Tag: News

ATLANTA, July 15, 2024 – Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, a leading provider of third-party private label finance and insurance protection products for the automotive, RV, marine, and powersports industries, today announced that it has closed on a majority investment from Hellman & Friedman, one of the world’s largest private equity firms.

The strategic partnership is set to propel Safe-Guard’s growth and solidify its position as the premier provider of finance and insurance products and solutions in the sector. Stone Point Capital LLC, a longstanding investor in Safe-Guard, will continue to partner with the company and participate on Safe-Guard’s board.

Safe-Guard’s management team will continue to drive the success of the business for the benefit of its partners, their customers and other stakeholders. In connection with the transaction, Randy Barkowitz is assuming a board-level leadership role as full-time Executive Chairman, while David Pryor is continuing in his role as President and assuming the responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of Safe-Guard.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hellman & Friedman as our new majority investor,” said Barkowitz. “Safe-Guard’s commitment to excellence remains steadfast. With Hellman & Friedman’s backing and Stone Point’s continued support, we are positioned to deliver even more innovative solutions, superior service and unmatched value to our partners and their customers.”

Hellman & Friedman, renowned for its focus on helping industry leaders reach new heights, fully embraces Safe-Guard’s unique strategy and the strength of its management team. The investment highlights Hellman & Friedman’s commitment to supporting Safe-Guard in delivering F&I products, dealer service, customer satisfaction, and technology solutions. Through this investment, Safe-Guard will gain additional resources to invest in its people, processes, and technology.

“Safe-Guard is a differentiated provider of private label protection products, offering value to dealers, strategic partners and consumers,” said Hunter Philbrick, Partner at Hellman & Friedman. “The business has built an impressive reputation for its high-quality products and service, and we are excited to partner with the talented management team and provide additional firepower to support the company’s strategic priorities. We see several significant growth opportunities and look forward to working together to realize the immense potential ahead.”

Based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard’s industry-defining Protection Products Platform delivers frictionless service, consistency, and customer-centric solutions to more than 19 million consumers who are protected under contracts administered by Safe-Guard.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and SPC Capital Markets LLC acted as financial advisors to Safe-Guard and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to the company. Jefferies LLC was the lead financial advisor to Hellman & Friedman, with Waller Helms also providing financial advice and Kirkland & Ellis acting as legal counsel.

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About Safe-Guard Products International

Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine, and motorcycle/powersports industries. Through its Protection Products Platform, Safe-Guard develops the highest-quality programs and matches them with unparalleled customer service and advanced technology solutions, which are fostered by superior sales and marketing support. Visit safe-guardproducts.com for more information.

About Hellman & Friedman

Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on a limited number of large-scale equity investments in high-quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation, and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer services & retail, and information, content & business services.

Since its founding in 1984, H&F has invested in over 100 companies. The firm is currently investing its tenth fund, with over $24 billion of committed capital, and has over $115 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2024. Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.

About Stone Point Capital
Stone Point is an alternative investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, with more than $55 billion of assets under management. Stone Point targets investments in companies in the global financial services industry and related sectors. The firm invests in alternative asset classes, including private equity through its flagship Trident Funds and credit through commingled funds and separately managed accounts. In addition, Stone Point Capital Markets supports our firm, portfolio companies and other clients by providing dedicated financing solutions. For more information on Stone Point, please visit: www.stonepoint.com.

This transformation is the result of a purposeful digital strategy designed to leverage the company’s 30 years of data and applications that drive key metrics, business decisions, and enhanced service capabilities. At the forefront of the F&I industry, Safe-Guard delivers protection products and solutions that drive sustainable, scalable growth.

“A one-size-fits-all approach to protection products isn’t enough in today’s market, especially considering the various generational groups that currently drive spending,” says Safe-Guard CEO Randy Barkowitz. “For many years, we have set out to change the industry, drive innovation, and enhance transparency. Our evolution from a traditional TPA to a Protection Products Platform allows us to grow with our customers, no matter how their needs change over time.”

Serving a diverse customer base, the company has fully embraced changes in the F&I industry to meet the market demand of vehicle owners. The company’s digital transformation mirrors the broad changes happening across the automotive sector, promising to dynamically reshape the industry landscape for the better.

