Latest news with #DRIVE
Business Upturn
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Force Marketing Named 2025 Georgia Fast 40 Honoree and EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in the Southeast
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 24, 2025, 00:57 IST Atlanta, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Force Marketing, a data-driven technology and marketing leader in the automotive industry, has been named a 2025 Georgia Fast 40 honoree by ACG Atlanta and celebrates CEO John Fitzpatrick's nomination as a finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year® Southeast Region. The recognitions mark a breakout moment for the company, which has quietly been growing at a rapid but sustained pace behind the scenes—and is now turning heads across the industry. 'While we're certainly proud of our consistent 25% year-over-year growth for the past three years, we're equally, if not more, excited about our 95% client retention rate,' said Fitzpatrick. 'That's the real foundation of our momentum. Our OEM and dealer partners are growing with us, and we're bringing even more dealers into the fold. That kind of impact is what makes milestones like these award recognitions truly meaningful.' Long known as a legacy name in automotive marketing, Force is rewriting the playbook with a unified data tech stack–including its automotive-specific CDP, Audience IQ–that supports both variable and fixed operations. The company's acquisition of GSM (Gulf States Toyota's longtime marketing partner) in 2021 was a major turning point, giving Force unmatched depth in after sales loyalty and lifecycle marketing. Audience IQ houses a full-stack suite of solutions including DRIVE (streaming CTV pre-market & in-market audiences), Conquest Connect, Recapture and ATOM, Force empowers dealers with proprietary audience targeting, dynamic creative and end-to-end retention tools that drive results across every dealership department. 'Our growth story is powered by people,' added Fitzpatrick. 'We have world-class team member retention—over 95% for the last three years—all while operating fully remote with 115 team members across 21 states and counting. Our team is the secret sauce behind every milestone, every innovation, and every client success story.' As Force expands and continues delivering results for OEMs and dealer groups across the country, one thing is clear: this isn't just growth— it's evolving the way dealers connect with their customers. About Force Marketing Founded in 2006, Force Holdings, LLC is a leading marketing technology provider to the automotive industry whose family of brands includes: Force Marketing, WeDrive Automotive and Gulf States Marketing (GSM). Headquartered in Atlanta with over 110 team members strategically positioned all over the U.S., the Force Family of Brands focuses on partnering and fostering relationships with dealers and OEMs nationwide to maximize ROAS, speed to market and improved lifetime customer value metrics. More information about Force Marketing's comprehensive suite of tech-enabled products can be found at . Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Force Marketing Named 2025 Georgia Fast 40 Honoree and EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in the Southeast
Force Marketing is entering a defining chapter as they have evolved from a legacy automotive agency into a modern, data-powered marketing tech partner driving growth, loyalty, and national recognition Force Marketing Atlanta, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Force Marketing, a data-driven technology and marketing leader in the automotive industry, has been named a 2025 Georgia Fast 40 honoree by ACG Atlanta and celebrates CEO John Fitzpatrick's nomination as a finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year® Southeast Region. The recognitions mark a breakout moment for the company, which has quietly been growing at a rapid but sustained pace behind the scenes—and is now turning heads across the industry. 'While we're certainly proud of our consistent 25% year-over-year growth for the past three years, we're equally, if not more, excited about our 95% client retention rate,' said Fitzpatrick. 'That's the real foundation of our momentum. Our OEM and dealer partners are growing with us, and we're bringing even more dealers into the fold. That kind of impact is what makes milestones like these award recognitions truly meaningful.' Long known as a legacy name in automotive marketing, Force is rewriting the playbook with a unified data tech stack–including its automotive-specific CDP, Audience IQ–that supports both variable and fixed operations. The company's acquisition of GSM (Gulf States Toyota's longtime marketing partner) in 2021 was a major turning point, giving Force unmatched depth in after sales loyalty and lifecycle marketing. Audience IQ houses a full-stack suite of solutions including DRIVE (streaming CTV pre-market & in-market audiences), Conquest Connect, Recapture and ATOM, Force empowers dealers with proprietary audience targeting, dynamic creative and end-to-end retention tools that drive results across every dealership department. 'Our growth story is powered by people,' added Fitzpatrick. 'We have world-class team member retention—over 95% for the last three years—all while operating fully remote with 115 team members across 21 states and counting. Our team is the secret sauce behind every milestone, every innovation, and every client success story.' As Force expands and continues delivering results for OEMs and dealer groups across the country, one thing is clear: this isn't just growth— it's evolving the way dealers connect with their customers. About Force Marketing Founded in 2006, Force Holdings, LLC is a leading marketing technology provider to the automotive industry whose family of brands includes: Force Marketing, WeDrive Automotive and Gulf States Marketing (GSM). Headquartered in Atlanta with over 110 team members strategically positioned all over the U.S., the Force Family of Brands focuses on partnering and fostering relationships with dealers and OEMs nationwide to maximize ROAS, speed to market and improved lifetime customer value metrics. More information about Force Marketing's comprehensive suite of tech-enabled products can be found at Attachment Force Marketing CONTACT: Media Contacts: Kerry Crump, kcrump@ Kelly Frommer, kfrommer@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2025-S1
