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Nautilus, Inc. Launches New Bowflex Treadmills Featuring the Individualized JRNY® Digital Fitness Platform

Nautilus, Inc. Launches New Bowflex Treadmills Featuring the Individualized JRNY® Digital Fitness Platform

  • New generation of Bowflex® connected treadmills integrate with the JRNY® digital fitness platform through an HD touch screen console.
  • Both T7 and T10 treadmills offer speeds up to 12 mph, motorized decline/incline and Comfort Tech™ deck cushioning for a supportive landing.
  • The new treadmills feature transport wheels and a SoftDrop™ folding system to easily move and store around the home.
  • The JRNY® digital fitness platform coaches members to achieve their fitness goals by offering curated workout and entertainment options that stream while being coached.
  • JRNY® members receive voice-coached individualized workouts, trainer-led workouts, integration with other fitness apps, and access to their entertainment subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

VANCOUVER, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE:NLS), the innovation leader in home fitness for over 30 years, today announced the launch of its new Bowflex® treadmills featuring the enhanced JRNY® digital fitness platform; further distinguishing it as the connected fitness company with a portfolio of digital products at different price points for all users.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201217005047/en/

New generation of Bowflex® T7 and T10 connected treadmills integrate with the JRNY® digital fitness platform through an HD touch screen console and fold up for easy storage. (Photo: Business Wire)

New generation of Bowflex® T7 and T10 connected treadmills integrate with the JRNY® digital fitness platform through an HD touch screen console and fold up for easy storage. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new Bowflex treadmills offer a built-in HD touchscreen, either 7″ or 10″ — allowing users to access endless entertainment while achieving their fitness goals. With speeds up to 12 mph and a motorized decline/incline, users can push themselves even further with a variety of workouts while experiencing Comfort Tech™ deck cushioning for a supportive landing. The SoftDrop™ folding system and transport wheels make it easy to move and store the treadmill around the home.

“It’s our goal to provide users with an exceptional portfolio of superior, personalized, connected home fitness products, so we’re delighted to offer the JRNY digital fitness platform on our new Bowflex T7 and T10 treadmills; with another model launching early next year,” said Jim Barr, CEO of Nautilus, Inc. “We have data that shows people who utilize the JRNY digital fitness platform work out more consistently and for a longer period of time, which reinforces our commitment to motivating them and empowering healthier living through individualized connected fitness experiences.”

The JRNY platform uses machine learning to create virtually an infinite number of personalized workouts that include motivation and praise and is based on an initial fitness assessment that learns and adapts as the member progresses — removing the guesswork from achieving a productive and satisfying workout.

With the new Bowflex T7 and T10 treadmills, the JRNY platform coaches members to achieve their fitness goals by offering curated workout and entertainment options that stream while being coached, including voice-coached individualized workouts, trainer-led workouts, integration with other fitness apps, and access to the members’ own entertainment subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.*

Users with the JRNY platform can also tune into Bowflex Radio to sprint to their favorite songs and all users can digitally connect to popular third-party apps such as Zwift.**

According to a recent survey conducted on Nautilus Inc.’s behalf by YouGov, 94% of U.S. fitness consumers*** said that they use some form of entertainment while working out. Seventy percent of people said they listen to music, 45% said they watch TV or movies, and 38% of people listen to podcasts or talk radio while exercising.

Bowflex® T7 and T10 Treadmills

Additional features include:

  • Built-in HD touch screen (either 7″ or 10″ based on model).
  • Speeds up to 12 mph with Comfort Tech™ deck cushioning for a supportive landing.
  • Motorized decline/incline (-5 to 15%) for a variety of workouts.
  • Features a 20″ x 60″ running path for longer strides.
  • Transport wheels to move the machine and a SoftDrop™ folding system to easily store around the home.
  • Built-in media shelf with accessory tray, USB charging port and dual water bottle holders. 

The JRNY platform’s immersive, digital experience is available on Bowflex.com, for download in the Google Play and App Stores, and comes pre-loaded on the T7 and T10 treadmills. Following the two-month trial period, a JRNY membership will cost $19.99 per month or $149 per year, plus applicable taxes.

The Bowflex T10 treadmill is available for direct purchase on Bowflex.com and at select Dick’s Sporting Goods stores for $1,999 (MSRP). The Bowflex T7 treadmill is available at select retail stores for $1,599 (MSRP).

For more information about the Bowflex® T7 and T10 treadmills, and JRNY® digital fitness platform, please visit: https://www.bowflex.com/treadmills/.

*Requires a subscription to the streaming service, not included. Also requires a JRNY® digital fitness platform membership to access the streaming service from the console.

** Requires third-party subscription, not included. Requires a tablet or phone and separate third party subscription, not included. There is no affiliation with Zwift.

***All cited figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a survey conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of Nautilus, Inc. Total sample size was 1066 “Fitness Consumers,” defined as US adults aged 18 to 64 years old who have spent $500 or more on fitness in the past year. Fieldwork was undertaken July 27 – August 3, 2020. The survey was carried out online.

About JRNY® Digital Fitness Platform

The JRNY® digital fitness platform coaches members to achieve their fitness goals by offering curated workout and entertainment options that stream while being coached, including voice-coached individualized workouts, trainer-led workouts, integration with other fitness apps, and access to the members’ own entertainment subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. The JRNY platform uses machine learning to create virtually an infinite number of personalized workouts that include motivation and praise and is based on an initial fitness assessment that learns and adapts as the member progresses — removing the guesswork from achieving a productive and satisfying workout. This immersive, digital experience is available on Bowflex.com, for download in the Google Play and App Stores, and is integrated with connected Bowflex® home fitness cardio equipment, including indoor cycling bikes, treadmills and Max Trainer® machines. Following the two-month trial period, a JRNY membership will cost $19.99 per month or $149 per year, plus applicable taxes.

