Red Bull Gives Your Summer Wiiings With Limited Time Offering

May 8, 2017

Summer arrives early as Red Bull ® Summer Edition Grapefruit Twist launches nationally, available through Labor Day, offering the Wings of Red Bull with the taste of grapefruit. The light, summery taste profile will help consumers make the most of their summer. Red Bull is available in more than 165 countries around the world. Last year 6 billion cans were consumed across the globe, with 2 billion of those consumed in the U.S. For more information, visit energydrink-us.redbull.com.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Summer arrives early as Red Bull^® Summer Edition Grapefruit Twist launches nationally, available through Labor Day. The Red Bull Summer Edition offers the Wings of Red Bull with the taste of grapefruit. The light, summery taste profile will help consumers make the most of their summer.

Winning over new and existing consumers since 2013, the Red Bull Editions stand for taste and choice. The line offers a delicious taste option for every palate whether new to the energy drink category, or currently enjoying Red Bull while working, studying, traveling, exercising, hanging out with friends or juggling the daily demands of life.

Last year’s Red Bull Summer Edition Kiwi Twist was the top selling new beverage item launched in 2016^*and returned earlier this year as a permanent offering, the Red Bull Green Edition.

The Red Bull Editions line of Red Bull Red Edition (Cranberry), Blue Edition (Blueberry), Yellow Edition (Tropical Fruits), Orange Edition (Tangerine) and Green Edition (Kiwi Apple) are sold in single serve 12 fl. oz. (355 mL) cans, line priced with Red Bull Energy Drink, Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Total Zero. Red Bull Red Edition, Blue Edition Yellow Edition and Orange Edition 8.4 fl. oz. (250 mL) 4-Packs are also available in stores nationally. Additionally, earlier this year, Red Bull introduced the Red Bull Purple Edition Sugarfree and Red Bull Lime Edition Sugarfree for consumers seeking variety and sugar-free offerings.

The caffeine concentration is consistent across the entire portfolio of Red Bull Energy Drink products: 80 mg of caffeine in an 8.4 fl. oz. (250 mL) can and 114 mg in a 12 fl. oz. (355 mL) can – about the same as a similarly sized cup of home-brewed coffee.

Red Bull is available in more than 165 countries around the world. Last year 6 billion cans were consumed across the globe, with 2 billion of those consumed in the U.S. For more information, visit energydrink-us.redbull.com.

^*IRi Total US MULO+C $ Sales, data ending 4.16.17

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America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2017 named at 22nd annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

May 8, 2017

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The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards logo

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For community service initiatives that range from supporting veterans to providing school supplies to kids in need, 10 students were named America’s top youth volunteers of 2017 today by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a national program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

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These National Honorees, named during the program’s 22nd annual national award ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, range in age from 11 to 18. They were selected first from a field of more than 31,000 middle level and high school youth volunteers nationwide, and then from 102 State Honorees, based on their initiative, effort, impact, and the personal growth demonstrated in the course of their volunteer service. The National Honorees each received $5,000 personal awards, engraved gold medallions, crystal trophies for their schools, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for charities of their choice.

Today’s ceremony was part of a four-day celebration that brought each state’s top two youth volunteers of 2017 to Washington, D.C., for sightseeing and special recognition events. These State Honorees – one middle level and one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia – were personally congratulated by Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps last night at a gala dinner reception at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Each State Honoree received a $1,000 award.

These are the 10 National Honorees named today:

Amal Bhatnagar, 18, of Duluth, Ga., a senior at Northview High School, created a student organization that has provided more than a thousand first-aid kits to people in the U.S. and overseas who lack access to basic healthcare.

Riley Callen, 14, of Pawlet, Vt., an eighth-grader at Dorset Elementary School, founded an annual “hike-a-thon” in the hills of Vermont that has raised more than $250,000 to help find a cure for brain tumors, like the ones that have affected her since she was 8 years old.

Ariana DeMattei, 16, of Center Moriches, N.Y., a junior at Westhampton Beach High School, has raised over $100,000 to provide more than 1,000 new backpacks filled with school supplies for local elementary students through an organization she founded in 2012 called “Backpacks for Fellow Students.”

Sarah (Katie) Eder, 17, of Shorewood, Wis., a junior at Shorewood High School, developed a creative writing workshop for children in need that is now being taught by 120 teens in seven states and five other countries.

Bradley Ferguson, 16, of Northfield, N.J., a sophomore at Mainland Regional High School, started a service-learning club that over the past three years has supported veterans and people in need by refurbishing an American Legion post, collecting food for a community food bank, making lunches for homeless people, and growing fresh produce at several community gardens.

Harmonie Frederick, 11, of Columbia, S.C., a fifth-grader at Polo Road Elementary School, sold lemonade to raise money and awareness to fight cancer, conducted a coat drive to keep those less fortunate warm in the winter, and volunteers at a local nursing home.

