Labor Commissioner’s Office Cites Chula Vista Restaurant Over $274,000 for Wage Theft

August 16, 2017

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office cited a Chula Vista restaurant more than $274,000 in back wages and penalties for multiple wage theft and labor law violations.

Dorantes Inc., doing business as La Querencia, is ordered to pay $164,688 to six workers who worked an average of nine hours per day, five days a week without breaks, and were paid on average less than $6 per hour.

La Querencia was also fined $110,150 in civil penalties, workers’ compensation penalties and wage statement penalties.

“Honest business owners in California should not have to compete with businesses that skirt the law and deprive their workers of their hard-earned pay,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office launched a complaint-based investigation at the Mexican restaurant in January and found that the owner was under-reporting the number of workers employed there. The owner claimed only five employees, but investigators found 14 workers employed. Investigators in February cited La Querencia $21,000 for failing to carry adequate workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

An audit of the restaurant revealed that La Querencia management denied six workers meal or rest breaks, and paid them a straight rate of $50 per day regardless of hours worked, for a period spanning June 2014 through February 2017.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office last month cited La Querencia $72,290 for minimum wage violations and penalties, $83,131 for liquidated damages, $1,735 for unpaid overtime wages, $3,077 for meal period violations, $3,234 for rest period violations, and $1,221 for waiting time penalties, all payable to the six affected workers. Additionally, the Labor Commissioner’s Office fined La Querencia $54,500 for wage statement violations and $34,650 in civil penalties for minimum and overtime wage violations.

When workers are paid less than minimum wage, they are entitled to liquidated damages that equal the amount of underpaid wages plus interest. Waiting time penalties are imposed when the employer fails to provide workers their final paycheck after separation. This penalty is calculated by taking the employee’s daily rate of pay and multiplying it by the number of days the employee was not paid, up to a maximum of 30 days. The civil penalties collected will be transferred to the State’s General Fund as required by law.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office, officially known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, is a division of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Among its wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities, the Labor Commissioner’s Office inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints and educates the public on labor laws.

In 2014, Commissioner Su launched the Wage Theft is a Crime multilingual public awareness campaign. The campaign defines wage theft and informs workers of their rights and the resources available to them to recover unpaid wages or report other labor law violations. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Luke Brown at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, California Labor Commissioner’s Office

(Español) América Tevé sigue respondiendo a los intereses de su comunidad con otra de su tradicional entrega de mochilas y materiales escolares para el curso 2017-2018

August 16, 2017

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Toyota And Servco Pacific Inc. Pilot Test New Car Share Application

August 16, 2017

Toyota and Servco Pacific Inc. have partnered to test a new car-sharing technology in Honolulu, Hawaii. An example of the pilot test program’s mobile application screen is shown here.

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota and Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco) have partnered to test a new car-sharing technology in Honolulu, Hawaii. The suite of software and services is an important part of Toyota’s Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) which will offer various functions to enable a more convenient mobility experience. When the employee-only pilot testing program concludes, Servco, the distributor of Toyota vehicles in Hawaii, will use the car-sharing technology to launch a new Honolulu-based car share business by the end of 2017.

The car-sharing application will support driver identification and authentication, plus payment and fleet management for car-sharing businesses. It also includes a Smart Key Box (SKB), which lets users lock and unlock vehicles via a smartphone. The application was developed in-house and is managed by Toyota Connected North America (TC), the global technology strategy business unit for Toyota.

“This new application demonstrates the power of combining Toyota’s unrivaled global manufacturing and technology capacity with dealers’ extensive local operations to provide consumers with more convenient options to move,” said Shigeki Tomoyama, President of Connected Company, Toyota Motor Corporation.

“This successful launch of the MSPF represents the next generation in car-sharing platforms and is Toyota’s global foundation for fleet management, car-sharing, and the future of mobility,” said Zack Hicks, CEO of Toyota Connected North America. “Its powerful and flexible API based platform allows us to quickly adapt to new market opportunities and support deployment of locally-tailored mobility services.”

Since January 2017, Toyota has been working with Getaround on the car-sharing pilot program in San Francisco, Calif., verifying convenience and usability of the SKB. Thanks to the pilot test with Servco, Toyota continues to enhance the car-sharing application and MSPF, which seeks to leverage the power of connected vehicle systems to support new mobility businesses. Eventually, Toyota will also begin working with other dealers and distributors to tailor the core technology for their markets, aiming for safe and more convenient, customer-centric mobility services.

