The Wright Group Marketing & Media Guide

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R E A L E S TAT E A D V I S O RY & B R O K E R A G E S E RV I C E S

Marketing Guide

THE WRIGHT GROUP is a privately held, boutique real estate advisory and brokerage firm headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia.

Founded in 2006, the success of our firm lies in its extreme versatility.

We combine a strong understanding of national real estate trends with a keen knowledge of regional markets.

Located in the epicenter of the famed Red Hills plantation belt, we cater to discerning buyers and sellers of high-end residential and recreational properties. The Wright Group takes pride in its commitment to deliver insightful advice and service of exceptional quality, integrity, and objectivity. We offer brokerage services for individuals and institutions across the Southeast.

The Wright Group is the leader in sales of South Georgia and North Florida hunting plantations, in addition to timberland, farmland and historic homes of distinction.

B E N W. M c C O L L U M , Broker & Founder Ben, a Thomasville native, recognized many years ago an opportunity existed to represent and promote the quality of land and historic properties that have come to define the Red Hills Region. The Red Hills of South Georgia and North Florida offer access to some of the finest quail shooting in the country and consequently, the area is home to the largest concentration of traditional quail hunting plantations in the world. Ben founded The Wright Group to cater exclusively to discerning buyers and sellers of these unique properties. In addition to his keen understanding of the area and its residents, Ben has a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia.

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Of f i c e 2 2 9 -2 2 6- 2564

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Fax 800- 428- 0435

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Mobile 229- 221- 6680

E R I C J . M c C O L L U M , Associate Eric, a Thomasville native, joined The Wright Group in 2009 and has an extensive background and knowledge of plantations, timberland, farmland, waterfront, development and investment properties throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Before joining The Wright Group, Eric worked with multiple private investment companies, where he handled the acquisition and disposition of all types of real estate assets as well as property management and construction. His knowledge of the marketplace and his range of industry contacts in both the institutional and private sectors make him a tremendous asset in serving individuals and investors looking for large acreage, recreational, development, and timberland investment property. He is an avid outdoorsman, has a B.S. in Forest Management from the University of Georgia and is licensed in both Georgia and Florida. eric@wrigh t b ro ke r. c o m

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Of f i c e 2 2 9 -2 2 6 - 2564

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Fax 800- 428- 0435

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Mobile 229- 200- 4457

M E E T the T E A M

b en @wrigh t b ro ke r. c o m

H U N T E R D R E W, Associate For over 30 years, Hunter has served as a respected manager and dog trainer for several of the area’s premier plantations. During this time, Hunter has developed a management regime that creates a balance of farming, timber and wildlife – he is known as one of the leading authorities on cultivating wild bobwhite quail hunting programs. For decades, Hunter has worked as a consultant to acquire and implement management programs on plantations and other private land holdings throughout the Southeast to optimize habitat and sustainable forestry practices.

M E E T the T E A M

A passionate dog handler, Hunter cofounded the Georgia/Florida Plantation Shooting Dog Field Trial where the area’s top dogs compete each year. He joined The Wright Group in 2014.

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hunter@wrightbroker.com

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Office 229-226-2564

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Fax 800-428-0435

Mobile 229-224-6910

S O N J A C L A R K , Associate Sonja, a Thomasville native, joined the Wright Group in 2010 and possess an extensive knowledge of the residential marketplace in southwest Georgia. She attributes her success in real estate to her love of the area and her expert knowledge of the market.

To her, nothing is more gratifying than introducing people to not only to their future home, but also the Thomasville community. As an active member of the Thomasville Area Board of Directors, Sonja has held many positions including Local Director, President, Secretary/Treasure, and Chairman of multiple committees. As a multi-million dollar producer yearly, Sonja was awarded “2016 Realtor of the Year” in January of 2017. sonja@wrightbroker.com

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Office 229-226-2564

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Fax 800-428-0435

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Mobile 229-224-9901

C A L L I E S E W E L L , Marketing Director Callie is the office transplant to Thomasville, moving south from Atlanta in 2014 with her husband and springer spaniel. She offers a decades’ worth of marketing experience, with a speciality in public relations. She was on the PR team at shapewear powerhouse brand SPANX, managing national media relations, events and opportunities for Founder Sara Blakely. Most recently, she was the Marketing Director at Thomasville Center for the Arts. She is an Athens girl, born and raised, with a Speech Communication & Mass Communication degree from The University of Georgia. She joined the Wright Group in 2016. |

Office 229-226-2564

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Fax 800-428-0435

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Mobile 706-296-1311

C . H . W H I T N E Y, Auctioneer Since 1977, Charlie has successfully sold over $500 million in real estate and personal property at auction. He has served as an executive with two national auction companies and is past president and chairman of The Georgia Auctioneers Association. His experience has involved developing specific marketing techniques for all categories of real estate and personal property from agricultural to commercial to residential, across much of the country.

