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LENDINGTREE REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

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Revenue Growth of 68% Powered by Strong Insurance Performance, Strengthening Consumer Segment

Consolidated revenue of $260.8 millionGAAP net loss of $(58.0) million or $(4.34) per diluted share, including $(58.4) million of non-cash impairment of equity investmentsVariable marketing margin of $77.2 millionAdjusted EBITDA of $26.9 millionAdjusted net income per share of $0.80

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LendingTree, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE), operator of LendingTree.com, the nation’s leading online financial services marketplace, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

The company has posted a letter to shareholders on the company’s website at investors.lendingtree.com.

“Our Insurance segment had another quarter of tremendous growth, as revenue increased 210% compared to the prior year period.  Improving results in personal loans and a 32% YoY increase in small business revenue drove 6% sequential growth in the Consumer segment revenue,” said Doug Lebda, Chairman and CEO.  “As we look forward to next year, we believe the company is positioned to improve performance across all three of our reportable segments.”

Scott Peyree, President and COO, commented, “Our Insurance business is generating record levels of revenue and VMD and should maintain momentum into 2025 as segment margin has stabilized.  We are optimistic forecasted easing of interest rates by the Fed, along with a stable economy, will benefit our Consumer and Home segments next year.”

Jason Bengel, CFO, added, “Our outlook for continued growth, coupled with ongoing expense discipline and targeted investment initiatives, lays the groundwork for improving financial results.  As our balance sheet continues to strengthen and leverage declines, we will evaluate optimizing our capital structure to lower interest expense.”

Third Quarter 2024 Business Results

Home segment revenue of $32.2 million decreased 4% over third quarter 2023 and produced segment profit of $9.3 million, down 18% over the same period.Within Home, revenue from Home Equity of $21.0 million increased 5% over prior year.Consumer segment revenue of $59.5 million declined 12% over third quarter 2023, and grew 6% sequentially.Within Consumer, personal loans revenue of $27.8 million increased 5% over prior year.Revenue from our small business offering increased 32% over prior year.Insurance segment revenue of $169.1 million increased 210% over third quarter 2023 and translated into record segment profit of $41.4 million, up 77% over the same period.

LendingTree Summary Financial Metrics

(In millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Y/Y

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Q/Q

2024

2023

% Change

2024

% Change

Total revenue

$     260.8

$    155.2

68 %

$                     210.1

24 %

(Loss) income before income taxes

$     (57.5)

$  (152.0)

62 %

$                         9.4

— %

Income tax (expense) benefit

$       (0.5)

$        3.5

(114) %

$                        (1.6)

69 %

Net (loss) income

$     (58.0)

$  (148.5)

61 %

$                         7.8

— %

Net (loss) income % of revenue

(22) %

(96) %

4 %

(Loss) income per share

Basic

$     (4.34)

$  (11.43)

$                       0.58

Diluted

$     (4.34)

$  (11.43)

$                       0.58

Variable marketing margin

Total revenue

$     260.8

$    155.2

68 %

$                     210.1

24 %

Variable marketing expense (1) (2)

$   (183.6)

$    (87.5)

110 %

$                   (139.2)

32 %

Variable marketing margin (2)

$       77.2

$      67.7

14 %

$                       70.9

9 %

Variable marketing margin % of revenue (2)

30 %

44 %

34 %

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

$       26.9

$      21.8

23 %

$                       23.5

14 %

Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue (2)

10 %

14 %

11 %

Adjusted net income (2)

$       10.9

$        7.9

38 %

$                         7.2

51 %

Adjusted net income per share (2)

$       0.80

$      0.61

31 %

$                       0.54

48 %

(1)

Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses.  Excludes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. 

(2)

Variable marketing expense, variable marketing margin, variable marketing margin % of revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA % of revenue, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP measures. Please see “LendingTree’s Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP” and “LendingTree’s Principles of Financial Reporting” below for more information.

