Hugh Grant Has Always Played the VillainChuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary. Login or signup to continue reading "As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country," Trump said in a statement on Saturday. If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $US437.2 billion ($A672.6 billion) in 2024. The nominee's agenda would carry implications for American diets and wallets, both urban and rural. Department of Agriculture officials and staff negotiate trade deals, guide dietary recommendations, inspect meat, fight wildfires and support rural broadband, among other activities. "Brooke's commitment to support the American Farmer, defence of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none," Trump said. The America First Policy Institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump's campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She chaired the Domestic Policy Council during Trump's first term. As agriculture secretary, Rollins would advise the administration on how and whether to implement clean fuel tax credits for biofuels at a time when the sector is hoping to grow through the production of sustainable aviation fuel. The nominee would also guide next year's renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, in the shadow of disputes over Mexico's attempt to bar imports of genetically modified corn and Canada's dairy import quotas. Trump has said he again plans to institute sweeping tariffs that are likely to affect the farm sector. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!was one of President-elect first major supporters in Silicon Valley, donating more than $1 million to groups that supported Trump's 2016 campaign. However, that doesn't mean he's interested in actually serving full-time in Trump's second administration. "I'm not going to do anything on a full-time basis," Thiel said on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," an online talk show. "You can't go full-time into government if you've been in a tech position like I have. It's just — the sort of things you have to be realistic about, what you can and can't do." As Trump has begun , he's plucked a handful of figures from tech world. They include entrepreneur and investor , who's set to serve as an AI and crypto czar in the new administration, and , who works at Palantir and was recently nominated to a role at the State Department. is perhaps the biggest tech-world figure who's working with Trump these days. Along with , Musk is set to co-lead the "Department of Government Efficiency," a new initiative to root out wasteful spending in the federal government. It isn't a full-time role for Musk, and DOGE won't have any formal authority on its own. As Thiel offered , Morgan asked him whether he might consider an "Elon-style role" with Trump. "It's just not my area of comparative advantage," Thiel said. "I think politics is very important... I enjoy going on your show, thinking about it every now and then. If I spent my whole life thinking about this, man, I'd be depressed and crazy." Despite Thiel's apparent lack of interest in working in the government himself, he's had a significant impact on politics in recent years. Thiel was instrumental in the political rise of Vice President-elect JD Vance, pouring millions of dollars into a that supported the Ohio senator's 2022 campaign. Another close associate of Thiel, , is in the running to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under Trump. Read the original article on

OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC Acquires Shares of 1,532 Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR)India News | J&K CM Omar Abdullah Meets WCC Delegates, Seeks Help in Tapping Full Potential of Handicrafts

Alarm grew in France on Friday over the fate of a prominent French-Algerian novelist detained in the country of his birth, with his publisher urging his immediate release and President Emmanuel Macron closely following the case. Boualem Sansal, a major figure in francophone modern literature, is known for his strong stances against both authoritarianism and Islamism as well as being a forthright campaigner on freedom of expression issues. His detention by Algeria comes against a background of tensions between France and its former colony which have also appear to have spread to the literary world. The 75-year-old writer, granted French nationality this year, was on Saturday arrested at Algiers airport after returning from France, according to several media reports including the Marianne weekly. The Gallimard publishing house, which has published his work for a quarter of a century, in a statement expressed "its very deep concern following the arrest of the writer by the Algerian security services", calling for his "immediate release". There has been no confirmation from the Algerian authorities of his arrest and no other details about his situation. Macron is "very concerned by the disappearance" of Sansal, said a French presidential official, asking not to be named. "State services are mobilised to clarify his situation," the official said, adding that "the president expresses his unwavering attachment to the freedom of a great writer and intellectual." A relative latecomer to writing, Sansal turned to novels in 1999 and has tackled subjects including the horrific 1990s civil war between authorities and Islamists. His books are not banned in Algeria but he is a controversial figure, particularly since making a visit to Israel in 2014. Sansal's hatred of Islamism has not been confined to Algeria and he has also warned of a creeping Islamisation in France, a stance that has made him a favoured author of prominent figures on the right and far-right. Prominent politicians from this side of the political spectrum rushed to echo Macron's expression of concern for the writer. Centre-right former premier and candidate in 2027 presidential elections Edouard Philippe wrote on X that Sansal "embodies everything we cherish: the call for reason, freedom and humanism against censorship, corruption and Islamism." Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen, another possible 2027 contender, said: "This freedom fighter and courageous opponent of Islamism has reportedly been arrested by the Algerian regime. This is an unacceptable situation." In 2015, Sansal won the Grand Prix du Roman of the French Academy, the guardians of the French language, for his book "2084: The End of the World", a dystopian novel inspired by George Orwell's "Nineteen-Eighty Four" and set in an Islamist totalitarian world in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. His publisher said that Sansal's novels and essays "exposed the obscurantisms of all kinds which are tragically affecting the way of the world." The concerns about his reported arrest come as another prominent French-Algerian writer Kamel Daoud is under attack over his novel "Houris", which won France's top literary prize, the Goncourt. A woman has claimed the book was based on her story of surviving 1990s Islamist massacres and used without her consent. She alleged on Algerian television that Daoud used the story she confidentially recounted to a therapist -- who is now his wife -- during treatment. His publisher has denied the claims. The controversies are taking place in a tense diplomatic context between France and Algeria, after Macron renewed French support for Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara during a landmark visit to the kingdom last month. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is de facto controlled for the most part by Morocco. But it is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, who are demanding a self-determination referendum and are supported by Algiers. Daoud meanwhile has called for Sansal's release, writing in the right-wing Le Figaro: "I sincerely hope that my friend Boualem will return to us very soon", while expressing his bafflement in the face of the "imprudence" that Sansal allegedly showed in going to Algeria. dax-vl-sjw/givWith Black Friday sales in full swing, there are still plenty of terrific deals to take advantage of. It’s the perfect time to shop for expensive electronics, including TV’s. Until Cyber Monday, you’ll be able to snag a high-end TV at a nice discount. Several top brands are offering huge deals on their best models. We’re seeing fantastic discounts on Samsung, LG, Sony and Hisense TVs. Whether you want a big-screen TV or something smaller for casual viewing, there are many options to consider getting during this sale event. Last updated on Nov. 30, 2024, at 2 a.m. ET. In this article: Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame Series Smart TV , LG 77-Inch Class OLED B4 Series Smart TV and Hisense U6 Series 65-Inches ULED 4K Smart TV . The cool thing about this smart TV is that it features an Art mode you can enable, which displays modern and classic art pieces whenever you’re not watching. The color volume is fantastic, the matte film reduces light glare and the frame is customizable with multiple color bezel options. If you’re looking for an affordable 4K smart TV, this 65-inch LED model won’t disappoint. 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Financial Highlights : 4 th Quarter consolidated sales of $446.7 million; $1.80 billion for fiscal 2024 Outstanding debt reduced by $53.8 million during the quarter Cost reduction actions progressing well Company sets adjusted EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2025 Webcast: Friday, November 22, 2024, 9:00 a.m., (201) 689-8471 PITTSBURGH, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. In discussing the Company's results, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Our consolidated operating results for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter reflected another quarter of solid performance by our core businesses and, consistent with prior quarters, was impacted by continuing customer delays in our energy business. Our previously announced cost reduction program is now underway, as evidenced by the charges reflected in our GAAP results this quarter, and progressing well. Overall, we were pleased with the consolidated operating results as we again demonstrated the resilience of Matthews and our employees in mitigating the challenges faced by one of our segments. For the year ended September 30, 2024, consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $205.2 million. "The Memorialization segment reported higher adjusted EBITDA for the current quarter despite lower unit volumes, which were related to a decline in U.S. deaths compared to a year ago. Ongoing cost control efforts combined with improved price realization were the key drivers in the improvement in operating margins. This segment has done a tremendous job of maintaining its level of performance over the past several years despite the declines in unit volume following the pandemic. "We are also pleased to report that our SGK Brand Solutions segment reported another consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth. This segment has stabilized nicely over the last two years with modest improvements in margins and is continuing its recovery following the global impacts of the pandemic and the European impact of the Russia-Ukraine war. Sales for the segment increased compared to a year ago primarily reflecting