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This smart window company is on a $1 trillion mission to eliminate blinds and shades

Smartphones forever changed the way the world communicates. View, a newly public tech firm, is hoping smart windows will transform the way people live and work — while simultaneously helping fight the climate crisis. Backed by SoftBank’s Vision Fund, View builds dynamic glass that acts as a digital skin on buildings. The company says its smart windows use artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize natural light, control heat and limit glare. The Silicon Valley firm debuted as a publicly-traded company Tuesday through a merger with a SPAC backed by Cantor Fitzgerald. The deal, including private sales of shares, is raising $800 million that View plans to use to pay off a pile of debt and build a product to dominate what it sees as a $1 trillion market. “We took a day-to-day object and fundamentally transformed it for the 21st century to make it more sustainable, better for health and wellness, and get better outcomes for businesses,” Rao Mulpuri, View’s chairman and CEO, told CNN Business. The view says it controls 80% of the market for next-generation smart windows. Its products are used in more than 750 buildings globally, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Kaiser health facilities. Major companies including Netflix (NFLX), Facebook (FB) and FedEx (FDX) also use View glass in their offices, the company said, and Google plans to install it at its new Manhattan headquarters. Conserving energy to cut costs and save the planet View’s predictive systems take into account a wide array of factors including local weather, the arc of the sun and how far workers are situated from windows to create different levels of tint, the company said. “Windows are your only connection to the outside. How sad to hang blinds on them,” Mulpuri said. “You bought the view, you paid for it with your rent. But the truth is, if the shades are down, then you have the allure of the view — without the actual view.” View, which is 12 years old and has more than 500 employees, is debuting on the Nasdaq at a time when investors are looking for ways to bet on solutions to the climate crisis. Major banks are promising to align their lending activities with the Paris climate agreement and solar and wind companies are booming. The view says its products reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by blocking more than 90% of solar radiation from entering buildings. “To get to net zero, you can load up the roof with renewables [like solar panels], but the majority still has to come from conserving energy in buildings,” Mulpuri said. “You need to do that without penalizing the quality of life of people. You can’t just say, ‘Suck it up. Turn up the thermostat.’ We can deliver on the path to net-zero while making it more comfortable and better for your health.” Cantor Fitzgerald believes in smart windows enough to bring View public in a merger that was announced in November. At the time, Howard Lutnick, Cantor’s chairman and CEO, hailed View’s glass as a “gamechanger that will revolutionize the real estate experience,” saying it will eventually mean “buildings will no longer need blinds and shades.” Debt has more than quadrupled since late 2018 But View faces real obstacles ahead. First, the company needs to figure out how to scale its product by rapidly building out manufacturing capabilities. And that process will require hefty investments — hence taking the company public. “It’s about how fast we can build out our own capabilities,” Mulpuri said. “We’re just getting started and it’s a $1 trillion market.” Mulpuri said the plan is to use the proceeds from the SPAC and PIPE (private investment in public equity) to add manufacturing capacity and invest in research and development. View also plans to use the cash influx to repay its debt, which has more than quadrupled since the end of 2018 to $262 million, according to slides presented to investors. And View also needs to find a path to profitability after losing an estimated $87 million last year. The company’s revenue is projected to spike 138% in 2021, but it still expects to lose $52 million this year. SPACs aren’t for everyone The view is the latest company to join the SPAC boom. Special purpose acquisition corporations, also known as blank-check companies, are shells that exist solely to bring private companies public. These alternatives to traditional IPOs were once reserved for the backwaters of Wall Street but major companies including DraftKings and Virgin Galactic have gone the SPAC route. “In the past, people generally looked down on them. But over the last year SPACs and sponsors have become more mainstream,” Mulpuri said. “We chose this route because we have a demonstrable need for capital.” PACs have raised vast amounts of money and recently celebrities including Alex Rodriguez, Ciara Wilson, Serena Williams and Shaquille O’Neal have gotten into the act. Mulpuri warned that startups without proven products could hit turbulence — and hurt investors — if they go public via a SPAC before they’re ready. “Some people will get burned in the process,” he said. “With anything that gets overhyped, these things have a chance to cause some trouble in the future.” Source: edition.cnn.com
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12 steps for locating a lost life insurance policy