Launched in 2016, TC was created to significantly expand Toyota’s capabilities in the fields of vehicle data science, machine learning, and contextual data services development, and provides a wide range of data and computer science services across Toyota’s global operations.

Media Contacts:

TMNA Corporate Communications
Ming-Jou Chen
469-292-3799
[email protected]

Servco Communications
Casey Nishimura
808-564-2372
[email protected]

About Toyota Connected North America

Based in Plano, Texas, Toyota Connected North America (TC) was established in 2016 to drive Toyota’s global efforts for an intelligent mobile society. With big data collected from vehicles and analyzed on a cloud platform, TC humanizes the driving experience by freeing customers from the tyranny of technology via seamless and contextual services, elevating the customer experience while benefitting dealers, distributors, and partners. Analyzing traffic patterns, driver behavior and connecting drivers with infrastructure and other information is only part of TC’s work that will open new services and products to keep the car as a beloved companion.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About Servco Pacific Inc.

Servco Pacific Inc. is Hawaii’s largest privately held company with over $1.4 billion in annual revenues. Founded in 1919, it is the Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru distributor for Hawaii, and has Toyota, Lexus and Subaru automotive dealerships spanning Hawaii and Australia. It also has specialty insurance brokerage and benefits consulting offices in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, and home appliance operations that distribute General Electric, Thermador, Bosch, and Gaggenau products throughout Hawaii and other Pacific islands. In addition, Servco has a private equity portfolio, which includes co-majority ownership of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Servco is one of the Top 30 largest automotive dealer groups based in the U.S. and it has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in Hawaii” for 13 consecutive years since that award’s inception. For additional information, visit www.servco.com.

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/545424/Toyota_Connected_North_America_Car_Sharing.jpg

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495464/Toyota_Connected_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Toyota Connected North America

International homebuyers contribute $18.66 billion to Texas economy from 2016-2017

August 16, 2017

Texas Association of Realtors logo. (PRNewsFoto/Texas Association of Realtors)

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Texas home sales from international buyers added $18.66 billion to the Texas economy from April 2016 to March 2017, according to the Texas International Homebuyers Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors. Attracting buyers from across the globe, Texas ranked second among U.S. states for international home sales volume.

“This surge in international home sales activity underscores the growing reputation Texas has as a global destination for owning a home or investment property,” said Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “The state’s low unemployment, diverse industry base and world class higher education institutions are just some of the reasons why international residents seek to attend college, raise a family or do business in Texas.”

There were 34,135 international home sales in Texas between April 2016 and March 2017, a 59 percent increase from the same time frame last year and 12 percent of the 284,455 international home sales nationwide. Second only to Florida, Texas joined California, New Jersey and Arizona as the most popular states for international homebuyers. The sales dollar volume of $18.66 billion from foreign home sales in Texas during this time frame is almost double from last year’s report.

In recent years, the ratio of Texas homebuyers from Latin America (including Mexico) compared to the rest of the world has narrowed. From April 2016 to March 2017, homebuyers from Latin America and Asia/Oceania (including China and India) each constituted approximately 40 percent of international homebuying activity in Texas.

Texas had the highest volume of homebuyers from Mexico of any state from April 2016 to March 2017, with nearly half (43 percent) of Mexican homebuyers who purchased a home in the U.S. choosing Texas. The Lone Star State also experienced a significant share of Chinese buyers, with 11 percent of international homebuyers from China purchasing a home in Texas.

Chairman Fullerton concluded, “As our state’s population continues to grow and diversify, it’s increasingly important for our real estate industry practitioners to be knowledgeable about the unique needs and challenges facing international homebuyers. Whether you’re an international buyer seeking to purchase a home in Texas or a Texan seeking to purchase a home abroad, a Texas Realtor with a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation can provide the expert knowledge, network and tools needed for a successful transaction.”