improved pricing to mitigate inflationary cost increases, higher sales for the merchandising and private label businesses, and growth in the Asia-Pacific market. "Sales for the Industrial Technologies segment for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter declined from a year ago primarily resulting from further customer delays in our energy business. The current quarter also reflected a continued soft warehouse automation market; however, order rates have been improving recently which could bode well for a good recovery next fiscal year. "With respect to our cost reduction program, current quarter charges include non-cash goodwill impairment and other asset write-downs primarily in connection with our European operations, in addition to severance and other costs. The program is also targeting general and administrative cost reductions. For our fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, we reported another quarter of lower corporate and non-operating costs compared to a year ago. For the year, corporate and non-operating costs were approximately 5% lower than last year. "During the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, we reduced our outstanding debt by $53.8 million. In addition, we completed the refinancing of outstanding senior notes due December 1, 2025. Due to current interest rates and the ongoing strategic review of our business portfolio, we opted for a shorter-term bond (three-year maturity) with an ability to call in one year. We are projecting higher operating cash flow next year as our working capital investments in fiscal 2024 begin to convert to operating cash flow, which will be partially mitigated by costs in connection with our cost reduction program. "Looking forward to fiscal 2025, we continue to face the uncertainty of project timing in our Industrial Technologies segment, specifically relating to our energy business. While we currently expect deliveries to be substantially completed during the year, quarterly timing is still difficult to forecast. Our cost reduction programs should mitigate some of this impact. "We expect another solid performance for our Memorialization business in fiscal 2025 as U.S. deaths appear to have generally normalized following COVID and we are projecting continued growth in our cremation-related products sales. Continued growth is also projected for our SGK Brand Solutions segment reflecting ongoing improvement in U.S. market conditions, more stable conditions in Europe, and further growth in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Industrial Technologies segment, our product identification business is projecting growth next year and we should start to realize benefits from the launch of a new printhead product, which is currently scheduled for the latter half of the fiscal year. Also, as noted earlier, recent improving order rates for warehouse automation solutions should support recovery in this business. With these considerations in mind, we remain cautious and are projecting adjusted EBITDA in the range of $205 million to $215 million for fiscal 2025. "Lastly, as growth opportunities for the Industrial Technologies segment continue to emerge, the Company has been exploring strategies with respect to its portfolio of businesses. Accordingly, we have retained J.P. Morgan to support the evaluation of potential strategic alternatives." Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Results (Unaudited) ($ in millions, except per share data) Q4 FY2024 Q4 FY2023 Change % Change Sales $ 446.7 $ 480.2 $ (33.5 ) (7.0)% Net (loss) income attributable to Matthews $ (68.2 ) $ 17.7 $ (85.9 ) NM Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (2.21 ) $ 0.56 $ (2.77 ) NM Non-GAAP adjusted net income $ 16.6 $ 30.3 $ (13.7 ) (45.2)% Non-GAAP adjusted EPS $ 0.55 $ 0.96 $ (0.41 ) NM Adjusted EBITDA $ 58.1 $ 61.9 $ (3.8 ) (6.1)% Note: See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Matthews' use of non-GAAP measures as well as reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to corresponding GAAP measures. Consolidated sales for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter were $446.7 million, compared to $480.2 million for the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, representing a decrease of $33.5 million. Net loss attributable to the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $68.2 million, or $2.21 per share, compared to net income of $17.7 million, or $0.56 per share, for the same quarter last year. On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter were $0.55 per share, compared to $0.96 per share a year ago. The net loss on a GAAP basis in the current fiscal quarter primarily reflected asset write-downs, including a goodwill impairment charge, and charges in connection with cost reduction programs. Adjusted EBITDA (net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other adjustments) for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter was $58.1 million, compared to $61.9 million a year ago, primarily reflecting lower adjusted EBITDA in the Industrial Technologies segment. Fiscal 2024 Consolidated Results (Unaudited) ($ in millions, except per share data) YTD FY2024 YTD FY2023 Change % Change Sales $ 1,795.7 $ 1,880.9 $ (85.2 ) (4.5)% Net (loss) income attributable to Matthews $ (59.7 ) $ 39.3 $ (99.0 ) NM Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (1.93 ) $ 1.26 $ (3.19 ) NM Non-GAAP adjusted net income $ 67.0 $ 90.1 $ (23.1 ) (25.6)% Non-GAAP adjusted EPS $ 2.17 $ 2.88 $ (0.71 ) (24.7)% Adjusted EBITDA $ 205.2 $ 225.8 $ (20.6 ) (9.1)% Note: See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Matthews' use of non-GAAP measures as well as reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to corresponding GAAP measures. Consolidated sales for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $1.80 billion, compared to $1.88 billion a year ago, representing a decrease of $85.2 million, or 4.5%, from the prior year. Net loss attributable to the Company for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $59.7 million ($1.93 per share), compared to net income of $39.3 million ($1.26 per share) for fiscal 2023. On a non-GAAP adjusted basis, earnings for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $2.17 per share, compared to $2.88 per share last year. The net loss on a GAAP basis for the current fiscal year primarily resulted from asset write-downs, including a goodwill impairment charge, and charges in connection with cost reduction programs. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended September 30, 2024, was $205.2 million, compared to $225.8 million a year ago. The decrease reflected lower adjusted EBITDA for the Industrial Technologies and Memorialization segments, offset partially by higher adjusted EBITDA for SGK Brand Solutions and lower corporate and other non-operating costs. Webcast The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial and operating results and discuss its corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (201) 689-8471. The audio webcast can be monitored at www.matw.com . As soon as available after the call, a transcript of the call will be posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.matw.com . About Matthews International Corporation Matthews International Corporation is a global provider of memorialization products, industrial technologies, and brand solutions. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets, cremation-related products, and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. The Industrial Technologies segment includes the design, manufacturing, service and sales of high-tech custom energy storage solutions; product identification and warehouse automation technologies and solutions, including order fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking and conveying consumer and industrial products; and coating and converting lines for the packaging, pharma, foil, décor and tissue industries. The SGK Brand Solutions segment is a leading provider of packaging solutions and brand experiences, helping companies simplify their marketing, amplify their brands and provide value. The Company has over 11,000 employees in more than 30 countries on six continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services. Forward-looking Information Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the Company regarding the future, and may be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "projects," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "seeks," "forecasts," "predicts," "objective," "targets," "potential," "outlook," "may," "will," "could" or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology and variations thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from management's expectations, and no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, environmental liability and limitations on the Company's operations due to environmental laws and regulations, disruptions to certain services, such as telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing or transaction processing services, provided to the Company by third-parties, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions and divestitures, cybersecurity concerns and costs arising with management of cybersecurity threats, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine, the outcome of the Company's dispute with Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla"), and other factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended September 30, 2024 2023 % Change 2024 2023 % Change Sales $ 446,695 $ 480,168 (7.0 )% $ 1,795,737 $ 1,880,896 (4.5 )% Cost of sales (329,360 ) (329,354 ) — % (1,266,030 ) (1,303,224 ) (2.9 )% Gross profit 117,335 150,814 (22.2 )% 529,707 577,672 (8.3 )% Gross margin 26.3 % 31.4 % 29.5 % 30.7 % Selling and administrative expenses (141,156 ) (113,931 ) 23.9 % (488,280 ) (447,487 ) 9.1 % Intangible amortization (9,232 ) (10,569 ) (12.7 )% (37,023 ) (42,068 ) (12.0 )% Goodwill write-downs (16,727 ) — 100.0 % (16,727 ) — 100.0 % Operating (loss) profit (49,780 ) 26,314 NM (12,323 ) 88,117 (114.0 )% Operating margin (11.1) % 5.5 % (0.7) % 4.7 % Interest and other, net (17,701 ) (10,983 ) 61.2 % (57,334 ) (47,207 ) 21.5 % (Loss) income before income taxes (67,481 ) 15,331 NM (69,657 ) 40,910 NM Income taxes (680 ) 2,362 (128.8 )% 9,997 (1,774 ) NM Net (loss) income (68,161 ) 17,693 NM (59,660 ) 39,136 NM Non-controlling interests — 30 (100.0 )% — 155 (100.0 )% Net (loss) income attributable to Matthews $ (68,161 ) $ 17,723 NM $ (59,660 ) $ 39,291 NM (Loss) earnings per share -- diluted $ (2.21 ) $ 0.56 NM $ (1.93 ) $ 1.26 NM Earnings per share -- non-GAAP (1) $ 0.55 $ 0.96 NM $ 2.17 $ 2.88 (24.7 )% Dividends declared per share $ 0.24 $ 0.23 4.3 % $ 0.96 $ 0.92 4.3 % Diluted shares 30,910 31,517 30,913 31,289 (1) See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information provided in tables at the end of this release NM: Not meaningful SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Sales: Memorialization $ 196,840 $ 204,878 $ 829,731 $ 842,997 Industrial Technologies 113,915 140,561 433,156 505,751 SGK Brand Solutions 135,940 134,729 532,850 532,148 $ 446,695 $ 480,168 $ 1,795,737 $ 1,880,896 Adjusted EBITDA: Memorialization $ 40,535 $ 36,890 $ 162,586 $ 163,986 Industrial Technologies 15,870 23,470 39,716 66,278 SGK Brand