Clients have included individuals, financial institutions – like Rabobank, Farm Credit Service and Travelers Insurance Company — government agencies, such as the U.S. Marshalls Service and U.S. Small Business Administration, and corporations, partnerships and estates. chwhitney@wrightbroker.com

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Office 229-226-2564

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Fax 800-428-0435

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Mobile 229-224-2023

M E E T the T E A M

callie@wrightbroker.com

M A X & J U D G E , Office Mascots When not in the woods, both dogs can be routinely found at The Wright Group office. They’ll trade you a quail consultation for a scratch behind the ears! Both dogs have effectively assisted in wild quail studies, conducting covey count analysis across both the Red Hills and Albany Plantation belts. Max, our Brittany, is

M E E T the T E A M

well qualified with a bloodline tracing back to Nolan’s Last Bullet. He is adept as both a pointer and retriever and enjoys spending long days in mature upland forests and cold mornings in the duck blind. His protege, Judge, is an English Cocker who posses the rare ability to both point, flush, and retrieve. He is already winning accolades in the field and took home the Red Hills Spaniel Trial blue ribbon in the puppy division.

G E T TO K N OW U S @thewrightgroup facebook.com/wright.group.thomasville/ Check out our property videos on Vimeo NEWSLETTER:

To join our mailing list, simply visit wrightbroker.com and click “JOIN US”

in the top right corner of our homepage. Don’t miss out on the Southeast’s leading source for high quality estates, farms, recreational properties, and plantation listings!

S O C I A L LY A N D L O C A L LY C O N N E C T E D Tall Timbers Advancement Committee Georgia Florida Field Trial Member Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival Underwriter Due South Underwriter Red Hills Rover Rally Fly Fishing Film Tour Now or Neverglades Initiative Thomasville Antique Show Underwriter Landmarks Board Member & Underwriter

Thomasville Area Board of Realtors

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“Landowners here are a combination of sportsman, investors, and conservationists who are dedicated not only to preserving this landscape but also this unique lifestyle,” said Ben McCollum, Owner and Broker with The Wright Group, a boutique firm specializing in Red Hills Legacy estates.”

- Open Fences, Fall Issue

Located in the ‘Quail Belt,’ Millpond Plantation has been owned by the descendants of one of the founders of Western Union for well over a century.

Called Millpond Plantation, the property is on the National Register of Historic Places. It covers 3,267 acres in Thomasville and includes a 26,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom Spanish revival mansion; the square footage includes a vast glass-roofed atrium in the middle of the home. There is also a four-bedroom “manager’s house,” two 2,000-square-foot guest cottages, a variety of other homes for employees, a barn and a dog kennel, said listing agent Ben McCollum of the Wright Group in Thomasville. To aid in the hunt, 30 trained bird dogs, seven horses and four mules are included, plus hunting wagons, saddles, tractors and an array of farm equipment.

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Historic Georgia Quail-Hunting Estate Seeks $25 Million

A M E R I C A’ S A M E R I C A ’ S

BEST

BEST BROKERAGES United Country Gibson Realty & Land Company

B R O K E R A G E S www.gibsonrealtyms.com

BEST

2017

United Country Neeley Forestry Service

www.ucneeleyforestry.com (870) 836-5981 United Country Gibson 2016 Sales: < $50 Million Realty & Land Company Who: Specialists in timberland www.gibsonrealtyms.com and recreational properties in (601) The 250-0017 Editors of the Magazine South Arkansas, Northeast 2016of Sales: $100–$250 Million Texas, and Northern Louisiana. the American Landowner Who: Leaders in Mississippi, Wow: Sold nearly 800 acres of Present Our Annual Louisiana, and Arkansas estate land along the Antoine River in Survey of the properties, timberland, hunting Arkansas in a single transaction Country’s Leading Real Estate land, horse properties, river for almost $1.1 million.

Firmslakefront Specializing in Land. properties, properties, Insight: “2016 was basically poultry farms, and other agricula repeat of a very good 2015,” tural land. says Joshua Barkhimer.

BROKERAGES

and recreational properties in South Arkansas, Northeast Texas, and Northern Louisiana.

Wow: Sold nearly 800 acres of land along the Antoine River in A M E Rin I C A ’ S transaction Arkansas a single for almost $1.1 million.

Insight: “2016 was basically a repeat of a very good 2015,” BROKERAGES says Joshua Barkhimer.