Lorelei McIntyre-Brewer, 11, of Duncannon, Pa., a sixth-grader at The Cove School, built a volunteer network that has provided more than 12,000 special pillows for children around the world undergoing heart surgery.

Kelsey Norris, 13, of Bonaire, Ga., a sixth-grader at Bonaire Middle School, overcame a challenging start in life to provide more than 1,000 volunteer hours and raise more than $20,000 for a wide variety of causes aiding children and others in difficult situations.

Kenan Pala, 13, of San Diego, Calif., a seventh-grader at Francis Parker Middle School, launched an initiative to benefit homeless people by raising money for local shelters, coordinating meals each quarter at shelter kitchens, and organizing a record-setting cereal donation event.

Meghana Reddy, 18, of La Mesa, Calif., a senior at Francis Parker School in San Diego, uses 3D printing technology to produce artificial hands for children and adults in several countries who cannot afford commercial prostheses.

“These honorees have done exemplary work to contribute to the health and vitality of their communities, and we look forward to seeing the great things they achieve in the future,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “Congratulations to each of these extraordinary young volunteers.”

“It’s a privilege to celebrate these students not only for outstanding volunteer service, but for the example they’ve set for their peers,” said Jayne Ellspermann, president of NASSP. “These honorees prove that one person truly can make a difference.”

The distinguished selection committee that chose the National Honorees was chaired by Strangfeld and included Ellspermann of NASSP; Andrea Bastiani Archibald, chief girl expert for Girl Scouts of the USA; Kristofer Bolz with the national headquarters volunteer services team at the American Red Cross; Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light; Peggy McLeod, deputy vice president of education and workforce development at the National Council of La Raza; Frederick J. Riley, national director of urban and youth development at YMCA of the USA; Linda Shiller, at-large member on the National PTA Board of Directors; Rhonda Taylor, acting deputy director of strategic communications and director of partnerships and program engagement for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Dru Tomlin, director of middle level services for the Association for Middle Level Education; and two 2016 National Honorees: Connor Archer, a freshman at Husson University in Bangor, Maine, and Alisha Zhao, a senior at Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards was created in 1995 to identify and recognize young people for outstanding volunteer service – and, in so doing, inspire others to volunteer, too. In the past 22 years, the program has honored more than 120,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

For more information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees, visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.

About Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

Editors: For pictures of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions, visit https://spirit.prudential.com/resources/media.

For digital photos or B-roll of the National Honorees at the 2017 national recognition events, contact Prudential’s Harold Banks at (973) 216-4833 or [email protected].

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Letter Carriers’ Annual Food Drive Set for May 13 throughout Nation

May 8, 2017

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WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 25^nd annual national food drive on Saturday, May 13.

The Stamp Out Hunger^® Food Drive, the country’s largest single-day food drive, provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need.

Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable goods next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on Saturday, May 13. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes and distribute them to local food agencies. Visit stampouthungerfooddrive.us to learn more.

The Letter Carriers’ food drive is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. It remains as important as ever, with many people facing economic struggles. Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including millions of children, senior citizens and veterans.

Letter carriers see these struggles in the communities they serve, and believe it’s important to do what they can to help.

“It’s an honor to be able to help people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “All of our food drives have been special. The fact that this year marks the 25^th anniversary makes this one a bit more special.”

The timing is important, with food banks, pantries and shelters running low on donations from the winter-holidays and with summer looming, when most school meal programs are suspended.

Last year, letter carriers collected a record 80.1 million pounds of food donations along their postal routes. That brought the total since the NALC’s food drive began in 1993 to 1.5 billion pounds.

On May 13, as they deliver mail, the nation’s 175,000 letter carriers will collect the donations that residents leave near their mail boxes. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.

Carriers will bring the food to local food banks, pantries or shelters. Several national partners are assisting the NALC in the food drive: the U.S. Postal Service, the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, United Way Worldwide, the AARP Foundation, the AFL-CIO, Valpak and Valassis.

This year’s effort includes a public service announcement with actor and director Edward James Olmos.

People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

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The 280,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country’s oldest labor unions.

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Delta and Aeromexico to Launch Joint Cooperation Agreement

May 8, 2017

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Delta Air Lines and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 370 destinations on six continents. For more information visit news.delta.com.

ATLANTA and MEXICO CITY, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V. (Mexico: AEROMEX.MX) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today begin their joint cooperation agreement (JCA) to operate transborder flights between the United States and Mexico. Delta and Aeromexico have confirmed with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) that they have completed the steps required to launch the JCA.

The carriers are writing a new chapter in the history of aviation in the Americas with the first immunized transborder alliance between Mexico and the United States. This partnership will allow the carriers to expand competition and serve new destinations. Additional service and more convenient schedules will benefit customers of both companies, while deepening the relationship the airlines have shared for more than 20 years.

