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Digital Agency Fictive Kin Welcomes Gillian Rode as CEO

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NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In what represents a critical inflection point for a digital agency that has been an innovator in the product, design, and brand-building space for over 15 years, Brooklyn-based, bicoastal digital agency Fictive Kin has restructured its leadership, deepened its industry footprint, and turned the page onto the next chapter of its solutions-driven evolution.

Founded by product leader, investor, and event organizer Cameron Koczon, Fictive Kin has quietly—and subversively—been its own disruptive force in the industry, working with brands and agencies alike to develop websites, products, and digital overhauls with a nimble, agile team that, as Koczon describes, is “large enough to be dangerous, and small enough to be interesting.” Among the notable companies and projects that Fictive Kin has been involved with include building an all-new digital experience for health food chain sweetgreen, joining forces with software analytics pioneer Palantir, real estate platform Opendoor, and AI research startup Anthropic, while also bringing the iconic, historic National Geographic Society to the digital age.

Describing how Fictive Kin works internally and what makes it unique, Koczon says, “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to structure the company so that we can consistently deliver excellent work. For us, that comes down to five key things. First, a team of exclusively senior experts. Second, team members work on one project at a time so they can stay focused on the specific client and their client needs. Third, we’re employee owned. The entire team can take part in the upside of the company. Fourth, we’re completely independent. We don’t have to follow a set of arcane rules from above. We do what is best for our clients. Finally, we are completely focused on ROI. This means seeing our work as a means to an end. Our primary deliverable is a business outcome. It just so happens that we do that through brand, design, and product.”

To further amplify Fictive Kin’s presence, Koczon has, in essence, restructured the leadership, turning his focus to become the Chief Creative Officer of the brand, while welcoming Gillian Rode as CEO and effectively becoming the business-facing senior leader of the agency. Rode previously served as Global Managing Director of ueno, the full-service creative and design shop that was acquired by Twitter in 2021. For Rode, Fictive Kin drew her attention and interest largely because of its unique talent—comprising 30-plus senior-level engineers, creatives, and designers—and culture. “[It’s] a small but mighty team with a relentless drive to be the best,” she says. “Throughout the interview process, we laughed a lot, which felt refreshing and made it clear this is a place where people genuinely enjoy working together. That sense of fun and collaboration was important to me, and it showed that I could bring my full self to work. Joining now felt right because Fictive Kin is at an exciting point where strategic growth and innovation can elevate the team’s talents and our clients’ success. We share values around excellence, adaptability, and a love for what we do, making this an ideal environment to push creative boundaries together.”

In her day-to-day role as Fictive Kin CEO, Rode will lead growth strategy, develop client relationships, and oversee the business development process. “I’m hands-on with key client interactions, actively supporting projects to maintain strong client service standards,” she explains. “On the operational side, I focus on strategic planning, budgeting, and aligning our portfolio with our company vision. This includes evolving our services and exploring new opportunities, especially as we integrate advancements like AI into our offerings.”

Koczon believes that Rode’s leadership on the business side and the ideal team split of designers and engineers will steer the ship and push Fictive Kin into the upper echelon of sought-after digital agencies. In regards to its model and ethos, he says, “It’s this nice balance of design and engineering. So we’re about half design, half engineers, so the things that we can design, we can execute on it, and that plays nicely across things like motion and stuff like that. Lastly, I think we’re very good at a specific type of product work, which is zero-to-one.”

Koczon adds, “Safely midwifing a product from the minds of our clients into the world is a true specialty of ours. As always, we focus on outcomes, which for founders means not just designing and building a great product, but achieving product-market fit. We’ve developed a detailed playbook for how to do this in a way that helps our founders solve big problems, create desired customer behavior, and raise their next rounds of funding. When it comes to product, the journey to product fit is always changing, so it requires a low ego, a devotion to craft, a customer-centricity, and a process of continuous improvement throughout the company.”

For Rode, meanwhile, her vaunted tenure at ueno and other firms including fuseproject has given her plenty of insights that she can translate to her new CEO role at Fictive Kin, which she says is focused on three core competencies: branding, web systems, and product design. “My experience gave me invaluable insights that I’m excited to bring to Fictive Kin. I learned the importance of pacing an agency—knowing where to introduce structure and when to keep things agile. I developed a sense for which fires to let burn and which need immediate attention, especially in a creative environment. Working closely with a founder-figurehead taught me how to balance vision with operational needs, a skill that’s key. I also gained a strong foundation in scaling processes and managing large accounts, both of which will be critical as we aim to expand our impact. These experiences have equipped me to support Fictive Kin’s growth while preserving its creative essence.”

About Fictive Kin
Fictive Kin is pound for pound the best digital agency on the planet. We deliver systems of lasting value in the form of brands, websites, and products.