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to two classes of notes issued by Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2025-S1 ("DRIVE 2025-S1"), a re-securitization of the certificate (the "Underlying Certificate") issued from the Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2021-3 auto loan transaction ("DRIVE 2021-3" or the "Underlying Securitization Transaction"). The DRIVE 2025-S1 Class R1 and Class R2 Notes will be collateralized by the Underlying Certificate. The Underlying Certificate represents the residual interest in DRIVE 2021-3 and is backed by the difference between the DRIVE 2021-3 remaining collateral balance of $258,836,019 less the DRIVE 2021-3 Class D notes outstanding of $153,572,273 equal to $105,263,746 (the "Underlying Overcollateralization Amount") plus amounts available in the DRIVE 2021-3 Reserve Fund (the "Underlying Reserve Account Balance") of $15,243,820. The DRIVE 2025-S1 Class R1 and R2 Notes will also benefit from the DRIVE 2025-S1 Reserve Account which will be equal to $445,000. As of May 13, 2025, the Class R1 notes will have 45.19% enhancement and the Class R2 notes have 26.51% enhancement. The enhancement for the Class R1 and R2 notes consists of the sum of (i) overcollateralization which is the difference between the sum of the overcollateralization and the reserve account of the underlying transaction (the Underlying Certificate) of $120,507,566 minus the sum of the Class R1, Class R2, and Class RR notes ($89,000,000) equal to $31,507,566, (ii) in the case of the Class R1 notes, subordination of the Class R2 notes and (iii) the DRIVE 2025-S1 reserve account, divided by the Underlying Certificate. DRIVE 2025-S1 will issue three classes of notes that are collateralized by cash flows from the Underlying Certificate. The collateral for DRIVE 2021-3 is a pool of mostly subprime automobile installment contracts. As of March 31, 2025, the auto receivables had an average current principal balance of $13,306, weighted average (WA) interest rate of 17.49%, and WA original and remaining term of 72 and 30 months, respectively and were made to obligors with a WA FICO score of 573. The new/used vehicle mix is 19% and 81% of the collateral balance, respectively. SC was founded in 1981 in the state of Illinois and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc. ("SHUSA"). SHUSA is a wholly owned direct subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. ("Santander"). Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, SC originates prime and near-prime automobile receivables primarily by purchasing automobile installment sale contracts from dealers under a dealer agreement, which includes guidelines and procedures of the purchasing and origination process. SC also originates its auto receivables through its direct lending platform whereby applications are submitted to SC electronically and through its pass-through arrangements with third parties which direct applications to SC. In addition to its these programs, SC is a finance provider for FCA US LLC ("Stellantis") since 2013, and in April 2022, extended the agreement through 2025. In June 2022, SC partnered with Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. in a preferred lender program for consumer auto loans, auto leases and dealer loans. KBRA applied its Auto Loan ABS Global Rating Methodology, as well as its Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology and ESG Global Rating Methodology as part of its analysis of the transaction's underlying collateral pool, the proposed capital structure and SC's historical default and recovery data. KBRA considered its operational review of SC as well as periodic update calls with the Company. Operative agreements and legal opinions will be reviewed prior to closing. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here. Click here to view the report. Methodologies ABS: Auto Loan ABS Global Rating Methodology Structured Finance: Global Structured Finance Counterparty Methodology ESG Global Rating Methodology Disclosures Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above. A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here. Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here. Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at About KBRA Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA), one of the major credit rating agencies (CRA), is a full-service CRA registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In addition, KBRA is designated as a Designated Rating Organization (DRO) by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized as a Qualified Rating Agency by Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission and is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP) in the U.S. Doc ID: 1009389 View source version on Contacts Analytical Contacts Hollie Reddington, Senior Director (Lead Analyst)+1 Brockton Bowers, Associate+1 Melvin Zhou, Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)+1 Business Development Contact Arielle Smelkinson, Senior Director+1 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Computer game to spot the signs of online grooming to be rolled out in schools next term