Starting today, Delta and Aeromexico will work together to enhance the customer experience on the ground and in the air by investing in airport facilities, boarding gates and lounges. The two companies will also be able to implement joint sales and marketing initiatives in both countries.

“The ability to cooperate fully with Aeromexico brings additional competition to one of the most dynamic transborder markets in the world,” said Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian. “Our opportunity to leverage Delta’s experience and our proven record of successful joint ventures, together with a long history of working with Aeromexico, will make this a great JCA. We are now well positioned to provide significant benefits to our customers, our businesses and our employees.”

Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa said, “This historic agreement is very important for our customers, who will benefit from a greater choice of flights and connectivity between both countries. For our employees, it represents an extraordinary opportunity for growth and the adoption of best practices that will make us the best alliance in the region. We are also pleased that this agreement will help strengthen the relationship between Mexico and the United States by offering greater connectivity between the two countries than ever before.”

Delta will provide service in the United States through its connecting hubs in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Salt Lake City and Seattle; Aeromexico will offer greater access to Mexico through its hubs in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Delta and Aeromexico have a long history of working together. They launched their first codeshare in 1994. In 2011, Delta entered into an enhanced commercial agreement with Aeromexico, and in 2012, Delta invested USD$65 million in shares of Grupo Aeroméxico, the parent company of Aeromexico. In 2015, Delta and Aeromexico filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) seeking approval of the JCA covering transborder flights between the United States and Mexico. In 2016, both airlines accepted the conditions set by the authorities, and in 2017, they implemented the actions necessary to comply with the required remedies.

In March 2017, Delta completed a cash tender offer to acquire 32 percent of Grupo Aeromexico. With the completion of the tender offer, Delta owns 36.2 percent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeromexico and holds options to acquire an additional 12.8 percent for a total of 49 percent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeromexico.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 59 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry’s leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

About Aeroméxico
Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights and its main hub is in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features more than 80 cities on three continents, including 44 destinations in Mexico, 19 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, four in Canada, four in Europe and three in Asia.

The Group’s fleet of more than 130 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 170 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX B737 jet airliners and 10 B787-9 Dreamliners.

As a founding member of SkyTeam, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 177 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 672 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel on its codeshare partner flights with Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines and Westjet with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and Peru. www.aeromexico.com www.skyteam.com

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2017 March of Dimes Prize awarded to Dr. C. David Allis for groundbreaking research

May 8, 2017

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For his pioneering research that holds great promise to help prevent and treat premature birth, birth defects and other threats to the health of children, C. David Allis, PhD, the Joy and Jack Fishman Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics at The Rockefeller University in New York, has been awarded the 2017 March of Dimes and Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology.

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“I’m grateful to the March of Dimes not only for this prestigious award, but also for being so steadfastly committed to supporting innovative scientific research for nearly 80 years,” says Dr. Allis. “The March of Dimes is among the leading funders of advances in the health of mothers and children, from the first vaccines for polio to newborn screening tests and many more. I’m proud that this historic organization is recognizing the importance of my work to their goal to help sick babies survive and lead longer, healthier lives.”

“The March of Dimes believes Dr. Allis’s research has opened a door to finding new ways to diagnose, prevent and eventually cure complex conditions such as preterm birth,” says Joe Leigh Simpson, MD, senior vice president of Research and Grants at the March of Dimes.

Premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the most significant health problem facing mothers and babies today, the March of Dimes says. Premature birth and its complications are the leading cause of death among babies in the United States and children under age 5 around the world. Babies who survive an early birth often have lifelong health problems such as cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and intellectual disabilities.

Dr. Simpson noted scientists working at the network of five March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centers around the country are leveraging Dr. Allis’s sentinel discoveries in epigenetics to determine what turns genes on and off, especially away from the healthy/normal state. “This cutting-edge research in March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centers can be expected to accelerate determination of the causes of preterm birth,” he said.

Dr. Allis will deliver the 22nd annual March of Dimes Prize Lecture on May 8 at the Moscone Convention Center during the 2017 Pediatric Academy Societies annual meeting. He will receive the Prize at a gala black-tie dinner and ceremony that evening at the Hotel Nikko, emceed by CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel, a member of the March of Dimes national Honorary Board of Trustees. Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Robert B. Jaffe, MD Endowed Professor in the Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, is scheduled to deliver the Appreciation. Stacey D. Stewart, president of the March of Dimes, will preside at the ceremony.

