding environmental matters; risks related to our capital structure, including risks related to our significant debt and our ability to continue to finance our non-U.S. local operations with uncommitted short-term operating credit lines at the local level; our ability to continue to access capital markets to obtain long-term and short-term financing; potential failure of foreign banks in which our subsidiaries maintain deposits or the failure by such banks to transfer funds or honor withdrawals; the risk that, because our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, we may be unable to generate the significant amount of cash required to service our indebtedness; our ability to refinance our current credit facilities at the same availability or at similar or reduced interest rates; failure to achieve our stated goals, which may adversely affect our liquidity; developments with respect to our liquidity needs and sources of liquidity; the volatility and disruption of global credit markets; failure by counterparties to derivative transactions to perform their obligations; increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from governments, as well as other stakeholders such as investors and customers, with respect to our environmental, social and governance policies, including sustainability policies; inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation facing our e-liquids business if its products are alleged to have caused significant loss, injury, or death; certain shareholders have the ability to exercise controlling influence on various corporate matters; reductions in demand for consumer tobacco products; risks and uncertainties related to pandemics or other widespread health crises and any related shipping constraints, labor shortages and supply-chain impacts; legislative and regulatory initiatives that may reduce consumption of consumer tobacco products and demand for our services and increase regulatory burdens on us or our customers; government actions that significantly affect the sourcing of tobacco, including governmental actions to identify and assess crop diversification initiatives and alternatives to leaf tobacco growing in countries whose economies depend upon tobacco production; governmental investigations into the Company’s business activities, including but not limited to, leaf tobacco industry buying and other payment practices; and impact of proposed regulations to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and certain other tobacco products in the United States other than low-nicotine versions of those products.  The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that we may make from time to time except to the extent required by law.

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SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc.

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Akamai Announces Proposed Offering of Convertible Senior Notes

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) (“Akamai”), the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online, today announced that it proposes to offer, subject to market factors and other conditions, $1.35 billion in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2033. The notes are to be sold only to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In addition, Akamai will grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $202.5 million in aggregate principal amount of notes on the same terms and conditions. Upon conversion, Akamai will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Akamai’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at Akamai’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of its conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being converted. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2025. The notes will mature on May 15, 2033, unless earlier repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The interest rate, initial conversion rate, offering price and other terms will be determined at the time of pricing the offering. The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Akamai.

Subject to costs and expenses related to the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions and share repurchases described below, Akamai intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering to repay approximately $250.0 million in borrowings outstanding under its five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility and repay at maturity a portion of its $1.15 billion outstanding aggregate principal amount of 0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027, which mature on September 1, 2027, and/or to pay cash amounts due upon any earlier conversion thereof.

Akamai intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to pay the cost of the convertible note hedge transactions described below (after such cost is partially offset by the proceeds to Akamai from the sale of warrants pursuant to the warrant transactions described below). If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes, Akamai expects to sell additional warrants to one or more of the initial purchasers of the notes and/or their respective affiliates and/or other financial institutions (the “Option Counterparties”) and use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of such additional notes, together with the proceeds from the additional warrant transactions, to enter into additional convertible note hedge transactions with the Option Counterparties.

Akamai also intends to use approximately $275.0 million of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase shares of its common stock from purchasers of the notes in the offering in privately-negotiated transactions effected through one or more of the initial purchasers or their affiliates. Akamai expects the purchase price per share in such transactions to equal the closing price per share of Akamai’s common stock on the date of pricing of the offering. The amount of Akamai’s common stock that Akamai actually repurchases may be more or less than $275.0 million.

Holders may require Akamai to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes on May 15, 2031 (the “optional repurchase date”), if the last reported sale price of Akamai’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the business day immediately preceding the optional repurchase date is less than the conversion price, at an optional repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the optional repurchase date. In addition, if Akamai undergoes a fundamental change prior to the maturity date of the notes, subject to certain conditions and limited exceptions, holders may require Akamai to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their notes at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

In connection with the pricing of the notes, Akamai expects to enter into convertible note hedge transactions and warrant transactions with the Option Counterparties. The convertible note hedge transactions will cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the notes, the same number of shares of Akamai’s common stock that will initially underlie the notes, including any notes purchased by the initial purchasers pursuant to their option to purchase additional notes. The convertible note hedge transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution with respect to Akamai’s common stock upon conversion of the notes and/or to offset any cash payments Akamai is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be. The warrants will cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the same number of shares of Akamai’s common stock. The warrant transactions could separately have a dilutive effect with respect to Akamai’s common stock to the extent that the market price per share of Akamai’s common stock exceeds the strike price of the warrants, unless Akamai elects, subject to certain conditions, to settle the warrants in cash.