About the Texas International Homebuyers Report
The Texas International Homebuyers Report is based on survey data from the 2017 Profile of International Home Buying Activity by the National Association of Realtors, the 2011-2015 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2016 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics by the U.S. Office of Immigration Statistics. The Texas Association of Realtors distributes insights about the Texas housing market each month, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, luxury home sales, condominium sales and more. To view the current Texas International Homebuyers Report in its entirety, visit texasrealestate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 110,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

Contact:
Hunter Dodson
512-448-4950
[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/175272/texas_association_of_realtors_logo.jpg

SOURCE Texas Association of Realtors

Labor Commissioner’s Office Files $6.3 Million Misclassification and Wage Theft Lawsuit against Glendale Construction Company

August 16, 2017

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Calcrete Construction, Inc. seeking $6,300,338 for multiple wage theft violations affecting a group of 249 construction workers and the willful misclassification of 175 workers as independent contractors.

An investigation launched in October 2016 uncovered the Glendale-based company’s failure to pay the workers for overtime hours, allocate pay for sick leave and provide proper wage statements. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, also seeks civil damages and penalties.

Beginning in August 2016, Calcrete forced its workers under threat of termination to sign contracts stating they were independent contractors. The company then used staffing agencies Dominion Staffing and Southeast Personnel Leasing to pay the workers.

“It is illegal for employers to use subcontractors to distance themselves from the obligation to pay workers, and we will use every tool to dissuade employers from this scheme,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “This lawsuit aims to recover the money these misclassified workers should have been paid after years of wage theft.”

Calcrete employees typically worked 10-12 hours Monday through Friday and eight hours on Saturday. They were paid only their regular hourly rate and not for the 18-28 hours of overtime they regularly worked. This underpayment occurred for a nearly two- year period from 2014-16, the lawsuit specifies.

The lawsuit seeks:

Wages and damages of approximately $2,596,438 payable to the workers:

$352,000 in overtime wages
$1,244,438 in waiting time penalties
Over $1,000,000 (specific amount to be determined at trial) for unpaid sick leave and liquated damages

Penalties of approximately $3,703,900 payable to the state:

$2,625,000 in statuary penalties for willful misclassification
$78,900 in civil penalties.
Over $1,000,000 (specific amount to be determined at trial) for failure to provide proper wage statements

The Carpenters / Contractors Cooperation Committee, a union-affiliated, non-profit organization that advocates for workplace compliance within the construction industry, referred the case to the Labor Commissioner’s Office.

When a worker is misclassified as an independent contractor, they are not protected by minimum wage, overtime and retaliation laws. The worker is not guaranteed workers’ compensation coverage if injured on the job and has no right to paid rest and meal breaks or sick leave. Many factors go into determining if a worker is misclassified, including a review of who decides what tasks the worker does, who dictates how tasks should be done and who controls customer relations. Worker misclassification results in an estimated loss of $7 billion each year in payroll tax revenue to the state.

The Labor Commissioner’s Office, officially known as the Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects and educates the public on labor laws. The division’s Bureau of Field Enforcement is responsible for investigating and enforcing certain statutes including those that cover group claims of unpaid minimum wage and overtime.

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Frank Polizzi at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

SOURCE California Labor Commissioner’s Office

Sanders Phillips Grossman, L.L.C., a national law firm, fights back against opioids manufacturers

August 16, 2017

GARDEN CITY, New York, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the abuse of powerful prescription painkillers, opioids, costs the economy over $78.5 billion dollars annually and growing. Billions in problems require social injustice law firms to fight back against manufacturer enablers, seeking solutions.

Sanders Phillips Grossman, formed a special task force to seek justice for local and State municipalities for costs associated with the epidemic caused by the pharmaceutical industry with attorneys and former government officials dedicated to fighting against this injustice.

Marc D. Grossman, Esq., the Senior Managing Partner heads the task force. Mr. Grossman has been an advocate for consumer rights for over twenty-five years, He has served on numerous committees on the Federal and State levels. He is known as one of the premier lawyers in the country receiving awards and accolades for his efforts.

The task force includes the former Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who encountered and tried to tackle the issues of pain medication addiction in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is on the list of territories recommended to be put into a state of emergency by President Trump.

Melissa Sims, Esq., an attorney who has a history of fighting for municipality rights all over the nation is also a task force member. Ms. Sims is at the forefront of litigation to recover monies wrongfully spent by local State municipalities because of big drug companies valuing profits over addiction. She has also represented large unions and corporations for recoupment of medical costs and expenses associated with pharmaceutical and medical device negligence.