The March of Dimes and Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology has been awarded annually since 1996 to honor investigators whose research has profoundly advanced the science that underlies the understanding of birth defects. The March of Dimes created the Prize as a tribute to Dr. Jonas Salk shortly before his death in 1995. Dr. Salk received March of Dimes support for his work on the polio vaccine. The Prize is a cash award of $250,000 and a silver medal in the design of the Roosevelt dime, honoring President Franklin D. Roosevelt, March of Dimes founder.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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Live Nation Entertainment Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

May 7, 2017

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LOS ANGELES, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

Highlights (year-over-year):

Revenue Up 17% for the Quarter to $1.4 Billion
Operating Income Improves 36% for the Quarter to $(21) Million
Adjusted Operating Income Up 25% for the Quarter to $92 Million
Concert Ticket Sales for 2017 Shows of 46 Million, Up 25% through April
Sponsorship & Advertising Contracted Net Revenue Up Double Digits through April
Ticketmaster Fee-Bearing GTV at Constant Currency Up 18% through First Quarter

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) today released financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Live Nation has continued growing its business in 2017, with first quarter revenue up 17%, operating income improvement of 36%, and adjusted operating income, or AOI, up 25%, with strong operating performance across all our concerts, advertising and ticketing segments.

This year we have booked more shows, sold more tickets and have more sponsorship commitments than ever before at this point of the year. With the strength of these leading indicators, I am confident we will once again deliver record topline, operating income and AOI performance in each of our businesses in 2017.

The global concerts industry is structurally growing, with strong tailwinds for both supply and demand. On the supply side, artists are touring now more than ever. And on the demand side, between the millennial shifting of spend to experiences and the globalization of artists on social media, we see continued long-term growth as fans attend more concerts.

Concerts Global Platform Growth

As of the end of April we have booked over 4,000 arena, stadium and amphitheater shows for 2017, up 10% over this point last year. As a result of our show pipeline, tickets sold through April for our concerts this year are up over 25% to 46 million tickets.

Along with this strong show and ticket count increase, we also expect to continue driving the profitability of our concerts business through increased onsite spending. This year we have invested to add more points of sale to improve throughput and increase sales, while also continuing to refine our product assortment and pricing.

Looking globally at the concerts business, we now promote shows in 40 countries as we continue reaching more fans in more markets. With all parts of our global concerts business looking strong this year, the concert segment continues to be the engine that powers the Live Nation flywheel strategy, growing the profitability of the concerts business while also driving our advertising and ticketing businesses.

Sponsorship & Advertising Delivered Continued Growth

We continue to see the tremendous attraction of our 70 million plus onsite fans for advertisers, driving continued double-digit growth in our advertising business. As of the end of April, we have commitments for over 80% of our planned advertising for the year, pacing double digits ahead of this point last year.

Our top clients that have over $1 million per year in advertising continue to increase their spend, accounting for over 75% of our total committed spend, and pacing up double digits through April.

We also see increased demand for concert video content. In addition to announcing Twitter as our latest partner in streaming live concerts, we have captured four concerts in virtual reality in partnerships with Hulu and NextVR, and last week we premiered the Live Nation-produced Puff Daddy documentary, “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: The Bad Boy Story,” at the Tribeca Film Festival which will now be distributed by Apple. Collectively, this content provides us with an array of additional ad units and valuable marketing for our tours.

Ticketmaster Marketplace Growing

In the first quarter, Ticketmaster delivered its largest quarter in history for gross transaction value, or GTV, and ticket volume on a transacted basis. Our growth in the quarter came from both our fee-bearing primary and secondary businesses, which grew GTV by 18% and 20%, respectively.

Our success starts with continuing to build our venue client base, and in the first quarter we added 245 new clients, providing them with the most effective software platform for their ticketing needs.

On the commerce side, we begin by attracting more fans to our sites, and in the quarter we increased online visits by 10% year-on-year, and grew our installed app base by 41% to over 33 million. And then once the fans are at our sites or app, our investments to improve the fan experience and purchase flow have driven higher conversion rates, increasing our sales.

While growing ticket sales on our sites, we have also been deploying APIs to extend our distribution. As a result, in the first quarter we sold almost 4 million tickets off-platform, up 32% year-on-year, helping our clients, sports teams and artists, to sell incremental tickets.

One of the major initiatives we launched in the past quarter to support artists is our “Verified Fan” product, which leverages proprietary data and analytics to screen and verify potential ticket buyers, increasing the opportunity for real fans to purchase tickets for a show. After launching this product with Ed Sheeran, we have supported over 30 tours, including Depeche Mode, Twenty One Pilots and Harry Styles as they seek new ways to get tickets in the hands of fans. This program has been highly successful in reducing, by over 90%, the number of tickets that are then sold on secondary markets.

With this strong start to the year, we expect another record year in ticketing, driven by our concerts flywheel and enhanced by the progress we have made in our ticketing products and fan experience.

Summary

2017 is on track to be another year of growth and record results for the company. All of the leading indicators for our concerts, sponsorship & advertising and ticketing segments are ahead of last year and we expect each of our businesses to deliver record revenue, operating income and AOI this year.