Solutions 17,303 17,512 61,620 57,128 Corporate and Non-Operating (15,579 ) (15,989 ) (58,765 ) (61,583 ) Total Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 58,129 $ 61,883 $ 205,157 $ 225,809 (1) See reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information provided in tables at the end of this release CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 40,816 $ 42,101 Accounts receivable, net 205,984 207,526 Inventories, net 237,888 260,409 Other current assets 147,855 138,221 Total current assets 632,543 648,257 Property, plant and equipment, net 279,499 270,326 Goodwill 697,123 698,109 Other intangible assets, net 126,026 160,478 Other long-term assets 99,699 110,211 Total assets $ 1,834,890 $ 1,887,381 LIABILITIES Long-term debt, current maturities $ 6,853 $ 3,696 Other current liabilities 427,922 390,904 Total current liabilities 434,775 394,600 Long-term debt 769,614 786,484 Other long-term liabilities 193,295 181,016 Total liabilities 1,397,684 1,362,100 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Total shareholders' equity 437,206 525,281 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,834,890 $ 1,887,381 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS INFORMATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) Year Ended September 30, 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net (loss) income $ (59,660 ) $ 39,136 Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 94,770 96,530 Changes in working capital items 14,696 (35,503 ) Goodwill write-downs 16,727 — Other operating activities 12,749 (20,639 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 79,282 79,524 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (45,218 ) (50,598 ) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (5,825 ) (15,341 ) Other investing activities 4,075 7,214 Net cash used in investing activities (46,968 ) (58,725 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Net (payments) proceeds from long-term debt (31,338 ) (18,224 ) Purchases of treasury stock (20,574 ) (2,857 ) Dividends (31,409 ) (28,202 ) Other financing activities 48,278 (912 ) Net cash used in financing activities (35,043 ) (50,195 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 1,444 83 Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ (1,285 ) $ (29,313 ) Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Included in this report are measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP, including, without limitation, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and EPS, constant currency sales, constant currency adjusted EBITDA, net debt and net debt leverage ratio. The Company defines net debt leverage ratio as outstanding debt (net of cash) relative to adjusted EBITDA. The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing its performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations including acquisition and divestiture costs, ERP integration costs, strategic initiative and other charges (which includes non-recurring charges related to certain commercial and operational initiatives and exit activities), stock-based compensation and the non-service portion of pension and postretirement expense. Constant currency sales and constant currency adjusted EBITDA remove the impact of changes due to foreign exchange translation rates. To calculate sales and adjusted EBITDA on a constant currency basis, amounts for periods in the current fiscal year are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates applicable to the comparable periods of the prior fiscal year. Management believes that presenting non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items that management believes do not directly reflect the Company's core operations, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, forecast, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. The Company's calculations of its non-GAAP financial measures, however, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provided herein, provide investors with an additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company's business that could not be obtained absent these disclosures. ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net (loss) income $ (68,161 ) $ 17,693 $ (59,660 ) $ 39,136 Income tax provision (benefit) 680 (2,362 ) (9,997 ) 1,774 (Loss) income before income taxes $ (67,481 ) $ 15,331 $ (69,657 ) $ 40,910 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests — 30 — 155 Interest expense, including RPA and factory financing fees (1) 14,825 12,746 55,364 48,690 Depreciation and amortization * 24,329 24,717 94,770 96,530 Acquisition and divestiture related items (2) ** 11 848 5,576 5,293 Strategic initiatives and other charges (3) ** † 48,458 6,168 65,586 13,923 Highly inflationary accounting impacts (primarily non-cash) (4) 132 (1,714 ) 1,027 1,360 Goodwill and asset write-downs (5) 33,574 — 33,574 — Stock-based compensation 4,169 3,673 18,478 17,308 Non-service pension and postretirement expense (6) 112 84 439 1,640 Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 58,129 $ 61,883 $ 205,157 $ 225,809 Adjusted EBITDA margin 13.0 % 12.9 % 11.4 % 12.0 % (1) Includes fees for receivables sold under the RPA and factoring arrangements totaling $1,192 and $1,284 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 , respectively, and $4,830 and $4,042 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 , respectively. (2) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with recent acquisition and divestiture activities, and also includes a gain of $1,827 for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 related to the divestiture of a business in the Industrial Technologies