 

LendingTree Segment Results

(In millions)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Y/Y

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Q/Q

2024

2023

% Change

2024

% Change

Home (1)

Revenue

$       32.2

$      33.4

(4) %

$                       32.2

— %

Segment profit

$         9.3

$      11.3

(18) %

$                         9.3

— %

Segment profit % of revenue

29 %

34 %

29 %

Consumer (2)

Revenue

$       59.5

$      67.3

(12) %

$                       55.9

6 %

Segment profit

$       28.0

$      34.4

(19) %

$                       26.9

4 %

Segment profit % of revenue

47 %

51 %

48 %

Insurance (3)

Revenue

$     169.1

$      54.5

210 %

$                     122.1

38 %

Segment profit

$       41.4

$      23.4

77 %

$                       36.4

14 %

Segment profit % of revenue

24 %

43 %

30 %

Other (4)

Revenue

$          —

$          —

— %

$                           —

— %

(Loss)

$          —

$         —

— %

$                        (0.1)

100 %

Total revenue

$     260.8

$    155.2

68 %

$                     210.1

24 %

Total segment profit

$       78.6

$      69.1

14 %

$                       72.5

8 %

     Brand marketing expense (5)

$       (1.4)

$       (1.4)

— %

$                        (1.6)

(13) %

Variable marketing margin

$       77.2

$      67.7

14 %

$                       70.9

9 %

Variable marketing margin % of revenue

30 %

44 %

34 %

(1)

The Home segment includes the following products: purchase mortgage, refinance mortgage, and home equity loans.

(2)

The Consumer segment includes the following products: credit cards, personal loans, small business loans, student loans, auto loans,

deposit accounts, and debt settlement.

(3)

The Insurance segment consists of insurance quote products and sales of insurance policies.

(4)

The Other category primarily includes marketing revenue and related expenses not allocated to a specific segment.

(5)

Brand marketing expense represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses that are not assignable to the segments’ products. This measure excludes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses.

Financial Outlook*

Today we are updating our outlook for full-year 2024, which implies the following fourth quarter outlook:

Full-year 2024:

Revenue of $870$880 million versus the prior range of $830$870 millionVariable Marketing Margin of $287$292 million, compared to $280$300 million previouslyAdjusted EBITDA of $92$95 million versus $85$95 million previously

Fourth-quarter 2024:

Revenue: $231$241 millionVariable Marketing Margin: $69$74 millionAdjusted EBITDA: $20$23 million

*LendingTree is not able to provide a reconciliation of projected variable marketing margin or adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable expected GAAP results due to the unknown effect, timing and potential significance of the effects of legal matters and tax considerations. Expenses associated with legal matters and tax considerations have in the past, and may in the future, significantly affect GAAP results in a particular period.   

Quarterly Conference Call

A conference call to discuss LendingTree’s third quarter 2024 financial results will be webcast live today, October 31, 2024 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time (ET). The live webcast is open to the public and will be available on LendingTree’s investor relations website at investors.lendingtree.com. Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on the website.

LENDINGTREE’S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

Variable Marketing Expense

Below is a reconciliation of selling and marketing expense, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to variable marketing expense. See “LendingTree’s Principles of Financial Reporting” for further discussion of the Company’s use of this non-GAAP measure.

Three Months Ended

September 30,
2024

June 30,
2024

September 30,
2023

(in thousands)

Selling and marketing expense

$      193,542

$      148,387

$        97,244

Non-variable selling and marketing expense (1)

(9,976)

(9,140)

(9,805)

Variable marketing expense

$      183,566

$      139,247

$        87,439

(1)

Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense not attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses. Includes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses.

LENDINGTREE’S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

Variable Marketing Margin

Below is a reconciliation of net (loss) income, the most directly comparable table GAAP measure, to variable marketing margin and net (loss) income % of revenue to variable marketing margin % of revenue. See “LendingTree’s Principles of Financial Reporting” for further discussion of the Company’s use of these non-GAAP measures.