Michael Rapino
President and Chief Executive Officer
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

The company will webcast a teleconference today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial performance. Interested parties should visit the Events & Webcasts section of the company’s website at investors.livenationentertainment.com to listen to the webcast. Supplemental statistical and financial information to be provided on the call, if any, will be available under the Reports section at the same link. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Live Nation website.

Notice Regarding Financial Statements

The company has provided certain unaudited financial statements at the end of this press release for reference. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the full unaudited financial statements, and the notes thereto, set forth in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today and available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit investors.livenationentertainment.com.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – 1st QUARTER (unaudited; $ in millions)

	Q1 2017 Reported		Q1 2016 Reported		Growth		Q1 2017 Constant Currency		Growth at Constant Currency
Revenue
Concerts	$	863.3	$	754.9	14	%	$	877.2	16	%
Sponsorship & Advertising	64.0		57.6		11	%	64.9		13	%
Ticketing	493.7		405.8		22	%	499.2		23	%
Other and Eliminations	(7.8)		(10.6)		26	%	(7.8)		26	%
	$	1,413.2	$	1,207.7	17	%	$	1,433.5	19	%

Operating Income (Loss)
Concerts	$	(75.8)	$	(66.6)	(14%)		$	(77.9)	(17%)
Sponsorship & Advertising	26.4		25.3		4	%	27.1		7	%
Ticketing	54.5		35.3		54	%	53.5		52	%
Other and Eliminations	0.2		(1.7)		*		0.2			*
Corporate	(26.7)		(25.6)		(4%)		(26.7)		(4%)
	$	(21.4)	$	(33.3)	36	%	$	(23.8)	29	%

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
Concerts	$	(22.2)	$	(17.0)	(31%)		$	(23.0)	(35%)
Sponsorship & Advertising	33.2		30.6		8	%	33.8		10	%
Ticketing	103.1		82.1		26	%	102.8		25	%
Other and Eliminations	(0.3)		(2.3)		87	%	(0.3)		87	%
Corporate	(21.8)		(20.0)		(9%)		(21.8)		(9%)
	$	92.0	$	73.4	25	%	$	91.5	25	%

* percentages are not meaningful

As of March 31, 2017, total cash and cash equivalents were $2.2 billion, which includes $671 million in ticketing client cash and $374 million in free cash.
Event-related deferred revenue was $1.6 billion as of March 31, 2017, compared to $1.2 billion as of the same date in 2016.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $761 million and free cash flow — adjusted was $27 million.
We currently expect capital expenditures for the full year to be approximately $220 million, with approximately 50% to be revenue generating capital expenditures.
We currently expect the amortization of nonrecoupable ticketing contract advances for the full year 2017 to be approximately in line with the total amount in 2016.

KEY OPERATING METRICS

	Q1 2017	Q1 2016
	(in thousands except estimated events)
Concerts ⁽¹⁾
Estimated events:
North America	3,744	3,448
International	2,207	2,397
Total estimated events	5,951	5,845
Estimated fans:
North America	5,775	4,841
International	5,095	4,079
Total estimated fans	10,870	8,920
Ticketing ⁽²⁾
Number of fee-bearing tickets sold	49,602	44,523
Number of non-fee-bearing tickets sold	78,435	76,482
	128,037	121,005


(1)	Events generally represent a single performance by an artist. Fans generally represent the number of people who attended an event. Festivals are counted as one event in the quarter in which the festival begins, but the number of fans is based on the days the fans were present at the festival and thus can be reported in multiple quarters. Events and fan attendance metrics are estimated each quarter.
(2)	The number of fee-bearing tickets sold includes primary and secondary tickets that are sold using our Ticketmaster systems or that we issue through affiliates. This metric includes primary tickets sold during the year regardless of event timing, except for our own events where our concert promoters control ticketing and which are reported as the events occur. The non-fee-bearing tickets sold includes primary tickets sold using our Ticketmaster systems, through season seat packages and our venue clients’ box offices, along with tickets sold on our ‘do it yourself’ platform.

Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Measures to Their Most Directly Comparable GAAP Measures (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow — Adjusted to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

($ in millions)	Q1 2017		Q1 2016
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	760.7	$	517.4
Less: Changes in operating assets and liabilities (working capital)	(697.5)		(464.0)
Free cash flow from earnings	$	63.2	$	53.4
Less: Maintenance capital expenditures	(24.5)		(13.4)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(12.2)		(15.5)
Free cash flow — adjusted	$	26.5	$	24.5

Net cash used in investing activities	$	(75.0)	$	(85.7)

Net cash used in financing activities	$	(5.1)	$	(53.3)

Reconciliation of Free Cash to Cash and Cash Equivalents

($ in millions)	March 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,227.6
Client cash	(671.0)
Deferred revenue — event-related	(1,582.9)
Accrued artist fees	(46.7)
Collections on behalf of others	(28.9)
Prepaid expenses — event-related	475.6
Free cash	$	373.7

Forward-Looking Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations:

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated record revenue, operating income and adjusted operating income in the company’s concerts, sponsorship and advertising, and ticketing businesses in 2017; expectations that increased onsite spending will continue to drive the profitability of the company’s concerts business; and the prospects for long-term growth in the global concerts industry and the company’s prospects for delivering long-term growth. Live Nation wishes to caution you that there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to operational challenges in achieving strategic objectives and executing on the company’s plans, the risk that the company’s markets do not evolve as anticipated, the potential impact of any economic slowdown and operational challenges associated with selling tickets and staging events.

