Business
Appliqate Announces Board Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Appliqate Announces Board Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
About this update from Appliqate Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n Sheridan, Wyoming, April 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appliqate (OTC: APQT), a Wyoming Corporation, has announced a strategy for board diversity and inclusion in light of the recent Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) proposal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt listing rules that would enhance board diversity and transparency among companies listed on its exchange. The new rules require Nasdaq-listed companies to have, or explain why they do not have, at least two “Diverse” members of their boards of directors; and publicly disclose diversity statistics regarding their boards of directors in their proxy statement or information statement filings, or alternatively on their websites. A McKinsey study found that diverse companies have 19% higher revenue than less diverse counterparts, and gender diverse executive teams outperform male-dominated companies by 21% in terms of EBIT. As Appliqate continues to roll out the aggressive acquisition strategy announced in March, diversity and inclusion will be a key tenant when evaluating their acquisition targets. Led by its Founder and CEO, Ms. Una Taylor, a black woman of African descent, Appliqate represents a very small percentage of public companies with a black female at the helm. Additionally, in the U.S., of the 3,671 public companies reported by The Wall Street Journal in 2017, only eight were Black-owned companies which equates to 0.002% of public companies. “Appliqate will continue to focus on inclusion and diversity because it’s good for our shareholders, but more importantly, it aligns with the company’s culture,” said Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor is preceded by very few black women in publicly traded companies. Catherine Liggins Hughes, an African American entrepreneur, radio and television personality, and business executive, founded the media company Radio One. In 1987, Radio One added an FM station to its roster—WMMJ, in Washington, D.C. Twelve years later, in 1999, Radio One sold its first shares of common stock, making Hughes the first African American woman to head a publicly traded company. Appliqate’s leadership team values and honors Ms. Liggins Hughes and others who have paved the very narrow path taken by Ms. Taylor. Appliqate has always sought to comprise its Board with diversity; however, the Company...