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Brief Filed in Opposition to Warren Buffett’s Attempt to Get Lawsuit Dismissed

NLPC

On Monday the National Legal and Policy Center filed its brief in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska opposing Warren Buffett ‘s and Berkshire Hathaway ‘s motion to dismiss NLPC’s lawsuit filed in May to hold them accountable for having NLPC’s Chairman, Peter Flaherty, arrested at Berkshire’s 2023 Annual Meeting. Mr. Flaherty’s presentation, as part of the meeting agenda, supported NLPC’s shareholder proposal to have the positions of Chairman and CEO be held by separate individuals, as a matter of good corporate governance. As part of his presentation, Mr. Flaherty criticized Mr. Buffett’s billions of dollars of support to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which promotes the controversial Critical Race Theory teaching that “math is inherently racist,” and a Gender Identity Toolbox, “which asserts that gender is a result of socially and culturally constructed ideas.” Mr. Flaherty also pointed out Bill Gates ‘s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which had been reported in a Wall Street Journal story two days before the meeting. As he spoke, Buffett cut Flaherty’s microphone and ordered his security guards to eject Mr. Flaherty from the arena, who had an Omaha Police officer arrest Flaherty on the spot. “The silencing and arrest of a shareholder who was speaking in favor of a shareholder proposal has never before occurred at an annual meeting of a public company in the United States,” Flaherty said. “We look forward to having our day in court to hold Mr. Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway accountable for their actions,” said NLPC Counsel Paul Kamenar. It is expected that the federal court will rule in the coming weeks on Berkshire’s motion to dismiss. Click here for NLPC’s Brief. Click here for Exhibit #1 (charge dismissal document). Click here for Exhibit #2 (meeting transcript) Click here for Exhibit #3 (Flaherty Declaration) Click here for NLPC’s original Complaint (May 3, 2024) Founded in 1991, the National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life through research, investigation, education and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

August 21, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Research from DIRECTV Advertising and Publicis Media Finds 97% Of Consumers View Long-Form As Preferred Premium Content

DIRECTV Advertising

DIRECTV Advertising, a trailblazer in addressable TV solutions, and Publicis Media, the media division of global communications leader Publicis Groupe, today released a study titled Premium, Defined: Long-Form Content Drives Ad Success. The joint study was fielded by Vital Findings in May 2024 and uncovers consumers’ definition of premium content and their sentiment towards the ads that appear within it. The research found that 97% of viewers consider long-form content to be the most premium and that watching long-form premium content elicits positive emotions, with almost 9-in-10 saying it’s a good use of their time. “DIRECTV has been at the forefront of entertainment and innovation for three decades. Viewer habits have certainly shifted over time, but what remains consistent is that TV and premium content offer a truly leaned-in experience that forges deep personal connections,” says Amy Leifer, Chief Advertising Sales Officer for DIRECTV Advertising. “DIRECTV Advertising brings together brands with the deeply engaged audiences that matter most to them”. Advertising within long-form premium content has long been a fixture on media plans. As more ad-supported services enter the market, most viewers are willing to watch ads in exchange for free or discounted subscriptions. 62% say they appreciate that brands advertising in long-form premium content make it more affordable to view. Not only do viewers recognize the value in advertising but they are also taking action. Two-in-three report having purchased a product they’ve seen advertised within long-form premium content. Still, the type of content considered ‘most premium’ varies across audiences and the report covers five distinct segments based on what ‘premium’ means to them. "Viewers follow good content wherever it lives, which is why it is a challenge to put a universal definition on what 'premium' means to consumers,” said Liz Leonard, EVP, PMX Lift. “However, we know that long-form content continues to be a vital part of advertisers’ video mix due to perceived content quality and integrity, as well as having a proven track record of driving strong engagement and business outcomes." In the coming months, brands will be able to activate these valuable segments within the DIRECTV footprint and across media with PMX Lift. The full-length report is now available at directvadvertising.com/insights/. # # # Methodology The data cited in this release is based on a quantitative survey of n=3,000 consumers representative of the US population ages 18-74. The survey was fielded online May 1st - May 15th, 2024 by Vital Findings. About DIRECTV Advertising DIRECTV Advertising is a pioneer in the converged addressable space, delivering industry leading audience-based, digital, and innovative media solutions. Employing our decades of experience, we empower advertisers to address and engage their audience at scale while continuously measuring campaign impact against brand goals to unlock insights and optimize future campaigns. About Vital Findings Vital Findings is an award-winning insights agency driven by the conviction that insights should not just inform but inspire. Our mission is to elevate the way businesses interact with data, transforming it from abstract numbers into compelling narratives and visual stories that resonate. We believe that when insights are experienced, not just observed, they have the power to ignite creativity, foster innovation, and lead to more informed and impactful decision-making. About Publicis Media Publicis Media harnesses the power of modern media through global agency brands Publicis Collective, Publicis Health Media, Spark Foundry, Starcom and Zenith, as well as global accelerator PMX and integrated platform-based technologies including CJ, Epsilon and Profitero. A key business solution of Publicis Groupe ([Euronext Paris FR0000130577, CAC 40]), Publicis Media’s digital-first, data-driven global solutions deliver client value and drive growth in a platform-powered world. It is present in over 100 countries with over 23,000 employees worldwide. Contact Details Kite Hill PR Alexandra Morrison alexandra@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.directvadvertising.com/