“The new website is a powerful representation of our company, our people, and our commitment to innovation,” says Safe-Guard President, David Pryor. “Through the integration of data and advanced analytics, we’ve successfully transformed Safe-Guard into a Protection Products Platform that will drive sustainable and scalable growth for our customers.”

Safe-Guard’s dedication to innovation and customer centricity has positioned them as the leader in the F&I industry, and the new website showcases this commitment to meet the evolving needs of its customers. This unwavering dedication remains essential as the company transitions to a new era as a Protection Products Platform.

Atlanta, GA, January 25, 2023 – Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of branded protection products for the automotive, RV, powersports and marine industries, announces the retirement of Executive Chairman Dave Duncan. Duncan was an essential part of the Safe-Guard family from early on and most recently has served as executive chairman since 2020. While boasting over three decades of finance and insurance experience, Duncan’s impact will be missed by the Safe-Guard team.

“Dave has a unique wealth of industry knowledge and a focus on creating innovative client solutions that positioned Safe-Guard for a dynamic future growth. We would like to thank Dave for his dedication and contributions to our organization and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” stated David Pryor, president of Safe-Guard.

During his time at Safe-Guard, Duncan has held roles as senior vice president, president and executive chairman, respectively. Prior to joining Safe-Guard, Duncan was president and CEO of Diversified Automotive Group and held numerous management positions in automotive retail.

“Throughout his career at Safe-Guard, Dave was instrumental in the creation and implementation of our strategic vision and plan, and he has been truly dedicated to our organization and its mission,” said Safe-Guard CEO Randy Barkowitz.

Under Duncan’s leadership as executive chairman, Safe-Guard successfully broadened its product offerings, expanded into new channels, and released a range of branded solutions for clients and dealers. Throughout his 27 years with Safe-Guard, Duncan played a significant role in the company’s growth and success by advancing sales, marketing and development efforts, acting as a key player in expanding the company’s reach through the OEM, national retail and agent channels. Duncan also led the deployment of turnkey programs for the company’s F&I business units, demonstrating strong leadership throughout his tenure.

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About Safe-Guard Products International

Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers the highest-quality programs and matches them with unparalleled customer service, advanced technology solutions and industry-leading sales and marketing. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to top retailers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and independent agents across the United States and Canada. Visit safe-guardproducts.com for more information.

Mississauga, ON, May 13, 2022 – Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of branded protection products for the automotive, RV, powersports and marine industries, today announced Andre Ramgattie has joined the company as the national director of account management and business development for Safe-Guard Canada, Ltd., effective immediately.

Ramgattie brings nearly fifteen years of automotive experience with him to Safe-Guard Canada, having started his career in corporate roles for Honda Canada and Volvo Cars Canada, and then in retail covering used, leasing, F&I and sales roles. Prior to joining Safe-Guard, Ramgattie spent nine years working in sales operations and market intelligence for a major finance and insurance provider. At Safe-Guard, Ramgattie will focus on building relationships with existing clients and partnering with David Wilke, national sales director, to grow Safe-Guard Canada’s client roster and drive retail sales.

“We are thrilled to have Andre join Safe-Guard Canada as the national director of account management and business development,” said David Pryor, president of Safe-Guard. “Andre’s extensive experience within the automotive world across retail, corporate and the F&I provider space will prove to be a big asset in leading and serving Safe-Guard’s current clients. We’re excited to have Andre as a part of our team as we continue to deliver full-service, branded solutions and drive sales performance for our client and dealer partners.”

“Andre’s real-world experience from retail to corporate, combined with his data-driven sales expertise, will truly benefit our retail and client partners,” said John Stewart, EVP OEM field sales and training for Safe-Guard. “Andre’s experience and leadership will help us to further accelerate performance for Safe-Guard partners.”

Ramgattie graduated with a BBA in automotive from Georgian College and obtained his EMBA from the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa.

About Safe-Guard Products Canada

Founded in 2001 and based in Mississauga, Ontario, Safe-Guard Products Canada is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers the highest-quality programs and matches them with industry-leading marketing, dedicated sales and training, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top dealer groups and retailers across Canada. For more information, please visit www.safe-guardproducts.com.