Live Nation refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, specifically the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company’s projections or forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date on which they are made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or concerning Live Nation are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Live Nation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided herein.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss), or AOI, is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as operating income (loss) before acquisition expenses (including transaction costs, changes in the fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations, and acquisition-related severance and compensation), depreciation and amortization (including goodwill impairment), loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets and certain stock-based compensation expense. We use AOI to evaluate the performance of our operating segments. We believe that information about AOI assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of our portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. AOI is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of AOI as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in our business. Accordingly, AOI should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, AOI as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Constant Currency is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate currency impacts as the difference between current period activity translated using the current period’s currency exchange rates and the comparable prior period’s currency exchange rates. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations.

Free Cash Flow — Adjusted, or FCF, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less changes in operating assets and liabilities, less maintenance capital expenditures, less distributions to noncontrolling interest partners. The company uses FCF among other measures, to evaluate the ability of its operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than maintenance capital expenditures. The company believes that information about FCF provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt, make acquisitions, and for revenue generating capital expenditures. FCF is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of FCF as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available for operations and is not necessarily a measure of the company’s ability to fund its cash needs. Accordingly, FCF should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, FCF as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as cash and cash equivalents less ticketing-related client funds, less event-related deferred revenue, less accrued expenses due to artists and cash collected on behalf of others, plus event-related prepaids. The company uses free cash as a proxy for how much cash it has available to, among other things, optionally repay debt balances, make acquisitions and fund revenue generating capital expenditures. Free cash is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of free cash as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available from operations and it is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, free cash should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, cash and cash equivalents and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Reconciliations of Certain Non-GAAP Measures to Their Most Directly Comparable GAAP Measures (Unaudited)

*Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Operating Income (Loss)*

*($ in millions)*	Operating income (loss)		Stock-based compensation expense		Loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets		Depreciation and amortization		Acquisition expenses		Adjusted operating income (loss) reported		Foreign exchange impact		Adjusted operating income (loss) constant currency

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

Concerts	$	(75.8)	$	2.8	$	(0.7)	$	46.4	$	5.1	$	(22.2)	$	(0.8)	$	(23.0)
Sponsorship & Advertising	26.4		0.3		—		6.5		—		33.2		0.6		33.8
Ticketing	54.5		0.9		—		47.3		0.4		103.1		(0.3)		102.8
Other and Eliminations	0.2		—		—		(0.5)		—		(0.3)		—		(0.3)
Corporate	(26.7)		3.9		—		1.0		—		(21.8)		—		(21.8)
Total Live Nation	$	(21.4)	$	7.9	$	(0.7)	$	100.7	$	5.5	$	92.0	$	(0.5)	$	91.5

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

Concerts	$	(66.6)	$	3.1	$	—	$	43.9	$	2.6	$	(17.0)	$	—	$	(17.0)
Sponsorship & Advertising	25.3		0.4		—		4.9		—		30.6		—		30.6
Ticketing	35.3		1.0		—		45.8		—		82.1		—		82.1
Other and Eliminations	(1.7)		—		—		(0.6)		—		(2.3)		—		(2.3)
Corporate	(25.6)		4.5		0.1		0.9		0.1		(20.0)		—		(20.0)
Total Live Nation	$	(33.3)	$	9.0	$	0.1	$	94.9	$	2.7	$	73.4	$	—	$	73.4