August 21, 2024 09:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Liquid Death Becomes Official Partner of Italy’s Campobasso Football Club

Club Underdog

Liquid Death, the healthy beverage platform and one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands, is now the official water and flavored sparkling water partner of Italy’s Campobasso Football Club (Campobasso), which is co-owned by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Emmy Award-winning hosts of LIVE with Kelly & Mark, the top-rated talk show in the United States. Liquid Death was unveiled as a partner of Campobasso in late July on LIVE, with a guest appearance and jersey swap by Ryan Reynolds. The Deadpool star was gifted the new Liquid Death branded Campobasso FC jersey by Consuelos while exchanging a Wrexham A.F.C. jersey, the Welsh club which has gained global popularity through its “Welcome to Wrexham” series on FX. “The Campobasso journey has been a fairytale over the past two years, taking this club from the bottom to winning two consecutive promotions for the first time in our 100-plus year history,” said Consuelos. “Much in the same way Liquid Death has built one of the boldest brands on the planet right now, we built Campobasso with precision, fearlessness and by dreaming big. Campobasso FC has now arrived and is ready to play on big stages, and what better brand to partner with than Liquid Death, who has taken on the giants and won just as we intend to do on the pitch.” As part of a multi-year agreement that makes Liquid Death the official water partner of Campobasso FC, fans will see Liquid Death at all Campobasso FC concession stands, on stadium signage, on special edition jerseys, and wrapped around the team's tour bus. Liquid Death will also collaborate on LED ad boards, the player tunnel walkway, product kiosks, unique activations, and events for Campobasso FC fans in North America, and more. “This is our first venture into European football, and we couldn't be more excited for it," said Ryan Heuser, Liquid Death’s senior vice president of experiential marketing. “We’re thrilled to bring our infinitely recyclable, ice-cold cans of Liquid Death to the highly passionate fans of Southern Italy’s historical club. We’ll be on the road with the team as the exclusive sponsor of the team bus and carried at all concession stands at the Molinari Avicor Stadium in Campobasso.” Matt Rizzetta, Chairman of North Sixth Group, parent company and operator of Campobasso FC, oversaw the revival of the team from near obscurity, with only 70 fans at matches during its first game in 2022, to attracting 30,000 fans for its celebration upon the club’s triumphant promotion to Serie C in 2024. “The partnership between Camopbasso FC and Liquid Death brings together two of today’s feel-good underdog stories in sports and water,” said Matt Rizzetta, Chairman of North Sixth Group, parent company of Campobasso FC. “With Mike Cessario and Liquid Death, our journeys intersect in many ways and share the same values of perseverance, courage, and overcoming the odds. We couldn’t think of a better partner with whom to join hands as we both write the next chapter in our respective underdog stories.” Located between Rome and Naples in the region of Molise, Campobasso carries a proud football tradition that dates back more than 100 years. The team has one of the most passionate followings in central and southern Italy, having beaten some of the most successful teams in Italian football such as Juventus, AC Milan, and Lazio, during its glory years of the 1980’s. In 2022, fans of Campobasso were at risk of losing football completely after the team was denied entrance to the professional leagues. On the brink of losing all hope of competing in Italian football, North Sixth Group acquired Campobasso along with Ripa and Consuelos, restarting from the fifth tier of the Italian football pyramid. Since acquiring the club, Campobasso has won two consecutive championships and has been promoted to Serie C, the third tier of Italian professional football. Liquid Death uses comedy and entertainment to promote both sustainability and healthy products. Liquid Death’s social following captures more than 9.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, making it the third most followed beverage brand globally. The company donates a portion of proceeds to nonprofits as part of their partnership with 5Gyres and the Thirst Project. For more information, visit www.CampobassoFC.com and follow the official social media channels of Campobasso FC on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Patreon. About Liquid Death As one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage brands, Liquid Death uses comedy and entertainment to make health and sustainability 50 times more fun. We take the healthiest things you can drink and package it into infinitely recyclable cans that compete with the fun marketing of unhealthy brands across energy drinks, beer, and junk food. Our product lines include mountain water, sparkling mountain water, sparkling flavored water, iced tea, and our hydration sticks, Death Dust. A portion of Liquid Death’s proceeds goes to nonprofits who are helping fight plastic pollution and bring clean drinking water to those in need. For more information on Liquid Death please visit liquiddeath.com. About Club Underdog Powered by N6 Club Underdog is a multi-asset sports ownership entity wholly owned and operated by North Sixth Group, a New York and Los Angeles-based family office operating company. Within its portfolio, Club Underdog owns historic European football clubs Campobasso FC, Dagenham & Redbridge FC; American professional men’s and women’s franchise Brooklyn Football Club; and fast-growing football apparel company Diaza. In 2024, Club Underdog became one of the first foreign ownership groups in history to achieve back-to-back promotions with Italian side Campobasso FC, bringing the club from the fifth tier to Serie C in just two years. In 2023, the group also made history as the first ownership group to bring an expansion football franchise to the Borough of Brooklyn. Kicking off in USL Super League and USL Championship in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Brooklyn FC is one of the only sports franchises in the United States to include a professional men’s and women’s team under the same platform. Contact Details N6 for Club Underdog/Campobasso FC +1 917-935-8232 clubunderdog@n6krma.com Company Website https://n6clubunderdog.com/