segment. (3) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with commercial, operational and cost-reduction initiatives and costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts. Fiscal 2024 also includes legal costs related to an ongoing dispute with Tesla, which totaled $4,261 and $12,399 for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Fiscal 2023 includes loss recoveries totaling $2,154 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, which were related to a previously disclosed theft of funds by a former employee initially identified in fiscal 2015. (4) Represents exchange gains and losses associated with highly inflationary accounting related to the Company's Turkish subsidiaries. (5) Fiscal 2024 includes goodwill write-downs within the Industrial Technologies segment of $16,727 , asset write-downs within the Memorialization segment of $13,716 , and investment write-downs within Corporate and Non-operating of $3,131 . (6) Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial gains and losses, curtailment gains and losses, and settlement gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they are primarily influenced by external market conditions that impact investment returns and interest (discount) rates. Curtailment gains and losses and settlement gains and losses are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they generally result from certain non-recurring events, such as plan amendments to modify future benefits or settlements of plan obligations. The service cost and prior service cost components of pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits. Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans. * Depreciation and amortization was $7,368 and $6,646 for the Memorialization segment, $6,028 and $5,600 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $9,724 and $11,299 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $1,209 and $1,172 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Depreciation and amortization was $27,768 and $23,738 for the Memorialization segment, $23,772 and $23,184 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $38,667 and $44,842 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $4,563 and $4,766 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. ** Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, non-recurring/incremental COVID-19 costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $1,309 and $22 for the Memorialization segment, $40,069 and $614 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $307 and $3,878 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $6,784 and $2,502 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Acquisition costs, ERP integration costs, non-recurring/incremental COVID-19 costs, and strategic initiatives and other charges were $3,514 and $1,002 for the Memorialization segment, $54,357 and $4,108 for the Industrial Technologies segment, $3,001 and $10,905 for the SGK Brand Solutions segment, and $10,290 and $3,201 for Corporate and Non-Operating, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. † Strategic initiatives and other charges includes charges for exit and disposal activities (including severance and other employee termination benefits) totaling $41,353 and $6,003 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $29,283, $1,492, and $10,578 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Charges of $4,925 and $1,429, and a credit of $351 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Strategic initiatives and other charges includes charges for exit and disposal activities (including severance and other employee termination benefits) totaling $45,705 and $13,210 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $32,526, $1,379 and $11,800 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, respectively. $9,028, $1,925 and $2,257 were presented in cost of sales, selling expense, and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Accrued severance and other employee termination benefits totaled $42,245 and $7,321 as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND EPS RECONCILIATION (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 per share per share per share per share Net income (loss) attributable to Matthews $ (68,161 ) $ (2.21 ) $ 17,723 $ 0.56 $ (59,660 ) $ (1.93 ) $ 39,291 $ 1.26 Acquisition and divestiture items (1) 837 0.03 1,626 0.05 4,873 0.16 4,874 0.15 Strategic initiatives and other charges (2) 41,261 1.35 4,702 0.15 57,073 1.85 11,771 0.38 Highly inflationary accounting impacts (primarily non-cash) (3) 132 — (1,714 ) (0.05 ) 1,027 0.03 1,360 0.04 Goodwill and asset write-downs (4) 32,784 1.06 — — 32,784 1.06 — — Non-service pension and postretirement expense (5) 83 — 63 — 329 0.01 1,230 0.04 Intangible amortization expense 6,924 0.23 7,927 0.25 27,767 0.90 31,551 1.01 Tax-related (6) 2,703 0.09 — — 2,839 0.09 — — Adjusted net income $ 16,563 $ 0.55 $ 30,327 $ 0.96 $ 67,032 $ 2.17 $ 90,077 $ 2.88 Note: Adjustments to net income for non-GAAP reconciling items were calculated using an income tax rate of 7.4% and 26.