In connection with establishing their initial hedge of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, the Option Counterparties and/or their respective affiliates expect to purchase shares of Akamai’s common stock and/or enter into various derivative transactions with respect to Akamai’s common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Akamai’s common stock or the notes at that time. In addition, the Option Counterparties and/or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to Akamai’s common stock and/or purchasing or selling Akamai’s common stock or other securities of Akamai in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of the notes or following any repurchase of the notes by Akamai). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of Akamai’s common stock or the notes, which could affect the ability of holders to convert the notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of the notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that holders receive upon conversion of the notes.

This press release is being issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act and shall not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities (including the shares of Akamai’s common stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the notes). Any offer of notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum. The notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. 

The release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai’s management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to Akamai’s expectations to complete the proposed offering of the notes, its use of proceeds from the offering and the effect of the concurrent stock repurchase and the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions. There can be no assurance that Akamai will be able to complete the proposed notes offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the terms of the notes and the offering, risks and uncertainties related to whether or not Akamai will consummate the offering, the impact of general economic, industry, market or political conditions and other factors that are discussed in Akamai’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.

In addition, the statements in this press release represent Akamai’s expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Akamai anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations and beliefs to change. However, while Akamai may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Akamai’s expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

About Akamai

Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense-in-depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai’s full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world’s most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence.

Contacts:
Christine Simeone
Media Relations
Akamai Technologies
AkamaiPR@akamai.com

Mark Stoutenberg
Investor Relations
Akamai Technologies
mstouten@akamai.com

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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.

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Madison Liquidators Welcomes Euro Style to Its Expanding Online Marketplace

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MIDDLETON, Wis., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Madison Liquidators is excited to announce a new addition to its rapidly growing online office furniture marketplace—Euro Style, a brand renowned for its modern, European-inspired designs. This partnership marks a significant step in broadening the scope of contemporary furniture options available to customers seeking stylish, functional office and home solutions.

Founded on principles of sophistication, innovation, and accessibility, Euro Style brings decades of design excellence and a strong portfolio of modern furniture to Madison Liquidators’ platform. From minimalist desks and ergonomic office chairs to elegant storage solutions, Euro Style ‘s lineup complements a wide range of interior aesthetics while maintaining practical functionality.

With the arrival of Euro Style, Madison Liquidators is also expanding into the home furnishings market—offering customers an even greater selection of products for living rooms, dining areas, and home offices. Euro Style’s versatile designs blur the lines between home and work, making it easy for customers to find pieces that enhance both productivity and personal comfort in their living spaces.

Euro Style’s catalog features standout pieces such as high-gloss lacquer desks, sculptural dining chairs, glass-top coffee tables, and sleek sideboards—all crafted with modern materials like chrome, bent wood, and tempered glass. Their commitment to clean lines and space-saving functionality makes their furniture an ideal choice for urban apartments, creative studios, and dynamic work-from-home setups. With an emphasis on quick-ship availability and durable construction, Euro Style meets the needs of today’s fast-paced, design-conscious consumers.

With this new offering, Madison Liquidators continues to enhance its position as a premier destination for high-quality, thoughtfully curated furniture. Euro Style’s arrival offers more than just aesthetic value—it’s a commitment to supporting the evolving workspace and lifestyle needs of businesses and individuals alike.

Euro Style products are now available for purchase through Madison Liquidators’ website, with expert assistance, transparent pricing, and a focus on customer satisfaction.

To explore the Euro Style collection, visit: Madison Liquidators

About Madison Liquidators
Founded in 2015, Madison Liquidators is an online marketplace specializing in high-quality office furniture, with a mission to provide businesses and individuals with access to functional, stylish, and affordable workspace solutions. Headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin, the company offers nationwide shipping and white-glove customer service.

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SOURCE Madison Liquidators

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