Toronto, ON, May 13, 2021 – Yamaha Motor Canada today announced a partnership with Safe-Guard Products Canada, Ltd., the leading provider of private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries. The program, launching July 5, enables Yamaha to provide a complete, branded protection product solution to dealers under the Yamaha Motor Protection Plan name. Products available include Credit Insurance, Bundle Loan Protection, Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP), Tire & Wheel Protection, as well as a suite of products for offmakes. Additionally, Safe-Guard will support the Yamaha Motor Protection Plan program with an enhanced dealer support team, business development resources, complimentary retail training and branded marketing content, technology integration and administration of the program.

“Joining forces with Safe-Guard provides a powerful boost to our organization, our dealers and their riders,” said Peter Smallman-Tew, president and managing director at Yamaha Motor Canada. “This partnership enables Yamaha to bring new, industry-leading solutions to the table for our dealers, which enhances their business by driving revenue and customer retention while improving the owner experience for the customers they serve.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Yamaha to provide them with a purpose-built, fully branded protection program for their dealers,” said Mary Buhr, director of account management and business development at Safe-Guard. “Yamaha is a premier player within the powersports industry and we’re proud to power innovative and value-added solutions for this great brand.”

With international headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and Canadian headquarters based in Mississauga, Ontario, Safe-Guard Products manages protection product programs for over 50 strategic partners across the U.S. and Canada, offering a full suite of protection products and dealer business solutions in the automotive, RV, marine and powersport industries. More than 13 million consumers are protected under contracts by Safe-Guard.

  

About Yamaha Motor Canada, Ltd.

Since incorporating in 1973, Yamaha Motor Canada has expanded to include 10 product groups that help Canadians make the most of their time outdoors. In addition, Yamaha offers after-sales support with parts, accessories, lubricants, apparel and service, with over 400 dealers servicing Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

About Yamaha Financial Services

Yamaha Financial Services, a division of Yamaha Motor Canada, offers dealers and customers access to flexible, convenient financial solutions designed primarily for the powersports and marine industries. Committed to a high-quality customer experience, Yamaha Financial Services Canada is also part of a growing global community of finance companies within Yamaha Motor Corporation in the United States, Australia, France, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Russia.

About Safe-Guard Products Canada, Ltd.

Founded in 2001 and based in Mississauga, Ontario, Safe-Guard Products Canada is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers programs on behalf of clients, backed by industry-leading sales and marketing, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top dealer groups and retailers across Canada.

Atlanta, GA, January 25, 2021 – Schomp Automotive has announced a new partnership with Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of third-party private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries. Beginning January 5, Schomp Automotive now provides a complete F&I product solution to Schomp dealers under the One Protect brand along with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) branded products. The One Protect brand includes a full suite of twelve fully branded protection products, as well as technology integrations to power Schomp’s proprietary A2Z Sync software, retail training support with on-demand dealer training content and complimentary branded sales and marketing content.

“Our partnership with Safe-Guard is a significant collaboration that will help connect and streamline the business for our dealers,” said Aaron Wallace, dealer principal, Schomp Automotive Group. “We pride ourselves on a simple, transparent automotive purchase experience and having Safe-Guard as our partner provides us with the powerful combination of the One Protect brand plus the OEM brand in applicable stores, as well as the technology integrations and retail training to help us power our business. What’s more, the One Protect products will be available to dealers who utilize the A2Z Sync software.”

Schomp Automotive represents eight automotive dealerships, and eight brands across two states.

“Safe-Guard is excited to support Schomp Automotive dealers and fuel their A2Z Sync retail technology with our complete solution,” said Tony Catania, chief revenue officer of Safe-Guard. “Our unique combination of the private label solution for Schomp Automotive plus Safe-Guard’s management of more OEM protection product programs than any other provider allows us to deliver a one-stop resource for Schomp dealers. We look forward to helping drive business and customer retention for Schomp Automotive and A2Z Sync dealers.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Safe-Guard Products manages protection product programs for over 50 strategic partners across the U.S. and Canada, offering a full suite of protection products and dealer business solutions in the automotive, RV, marine and powersport industries. More than 13 million consumers are protected under contracts by Safe-Guard.