Locating life insurance documents for a deceased relative can be a daunting task. However, with a little sleuthing, you can successfully navigate the paper trail. Here are some strategies to help simplify your search. Look for insurance related documents Search through files, bank safe deposit boxes and other storage places to see if there are any insurance related documents. Also, check address books for the names of any insurance professionals or companies—an agent or company who sold the deceased their auto or home insurance may know about the existence of a life insurance policy. Contact financial advisors Present or prior attorneys, accountants, investment advisors, bankers, business insurance agents/brokers and other financial professionals might have information about the deceased’s life insurance policies. Review life insurance applications The application for each policy is attached to that policy. So if you can find any of the deceased’s life insurance policies, look at the application—will have a list of any other life insurance policies owned at the time of the application. Contact previous employers Former employers maintain records of past group policies. Check bank statements See if any checks or automated payments have been made out to life insurance companies over the years. Check the mail For the year following the death of the policyholder, look for premium notices or dividend notices. If a policy has been paid up, there will no notice of premium payments due; however, the company may still send an annual notice regarding the status of the policy or notice of a dividend. Review income tax returns Look over the deceased’s tax returns for the past two years to see if there is interest income from and interest expenses paid to life insurance companies. Life insurance companies pay interest on accumulations on permanent policies and charge interest on policy loans. Contact state insurance departments State insurance departments offer free search services to residents looking for lost policies. Check with the state’s Unclaimed Property Office If a life insurance company knows that an insured client has died but can’t find the beneficiary, it must turn the death benefit over to the state in which the policy was purchased as “unclaimed property.” If you know (or can guess) where the policy was bought, you can contact the state comptroller’s department to see if it has any unclaimed money from life insurance policies belonging to the deceased. Contact a private search service Several private companies will, for a fee, assist you with the search for a lost life insurance policy. They will contact insurance companies on your behalf to find out if the deceased was insured. This service is often provided through a websites.
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What is auto insurance?

Understand your car insurance and what it covers Understanding auto insurance: the basics Who is covered by my auto insurance and under what circumstances? Is auto insurance coverage mandatory? What other types of auto insurance coverage are typical? What is gap insurance and do I need it? Basic personal auto insurance is mandated by countries and provides drivers with some financial protection in case of an accident. But is it enough? What are the options? Learn how car insurance works and what types of coverage are available. Understanding auto insurance: the basics Auto insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company that protects you against financial loss in the event of an accident or theft. In exchange for your paying a premium, the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as outlined in your policy. Auto insurance provides coverage for: Property – such as damage to or theft of your car Liability – your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage Medical – the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation, and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses Basic personal auto insurance is mandated by most countries, though laws vary. Auto insurance coverages are priced individually (a la carte) to let you customize coverage amounts to suit your exact needs and budget. Policies are generally issued for six-month or one-year timeframes and are renewable. The insurance company sends a notice when it’s time to renew the policy and pay your premium. Who is covered by my auto insurance—and under what circumstances? Your auto policy will cover you and other family members on your policy, whether driving your car or someone else’s car (with their permission). Your policy also provides coverage if someone who is not on your policy is driving your car with your consent. Your personal auto policy only covers personal driving, whether you’re commuting to work, running errands, or taking a trip. It will not provide coverage if you use your car for commercial purposes—for instance, if you deliver pizzas. Personal auto insurance will also not provide coverage if you use your car to provide transportation to others through a ride-sharing service such as Uber or Lyft. Some auto insurers, however, are now offering supplemental insurance products (at additional cost) that extend coverage for vehicle owners providing ride-sharing services. Is auto insurance coverage mandatory? Auto insurance requirements vary from state to state. If you’re financing a car, your lender may also have its own requirements. Nearly every state requires car owners to carry: Bodily injury liability – which covers costs associated with injuries or death that you or another driver causes while driving your car. Property damage liability – which reimburses others for damage that you or another driver operating your car causes to another vehicle or other property, such as a fence, building, or utility pole. In addition, many states require that you carry: Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP), which provides reimbursement for medical expenses for injuries to you or your passengers. It will also cover lost wages and other related expenses. Uninsured motorist coverage reimburses you when an accident is caused by a driver who does not have auto insurance—or in the case of a hit-and-run. You can also purchase underinsured motorist coverage, which will cover costs when another driver lacks adequate coverage to pay the costs of a serious accident. Even if PIP and uninsured motorist coverage are optional in your state, consider adding them to your policy for greater financial protection. What other types of auto insurance coverage are typical? While most basic, legally mandated auto insurance covers the damage your car causes, it does not cover damage to your own car. To cover your own car, you should consider these optional coverages: Collision reimburses you for damage to your car that occurs as a result of a collision with another vehicle or other object—e.g., a tree or guardrail—when you’re at fault. While collision coverage will not reimburse you for mechanical failure or normal wear-and-tear on your car, it will cover damage from potholes or from rolling your car. Comprehensive provides coverage against theft and damage caused by an incident other than a collision, such as fire, flood, vandalism, hail, falling rocks or trees, and other hazards—even getting hit by an asteroid! Glass Coverage provides coverage from windshield damage, which is common. Some auto policies include no-deductible glass coverage, which also includes side windows, rear windows, and glass sunroofs. Or you can buy supplemental glass coverage. What is gap insurance and do I need it? Collision and comprehensive only cover the market value of your car, not what you paid for it—and new cars depreciate quickly. If your car is totaled or stolen, there may be a “gap” between what you owe on the vehicle and your insurance coverage. To cover this, you may want to look into purchasing gap insurance to pay the difference. Note that for leased vehicles, gap coverage is usually rolled into your lease payments.
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Reasons to purchase permanent life insurance