Three Months Ended

September 30,
2024

June 30,
2024

September 30,
2023

(in thousands, except percentages)

Net (loss) income

$     (57,978)

$          7,752

$  (148,465)

Net (loss) income % of revenue

(22) %

4 %

(96) %

Adjustments to reconcile to variable marketing margin:

Cost of revenue

9,372

8,411

7,570

Non-variable selling and marketing expense (1)

9,976

9,140

9,805

General and administrative expense

26,680

27,118

26,380

Product development

11,190

10,374

10,840

Depreciation

4,584

4,601

4,760

Amortization of intangibles

1,466

1,467

1,981

Goodwill impairment

38,600

Restructuring and severance

273

202

1,955

Litigation settlements and contingencies

3,762

(7)

(150)

Interest expense (income), net

10,060

1,201

7,097

Other expense (income)

57,391

(1,052)

110,910

Income tax expense (benefit)

447

1,686

(3,534)

Variable marketing margin

$        77,223

$        70,893

$        67,749

Variable marketing margin % of revenue

30 %

34 %

44 %

(1)

Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense not attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses. Includes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses.

LENDINGTREE’S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

Adjusted EBITDA

Below is a reconciliation of net (loss) income, the most directly comparable table GAAP measure, to adjusted EBITDA and net (loss) income % of revenue to adjusted EBITDA % of revenue. See “LendingTree’s Principles of Financial Reporting” for further discussion of the Company’s use of these non-GAAP measures.

Three Months Ended

September 30,
2024

June 30,
2024

September 30,
2023

(in thousands, except percentages)

Net (loss) income

$     (57,978)

$          7,752

$  (148,465)

Net (loss) income % of revenue

(22) %

4 %

(96) %

Adjustments to reconcile to adjusted EBITDA:

Amortization of intangibles

1,466

1,467

1,981

Depreciation

4,584

4,601

4,760

Restructuring and severance

273

202

1,955

Loss on impairments and disposal of assets

6

413

88

Loss on impairment of equity investments

58,376

113,064

Goodwill impairment

38,600

Non-cash compensation

6,859

7,437

8,592

Litigation settlements and contingencies

3,762

(7)

(150)

Interest expense (income), net

10,060

1,201

7,097

Dividend income

(982)

(1,225)

(2,154)

Income tax expense (benefit)

447

1,686

(3,534)

Adjusted EBITDA

$        26,873

$        23,527

$        21,834

Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue

10 %

11 %

14 %

LENDINGTREE’S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

Adjusted Net Income

Below is a reconciliation of net (loss) income, the most directly comparable table GAAP measure, to adjusted net income and net (loss) income per diluted share to adjusted net income per share. See “LendingTree’s Principles of Financial Reporting” for further discussion of the Company’s use of these non-GAAP measures.

Three Months Ended

September 30,
2024

June 30,
2024

September 30,
2023

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net (loss) income

$     (57,978)

$          7,752

$  (148,465)

Adjustments to reconcile to adjusted net income:

Restructuring and severance

273

202

1,955

Goodwill impairment

38,600

Loss on impairments and disposal of assets

6

413

88

Loss on impairment of equity investments

58,376

113,064

Non-cash compensation

6,859

7,437

8,592

Litigation settlements and contingencies

3,762

(7)

(150)

Gain on extinguishment of debt

(416)

(8,619)

Income tax expense (benefit) from adjusted items

(5,764)

Adjusted net income

$        10,882

$          7,178

$          7,920

Net (loss) income per diluted share

$         (4.34)

$            0.58

$       (11.43)

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to adjusted net income

5.16

(0.04)

12.04

Adjustments to reconcile effect of dilutive securities

(0.02)

Adjusted net income per share

$            0.80

$            0.54

$            0.61

Adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding

13,555

13,407

12,999

Effect of dilutive securities

206

6

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

13,349

13,407

12,993

Effect of dilutive securities

150

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

13,349

13,257

12,993

LENDINGTREE’S PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL REPORTING

LendingTree reports the following non-GAAP measures as supplemental to GAAP:

Variable marketing expenseVariable marketing marginVariable marketing margin % of revenueEarnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, as adjusted for certain items discussed below (“Adjusted EBITDA”)Adjusted EBITDA % of revenueAdjusted net incomeAdjusted net income per share

Variable marketing expense, variable marketing margin and variable marketing margin % of revenue are related measures of the effectiveness of the Company’s marketing efforts. Variable marketing margin is a measure of the efficiency of the Company’s operating model, measuring revenue after subtracting variable marketing expense. Variable marketing expense represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing, and related expenses, and excludes overhead, fixed costs, and personnel related expenses.  The Company’s operating model is highly sensitive to the amount and efficiency of variable marketing expenditures, and the Company’s proprietary systems are able to make rapidly changing decisions concerning the deployment of variable marketing expenditures (primarily but not exclusively online and mobile advertising placement) based on proprietary and sophisticated analytics.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA % of revenue are primary metrics by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses, on which its marketing expenditures and internal budgets are based and, in the case of adjusted EBITDA, by which management and many employees are compensated in most years.

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share supplement GAAP net income and GAAP net income per diluted share by enabling investors to make period to period comparisons of those components of the most directly comparable GAAP measures that management believes better reflect the underlying financial performance of the Company’s business operations during particular financial reporting periods. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share exclude certain amounts, such as non-cash compensation, non-cash asset impairment charges, gain/loss on disposal of assets, gain/loss on investments, restructuring and severance, litigation settlements and contingencies, acquisition and disposition income or expenses including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration, gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, contributions to the LendingTree Foundation, one-time items which are recognized and recorded under GAAP in particular periods but which might be viewed as not necessarily coinciding with the underlying business operations for the periods in which they are so recognized and recorded, the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments, any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09, and income tax (benefit) expense from a full valuation allowance. LendingTree believes that adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are useful financial indicators that provide a different view of the financial performance of the Company than adjusted EBITDA (the primary metric by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses) and the GAAP measures of net income and GAAP net income per diluted share.

These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. LendingTree provides and encourages investors to examine the reconciling adjustments between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures set forth above.

Definition of LendingTree’s Non-GAAP Measures

Variable marketing margin is defined as revenue less variable marketing expense. Variable marketing expense is defined as the expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses, and excluding overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. The majority of these variable advertising costs are expressly intended to drive traffic to our websites and these variable advertising costs are included in selling and marketing expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and consolidated income.

EBITDA is defined as net income from continuing operations excluding interest, income taxes, amortization of intangibles and depreciation.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) gain/loss on investments, (5) restructuring and severance expenses, (6) litigation settlements and contingencies, (7) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), (8) contributions to the LendingTree Foundation (9) dividend income, and (10) one-time items.

Adjusted net income is defined as net income (loss) excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) gain/loss on investments, (5) restructuring and severance expenses, (6) litigation settlements and contingencies, (7) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), (8) gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, (9) contributions to the LendingTree Foundation, (10) one-time items, (11) the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments, (12) any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09, and (13) income tax (benefit) expense from a full valuation allowance.

Adjusted net income per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding. For periods which the Company reports GAAP loss from continuing operations, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of net loss per diluted share from continuing operations because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. In periods where the Company reports GAAP loss from continuing operations but reports positive non-GAAP adjusted net income, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are included in the denominator for calculating adjusted net income per share if their inclusion would be dilutive.

LendingTree endeavors to compensate for the limitations of these non-GAAP measures by also providing the comparable GAAP measures with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

One-Time Items

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are adjusted for one-time items, if applicable. Items are considered one-time in nature if they are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual, and have not occurred in the past two years or are not expected to recur in the next two years, in accordance with SEC rules. For the periods presented in this report, there are no adjustments for one-time items.