Dr. John Restaino, JD., as a member contributes both his medical and legal knowledge. He is a surgeon who became an attorney to advocate for patient rights against pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Through his medical and legal practices over several decades, Dr. Restaino saw first-hand the damages inflicted from poor warnings, harmful products that caused catastrophic injuries including death and the plight that addiction causes so many Americans today.

Additionally, the task force will include Randi A. Kassan and Vicki Maniatis, partners at Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC and Senior Associate Timothy Clark who are all dedicated to fighting this injustice and will bring their extensive experience and vast knowledge and experience to the cause. Collectively, the Sanders Phillips Grossman task force will fight for justice and raise awareness about this national emergency. This follows in the firm’s history as lead counsel in In Re Oxycontin II in the New York State litigation, representing several hundred drug addicts. Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC also participated in several successful litigations for municipalities and unions for reimbursement of costs associated with pharmaceutical wrongful advertising and other abuses.

Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC partners have a fifty-four year history as a leading force in social injustice litigation including mass-tort litigation and is prepared to help victims nationwide who have been harmed at the hands of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer companies. Leading the charge, the Sanders Firm team is consistently investigating links and developments in mass-tort litigation at the highest level. The firm’s advocates sit on the Plaintiffs’ steering committees of the most widely litigated pharmaceutical claims. The firm’s members continue to lead the discussion at national conventions such as Mass Torts Made Perfect, and serve as chairmen of the reputable Mass Tort Medical School, among many other notable achievements.

For questions, comments and inquiries please visit http://spglawfirm.com or call 833-SANDERS or e-mail Senior Partner Marc D. Grossman at mgrossman@spglawfirm.com. Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC has offices located throughout the United States including New York, California, Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado and Puerto Rico. Our attorneys are admitted to practice law in state or federal courts in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. The firm and its affiliates have over fifty attorneys and two hundred support staff dedicated to fighting for social injustices in the United States.

Contact:
Marc D. Grossman, Esq.
Senior Partner
Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC
P: +1-855-SANDERS
mgrossman@spglawfirm.com

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/545455/Sanders_Phillips_Grossman_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC

Toyota and Mazda Enter Business and Capital Alliance

August 16, 2017

TOKYO, August 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) signed an agreement today to enter a business and capital alliance, with the aim of further strengthening their lasting partnership.

Today’s agreement is a testament to the positive result of two years of collaborative and deliberate discussions between the two companies, and it is a milestone in the journey to further strengthen and accelerate the partnership in a sustainable way.

Specifically, the companies agreed to: 1) establish a joint venture that produces vehicles in the United States, 2) jointly develop technologies for electric vehicles, 3) jointly develop connected-car technology, 4) collaborate on advanced safety technologies and 5) expand complementary products.

In addition, together with the aim of advancing and strengthening their long-term collaboration, Toyota and Mazda agreed to a capital alliance arrangement that preserves independence and equality for both companies. In the capital tie-up, the two companies have agreed that Toyota will subscribe for and acquire shares to be newly issued by Mazda through a third-party allotment, and at the same time Mazda will subscribe for and acquire third-party allocation shares of treasury stock disposed of by Toyota in the equivalent amount in value to the Mazda shares. The value of the shares mutually acquired by both companies will be equivalent.

Marking the agreement, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: “The greatest fruit of our partnership with Mazda is that we have found a new partner who truly loves cars. It has also sparked Toyota’s competitive spirit, increasing our sense of not wanting to be bested by Mazda. This is a partnership in which those who are passionate about cars will work together to make ever-better cars. It is also the realization of our desire to never let cars become commodities.”

Representing Mazda, President and CEO Masamichi Kogai said: “Nothing would please me more than if, through this alliance, we can help to energize the auto industry and create more car fans by bringing together two competitive spirits to spur each other on, leading to innovations and fostering talent and leaders.”

The auto industry increasingly faces great challenges, including stricter environmental and safety regulations for new vehicles and the entrance of competitors from other industries, as well as the diversification of mobility-related businesses. With the future of the industry in mind, in addition to leveraging their individual strengths to further improve technologies and reinforce their business foundations, Toyota and Mazda aim to deepen collaboration and achieve sustainable growth through their partnership, rising to face and overcome these pressing challenges.