We work with innovative companies of every size to deliver meaningful and measurable business impact. We help startups bring their ideas to life and large organizations transform themselves into category leaders.

We love what we do because we’re focused, selective, and performance-driven. Work that is visually compelling and built correctly is only half the assignment — our work also has to deliver business value: increased revenue, retention, acquisition, automation, and LTV.

Our designers don’t just design beautiful pages and screens, they design scalable systems with ownable branded behaviors that drive conversion. Our developers don’t just build what they’re given, they’re experts in interaction design, accessibility, performance, coding for SEO, and integrating with a complex marketing tool stack.

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Investors in Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC 144A Bonds may be entitled to a Payment from an SEC Distribution Fund

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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The following statement is being issued regarding the VW Distribution Fund.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION,

Plaintiff,
vs. 

VOLKSWAGEN “CLEAN DIESEL”
MARKETING, SALES PRACTICES, AND   
PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

Defendant.

MDL No. 2672 CRB (JSC)

and

U.S. SEC v. Volkswagen AG,  

No. 3:19-cv-1391 CRB

VW DISTRIBUTION FUND 
SUMMARY DISTRIBUTION PLAN NOTICE

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission authorized this Notice. 
This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

Who is Eligible to Participate in the Distribution Fund?

If you purchased or otherwise acquired 144A Bonds issued in Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC (“VWGoAF”)’s November 20, 2014, offering and/or May 22, 2015, offering (collectively, the “Securities”) during the period from November 20, 2014, through September 18, 2015 (the “Relevant Period”), and suffered losses due to the misconduct alleged in the Complaint, you may be entitled to receive a payment from the VW Distribution Fund.

Defendants paid a total of $48,750,000 into the Distribution Fund.

The administration of the Distribution Fund is governed by the Plan developed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 3, 2026. A copy of the Plan, which contains a description of eligibility and other conditions of participation, is available at www.VWDistributionFund.com.

Calculation of Distribution Payments

Each Eligible Claimant’s Recognized Loss is determined by the calculations outlined in the Plan of Allocation (Exhibit A to the Plan of Distribution). If the Net Available Distribution Fund is less than the sum of the Recognized Losses of all Eligible Claimants, each Eligible Claimant’s distribution amount will be equal to his, her or its “Pro Rata Percentage” of the Net Available Distribution Fund. If sufficient funds are available, an Eligible Claimant may receive the recognized loss less any Prior Recovery, plus any Reasonable Interest. If an Eligible Claimant’s distribution amount is less than the Minimum Distribution Amount of $250.00, that Eligible Claimant will be deemed ineligible to receive a Distribution Payment.

How to Participate

If you believe you may be an Eligible Claimant and wish to participate, submit your Claim Form via the online filing portal available at www.VWDistributionFund.com or mail a completed paper Claim Form, postmarked no later than the Claims Bar Date. When submitting a Claim Form, you must also include acceptable supporting documentation to confirm your transactions and holdings in the Securities, as defined by the Plan.

Claims Bar Date: February 26, 2027, 11:59 PM PT

Website:          www.VWDistributionFund.com
Email:               Info@VWDistributionFund.com
Phone:             1-888-830-4646
Address:         VW Distribution Fund
                         c/o KCC Class Action Services
                         Distribution Agent
                         P.O. Box 301170
                         Los Angeles, CA 90030-1170

Questions?

This Notice provides only summary information regarding the VW Distribution Fund. We strongly recommend that you consult the information and documentation found on www.VWDistributionFund.com in its entirety.

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SOURCE VW Distribution Fund

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Five TSX Stocks Finished Well Ahead of the Composite in a Week of Results and a Rate Hike

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TORONTO, Nov. 02, 2026 /CNW/ — Canada News Group News Commentary – Toronto’s benchmark index gave back ground in the last week of October, but several companies that put out results or other news of their own finished the week with sizable gains. The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at 35,620.03 on Friday, October 30, down 168.15 points, or 0.47%, from its October 23 close of 35,788.18, according to TMX Money data. To find the stronger performers, Canada News Group compared October 23 and October 30 closing prices published by Stock Analysis for Toronto Stock Exchange companies with a market capitalization of at least C$1 billion, setting aside Canadian Depositary Receipts of foreign companies. The five companies below, with weekly gains ranging from 4.60% to 27.02%, each issued news during the week; they are drawn from that screen and are not presented as a complete ranking of the exchange’s top performers. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE: BHC) (TSX: BHC), Black Diamond Group Limited (TSX: BDI), Methanex Corporation (TSX: MX) (NASDAQ: MEOH), Precision Drilling Corporation (TSX: PD) (NYSE: PDS), TMX Group Limited (TSX: X).