BEST

United Country Gibson The Wright Group Realty & Land Company

www.wrightbroker.com www.gibsonrealtyms.com (229) 226-2564 (601) 250-0017 2016 Sales: $50–$100 Million 2016 Sales: $100–$250 Million Who: Southeastern authority for Who: Leaders in Mississippi, high-quality estates, recreational Louisiana, and Arkansas estate properties, farms, and plantaproperties, timberland, hunting tions. land, horse properties, river Wow: Exclusive sealed-bid aucproperties, properties, tion processlakefront yielded 63 bids for poultry farms, and other agriculNancemeade Farms, a 3,593-acre tural land. property in Mitchell County, Wow: Recognized as the top resulting in a record-setting United Country Real Estate farmland sales price for the state office internationally in 2016, of Georgia. the eighth year the brokerage Insight: Overall land valuations received the award. and general consumer sentiment Insight: From a sales volume point toward a stable real estate standpoint, 2016 was comparable environment in 2017. to the previous two years.

United Country Neeley Forestry Service

www.ucneeleyforestry.com

resulting in a re farmland sales p of Georgia.

Insight: Overa and general con point toward a environment in

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A M E R I C A ’ S

(601) 250-0017 2016 Sales: $100–$250 Million Who: Leaders in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas estate properties, timberland, hunting land, horse properties, river properties, lakefront properties, poultry farms, and other agricultural land.

Wow: Recognized as the top United Country Real Estate office internationally in 2016, the eighth year the brokerage received the award.

Insight: From a sales volume standpoint, 2016 was comparable to the previous two years.

2016 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Specialists in timberland

2016 Sales: Who: Specialis

and recreation S O U T South Arkansa Texas, and No Accredited L Sold ne &Wow: World Clas land along the www.worldclas Arkansas in a s (918) 426-6006 for almost $1.1< 2016 Sales: Insight: “2016 Who: Leaders i a repeat ofand a veT Arkansas, says Joshua Ba land, and hunti

Wow: Opened The Wright Insight: ContiG

www.wrightbr (229) 226-2564 Briggs Freem

2016 Sales: International Who: Southea and Land Div

high-quality es www.ranch.brig properties, farm (800) 530-4663 tions.

2016 Sales: > Wow:Dallas-ba Exclusiv Who: tion process yi brokerage spec Nancemeade purchase and sF

Ben McCollum is a rover who roams an outfield made of pine. He serves as the principal of the Wright Group and is a native of Thomasville, making him part of a legacy here that stretches back to the 19th century. As such, the Rover Rally is his way of brokering a deal with the history and the landscape...McCollum and his team are serving as stewards of a metaphorical transition team. Nostalgia, coupled with a healthy dosage of understanding of the past, acts as a GPS for him as he carries the torch to hand to the next generation. By benefiting the 22nd Annual Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival in Thomasville, the Rover Rally, as he says, “reminds us to open our eyes, smell that pine-infused air, and see what a special place this truly is.”

making H E A D L I N E S

A player not assigned to a specific position on a team, playing wherever needed

great-grandfather. Sure, the life has offered some Gatsbyesque moments, dinner parties of the like-minded engaged in compelling conversation, and mule-drawn wagons of the rich and famous swapping black tie for brier britches. These are characteristic of the images that spring to mind when one thinks of a quail plantation. The Sedgwicks, after all, have mixed business success with public service, in both the conservation space and the diplomatic arena. But they’ve also been teachers and environmental activists, parents and siblings, husbands and wives. And they have also been active stewards of what has been, for over 100 years, a bastion of upland tradition and family fellowship. None of these roles is easy, no matter what the balance sheet says, especially when tough decisions have to be made. As it turns out, they face such a decision today.

Just as J.H. Wade II anticipated changes in family needs and ownership structures, his great-grandchildren now face the bittersweet task of selling their portion of the original Millpond Plantation. As one of the siblings put it, “We have all enjoyed coming here, but there comes a time when it doesn’t seem to work.” As they have found, families spread out across generations, and their interests follow. What began as a seasonal pilgrimage generations ago—Santa always came to Thomasville, not to Cleveland—is a more difficult challenge as families grow and dedicate resources separately.

The house itself serves as a metaphor for this transition. At the close of each season, the house is put to sleep. The art and the rugs along the courtyard—where kids would skate on rainy

60 COVEY RISE

MIL LPON D A Georgia quail plantation brings history and family to the fore.

60 COVEY RISE

day stor a ho and deb and and and mul on t for fade T fall ing woo will of th and play that ies o wou peo and grap in th

F I N A L C H EC KS Handlers ready their dogs in anticipation of a traditional hunt aboard a mule-drawn wagon rolling through the pines and sage.

