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Engine Capital "announced that it has withdrawn its nomination of candidates for election to Blucora, Inc.'s Board of Directors at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Engine believes the recent appointments of cybersecurity expert Kanayalal A. Kotecha and former investment banker J. Richard Leaman III represent a step in the right direction, especially given our publicly articulated concerns about the Company's strategy and corporate structure. While Engine is disappointed with the Board's yearslong resistance to adding a shareholder representative with financial expertise, we are hopeful that the addition of Mr. Leaman III as a director will help address Blucora's failed "synergy-focused" strategy, excessive corporate overhead and sustained underperformance. Given his experience, we expect Mr. Leaman III will quickly identify that Blucora trades at a significant discount to the sum-of-the-parts and recognize the need to consider steps to close the valuation gap. Given our extensive engagement with leadership and these subsequent changes at Blucora, Engine will give the reconstituted Board ten months to address long-standing issues and unlock value for shareholders. Engine intends to continue engaging with the Board and absent enhanced value creation in 2022, we may seek meaningful change at Blucora's 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders."

Avantax has acquired Washington-based Gene Bell & Associates. The transaction expands the presence of Avantax's employee-based RIA, adds venerable tax expert and Financial Professional Gene Bell, CFP, E.A., NTPI Fellow, to the financial services company's management team, and helps ensure Bell's clients are well-served as they pursue their financial goals. Bell joins Avantax as Director, Tax-Smart Initiatives, reporting directly to Andy Watts, Vice President, Investment Solutions; three of Gene Bell & Associates' talented staff also become Avantax employees. Having been affiliated with Avantax for several years, this transaction enables Bell to contribute full-time toward the Avantax vision to profoundly impact clients' lives by changing the way Americans plan and invest. Bell's new role includes further expanding the Tax-Smart Investing tools that Avantax develops to help create value for Financial Professionals and their clients who believe in planning their financial future from the intersection of tax and financial planning.