The central event of the week came on Wednesday, October 28, when the Bank of Canada raised its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, putting the Bank Rate at 2.75% and the deposit rate at 2.45%. It was the bank’s first rate change since October 29, 2025, when it cut by the same amount. The bank said CPI inflation has been around 3% since April and is expected to rise to about 3½% by the end of the year, and it described the hike as a step to limit the risk of continuing high energy prices feeding broadly into what Canadians pay for other goods and services. Governing Council said there could be a need to raise the rate further but, given uncertainties, agreed to proceed carefully. The next scheduled rate announcement is December 9.

The index moved higher in each of the first three sessions of the week, closing at 36,265.09 on October 28, the day of the decision. It slipped 16.06 points on Thursday and then fell 629.00 points, or 1.735%, on Friday. Even after that drop, TMX Money data show the S&P/TSX Composite up 12.321% for the year to date.

The week of November 2 brings a full Canadian calendar. Governor Tiff Macklem and Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers are scheduled to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on November 3 and the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy on November 5. Statistics Canada plans to publish September merchandise trade figures on November 4 and the Labour Force Survey for October on Friday, November 6, with releases issued at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. On the earnings side, Shopify plans to announce third-quarter results before markets open on November 3, and Manulife will release its third-quarter results after markets close on November 4.

When one quarterly report can move a stock by double digits in a week the broader index finished lower, knowing what the chart was showing beforehand matters. Stock Preachers covers that in its free Knowledge is Power guide at canadanewsgroup.com/sp, which shows how to weigh a headline against what the chart is doing.

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE: BHC) (TSX: BHC)

Bausch Health’s Toronto-listed shares closed the week at C$11.47, up 27.02% from C$9.03, including a 28.34% gain on October 29, the day after the company reported its third-quarter results. Consolidated revenues were $2.94 billion, up 10% on a reported basis and 8% on an organic basis, and GAAP earnings per diluted share attributable to Bausch Health were $1.15, compared with $0.48 a year earlier, while adjusted earnings per diluted share rose to $1.77 from $1.16. Excluding Bausch + Lomb, Bausch Health recorded its fourteenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth and raised its full-year 2026 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted cash flows from operations guidance for that business, while the company updated its consolidated revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance. Salix segment revenues rose 16% to $831 million. Its board also authorized a $50 million share repurchase program, primarily to offset dilution from management equity awards expected to vest in 2027.

“Our performance reflects disciplined execution across the portfolio, with healthy cash generation supporting more than $500 million of net debt reduction during the quarter,” said Thomas J. Appio, Chief Executive Officer, Bausch Health.

Black Diamond Group Limited (TSX: BDI)

Black Diamond Group shares rose 13.13% over the week to C$21.11, including a 7.38% gain on Friday, October 30. On October 29, the space rental and workforce accommodation provider reported third-quarter total revenue of $159.9 million, up 52% from a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA of $42.3 million, up 33%, with figures in Canadian dollars. Workforce Solutions revenue rose 127% to $97.9 million, an increase the company said was driven by the contribution of Royal Camp Services Ltd., and the segment’s formal bids outstanding in Canada alone top $2.3 billion, which the company said represents more than double its current fleet capacity. LodgeLink generated record Total Trade Value of $51.5 million. Black Diamond also raised its quarterly dividend by 22% to $0.055 per share, payable on or about January 15, 2027, and on October 30 announced the appointment of Michael Chan to its board.

“His experience and perspective will complement the strengths of our Board as we execute against our long-range strategy, serve our customers and deliver compounding shareholder value,” said Trevor Haynes, Chairman and CEO of Black Diamond Group.

Methanex Corporation (TSX: MX) (NASDAQ: MEOH)

Methanex shares finished the week at C$99.85, up 12.81% from C$88.51, with a 13.76% gain on October 30 alone. In third-quarter results released October 29 and stated in U.S. dollars, the methanol producer reported net income attributable to Methanex shareholders of $265 million, or $3.42 per diluted share, compared with $198 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, in the second quarter, and Adjusted EBITDA of $543 million. It produced 2,143,000 tonnes of methanol, with record North American production. The average realized price was $510 per tonne, compared with $529 per tonne in the second quarter, and based on its October and November posted prices and current spot pricing, the company expects an average realized price of approximately $525 to $550 per tonne for those two months. Methanex generated $646 million of cash flows from operating activities, ended the quarter with $912 million in cash and, subsequent to the quarter, announced approval of a 5% normal course issuer bid to repurchase up to 3,868,213 common shares through November 3, 2027.

“Our enhanced asset base continued to run well, particularly in North America, helping to drive another quarter of strong Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow,” said Rich Sumner, President & CEO of Methanex.