August 20, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Avenue Z Announces Strategic Partnerships with TikTok Shops and Shopify: Driving New Advancements in Social Commerce

Avenue Z

Heading into the crucial Q4 holiday retail season, Avenue Z, a media and technology company, announced its strategic partnerships with TikTok Shops and Shopify. These collaborations amplify Avenue Z’s cutting-edge approach, highlighting its role as an official TikTok Shops Agency Partner and Shopify Plus Partner, delivering unmatched benefits to shoppers, creators, and brands. Avenue Z, a leader in social commerce, is renowned for its ability to drive influence across all channels, where Shopify’s e-commerce platform and TikTok Shops’ affiliate and influencer marketing abilities are a critical part. “Shopify and TikTok Shops are the key drivers paving the new path that is social commerce” said David Corchado, Chief Strategy Officer at Avenue Z, and Head of Channel Partnerships. “They continue to innovate store functionality and enhance the on-platform shopper experience. Now with the prioritization of TikTok Live content, any DTC / B2C brand heading into the holiday retail season must have these two pieces in their e-commerce ecosystem, or they’ll miss the mark on Q4 performance.” This partnership provides direct access to TikTok Shop expertise, along with insights from Shopify and Shopify Plus experts, all designed to optimize the shopping experience, boost revenue, and enhance brand reputation. Avenue Z will also be working with brands on TikTok to stream “LIVE” content allowing viewers and creators to interact in real-time. Easy Access to TikTok Shop Expertise for Brands With over 150 million monthly active users in the US, TikTok is revolutionizing social commerce. Avenue Z’s status as a preferred TikTok Shops Partner (TSP) allows brands to tap into platform expertise and support to leverage viral marketing trends, transforming product discovery into instant purchasing decisions. This collaboration enables brands to easily engage with TikTok’s dynamic audience through Avenue Z’s expertise and creator network, leveraging real-time analytics and advanced tools to maximize sales and brand presence. “Affiliate and influencer marketing have evolved and merged into a highly effective strategy for performance marketing,” said Jonathan Snow, Chief Innovation Officer at Avenue Z, in a recent Fast Company article. “Brands can make the most of this by engaging a large number of affiliates and offering attractive commissions, all through the TikTok Shop platform. Paired with our platform expertise, social commerce will be a critically important revenue generating channel for brands in Q4.” Shopify Expertise for eCommerce Brands As a Shopify Plus Partner, Avenue Z helps brands optimize their digital storefronts and expand their reach, driving growth in a competitive marketplace. With Shopify, brands can manage and grow their online presence across multiple channels, ensuring a seamless shopping experience that meets the evolving preferences of today’s consumers. “This is why our Shopify Plus Partner status is so important, we’re able to bring the best in e-commerce to our clients,” said Snow. “Shopify has the world’s highest converting checkout experience, augmented by Shop Pay which expedites the payment process and offers consumers rewards and cashback. Thanks to this, Shopify Payments represents a staggering 61% of Shopify’s GMV, which climbed $2B in Q2 2024 (YoY), and was able to do so despite unfavorable consumer market conditions. When the tide turns and we enter a stronger consumer market in the near future, just imagine what Shopify’s growth