Non-Cash Expenses That Are Excluded From LendingTree’s Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income

Non-cash compensation expense consists principally of expense associated with the grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options. These expenses are not paid in cash and LendingTree includes the related shares in its calculations of fully diluted shares outstanding. Upon settlement of restricted stock units, exercise of certain stock options or vesting of restricted stock awards, the awards may be settled on a net basis, with LendingTree remitting the required tax withholding amounts from its current funds. Cash expenditures for employer payroll taxes on non-cash compensation are included within adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income.

Amortization of intangibles are non-cash expenses relating primarily to acquisitions. At the time of an acquisition, the intangible assets of the acquired company, such as purchase agreements, technology and customer relationships, are valued and amortized over their estimated lives.  Amortization of intangibles are only excluded from adjusted EBITDA.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The matters contained in the discussion above may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations or anticipations of LendingTree and members of our management team. Factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the following: adverse conditions in the primary and secondary mortgage markets and in the economy, particularly interest rates and inflation; default rates on loans, particularly unsecured loans; demand by investors for unsecured personal loans; the effect of such demand on interest rates for personal loans and consumer demand for personal loans; seasonality of results; potential liabilities to secondary market purchasers; changes in the Company’s relationships with network partners, including dependence on certain key network partners; breaches of network security or the misappropriation or misuse of personal consumer information; failure to provide competitive service; failure to maintain brand recognition; ability to attract and retain consumers in a cost-effective manner; the effects of potential acquisitions of other businesses, including the ability to integrate them successfully with LendingTree’s existing operations; accounting rules related to excess tax benefits or expenses on stock-based compensation that could materially affect earnings in future periods; ability to develop new products and services and enhance existing ones; competition; effects of changing laws, rules or regulations on our business model; allegations of failure to comply with existing or changing laws, rules or regulations, or to obtain and maintain required licenses; failure of network partners or other affiliated parties to comply with regulatory requirements; failure to maintain the integrity of systems and infrastructure; liabilities as a result of privacy regulations; failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights or allegations of infringement of intellectual property rights; and changes in management. These and additional factors to be considered are set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2024, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LendingTree undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results or expectations.

About LendingTree, Inc.

LendingTree, Inc. is the parent of LendingTree, LLC and several companies owned by LendingTree, LLC (collectively, “LendingTree” or the “Company”).

LendingTree is one of the nation’s largest, most experienced online financial platforms, created to give consumers the power to win financially.  LendingTree provides customers with access to the best offers on loans, credit cards, insurance and more through its network of approximately 400 financial partners.  Since its founding, LendingTree has helped millions of customers obtain financing, save money, and improve their financial and credit health in their personal journeys. With a portfolio of innovative products and tools and personalized financial recommendations, LendingTree helps customers achieve everyday financial wins.

LendingTree, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. For more information, please visit www.lendingtree.com

Investor Relations Contact:
investors@lendingtree.com 

Media Contact:
press@lendingtree.com 

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SOURCE LendingTree, Inc.

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City of Redmond to Streamline Capital Program Management Using Aurigo Masterworks

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AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aurigo Software, the leading provider of capital planning and construction management software for infrastructure and private owners, announced it has entered into a multiyear contract with the City of Redmond, Washington, to modernize its Capital Improvement Program. Aurigo’s flagship product suite, Masterworks, will help the agency prioritize project investments and create long-range capital plans while providing real-time reports and forecasts throughout the program’s phases. The system will also manage all aspects of project delivery, including construction administration, document management, and tracking program performance.

The City of Redmond is located less than 20 miles east of downtown Seattle. Known for its lush green landscapes and as a hub for technology, Redmond is home to several major corporations, including Microsoft’s headquarters, which significantly contribute to its economic profile. Today, the City has around 75,000 residents and 95,000 jobs, and by 2030, it is expected to have 78,000 residents and 119,000 jobs. Redmond also prides itself on providing extensive recreational activities, as it is surrounded by forests and trails, making it well-known for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching.