COVEY RISE 61 COVEY RISE 61

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ys—are put away. The pantries are cleared, the linens are days—are put away. The pantries are cleared, the linens are red, and the furniture is covered, where only minutes before stored, and the furniture is covered, where only minutes before ost of hunting stories were told with varied shades of truth, a host of hunting stories were told with varied shades of truth, d the events of the day in the real world were absorbed and and the events of the day in the real world were absorbed and bated. The atrium ceiling is opened to allow the summer heat debated. The atrium ceiling is opened to allow the summer heat d moisture to rise through the glass and dissipate into the blues and moisture to rise through the glass and dissipate into the blues d greens of the sky and the surrounding pine canopy. The Jeeps and greens of the sky and the surrounding pine canopy. The Jeeps d the wagons are cleaned and stored, while the horses and and the wagons are cleaned and stored, while the horses and les are put out to pasture. So it has been for over 100 years mules are put out to pasture. So it has been for over 100 years their watch, and someday soon they’ll put the house to sleep on their watch, and someday soon they’ll put the house to sleep the last time, as the memories linger and the conversations for the last time, as the memories linger and the conversations e, to be made and had anew in different settings. fade, to be made and had anew in different settings.

There is hope in the sadness, though, because the following There is hope in the sadness, though, because the following the house will awaken to find a new family at table, craftfall the house will awaken to find a new family at table, crafta new chapter for great old bones and coming of age in the ing a new chapter for great old bones and coming of age in the ods that surround her. It seems likely that the new family woods that surround her. It seems likely that the new family l also be one of means, and there’s a good chance that many will also be one of means, and there’s a good chance that many he old images will be perpetuated by new names, new faces, of the old images will be perpetuated by new names, new faces, d new parties. At some level, Millpond will remain a private and new parties. At some level, Millpond will remain a private yground for the rich and famous, a part of the plantation set playground for the rich and famous, a part of the plantation set t defines the upper reaches of the socioeconomic boundarthat defines the upper reaches of the socioeconomic boundarof the upland lifestyle. If the walls could talk, though, they ies of the upland lifestyle. If the walls could talk, though, they uld revel in the stories of real kids growing up together, real would revel in the stories of real kids growing up together, real ople growing up to be stalwart advocates for conservation, people growing up to be stalwart advocates for conservation, d real siblings leaning on a lifetime of days afield together to and real siblings leaning on a lifetime of days afield together to pple with big questions and family challenges. Somewhere grapple with big questions and family challenges. Somewhere he universe, Jeptha Homer Wade II is smiling. in the universe, Jeptha Homer Wade II is smiling.

COVEY RISE 59

Spanish moss drips from the live oaks as dappled sunshine highlights the glass atrium roof and formal gardens... So it has been for over 100 years on their watch, and someday soon they’ll put the house to sleep for the last time, as 56 COVEY theRISE memories linger and the conversations fade, to be made and had anew in different settings. There is hope in the sadness, though, because the following fall the house will awaken to find a new family at table, crafting a new chapter for great old bones and coming of age in the woods that surround her. It seems likely that the new family will also be one of means, and there’s a good chance that many of the old images will be perpetuated by new names, new faces, and new parties.

Thomasville, Georgia “Thomasville’s history plays an unmistakable role in why this small town is a thriving place today,” says broker Ben McCollum of the Wright Group, which focuses on selling plantation, legacy properties. “During the late 1800s, Thomasville was the end of the railway.

Instead of Florida beaches, wealthy Northerners and Industrialists came south here to escape the cold and ultimately fell in love with the pine-infused air, mild

climate, and sporting life. These Northern families bought land, established large winter estates and created sporting plantations, most of which are still privately owned and operated to this day. Thomasville is unique in the sense that a 6 oz. bird assists in driving the city culturally and economically today, and that was the same force that helped found the city.”

REGIONAL PRESS

Historic Callaway family lodge listed for $4 million A west Georgia property listed on the National Register

of Historic Places that has played host to three U.S. presidents is on the market for $4 million.

Oak Rise This dream escape was renovated with meticulous

construction and every detail was considered. Hidden among oak trees in the Red Hills Region, “Oak Rise” boasts distinct features inspired by Louisiana architect A. Hayes Town.

Happy Hunting Grounds There’s this place about four

hours south of Atlanta where you can throw an absolutely epic weekend party for a few couples or a hundred or so of your closest friends—and it’s for sale.

Trulock Farms Trulock Farms has a long rich history as it derives

from a deed dating back to an original land grant from King George III in the late 1770s…the property is incredibly diverse and attractive as it has been intensively managed with an emphasis on timber, agriculture and wildlife.