will accelerate to.” Snow’s outlook for DTC/B2C brand performance in Q4 2024 remains strong, but only when best-in-class e-commerce tools and talent align, as is the case with Avenue Z’s Shopify Plus Partnership. Biggest Brand Benefits: Driving Revenue, Elevating Reputation As Avenue Z continues to pioneer advancements in social commerce, the strategic partnerships with TikTok Shops and Shopify mark a significant milestone. “Channels like this - TikTok and Shopify - are critical avenues for driving influence today, for brands looking to elevate reputation or increase revenue,” said Jeffrey Herzog, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Avenue Z. “They are top performers in our channel network, excelling at driving commerce, connections, and conversions for our clients. We will undoubtedly expand in this area by adding more channels and expertise in the coming months." These partnerships highlight Avenue Z's continuous effort to stay at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that their clients can leverage the latest technological advancements to captivate and engage audiences across all channels. About TikTok Shop & TikTok Shop Partners (TSPs): TikTok Shops is a completely personalized and fully integrated commerce solution, where sellers can authentically connect with creators and communities to drive meaningful shopping experiences. Their network of experienced TikTok Shop Partners (TSPs) offer a range of services to sellers, enabling them to scale business on TikTok Shop effectively. About Shopify & Shopify Plus Partners: Shopify is the #1 complete commerce platform that lets anyone start, manage, and grow an e-commerce business. By bundling commerce activities into a single platform, business owners can sell in multiple places, across multiple channels, and integrate features and functionality that shape the future of commerce. Shopify Partners make up a diverse ecosystem across all segments of ecommerce, helping brands to innovate and implement faster. About Avenue Z: Avenue Z is a media and technology company breaking traditional boundaries between digital marketing, advertising and strategic communications. Our unique combination of smart media and smart content, informed by data science, has proven to increase a brand’s revenue and elevate its reputation. From the Wall Street Journal to TikTok, PR to social and search, our approach yields outcomes in commerce, connections, and conversion across all channels. With experts based in Miami, New York, and Orlando, serving a global roster of category leading brands - we drive influence. Visit www.avenuez.com Contact Details Avenue Z +1 407-637-2833 press@avenuez.com Company Website https://www.avenuez.com

August 20, 2024 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Turns Its Attention to the Comprehensive Reach it Provides in Its Continued Marketing Push

News Direct

Contact Details News Direct Corp. Media at News Direct sales@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 16, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Emphasizes the Data Security Advantages of Its Digital News Distribution Platform

News Direct

Contact Details News Direct Corp. Media at News Direct martha.pearlstone@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 15, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct's Ongoing Marketing Campaign Turns Its Focus to the Benefits of Its Unique In-platform Stakeholder Collaboration Tool

News Direct

Contact Details News Direct Media at News Direct sales@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 14, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Direct Unveils TradeUp Powered by Instinct