“We are excited to partner with the City of Redmond and provide a modern, intuitive, integrated solution to meet its capital planning and project delivery goals,” said Balaji Sreenivasan, CEO and founder of Aurigo Software. “As Redmond continues to flourish as a technology hub, Masterworks will enable the City to keep pace with its growth by optimizing resources and ensuring efficient project execution. We are committed to supporting Redmond in delivering infrastructure improvements that meet the needs of its expanding community.”

Aurigo Masterworks will enable the agency to gather proposed projects, prioritize them, and estimate costs accurately. The platform’s what-if analysis will help identify the best project combinations based on available funding and strategic priorities. Once projects are underway, the system will help monitor schedules, resource availability, and contract status to ensure timely and on-budget completion.

This initiative will also establish standardized processes to reinforce best practices for the City, including streamlining workflows, integrating with existing systems, and enabling role-based access and permissions. Enterprise-wide dashboards and reports will provide agency executives with the right data to aid decision making. These processes will be fully auditable and will ensure complete transparency, delivering a consistent approach to capital program management.

Redmond joins King County and the city of Seattle, both Washington-based Aurigo partners, along with several other agencies across North America (including the cities of Portland and Las Vegas and regional agencies in Colorado, Florida, and Ontario, Canada) using Masterworks to digitize their capital programs. The company has seen an increase in demand from the public sector as agencies are looking to adopt modern cloud-based solutions to boost productivity and achieve cost savings.

About Aurigo Software

Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help plan with confidence, build with quality, and maintain their assets efficiently. With more than $300 billion of capital programs under management, Aurigo’s solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and government on over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com

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SOURCE Aurigo Software Technologies, Inc.

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European Chips Skills Academy Unveils Comprehensive Skills Strategy to Boost Competitiveness of Semiconductor Ecosystem

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BRUSSELS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The European Chips Skills Academy (ECSA), an EU-funded initiative coordinated by SEMI, today announced the publication of the Skills Strategy report by DECISION Etudes & Conseil that outlines the strategic approaches required to tackle Europe’s growing talent shortage in the semiconductor sector. The report provides critical insights into the industry’s workforce demand and supply, while outlining methods to address the talent gap by 2030.

With increasing demand for chips and the investments from the EU Chips Act beginning to gain traction, the semiconductor industry is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years. The report shows a projected employment annual growth rate of 5% by 2030, with more than 271,000 job openings expected over the forecast period. However, the current pipeline of graduates is not growing at a sufficient rate to match this growth. The report predicts a shortage of over 75,000 technical jobs across key areas such as hardware and software engineering, technicians, and data specialists.

Despite Europe producing over 1.1 million STEM graduates in 2022 and 320,000 in semiconductor related fields of study, only 6% of European STEM graduates are expected to enter the semiconductor industry. With many of these graduates opting for engineering careers in unrelated domains or positions beyond traditional engineering sectors, it is essential for Europe to respond to solve the talent gap.

ECSA’s Skills Strategy recommends both short- and long-term solutions. In the short-term, Europe should optimize the existing labor supply by improving EU-wide mobility, simplifying visa processes for non-EU workers, and reskilling current employees to meet evolving needs.

“Strategic communications campaigns will be pivotal in driving long-term growth in student interest in semiconductor-related disciplines,” said Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe. “The influx of STEM graduates into the sector is heavily shaped by the industry’s ability to project a compelling image, further enhancing its attractiveness as a desirable and innovative field for emerging talent.”

“Collaboration between education and industry needs to be strengthened to meet the long-term demand of the industry,” said Raphaël Beaujeu, Senior Consultant at DECISION Etudes & Conseil. “Aligning the academic curricula with the needs of the sector will ensure a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers that can drive innovation and productivity in Europe.”

Initiatives such as ECSA are well positioned to help address the talent gap by offering relevant training with input from industry. The wide network of companies involved with the ECSA aid in promoting STEM careers and ensuring a diverse workforce.

With the semiconductor industry at the core of global digital transformation, Europe’s ability to close the skills gap in its ecosystem will be crucial in maintaining competitiveness on the global stage.