About Schomp Automotive Group
Schomp Automotive Group is a fourth-generation family-owned dealer group consisting of eight automotive dealerships supporting eight brands across Colorado and Utah. Schomp was a pioneer in the “One Price” methodology when Lisa Schomp introduced the concept in 1993. Aaron Wallace introduced “One Person,” eliminating the traditional finance office with client advisors taking the customer from start to finish in the car buying process. Wallace also introduced “One Hour” after founding the software company A2Z Sync that enables Schomp stores to complete the transaction process in one hour. The A2Z Sync software solution is now available to be licensed by other progressive dealers. In a traditionally stagnant industry, Schomp Automotive Group and its parent organization strive to remain ahead of the curve and provide a simple, transparent and stress-free automotive purchase experience.

About Safe-Guard Products International, LLC
Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers programs on behalf of clients, backed by industry-leading sales and marketing, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top retailers and independent agents across the United States and Canada.

Atlanta, GA, September 22, 2020 – Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of third-party private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries, today announced Michelle Stewart has joined the company as chief information security officer.

Stewart brings over fifteen years of information security experience with her to Safe-Guard. Prior to joining Safe-Guard, she spent time at RentPath, Elavon (U.S. Bank), The American Cancer Society and AirTran Airways working to create information security standards and build improvements in IT governance, identity and access management, vulnerability management and application security. At Safe-Guard, Stewart will focus on building data security for Safe-Guard clients, dealers and contract holders while proactively addressing the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape.

“We are pleased to have Michelle join Safe-Guard as the chief information security officer,” said Kaizer Siraj, chief information officer of Safe-Guard. “Michelle’s deep experience within information security across multiple industries will prove to be a big asset to help us continue to secure our data. We’re excited to have Michelle as a part of our team as we continue to build the technology and infrastructure to serve and protect our clients’ and dealers’ businesses.”

Stewart holds a B.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Miami and an M.S. in management information systems from Nova Southeastern University.

About Safe-Guard Products International, LLC

Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers the highest-quality programs and matches them with industry-leading sales and marketing, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top retailers and independent agents across the United States and Canada.

Atlanta, GA, August 18, 2020 – Today Prime Automotive Group announced a new partnership with Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of third-party private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries. Beginning August 12, Prime Automotive Group now provides a complete F&I product solution to Prime dealers under the Prime Automotive Protect brand along with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) branded products. The Prime Automotive Protect brand includes a full suite of 13 fully branded protection products, as well as a dedicated sales team, dealer business tools and technology integrations, and complimentary dealer training and sales and marketing content.

“Our partnership with Safe-Guard is a significant collaboration which will help strengthen the F&I business for our dealers,” said Pete Lebish, COO, Prime Automotive Group. “We pride ourselves on a strong connection between our dealers and the manufacturers and having Safe-Guard as our partner provides us with the powerful combination of the Prime Automotive Protect brand plus the OEM brand in applicable stores. This is a win-win for everyone.”

Prime Automotive Group represents 50-plus automotive dealerships, and 28 brands across eight states.

“Safe-Guard is excited to support Prime Automotive dealers with our complete solution,” said Tony Catania, chief revenue officer of Safe-Guard. “Our unique combination of the private label solution for Prime Automotive plus Safe-Guard’s management of more OEM protection product programs than any other provider allows us to deliver a one-stop resource for Prime dealers. We look forward to helping drive business and customer retention for Prime Automotive dealers.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Safe-Guard manages protection product programs for over 50 strategic partners across the U.S. and Canada, offering a full suite of protection products and dealer business solutions in the automotive, RV, marine and powersport industries. More than 13 million consumers are protected under contracts by Safe-Guard.

  

About Prime Automotive Group

Prime Automotive Group consists of 50-plus automotive dealerships, 28 brands and five regional platforms across eight states. It generated $3.3 billion in annual revenue in 2019.

About Safe-Guard Products International, LLC

Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers programs on behalf of clients, backed by industry-leading sales and marketing, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top retailers and independent agents across the United States and Canada.

Atlanta, GA, August 4, 2020 – Fuel Capital Group today announced a partnership with Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of third-party private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries. The program, launching August 3, enables the Fuel Capital Group to provide a complete, branded protection product solution to dealers under the Fuel Capital Protect name. Products available include Vehicle Service Protection (VSP), Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP), and Tire & Wheel Protection. Additionally, Safe-Guard will support the Fuel Capital Protect program through technology integration, sales and marketing content and dealer training as well as the administration of the program.

“Joining forces with Safe-Guard provides a tremendous boost to our organization, our dealers and their riders,” said Stephen Pietrowicz, SVP of sales and marketing at Fuel Capital. “This partnership enables Fuel Capital to bring new, industry-leading solutions to the table for our dealers, which enhances their business by driving revenue and customer retention while improving the owner experience for the customers they serve.”