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,227,555	$	1,526,591
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $28,492 and $29,634, respectively	584,638		568,936
Prepaid expenses	739,793		528,250
Other current assets	49,463		49,774
Total current assets	3,601,449		2,673,551
Property, plant and equipment
Land, buildings and improvements	858,667		838,545
Computer equipment and capitalized software	543,459		524,571
Furniture and other equipment	275,204		256,765
Construction in progress	124,284		125,430
	1,801,614		1,745,311
Less accumulated depreciation	1,019,448		993,775
	782,166		751,536
Intangible assets
Definite-lived intangible assets, net	820,727		812,031
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	368,798		368,766
Goodwill	1,724,113		1,747,088
Other long-term assets	526,264		411,294
Total assets	$	7,823,517	$	6,764,266
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable, client accounts	$	856,158	$	726,475
Accounts payable	68,263		55,030
Accrued expenses	707,811		781,494
Deferred revenue	1,796,015		804,973
Current portion of long-term debt, net	59,943		53,317
Other current liabilities	51,141		39,055
Total current liabilities	3,539,331		2,460,344
Long-term debt, net	2,258,820		2,259,736
Deferred income taxes	203,206		197,811
Other long-term liabilities	143,277		149,791
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	338,316		347,068
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock	2,047		2,034
Additional paid-in capital	2,393,242		2,381,011
Accumulated deficit	(1,106,450)		(1,073,457)
Cost of shares held in treasury	(6,865)		(6,865)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(165,231)		(176,707)
Total Live Nation stockholders’ equity	1,116,743		1,126,016
Noncontrolling interests	223,824		223,500
Total equity	1,340,567		1,349,516
Total liabilities and equity	$	7,823,517	$	6,764,266

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
	(in thousands except share and per share data)
Revenue	$	1,413,181	$	1,207,716
Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses	925,500		784,203
Selling, general and administrative expenses	383,308		337,214
Depreciation and amortization	100,595		94,955
Loss (gain) on disposal of operating assets	(659)		25
Corporate expenses	25,803		24,609
Operating loss	(21,366)		(33,290)
Interest expense	26,010		25,432
Interest income	(945)		(556)
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2,340)		(592)
Other income, net	(2,842)		(8,547)
Loss before income taxes	(41,249)		(49,027)
Income tax expense	6,521		6,927
Net loss	(47,770)		(55,954)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14,777)		(11,436)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation	$	(32,993)	$	(44,518)

Basic and diluted net loss per common share available to common stockholders of Live Nation	$	(0.22)	$	(0.29)

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	203,730,897		201,696,142


Reconciliation to net loss available to common stockholders of Live Nation:
Net loss attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation	$	(32,993)	$	(44,518)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(12,577)		(13,336)
Basic and diluted net loss available to common stockholders of Live Nation	$	(45,570)	$	(57,854)

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
	(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$	(47,770)	$	(55,954)
Reconciling items:
Depreciation	35,912		33,069
Amortization	64,683		61,886
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(1,203)		(1,698)
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discounts and premium, net	3,121		2,591
Non-cash compensation expense	7,936		8,923
Other, net	492		4,621
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Increase in accounts receivable	(6,558)		(16,878)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets	(312,483)		(305,294)
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	56,600		79,094
Increase in deferred revenue	959,971		707,038
Net cash provided by operating activities	760,701		517,398
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investments made in nonconsolidated affiliates	(10,608)		(5,165)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(58,881)		(30,681)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,700)		(43,378)
Other, net	(838)		(6,520)
Net cash used in investing activities	(75,027)		(85,744)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments on long-term debt	(11,775)		(9,764)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(12,227)		(15,462)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	21,628		679
Payments for deferred and contingent consideration	(1,074)		(15,678)
Other, net	(1,618)		(13,064)
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,066)		(53,289)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	20,356		17,791
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	700,964		396,156
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,526,591		1,303,125
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2,227,555	$	1,699,281

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NOTICE TO UBS PUERTO RICO CUSTOMERS: Klayman & Toskes and Carlo Law Offices File $15 Million FINRA Claim Against UBS for Concentration in Puerto Rico Government Bonds and Closed-End Bond Funds in the Wake of Puerto Rico’s Bankruptcy Filing

May 5, 2017

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes, P.A., www.sueubspuertorico.com, together with Carlo Law Offices, P.S.C. located in Puerto Rico, announced today that they filed a FINRA claim against UBS Financial Services Incorporated of Puerto Rico and UBS Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: UBS) (collectively “UBS”) for $15 million. The claim has been filed in the wake of Puerto Rico’s recent bankruptcy filing, which is the largest in U.S. Municipal history. According to the Claim, the Claimant entrusted his retirement assets to UBS with an investment objective of current income and capital preservation. Contrary to these objectives, UBS concentrated his account in Puerto Rico Government Bonds (“PRGBs”) and its proprietary Puerto Rico closed-end bond funds (“UBS PR CEBFs”), which are leveraged with UBS Bank USA Loans.

UBS purchased and held for Claimant PRGBs and UBS PR CEBFs, both of which are closely tied to the performance of Puerto Rico’s economy. The Claimant believed the purchases were consistent with his risk tolerance. However, the over concentration in these PRGBs and UBS PR CEBFs resulted in excessive risks, which were exacerbated by the use of UBS’ Bank Loans. UBS failed to disclose to Claimant the risks associated with over concentrating his account in these securities. Ultimately, the Claimant suffered losses which were precipitated by margin calls since his illiquid securities were utilized as collateral.