About SEMI
SEMI® is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. We accelerate member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, and other programs. Our SEMICON® expositions and events, technology communities, standards, and market intelligence help advance our members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services, and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X to learn more.

About ECSA
The European Chips Skills Academy is an innovative alliance of 18 partners across Europe, working together to bridge the skills gap in the semiconductor sector. Through the development of decentralized education programs and fostering collaboration between industry and academia, ECSA aims to cultivate the next generation of semiconductor professionals essential for Europe’s technological leadership.

Contact Information:
Kartikey Srivastava / SEMI Europe
Phone: +49 151 1436 6324
Email: ksrivastava@semi.org     

Samer Bahou / SEMI Corporate
Phone: +1 408 943 7870
Email: sbahou@semi.org  

SOURCE SEMI

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Could use a vacation right now: Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth Partner with Experience Abu Dhabi

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ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 5, 2024 /CNW/ — Hollywood couple Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth have collaborated with Experience Abu Dhabi, sharing all the city has to offer blending rich culture, adventure, and peaceful escapes, with incredible weather and endless experiences for every kind of traveller to enjoy at their own pace.

 

The two-year partnership was announced with a campaign film that features the duo on set, dreaming of a much-needed holiday. Using a mix of comedy and action, the film sees the couple agree that they could use an escape and imagine the blissful moments they could be experiencing in a destination that has it all…Abu Dhabi.

Elsa commented on putting family first: “When it comes to family holidays, Abu Dhabi has it all. Whether it is for us as a couple or a family, every day here is a new adventure, there is something for each one of us to enjoy and discover. My kids have fallen in love with Abu Dhabi, as it gives them a playground for all the things they want to do. Whether it’s theme parks with exciting roller coasters, dune bashing and horse riding in the desert to catching the best wave, Abu Dhabi has it all and is now our must-do holiday spot.”

Chris reflected on creating memories: “We’re thrilled to partner with Experience Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi’s got everything we love all in one place. The adventures have left us with amazing memories that will last a lifetime—you can tell how special it was since the kids didn’t want to leave. We’ve loved everything about the culture, the people and the experiences. It’s a place where we can unwind, and relax, with the feeling of being at home. We’ve travelled the world, but Abu Dhabi has captured our hearts. We’re already planning for our next trip!”

As heard in the film, the message “Could Use A Vacation Right Now” resonates with the world. So many of us are drowning in deadlines, work commitments, and a never-ending to-do list—dreaming of that next great holiday. In Abu Dhabi, you can swap your daily routine for the perfect escape, from inspiring cultural experiences to galloping across desert dunes, riding waves at Surf Abu Dhabi and reconnecting with loved ones under a stunning sunset on a white-sand beach.

The campaign film showcases how Abu Dhabi inspires every family to find their own pace—a destination brimming with new adventures and countless opportunities to create lasting memories. From kayaking around Louvre Abu Dhabi to thrilling rollercoasters, all wrapped in the warmth of Emirati hospitality, the couple had the perfect family getaway. They savoured traditional Emirati cuisine before sunset strolls on the beach, feeling welcomed and at ease.

H.E. Nouf Mohamed Al-Boushelaibi, Executive Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We’re incredibly passionate about sharing Abu Dhabi with the world and are proud to have Elsa and Chris partnering with us. Their dynamic energy and love for discovery highlights everything Abu Dhabi has to offer from inspiring cultural experiences to adventures, creating meaningful and lasting memories, all at their own pace.”

Get inspired by Chris and Elsa’s dream-come-true adventure in Abu Dhabi and watch the new film here.

About Experience Abu Dhabi:
Experience Abu Dhabi is the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. 

DCT Abu Dhabi drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. 

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQEYVigHGZQ
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549319/Elsa_Pataky.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549316/Chris_Hemsworth.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549317/Elsa_Pataky_Chris_Hemsworth_Desert.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2549318/Elsa_Pataky_Chris_Hemsworth_dining.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2239093/4629993/Experience_Abu_Dhabi_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Experience Abu Dhabi

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