A permanent life policy provides lifelong insurance protection. The policy pays a death benefit if you die tomorrow or if you live to be a hundred. There is also a savings element that will grow on a tax-deferred basis and may become substantial over time. Because of the savings element, premiums are generally higher for permanent than for term insurance. However, the premium in a permanent policy remains the same, while term can go up substantially every time you renew it. There are a number of different types of permanent insurance policies, such as whole (ordinary) life, universal life, variable life, and variable/universal life. In a permanent policy, the cash value is different from its face value amount. The face amount is the money that will be paid at death. Cash value is the amount of money available to you. There are a number of ways that you can use this cash savings. For instance, you can take a loan against it or you can surrender the policy before you die to collect the accumulated savings. Unique features of a permanent policy: You can lock in premiums when you purchase the policy. By purchasing a permanent policy, the premium will not increase as you age or if your health status changes. The policy will accumulate cash savings. Depending on the policy, you may be able to withdraw some of the money. You also may have these options: Use the cash value to pay premiums. If unexpected expenses occur, you can stop or reduce your premiums. The cash value in the policy can be used toward the premium payment to continue your current insurance protection – providing there is enough money accumulated. Borrow from the insurance company using the cash value in your life insurance as collateral. Like all loans, you will ultimately need to repay the insurer with interest. Otherwise, the policy may lapse or your beneficiaries will receive a reduced death benefit. However, unlike loans from most financial institutions, the loan is not dependent on credit checks or other restrictions.
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The Hague Tribunal: An Overview of Key Cases and Their Significance

The Hague Tribunal, also known as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), is a United Nations-affiliated international court established in 1993 to prosecute serious crimes committed during the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s. The Hague Tribunal operates under the principle of complementarity, meaning that it only takes cases where the relevant national jurisdiction is unwilling or unable to do so. The Hague Tribunal has prosecuted some of the most notorious figures from the Balkans conflict, including former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladić, and Croatian General Ante Gotovina. The following are some of the most significant cases handled by the Hague Tribunal: The Trial of Slobodan Milošević: The former Serbian President was charged with 66 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in connection with the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The trial, which lasted from 2002 until Milošević’s death in 2006, was the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal. The Trial of Ratko Mladić: The former Bosnian Serb military leader was charged with 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, including the massacre of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995. Mladić was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in 2017. The Trial of Ante Gotovina: The former Croatian General was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in a military operation that led to the forced expulsion of Serb civilians from the Krajina region of Croatia in 1995. Gotovina was initially convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison, but his conviction was later overturned on appeal and he was acquitted in 2012. These trials, along with many others conducted by the Hague Tribunal, have been instrumental in bringing to light the extent of the atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts and in holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The legacy of the Hague Tribunal continues to be felt today, as it has set a precedent for international criminal justice and helped to establish the principle that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law. The Trial of Slobodan Milošević: A Milestone in International Criminal Justice The Trial of Slobodan Milošević was one of the most significant cases in the history of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The former Serbian President was charged with 66 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in connection with the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The trial, which lasted from 2002 until Milošević’s death in 2006, was the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal. Milošević was accused of orchestrating a campaign of ethnic cleansing aimed at driving out non-Serbs from large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The prosecution presented evidence of mass killings, rape, and forced deportations of non-Serb civilians. Milošević was also accused of implementing a widespread campaign of terror and violence to maintain his grip on power in Serbia and of supporting the Bosnian Serb army in its pursuit of territorial gains and the extermination of Bosnian Muslims. The trial was widely seen as a test of the international community’s commitment to holding leaders accountable for serious crimes, and it attracted widespread media attention. Despite the high-profile nature of the case and the significance of the charges, the trial was marked by a number of difficulties, including the unavailability of key witnesses, the slow pace of proceedings, and the death of Milošević before a verdict could be reached. Despite these challenges, the Trial of Slobodan Milošević remains a landmark case in the history of international criminal justice. It demonstrated the principle that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law and that those who commit serious crimes will be held accountable for their actions. The legacy of the trial continues to be felt today, as it has set a precedent for international tribunals and reinforced the importance of holding those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity to account. In conclusion, the Trial of Slobodan Milošević was a significant event in the history of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and a landmark case in the history of international criminal justice. It marked the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal and set a powerful precedent for holding those responsible for serious crimes accountable for their actions.
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