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 , respectively, and 11.5% and 25.7% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 , respectively. The difference between the Company's income tax rates on adjusted net income for fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 was primarily caused by the foreign net operating losses with full valuation allowances and nondeductible goodwill impairment charges in the current fiscal year. (1) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with recent acquisition and divestiture activities, and also includes a gain in fiscal year 2023 related to the divestiture of a business in the Industrial Technologies segment. (2) Includes certain non-recurring costs associated with commercial, operational and cost-reduction initiatives, and costs associated with global ERP system integration efforts. Fiscal 2024 also includes legal costs related to an ongoing dispute with Tesla, which totaled $4,261 and $12,399 for the three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Fiscal 2023 includes loss recoveries totaling $2,154 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, which were related to a previously disclosed theft of funds by a former employee initially identified in fiscal 2015. (3) Represents exchange gains and losses associated with highly inflationary accounting related to the Company's Turkish subsidiaries (4) Fiscal 2024 includes goodwill write-downs within the Industrial Technologies segment, asset write-downs within the Memorialization segment , and investment write-downs within Corporate and Non-operating. (5) Non-service pension and postretirement expense includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial gains and losses, curtailment gains and losses, and settlement gains and losses. These benefit cost components are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they are primarily influenced by external market conditions that impact investment returns and interest (discount) rates. Curtailment gains and losses and settlement gains and losses are excluded from adjusted EBITDA since they generally result from certain non-recurring events, such as plan amendments to modify future benefits or settlements of plan obligations. The service cost and prior service cost components of pension and postretirement expense are included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, since they are considered to be a better reflection of the ongoing service-related costs of providing these benefits. Please note that GAAP pension and postretirement expense or the adjustment above are not necessarily indicative of the current or future cash flow requirements related to these employee benefit plans. (6) The three months and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 includes $2,703 of tax-related items incurred in connection with restructuring that resulted in a deferred tax asset write-off. Fiscal 2024 includes $136 of tax-related items incurred in connection with the derecognition of deferred tax assets for a joint venture that is being terminated. CONSTANT CURRENCY SALES AND ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) Memorialization Industrial Technologies SGK Brand Solutions Corporate and Non-Operating Consolidated Reported sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 $ 196,840 $ 113,915 $ 135,940 $ — $ 446,695 Changes in foreign exchange translation rates (107 ) (783 ) 237 — (653 ) Constant currency sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 $ 196,733 $ 113,132 $ 136,177 $ — $ 446,042 Reported sales for the year ended September 30, 2024 $ 829,731 $ 433,156 $ 532,850 $ — $ 1,795,737 Changes in foreign exchange translation rates (362 ) (4,060 ) 3,110 — (1,312 ) Constant currency sales for the year ended September 30, 2024 $ 829,369 $ 429,096 $ 535,960 $ — $ 1,794,425 Reported adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 $ 40,535 $ 15,870 $ 17,303 $ (15,579 ) $ 58,129 Changes in foreign exchange translation rates 17 (76 ) (187 ) 29 (217 ) Constant currency adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 $ 40,552 $ 15,794 $ 17,116 $ (15,550 ) $ 57,912 Reported adjusted EBITDA for the year ended September 30, 2024 $ 162,586 $ 39,716 $ 61,620 $ (58,765 ) $ 205,157 Changes in foreign exchange translation rates 139 (367 ) 113 82 (33 ) Constant currency adjusted EBITDA for the year ended September 30, 2024 $ 162,725 $ 39,349 $ 61,733 $ (58,683 ) $ 205,124 NET DEBT RECONCILIATION (Unaudited) (In thousands) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Long-term debt, current maturities $ 6,853 $ 3,696 Long-term debt 769,614 786,484 Total long-term debt 776,467 790,180 Less: Cash and cash equivalents (40,816 ) (42,101 ) Net Debt $ 735,651 $ 748,079 Adjusted EBITDA $ 205,157 $ 225,809 Net Debt Leverage Ratio 3.6 3.3 Matthews International Corporation Corporate Office Two NorthShore Center Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5851 Phone: (412) 442-8200 November 21, 2024 Contact: Steven F. Nicola Chief Financial Officer and Secretary © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a nation-wide drive to re-activate inoperative accounts, including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts, in a bid to improve the proportion of current account, savings account (CASA) deposits in domestic deposits. The proportion of CASA deposits came down to 40.03 per cent in domestic deposits as at September-end 2024 against 41.88 per cent as at September-end 2023. Increasing CASA will help India’s largest bank protect its margins. As at September-end 2024, SBI’s domestic deposits stood at ₹49,10,528 crore and total deposits, including domestic and foreign offices deposits, were at ₹51,17,285 crore. SBI, in a statement, said the nation-wide drive is to raise awareness about the importance of Inoperative account activation . A savings or a current account is treated as inoperative if the customer has no transaction in the account for a period of over two years. Activation of these accounts requires Re-KYC (know-your-customer). Before commencement of the drive, SBI organized a one-day workshop at Gurugram for its national business correspondents to sensitize them about the importance of inoperative account activation. The workshop emphazised the significance of PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana) accounts and the importance of reactivating inoperative accounts. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman, SBI, emphasized the need to drive Re-KYC exercise in letter and spirit, to maintain PMJDY accounts in active status and enabling customers to conduct transactions seamlessly. The SBI Chief proposed a vision map for technological changes necessary to offer unique solutions to leverage the Business Correspondent channel optimally. As at September-end 2024, SBI had about 80,300 Business Correspondent outlets. Comments