On May 13, 2015, Toyota and Mazda entered an agreement to build a continuous partnership that would mutually benefit the companies in such forms as leveraging the resources of both companies and complementing each other’s products and technologies toward the goal of making more-appealing cars. Since then, both companies have discussed various areas to explore, based on the principle of building an equal and favorable relationship in the long term.

Over the medium- to long-term, the two companies will build a favorable relationship that respects the autonomy and equality of each party and works toward success with the agreed joint projects. With the aim of creating new types of value for future mobility, they will accelerate and enhance bilateral cooperation as long-term partners and contribute to the development of a sustainable society by exceeding customers’ expectations.

Details of the agreement on business alliance

1) Establish a joint venture that produces vehicles in the U.S.

As part of the new alliance, Toyota and Mazda have agreed to explore establishing a joint venture plant in the U.S. with equal funding contributions. The plant would have an estimated annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 units. Pending approvals and authorization by relevant government agencies, the companies will begin to examine detailed plans with the goal to starting operations of the new plant in 2021. The plant will require a total investment of approximately 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, and will create up to 4,000 jobs. In addition to the collaboration in product and technology areas that the companies have enjoyed thus far, Toyota and Mazda intend to improve competitiveness in manufacturing through this new production collaboration.

At the new plant, Mazda expects to produce cross-over models that Mazda will newly introduce to the North American market, and Toyota plans to produce the Corolla for the North American market.

By producing vehicles in the U.S., Mazda aims to build a production structure to further grow in North America. These activities will allow the company to more quickly respond to its customers’ needs depending on the region and model.

By further increasing its production capacity in the U.S., Toyota is to further pursue management that is closer to the region, as a measure to improve its response to the growing North American market. At Toyota’s new plant in Guanajuato, Mexico, which is currently under construction, Toyota plans to produce the Tacoma, instead of the Corolla. There will be no substantial impact on Toyota’s investment and employment plan there.

2) Jointly develop technologies for electric vehicles

With increasing demand and expectations for electric vehicles worldwide, Toyota and Mazda are to explore joint development of technologies for the basic structure of competitive electric vehicles, mobilizing and exchanging expertise freely and actively. These technologies will allow the companies to respond quickly to regulations and market trends in each country. Specific details of the collaboration will be determined as the companies work together going forward.

3&4) Jointly develop connected technology and collaborate on advanced safety technologies

Toyota and Mazda will work together to jointly develop technologies for onboard multimedia infotainment systems in preparation for increased use of in-car information technologies and the increasing demand for connected technologies. In addition, Toyota will cooperate with Mazda in Toyota’s vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technologies with the ultimate goal of creating a mobile society devoid of accidents.

5) Expand complementary products

Currently, Mazda is supplying a compact sedan to Toyota in North America. In addition, Toyota is to supply a compact commercial “two-box” van to Mazda in Japan. Beyond this, the companies will further explore the possibilities of other complementary products on a global level.

Details of the capital alliance

Based on the agreement, the companies will aim to develop sustainable collaboration, maximizing the synergies of the business and capital alliance by mutually acquiring shares as stated below.

Toyota will acquire 31,928,500 shares of common stock newly issued by Mazda through a third-party allotment (shareholding ratio of 5.05% on an issued share basis after the capital increase; total value of 50 billion yen).

Mazda will, through a disposition of treasury stock through a third-party allotment to be implemented by Toyota, acquire Toyota shares that are equivalent in value to the Mazda shares (shareholding ratio of 0.25% on an issued share basis).

The two companies plan to apply proceeds from the capital increase through the third-party allotment and the disposition of treasury stock through the third-party allotment to fund, in part, capital expenditures relating to the establishment of the joint venture to produce vehicles in the U.S.

Both companies are to consider strengthening their capital alliance further, in line with the progress of their business alliance.

