Press Release
IAA Invests in Innovation Hub at 1871 — North America’s Largest Tech Accelerator Center
Published March 27, 2019 - Written by IAA, Inc.
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Mar. 27, 2019 – Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA), a business unit of global vehicle remarketing and technology solutions provider KAR Auction Services (NYSE: KAR), announces an insurance claims and remarketing industry first — its investment in an innovation hub at 1871, the largest technology incubator in North America. IAA Engine HouseTM will serve as an ideation and development center where employees can collaborate with educators, investors, mentors, technologists, buyers and sellers.
“Our insurance and automotive remarketing customers require solutions that help them decrease cycle time, increase efficiency, make data-driven decisions and, above all, improve their economic returns,” said John Kett, CEO and president of IAA. “We are making strategic investments to help fuel more rapid progress in the industry. Being in an environment where we can share ideas and collaborate with universities and startups that are advancing technology gives us the advantage to lead the innovation of our industry. We can work to enhance our current technologies, but more importantly, to develop the solutions of the future.”
Located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, 1871 is 140,000 square feet of collaboration space and home to more than 1,000 inventors, designers and creators and over 500 startups. Various industries are represented in the space and can work together to share advancements and learnings.
IAA Engine House will have up to 20 employees at a time and will offer a rotation schedule to expose as many IAA employees as possible to the culture and shared knowledge at 1871. IAA will have access to more than 350 mentors and 1,000 events and learning programs each year. Engine House will serve as a location for client meetings, ideation sessions and product development and launch gatherings.
“IAA Engine House at 1871 will help us to foster a culture of innovation, generate ideas and launch them to full-fledged products or solutions — all while exercising an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Kett.
Media Inquiries:
Jeanene O’Brien
SVP, Global Marketing and Communications
(708) 492-7328
jobrien@iaai.com
Analyst Inquiries:
Caitlin Churchill
ICR
(203) 682-8200
investors@iaai.com
About IAA, Inc.
IAA, Inc. (NYSE: IAA) is a leading global digital marketplace connecting vehicle buyers and sellers. Leveraging leading-edge technology and focusing on innovation, IAA’s unique multi-channel platform processes approximately 2.5 million total-loss, damaged and low-value vehicles annually. Headquartered near Chicago in Westchester, Illinois, IAA has nearly 4,000 talented employees and more than 200 facilities throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. IAA serves a rapidly growing global buyer base – located throughout over 135 countries – and a full spectrum of sellers, including insurers, dealerships, fleet lease and rental car companies, and charitable organizations. Buyers have access to innovative vehicle merchandising, efficient evaluation services and digital bidding tools, enhancing the overall purchasing experience. IAA offers sellers a comprehensive suite of services aimed at maximizing vehicle value, reducing administrative costs, shortening selling cycle time and delivering the highest economic returns.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements made that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements and can be identified by words such as “should,” “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions. In this release, such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the expected timing and associated benefits of CSAToday, and the related services, products and platforms discussed in this release. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and measures to prevent its spread, on our business and the economy generally; the loss of one or more significant suppliers or a reduction in significant volume from such suppliers; our ability to meet or exceed customers’ demand and expectations; significant current competition and the introduction of new competitors or other disruptive entrants in our industry; the risk that our facilities lack the capacity to accept additional vehicles and our ability to obtain land or renew/enter into new leases at commercially reasonable rates; our ability to effectively maintain or update information and technology systems; our ability to implement and maintain measures to protect against cyberattacks and comply with applicable privacy and data security requirements; our ability to successfully implement our business strategies or realize expected cost savings and revenue enhancements, including from our margin expansion program; business development activities, including acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; our expansion into markets outside the U.S. and the operational, competitive and regulatory risks facing our non-U.S. based operations; our reliance on subhaulers and trucking fleet operations; changes in used-vehicle prices and the volume of damaged and total loss vehicles we purchase; economic conditions, including fuel prices, commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rate fluctuations; trends in new- and used-vehicle sales and incentives; and other risks and uncertainties identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including under "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 18, 2020. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties will also be contained in subsequent annual and quarterly reports we file with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information or events, except as required by law.