Precision Drilling Corporation (TSX: PD) (NYSE: PDS)

Precision Drilling shares rose 12.48% over the week to C$148.12. On October 27, the drilling contractor reported third-quarter results in Canadian dollars, with revenue of $532 million, up 15% from $462 million a year earlier, Adjusted EBITDA of $125 million, up 6%, and net earnings attributable to shareholders of $21 million, compared with a net loss of $7 million in the third quarter of 2025. Canada averaged 73 active rigs, up 16%, and the U.S. averaged 43 active rigs, up 19%, growth the company said outpaced the U.S. industry’s 10% increase in activity. Cash provided by operations of $71 million in the quarter allowed for the repurchase of $31 million of common shares, and the company revised its 2026 capital budget from $265 million to a range of $275 million to $285 million to accommodate long-lead deliveries and a pending upgrade opportunity that would have multiple rigs contracted through 2029 for a large Canadian producer.

“We are delivering on what we set out to accomplish in 2026: growing revenue and deepening customer relationships, generating free cash flow, and returning capital to shareholders,” said Carey Ford, Precision’s President and CEO.

TMX Group Limited (TSX: X)

Shares of TMX Group, whose operations include Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange and Montréal Exchange, rose 4.60% over the week to C$60.07, including a 5.28% gain on October 30. In third-quarter results released October 29, the company reported revenue of $491.1 million, up 17% from $418.6 million a year earlier, and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.63, up 21% from $0.52. Diluted earnings per share were $0.38, down 12% from $0.43, including a 10 cent per share decrease related to net foreign exchange losses. Revenue excluding recent acquisitions grew 11%, and during the quarter TMX completed the acquisitions of Cboe Australia, renamed TMX Australia Exchange, and RAFI Indices for an aggregate of US$635.2 million ($883.1 million) in cash.

“As a result of the steps forward we have taken this year, TMX is better positioned to compete: more resilient, more responsive and better able to solve complex challenges for our growing client base around the world,” said John McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of TMX Group.

Each of the five companies above put fresh results or corporate news in front of investors last week, and the coming days bring more quarterly reports, October jobs data and two committee appearances by the Bank of Canada’s governor and senior deputy governor. Canadian investors who want a framework for judging TSX moves around earnings and jobs data before they happen can pick up the free Stock Preachers guide, along with The Roadmap market reports, at canadanewsgroup.com/sp.

Contact Information:

canadanewsgroup.com

Media Contact: info@canadanewsgroup.com

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is not a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances.

This article is independent news commentary. Canada News Group is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited (“MEL”), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. MEL has not been paid by any company mentioned in this article. MEL and its owners, operators, directors, and affiliates do not currently own any shares of the companies mentioned in this article, but reserve the right to, and will, buy and sell shares of those companies at any time without further notice. Weekly price changes compare Toronto Stock Exchange closing prices in Canadian dollars on October 23 and October 30, 2026, as published by Stock Analysis (stockanalysis.com), for TSX-listed companies with a market capitalization of at least C$1 billion on its Toronto Stock Exchange list, excluding Canadian Depositary Receipts; a small number of listings could not be checked. S&P/TSX Composite Index levels for October 23 through October 30, 2026 are from TMX Money price history data. Company financial figures are as reported by each company in its stated currency. Policy and calendar references are drawn from the Bank of Canada’s October 28, 2026 rate announcement and upcoming events page, Statistics Canada’s release schedule for November 2 to 13, 2026, and announcements by Shopify (October 6, 2026) and Manulife (October 22, 2026), and scheduled events may change. Information is drawn from company news releases and filings, government and industry data, published reporting and third-party data believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Investing in securities carries risk, including the loss of some or all of your investment. This document is governed by the laws of Ireland.

 

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SOURCE Canada News Group

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ZIM to Release Third Quarter 2026 Results on Wednesday, November 18, 2026

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HAIFA, Israel, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM) announced today that the Company will release its third quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, before the U.S. financial markets open. Management will host a conference call and webcast (along with a slide presentation) to review the results and provide a corporate update at 8:00 AM ET.

The call (and slide presentation) will be available via live webcast on ZIM’s website, located at the following link. Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website.

About ZIM

Founded in Israel in 1945, ZIM (NYSE: ZIM) is a leading global container liner shipping company with operations in more than 90 countries, serving over 30,000 customers across more than 300 ports worldwide. ZIM leverages digital strategies and a commitment to ESG values to provide customers innovative seaborne transportation and logistics services and exceptional customer experience. ZIM’s differentiated global-niche strategy, based on agile fleet management and deployment, covers major trade routes with a focus on select markets where the company holds competitive advantages. Additional information about ZIM is available at www.ZIM.com.

ZIM Contacts

Media:
Yifat Ginzberg
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
+972-4-865-2249
media@zim.com 

Investor Relations:
Elana Holzman
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
+972-4-865-2300
holzman.elana@zim.com 

Leon Berman
The IGB Group
212-477-8438
lberman@igbir.com 

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SOURCE ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

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