Schedule

1) Date of signing the agreement: Friday, Aug. 4, 2017

2) Anticipated date of share acquisition (due date of the payment): Monday, Oct. 2, 2017

Contact:

Scott Vazin
469-292-1082
[email protected]

Aaron Fowles
469-292-1097
[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/439685/Toyota_Corp_Red_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Toyota Motor Corporation

Dvdendo Breaks Down Investment Barriers For Hispanics

August 16, 2017

MIAMI, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Dvdendo launches the first bilingual, micro-investing platform tailored to the Hispanic market, aiming to promote and foster the habit of investing, while allowing this underserved population the ability to save for the future, and take charge of their finances through better financial planning. The company wants to create awareness around the power of micro-investments, promote financial education, and grant access to first-time investors through their easy to use mobile application. This will provide anyone the opportunity to own a diverse, passively managed investment portfolio at a low-cost, with the potential of obtaining greater financial returns.

Hispanics historically save very little of their employment earnings, and only a small percentage has ever owned financial assets. This comes at a higher cost for those Hispanics between the ages of 30 and 50, who today find themselves part of the “sandwich generation” – raising their children while also providing financial support to their aging parents. Although this particular trait is not exclusive to Hispanics, this demographics’ cultural nuances and deep family ties both in the United States and Latin America make them more susceptible to it. Today, one out of three Hispanics living in the United States is part of the “sandwich generation,” making it harder for them to plan for their own retirement, or even short to medium-term financial goals.

“Dvdendo aims to make investments universally accessible; however, we want to focus on the Hispanic population, with the goal of changing the financial grievances that most commonly affect them,” said Gabriel Montoya, CEO and co-founder of Dvdendo. “Our hope is that by creating awareness, promoting financial education, and giving Hispanics access to an easy-to-use investment platform, we may foster the habit of saving and planning for the future, so the next generation will not face the same issues affecting the current one.”

The benefits of the Dvdendo mobile platform include:

Easy-to-use – it takes less than five minutes to download the application and set up your Dvdendo account, and you can begin investing with as little as $5 as there are no account minimums
Budget-friendly – there are no trading commissions, only a minimal fixed monthly fee (starting at just $1 per month)
Instant access – deposit or withdraw as often as you want from your Dvdendo account without incurring additional fees, right from your phone
Effortless investing – automatically save and invest by linking your debit or credit card to your Dvdendo account, and each purchase made with your card will be rounded up to the nearest dollar, sending those extra pennies to your Dvdendo investment account

About Dvdendo
Dvdendo wants to make investments accessible to everyone through technology and innovation. The company developed a simple and budget-friendly, automated, micro-investment mobile platform, available both in English and Spanish, which aims to provide individuals with the opportunity to take charge of their finances, while also helping them take the necessary steps to invest in their future. Dvdendo is available for download at the Apple Store and Google Play. For more information about Dvdendo, please visit: www.dvdendo.com

Media Contact
Latiffe Ghanem
[email protected]
(305) 479-0279

Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/545567/Dvdendo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Dvdendo

5 Ways to Assess Your Foot Health

August 16, 2017

American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society logo. (PRNewsFoto/American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society)

ROSEMONT, Illinois, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — How often should you check your feet? If you’re an average walker, you take about 10,000 steps per day, which add up to more than 3 million steps per year. You’re also carrying approximately four to six times your body weight across the ankle joint when you climb stairs. This amounts to a lot of stress and strain on the feet and ankles. To make sure yours stay healthy, orthopaedic foot and ankle specialists recommend you examine your feet at least weekly.

Follow these five steps for your next foot self-exam:

1. Appearance: Look for things like swelling, discoloration of the skin or nails, blisters, excessive calluses and changes to the shape of your foot. Examine your soles and the spaces between your toes. If you’re not physically able to closely look at your feet, have a family member or friend help you. If you find anything unusual, especially since your last self-exam, see your primary doctor or contact a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon near you.

2. Blood Flow: Press down on the nail of your big toe until the color blanches. Let go and allow the blood flow to return to your toe. The return of normal color should take two to five seconds in a person with average circulation.

3. Function: Try to pick up a marble or a small dish towel with just your toes to test their flexibility. To test your ankle flexibility, hang your heel over the edge of a stair while standing facing up the staircase. Now let the heel go below the level of the stair. If this causes pain, stop the test. If your heel goes below the level of the stair without causing strain in your calf, that is excellent. If there is some strain, this can be improved with flexibility exercises

4. Sensation: Take a pencil eraser and lightly run it on the top, bottom and both sides of your feet. The sensation should feel equal in all quadrants. It may tickle on the bottom of the feet. That is normal

5. Pain: If you have pain, feel parts of your foot for the location. There should be no pain in the average, uninjured foot.