The sole purpose of this release is to investigate, on behalf of our clients, the sales practices of UBS in connection with unsuitable investment recommendations provided to their customers. Current and former customers of UBS who have information relating to the investment advice provided by UBS related to Puerto PRGBs and UBS PR CEBFs, are encouraged to contact Steven D. Toskes of Klayman & Toskes or Osvaldo Carlo of Carlo Law Offices, at (787)268-6444, or visit our website: www.sueubspuertorico.com.

About Klayman & Toskes, P.A.
K&T is a leading national securities law firm which practices exclusively in the field of securities arbitration and litigation, on behalf of retail and institutional investors throughout the world in large and complex securities matters. The firm represents high net-worth, ultra-high-net-worth, and institutional investors, such as non-profit organizations, unions, public and multi-employer pension funds. K&T has office locations in California, Florida, New York and Puerto Rico.

Destination URL: http://nasd-law.com/notice-to-ubs-puerto-rico-customers-klayman-toskes-and-carlo-law-offices-file-15-million-finra-claim-against-ubs-for-concentration-in-puerto-rico-government-bonds-and-closed-end-bond-funds-in-the/

Contact:
Klayman & Toskes, PA
Steven D. Toskes, Esq.
Lcdo. Osvaldo Carlo
(787)268-6444

(Español) MassMutual está lista para continuar creciendo en 2017

May 5, 2017

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Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Commends President Trump’s Executive Order That Rolls Back Johnson Amendment

May 4, 2017

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National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference logo.

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, who participated in today’s National Day of Prayer service and will deliver tonight’s benediction at the Capitol, applauds President Trump’s executive order aimed at increasing religious freedoms and rolling back the Johnson Amendment.

“I was honored today to stand next to our president, vice president and many of our nation’s faith leaders as we gathered for the National Day of Prayer. This administration has gone to great lengths to signal their commitment to listening to and befriending America’s faith community. I can tell you every Christian leader who was at the White House today feels welcomed, heard and valued. There is a new tone in Washington, and it’s yet another reason I am so honored to be delivering tonight’s National Day of Prayer benediction at the Capitol.

“This new executive order not only signals President Trump and Vice President Pence’s commitment to fighting for and representing the Evangelical community, but also the larger struggle for religious liberty. For years now, people of faith—especially Christians—have been essentially told that their faith has no place beyond their front door. A subversive oppression has taken a hold of our nation and sincerely held beliefs are subject to not only social ridicule but also legal retribution. I strongly support the president’s position and urge Congress to throw their support behind a full repeal. Our job is not yet done.

“I believe the freedom of religion—for all religions and even no religion at all—is the cornerstone of our republic. The right to believe and to act on belief is at the very heart of human freedom. By signing this executive order today, the president has stood not only for religious liberty, but for a freedom upon which so many other rights rest.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. He serves on President Donald J. Trump’s Faith Advisory Committee and took part in the president’s inaugural swearing in service. He has been named by CNN and Fox News as “the leader of the Hispanic Evangelical movement” and was included in the 2013 TIME 100 Magazine poll.

The NHCLC serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and hundreds of thousands of additional congregations spread worldwide throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora. Seeking to reconcile evangelist Billy Graham’s message of salvation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march of prophetic activism, the NHCLC emphasizes “7 Directives” of Life, Family, Compassionate Evangelism, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.

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Statement of Stacey D. Stewart, President, March of Dimes on House Passage of the American Health Care Act

May 4, 2017

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WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The March of Dimes released the following statement from President Stacey D. Stewart following House passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA):

“The March of Dimes is profoundly disappointed in today’s House passage of the American Health Care Act, a bill expected to eliminate health insurance coverage for 24 million Americans, including millions of women, children and families.

“The American Health Care Act fails to serve the needs of pregnant women, mothers, and babies across our nation. The March of Dimes estimates 6.5 million low-income women of childbearing age will lose coverage, denying them the ability to get healthy before they get pregnant. Classifying pregnancy as a pre-existing condition – and charging exorbitant rates for maternity benefits — would effectively put medical care out of reach for millions of women at a time when they need it most. Many Americans could find that their health plans are specifically written to exclude the care they are most likely to need. This is not the solution to our health system’s challenges that women and families are asking for.

“The American Health Care Act fails to protect too many Americans: pregnant women, couples considering starting a family, and infants born preterm or with birth defects, among many others. With House passage of this bill, the responsibility now falls to the Senate to take a more measured, evidence-informed approach. Senators should solicit the meaningful input of stakeholders across the entire health care system and use that expertise to develop a plan with targeted solutions to the specific problems identified. The March of Dimes looks forward to working with Senators on both sides of the aisle to develop a proposal that will ensure quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans.”

About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.

For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. To participate in our annual signature fundraising event, visit marchforbabies.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit persistats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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