News Direct

News Direct proudly announces the launch of TradeUp, a cutting-edge new media outreach solution powered by Instinct, poised to transform trade media dissemination and engagement. For years, newswire users have faced difficulty in effectively connecting with trade journalists due to a reliance on ill-suited methods of outreach — choosing broad industry verticals and sending press releases to generic lists of publications and anonymous writers. The most common result has been an inability to determine if journalists are engaging with their content. TradeUp, empowered by Instinct’s innovative AI technology, represents a groundbreaking advancement in media outreach. TradeUp removes the guesswork and inefficiency offered by legacy newswires by offering a laser-focused, data-driven approach. TradeUp, allows issuers to move past generic media lists and instead begin engaging with journalists who have a genuine interest in, and have recently written about, their industry news. Key Features of TradeUp Include: Precise Journalist Identification: Instinct's AI instantaneously scans millions of articles in real-time, identifying and delivering key details about journalists, including contact information, beat, publication, recently published articles and even the Domain Ranking of the publishers' websites. This ensures news reaches the appropriate targets and enables interaction with individual journalists, thereby boosting the chances for earned coverage. Automated Pitching: Send personalized pitches directly from the Instinct platform, streamlining media relations efforts and making it easier to connect with the most relevant journalists. Reach More Than Just Trade Journals: The capabilities of TradeUp extend beyond solely vertical industry publications. The platform will generate data from reporters from a wide range of media outlets, from newspapers to broadcast stations, broadening the outreach footprint and increasing the chance to earn meaningful coverage. Elevates Trade Media Outreach Strategy TradeUp lets News Direct customers experience the new era of trade media engagement that uses an AI-driven approach to simplify the media targeting process and amplify the message by matching content with the appropriate journalists with the precision, speed and efficiency that only AI can deliver. About News Direct News Direct is a technology-driven content distribution and amplification platform for PR, IR, corporate communications and marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely reimagined, modernized user experience for newswire users that has reshaped the industry landscape. Additionally, the company has expanded its offerings to include an array of technology-enhanced message amplification tools ranging from sponsored content to podcasting products, all from a single online destination. Contact Details News Direct Gregg Castano, CEO +1 917-698-4131 gregg.castano@newsdirect.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

August 14, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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COMCAST RISE, A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESSES, AWARDS ANOTHER 100 HOUSTONIANS WITH COMPREHENSIVE GRANT PACKAGES

Comcast Texas

Today, Comcast announced the 100 businesses in the Greater Houston area that will receive comprehensive grant packages, which include business consultation services, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production, media schedule, and a technology makeover. The recipients are among more than 14,000 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program to date. Comcast RISE is committed to supporting the growth of all small businesses, while advancing the objectives of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as community investment. The program was created to help businesses and their communities thrive, with a focus on economic growth. The regions in this round included Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Richmond, VA and southern Colorado. 100 grants per city, or 500 grants overall, were announced today and will be awarded in September 2024. A sample of Houston’s grant recipients include Red Circle Ice Cream in southwest Houston, and Miyagi Ken International Karate Academy in Spring. “I’m speechless. As a small business, this means the world to us,” said Nickey Ngo, owner of Red Circle Ice Cream. “We’re a small mom and pop ice cream shop, doing everything by ourselves. I feel like I won the lottery. Comcast RISE will help grow my business and keep up with the competition.” “Supporting small businesses means investing in the heart of our communities,” said Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast. “By empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners with the skills and resources they need to grow and succeed, we help ensure our local neighborhoods can flourish and thrive too.” Comcast RISE was created in November 2020 to help small businesses hardest hit by COVID-19, from bakeries and barber shops to childcare centers and cleaning services, by providing the grants needed to survive and recover. The program has evolved from helping businesses survive the pandemic, to helping businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth. Grant packages include: COACHING SESSIONS - Business assessment and coaching that provide business owners with recommendations on how to help grow their businesses. EDUCATION RESOURCES - 12-month access to online entrepreneurship courses, learning modules and resources for small business owners. MONETARY GRANT - $5,000 monetary grant. CREATIVE PRODUCTION & MEDIA – Professionally produced 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and a 180-day linear media schedule. (Taxes and other fees may apply for production and media services.) TECHNOLOGY MAKEOVER - Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for 12 months. (Taxes and other fees may apply for tech makeover services.) In addition, any small business owner can visit the Comcast RISE destination on X1 featuring aggregated small business news, tips, insights, and more. X1 customers can say “Comcast RISE” into the voice remote. Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators. More information is available at www.ComcastRISE.com. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Ilona Carson +1 346-624-2074 ilona_carson@comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

August 13, 2024 11:06 AM Central Daylight Time

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