VSP offers customers multiple mechanical breakdown coverage plans with a variety of terms available. Additional benefits include towing, rental vehicle reimbursement and trip interruption coverage. GAP waives up to $50,000 of the “gap” due to a covered total loss and also covers up to $1,000 of the primary insurance deductible. Tire & Wheel Protection covers the replacement of tires or wheels that were structurally damaged due to a covered road hazard. It also includes towing reimbursements and covers the replacement of aftermarket tires and wheels during the remaining agreement terms. There are no deductibles and no limits on occurrences. All products include terms up to 48 months for leased bikes and 72 months for financed bikes.

At the core of Fuel Capital Group’s strategy is a technology-driven platform that provides dealers with near-immediate approvals, 100 percent paperless DocuSign contracting and 48-hour funding commitment. Fuel Capital’s mission is to become their dealer partners’ preferred funding solution by offering dealers and consumers a full credit spectrum of options with a fast seamless application, approval and funding process.

“We are thrilled to partner with Fuel Capital to provide them with a fully branded, one-stop resource to Safe-Guard’s proven protection products and dealer business solutions,” said Tony Catania, chief revenue officer of Safe-Guard. “Fuel Capital is a premier player within the motorsports industry and we’re proud to power innovative and value-added solutions for this great brand.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Safe-Guard manages protection product programs for over 50 strategic partners across the U.S. and Canada, offering a full suite of protection products and dealer business solutions in the automotive, RV, marine and powersport industries. More than 13 million consumers are protected under contracts by Safe-Guard.

About Fuel Capital Group

Fuel Capital is a full spectrum motorcycle lender founded in 2018. Fuel Capital’s mission is to become the one-stop solution for powersports dealers by offering a variety of finance options. Fuel Capital’s technology-driven approach results in a fast approval and funding process with an average funding time of 48 hours. The company prides itself on a dealer service-driven program to help dealers sell more motorcycles and generate more repeat business.

For more information, visit https://www.fuelcapitalgroup.com/.

Visit us on Facebook at: FuelCapitalGroup or Linkedin at: Fuel-Capital-Group.

About Safe-Guard Products International, LLC

Founded in 1992 and based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers programs on behalf of clients, backed by industry-leading sales and marketing, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top retailers and independent agents across the United States and Canada.

Mississauga, Ontario, May 19, 2020 –  Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, the leading provider of third-party private label protection products for the automotive, RV, marine and powersports industries, today announced Mary Buhr has joined the company as the director of account management and business development for Safe-Guard Canada, Ltd., effective immediately.

Buhr brings over a decade of automotive experience with her to Safe-Guard Canada, having started her career on the dealer side in finance and business management. Prior to joining Safe-Guard, Buhr spent five years working in dealer services and leading OEM relationships for a major finance and insurance provider. At Safe-Guard, Buhr will focus on building relationships with existing clients and partnering with David Wilke, national sales director, to grow Safe-Guard Canada’s client roster.

“We are excited to welcome Mary to Safe-Guard Canada as the director of account management and business development,” said David Pryor, president of Safe-Guard. “Mary’s multifaceted, deep experience within the automotive world will prove to be a big asset in leading and serving Safe-Guard’s current clients. We’re thrilled to have Mary as a part of our team as we continue to deliver full-service, branded solutions and drive our clients’ and dealers’ businesses forward.”

Buhr graduated with a B.A. in political economy from Trent University. In 2018, she was recognized by Auto Remarketing Canada on their annual “Remarketing’s Under 40” list. Earlier this month, Buhr was selected by Cherokee Media Group and Auto Remarketing Canada as a leading woman in automotive through their “Women & Automotive: Profiles in Leadership” program.

About Safe-Guard Products Canada

Founded in 2001 and based in Mississauga, Ontario, Safe-Guard Products Canada is the leading provider of branded vehicle protection products in the finance and insurance space to the automotive, RV, marine and motorcycle/powersports industries. The company develops, markets and administers the highest-quality programs and matches them with industry-leading marketing, dedicated sales and training, advanced technology solutions and comprehensive customer service. Safe-Guard is a proud partner to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), top dealer groups and retailers across Canada.

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