COMPLETE MARKETING SUITE Custom Maps with Aerial shots

Marketing Brochures

Professional Photography (including Video and Aerial Drone)

Custom Signage

Direct Mail Campaign to Targeted Lists with National Reach Presence at Collaborative Events Supporting Local Non-Profits

Property showcased in Regional General Aviation Markets (Fixed Based Operations) in Atlanta, Birmingham, Teterboro, West Palm Beach, Albany, and Thomasville

S T R AT E G I C A P P R O A C H T O A D V E R T I S I N G on National, Regional and Local Levels

O N L I N E and P R I N T M E D I A

Print and Digital Advertising in Strategic Media Outlets

Digital Campaign Utilizing The Wright Group’s Exclusive Newsletter Lists and Social Media Reach

P R O P E R T I E S represented by The Wright Group

13%

P L A N TAT I O N . . . 3 4 %

34%

R E C R E AT I O N . . . 2 7 %

26%

E S TAT E S . . . 2 6 %

by the N U M B E R S

27%

FA R M L A N D. . . 1 3 %

R E D H I L L S P L A N T AT I O N S A L E S by Broker r epr esents plantations that ar e r ecognized by the Geor gia Florida Field Trial Map T H E W R I G H T G RO U P

49%

OT H E R *

33%

P R I V AT E

18%

*All other brokers combined

121 $

A C H I E V E D T H E H I G H E S T. . . p ric e p e r a c re fo r f a r m l a n d i n t h e h i s t o r y o f G e o r g i a p ric e p e r a c re fo r a co n s e r va t i o n e a s e m e n t s a l e p o s t re c e ssio n

YEARS of combi ne d experi ence

L E A D E R I N T H E M A R K E T fo r re p re s e n t i n g d i s ce r n i n g se lle rs a n d b u ye rs in p r i va t e t r a n s a ct i o n s

Honesty. Integrity. Local.

SOLD OVER

96% of Wright

G ro u p l i s t i n g s

Sales Data from 2007-2018

W H Y L I S T with The Wright Group:

H I C KO RY H E A D

NANCEMEADE

WOODLAND CORNERS

HINES HILL

H I C KO RY H E A D

Sold for $4235 per acre

Hickory Head Plantation, comprised of 2388 beautiful acres, is a conservation and preservation success story. In 1999, the property was purchased as a working cattle farm. The owner undertook the massive endeavor of converting the rolling pasture land back to native ground cover and indegnious longleaf pines. Meanwhile, a complete restoration was initiated on the circa 1840 antebellum home. The result was a radical transformation of the landscape resulting in a fully reestablished and prolific wild quail population alongside a stunning main house. A conservation easement was placed on the property to protect the habitat in perpetuity. The sales price was astounding given the easement and the lack of merchantable timber.

Sold for $18.6 million H I N E S H I L L / M A N D A L AY P L A N TAT I O N Hines Hill & Mandalay combined include 4337 acres of rolling hills and a gorgeous Georgian style home. The property has been intensively managed for 4 generations with an emphasis on quail and timber production but also offers excellent deer, turkey, dove, and duck hunting. Post recession, these properties were just two of over a dozen plantations on the market, which marked the highest supply of plantation inventory in our history. Sold in two transactions, Hines Hill and Mandalay served to re-establish plantation values and were the paradigm shift that changed consumer sentiment and stabilized the overall marketplace.

W O O D L A N D C O R N E R S Sold for $5800 per acre Woodland Corners perfectly depicts the classic southern landscape that has come to define the Red Hills Region. The property consists of 780+/- acres of rolling terrain with towering pines and beautiful live oak canopies. The native grasses provide excellent habitat and cover for a very healthy bobwhite quail population. Woodland Corners is appropriately named, as the property possesses significant timber reserves of mixed age class pines. This sale represents the highest price per acre conservation easement sale post the recession.

SALES HIGHLIGHTS

N A N C E M E A D E P L A N TAT I O N Sealed Bid Auction - Sold for 24.5 million Totaling approximately 3593 acres, with 2124 acres of prime, irrigated farmland, Nancemede is an incredible recreational property with an exceptional income stream. The property includes 1.5 miles of Flint River frontage and a 7500 square foot plantation home situated on a high bluff overlooking the river. In addition to the highly productive farmland, the property also contains well managed mixed age pine timber. Our exclusive sealed bid auction process attracted a national and international audience that yielded 63 bids and resulted in a historic sales price, achieving the highest price per acre for agricultural land on record in the state of Georgia, to date.

“Real estate cannot be lost or stolen nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

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