A new computer game designed to spot the key signs of online grooming is being developed for roll-out for in-class teaching. The game is being designed under the Grosafe project in a partnership between the ISPCC and TU (Technological University) Dublin, funded by Research Ireland. It has been trialed in a small number of schools and the current phase of development is set to be completed by September. Fiona Jennings, ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said the project is specially focused on 'how children and young people are groomed into criminality or for sexual exploitation purposes'. She explained: 'At the moment, by the end of this phase which will be around September, we are hoping that we will have further enhancements done to the digital game which we are trying to align with the SPHE outcomes as well for post primary schools.' She said the game will be made available free to schools, enabling teachers to use it in their SPHE classes. Ms Jennings said: 'We have been part of this research project since June 2023 and what we are trying to develop out of that is an in-classroom digital game through which children and young people will be offered education in terms of how to spot red flags for grooming. 'We have done brilliant school trials and co-created it with children and young people and they have been really receptive to that in terms of sharing their thoughts and ideas with us of how to create it.' She said the game will feature a reporting and chatbot function. She added: 'We are also developing a knowledge management system which I think will be really, really crucial. "What we have found from our stake holder engagement - we interviewed people on the frontline, frontline practitioners, State organisations, academics – is that one of the recurring things that kept coming up was how people struggle to identify what grooming behaviour looks like and if they do identify it, they don't know what to do with that. "So the knowledge management system would allow for practitioners to be able to log or upload some examples to help build a national picture as to what grooming in Ireland is like.' She pointed to the DRIVE project set up through the drugs taskforces and the Health Research Board around the issue of drug-related intimidation. Ms Jennings said: 'Drug-related intimidation is also difficult to spot. It can often be the starting point for more harmful things downstream, just like grooming for sexual exploitation which can be the starting point for much worse harm later on. "Often you'll hear from the testimony of children and young people who have been groomed that they were not able to recognise the signs. When we hear those stories, there are so many missed opportunities along the way for intervention.' She said that education is an important tool in helping children and young people stay protected from grooming, adding: 'Children learn well through gaming, including really complex ideas. For years, our Stay Safe programmes in schools have all been about stranger danger whereas we know now that children and young people are more than likely to be abused by someone they know within their own community.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FedEx (NYSE:FDX) Sees 12% Weekly Drop Following Major Buyback Completion
FedEx recently completed a significant tranche of its buyback program, repurchasing 1.8 million shares between December 2024 and March 2025. This commitment to returning value to shareholders comes against a backdrop of broader market challenges, including the recent sell-off triggered by Trump's tariff announcements. Major indices like the Dow and Nasdaq saw substantial declines of 4% to 5%, influencing the transport sector, where FedEx operates. Consequently, FedEx's shares dropped by 11.5% over the past week, reflecting both its buyback strategy and market-driven pressures from heightened economic uncertainty. Buy, Hold or Sell FedEx? View our complete analysis and fair value estimate and you decide. Diversify your portfolio with solid dividend payers offering reliable income streams to weather potential market turbulence. Over the past five years, FedEx's shareholders have enjoyed a total return of 92.76%, driven by a combination of share price appreciation and dividends. Several key initiatives have contributed to this performance. The company's cost-saving measures, such as the DRIVE and Network 20 projects, have bolstered FedEx's global efficiencies and improved margins. Additionally, the acquisition of RouteSmart Technologies has enhanced FedEx's route optimization capabilities. FedEx's performance was particularly strong relative to the US Logistics industry, which experienced a significant downturn over the last year. Moreover, the company's consistent dividend payouts, including a notable increase announced in June 2024, have further supported shareholder returns. Meanwhile, the spin-off plans for FedEx's freight trucking division may have added complexity to the corporate structure, but the overall impact on long-term returns remains part of a broader growth strategy. Our expertly prepared valuation report FedEx implies its share price may be lower than expected. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:FDX. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