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NoneAfter his team's 102-89 home win on Wednesday night over Purdue Fort Wayne, Penn State coach Mike Rhoades challenged his team's fan base to show up and make more noise. "Sweat with us," he said at one point. At 5-0, the Nittany Lions haven't had to sweat much to get off to a fast start. They might not have to expend much perspiration to make it 6-0 on Monday when they meet Fordham in a semifinal matchup at the Sunshine Slam tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. Penn State hasn't played a strong schedule so far, but the team has been impressive. It's averaging 98.2 points per game and 13.8 steals per game, both of which ranked second in Division I through Saturday's play. The Nittany Lions were seventh per kenpom.com in turnover rate, forcing 25.3 per 100 possessions. Point guard Ace Baldwin Jr. is leading the charge, scoring 16.4 points and dishing out 7.8 assists while chipping in 2.6 steals. Zach Hicks has nearly doubled his scoring average from 8.4 last season to 15.8 this season, while Northern Illinois transfer Yanic Konan Niederhauser has beefed up the interior, tallying 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. Meanwhile, Fordham (3-3) is coming off a 73-71 home loss Friday night against Drexel in New York. The Rams blew a seven-point lead early in the second half and missed a chance to force overtime when leading scorer Jackie Johnson III missed a layup as time expired. Johnson, a UNLV transfer, is averaging 19 points per game and is making nearly 48 percent of his shots as one of three Rams with double-figure scoring averages. Jahmere Tripp scores at an 11.0 clip while Japhet Medor is contributed 10.5, but Fordham is struggling to make shots, canning only 41.5 percent from the field. The Rams were picked for a 14th-place finish in the Atlantic 10 despite returning more scoring than any team in the league except for VCU. Third-year coach Keith Urgo thinks his team can defy low external expectations. "We're experienced and I think we're poised to have a tremendous year," he said. --Field Level Media

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin on Friday. The Yankees also will send $2 million to the Brewers as part of the trade. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn't make his season debut until July 28 . Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph and he threw it on 53.5% of his pitches, mixing in 45% changeups — known as the “Airbender” — around 1.5% cutters. An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Williams was a second-round pick in the 2013 amateur draft and is 27-10 with a 1.83 ERA and 68 saves in 78 chances over six seasons, striking out 375 and walking 112 in 235 2/3 innings over 241 games. Milwaukee declined a $10.5 million club option in favor of a $250,000 buyout last month, making Williams eligible for arbitration. Cortes, who turned 30 on Tuesday, was an All-Star in 2022 when he went 12-4 with a career-best 2.44 ERA in 28 starts. He made just one start after May 30 in 2023 because of a strained left rotator cuff and was sidelined late in the 2024 season by a flexor strain in his left elbow. He returned for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and entered in the 10th inning of the opener, retiring Shohei Ohtani on a foulout with his first pitch and giving up a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman on his second. Cortes, know for his many deliveries, is 33-21 with a 3.80 ERA in 86 starts and 49 relief appearances over seven seasons. He is eligible for arbitration and also can become a free agent after next season. New York had an excess of starters after reaching a $218 million, eight-year agreement with left-hander Max Fried that is pending. The rotation also is projected to include ace Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, with Marcus Stroman also available. Durbin, who turns 25 in February, hit .287 with 10 homers, 60 RBIs and 29 stolen bases this year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was with the big league team last spring training and hit .312 with five homers, 21 RBIs and 29 steals in 24 games at the Arizona Fall League. “I think he’s a stud," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said last month. "Great bat-to-ball, elite ability on the bases as a base stealer, good defender in the middle of the diamond, second base. He’s really started over the last year-plus to create some position flexibility, too. He's played some short, he's played some third. We introduced him to some outfield this year.” ___ This story has been corrected to note New York is sending cash to Milwaukee, not the other way around. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Ronald Blum, The Associated PressTrump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesDEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims On Behalf Of Investors Of PACS Group

Stock futures fall slightly with Wall Street on track for a winning week: Live updates - CNBC

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