After you’ve checked your feet, try a balance test. Stand on one foot with your arms out to the side and your eyes closed. If you are less than 30 years old, you should be able to balance for 15 seconds; 30 to 40 years old, for 12 seconds; 40 to 50 years old, for 10 seconds; and over 50 years old, for seven seconds. Balance can be improved with exercises.

For more information on foot health and typical foot problems, visit FootCareMD.org, the patient education site of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS). The site also includes a physician finder that makes it easy to find a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon in your area.

About Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons
Foot and ankle orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons are medical doctors (MD and DO) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment, both surgical and nonsurgical, of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries of the foot and ankle. Their education and training consists of four years of medical school, five years of post-graduate residency and often a fellowship year of specialized surgical training. These specialists treat patients of all ages and perform reconstructive surgery for deformities and arthritis, treat sports injuries, and manage foot and ankle trauma.

About the AOFAS
As the professional organization of foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons, the AOFAS supports the specialty and other healthcare providers through evidence-based and best-practice education and research. The Society provides leadership in foot and ankle surgery, serving as a resource for government and industry as well as the national and international healthcare communities, and promotes preventive foot and ankle care.

Created by orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons, FootCareMD offers educational tools to help you make informed decisions about your foot health. (PRNewsFoto/American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society)

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/328804/american_orthopaedic_foot___ankle_society.jpg

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/321380/american_orthopaedic_foot___ankle_society.jpg

SOURCE American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society

Flagship Food Group Announces New Frozen Food Distribution Facility to Support Growth

August 15, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Yesterday, Flagship Food Group CEO, Rob Holland, and New Mexico Governor, Susana Martinez, announced that Flagship will further expand its manufacturing and distribution facilities in the Albuquerque area, creating a state-of-the-art, 76,000 square-foot frozen food distribution warehouse that will serve its customers from coast to coast from a single point of distribution. The new distribution facility will also feature a research and development center, offices, and a small interactive “museum” that pays tribute to New Mexico’s rich food culture.

Flagship’s popular 505 Southwestern® brand (“505” signifies Albuquerque’s area code) is produced in New Mexico and certified as a “New Mexico True” product. Nearly $100 million of 505 Southwestern®-branded products are sold from London to Los Angeles, spreading the awareness of New Mexico flavors and cuisine in 125,000 points of distribution throughout the world.

The State of New Mexico has continued to show support for Flagship and its investment in the State.

“Since day one, we’ve been fighting hard to make New Mexico more competitive with surrounding states through reforms like cutting taxes and streamlining regulations,” Governor Martinez said. “Results like these mean more jobs for New Mexicans, and give us even more momentum to build on as we keep working to grow and diversify our economy.”

“We are grateful for the support and business-friendly environment that New Mexico has given us,” said Holland. “Our new distribution facility in New Mexico will help us better serve our customers and represents another important step in the growth and development of our company.”

The facility represents a collaboration between Flagship’s diverse leadership team. Carlos Angulo, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, led the project with support from the president of the Flagship Logistics division, Pat O’Keefe, and other company executives. The warehouse will operate with a state-of-the-art inventory tracking system currently utilized in Flagship’s other warehouse facility.

“As our Southwestern food portfolio has doubled in size in only a few short years, we needed a facility that would warehouse our products and support our customers across the country with extreme efficiency and reliability. Working with our amazing team of operators and professionals, we’ve taken the project from concept to a fully-operational facility in less than one year,” said Angulo.

About Flagship Food Group

Flagship Food Group is a global, diversified food company serving the retail, club store, and food service channels across a broad array of product lines. Its brands include TJ Farms®, Lilly B’s®, 505 Southwestern®, Chris & Pitts®, and Su Ming®. It also serves as a valuable supplier to private label customers and provides industry services to food companies through its logistics and packaging divisions. Flagship is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and its more than 500 employees serve the company in its key facilities and offices in or near Denver, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Boise, Indianapolis, and Minnesota.

CONTACT: Kory Webber, (720) 420-6395, [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/484203/Flagship_Food_Group_Logo.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/484161/Flagship_Food_Group_505_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Flagship Food Group

1...2,4312,4322,433...3,047 Page 2,432 of 3,047