About Nautilus, Inc.

Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE:NLS) is the global leader in innovative home fitness solutions. The company’s diverse brand portfolio includes Bowflex®, Nautilus®, Schwinn®, and a broad selection of exercise bikes, cardio equipment, strength training products, as well as the JRNY® digital fitness platform. Nautilus, Inc. empowers healthier living through individualized connected fitness experiences. The company sells its products through direct and retail channels. Nautilus, Inc. uses the investor relations page of its website (www.nautilusinc.com/investors) to make information available to its investors and the market.

Media:

Erin Beck

Nautilus, Inc.

360-859-5863

[email protected]

Carey Kerns

The Hoffman Agency

503-754-7975

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

John Mills

ICR, LLC

646-277-1254

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Washington United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Retail Health Other Retail Home Goods Fitness & Nutrition Specialty

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New generation of Bowflex® T7 and T10 connected treadmills integrate with the JRNY® digital fitness platform through an HD touch screen console and fold up for easy storage. (Photo: Business Wire)
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AXIS Insurance Hires Angus Lynn as Vice President, Professional Lines Underwriter in Bermuda

AXIS Insurance Hires Angus Lynn as Vice President, Professional Lines Underwriter in Bermuda

PEMBROKE, Bermuda–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
AXIS Insurance, the specialty insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital”) (NYSE:AXS), today announced the hiring of Angus Lynn as Vice President, Professional Lines Underwriter in its Bermuda office. Mr. Lynn will focus on Commercial and Financial Institutions Professional Lines as well as Lawyers Errors and Omissions underwriting in the Bermuda market.

“Angus brings broad experience of the Bermuda professional lines market, along with extensive underwriting expertise of this class of business,” said Hillary Williams, Executive Vice President and Head of Professional Liability – Bermuda, for AXIS Insurance. “His insights into the evolving professional liability risk needs and business operating environment will enable us to deliver better and more informed solutions for our clients.”

Mr. Lynn joins AXIS Insurance from XL Bermuda, where he was a Senior Claims Specialist focusing on negligence and general liability claims. He previously spent seven years underwriting Professional Lines as an Assistant Vice President at Endurance Specialty Insurance. He began his career in insurance as a Senior Claims Analyst for Professional Lines at Allied World Assurance Company. Mr. Lynn is also a Bermuda qualified Barrister and Attorney.

About AXIS Capital

AXIS Capital, through its operating subsidiaries, is a global provider of specialty lines insurance and treaty reinsurance with shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2020 of $5.3 billion and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore, Canada and the Middle East. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of “A+” (“Strong”) by Standard & Poor’s and “A” (“Excellent”) by A.M. Best. For more information about AXIS Capital, visit our website at www.axiscapital.com.

Follow AXIS Capital on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Investor Contact

Matt Rohrmann
AXIS Capital Holdings Limited

[email protected]

(212) 940-3339

Media Contact

Brian Price

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited

[email protected]

(312) 609-6761

KEYWORDS: Europe Caribbean United Kingdom Bermuda

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Insurance Finance

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Equity Income Strategies Remain Attractive to Financial AdvisorsDespite Heightened Volatility in 2020

Equity Income Strategies Remain Attractive to Financial AdvisorsDespite Heightened Volatility in 2020

Columbia Threadneedle survey found blue-chip U.S. equities are top pick for increased equity income allocation

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Financial advisors still find equity income strategies attractive, according to a recent survey conducted by Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Conducted in early November, the survey of 112 financial advisors found that 80% are satisfied or highly satisfied with their current equity income allocations. The majority of advisors surveyed cite portfolio diversification (74%) and total return (70%) as the main drivers of their satisfaction.

A little more than one-third of financial advisors (35%) plan to increase allocations to equity income strategies over the next six months. Financial advisors expect to reallocate to equity income by reducing exposure to growth stocks and long-term fixed income. When choosing an equity income investment, financial advisors overwhelmingly opt for equity income strategies that provide total return (90%) and consistency of yield and income (71%).

“In today’s low yield environment, financial advisors and their clients are looking for sources of income beyond traditional bonds. Equity income strategies can provide a consistent stream of income, as well as offer capital appreciation,” said David L. King, Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of the Income and Growth Strategies Team at Columbia Threadneedle.

Most financial advisors (87%) prefer to use U.S. equities, specifically blue-chip stocks, when increasing their clients’ allocation to equity income strategies. However, nearly one out of four advisors (23%) plan to consider convertible securities to meet clients’ equity income needs.

“Blue-chip stocks are a good default option for equity income, but financial advisors can differentiate themselves by looking at other asset classes for income, including convertible securities,” continued King. “Convertible securities can be a powerful style diversifier for bond and equity investors alike. For conservative equity investors, convertibles provide a growth-oriented, total-return strategy with less volatility than a typical S&P 500 portfolio. For bond investors, convertibles have limited credit exposure, plus close to zero correlation with Treasuries. As an asset class, convertibles should be a key consideration when seeking equity income exposure,” concluded King.

While just three in ten financial advisors report decreased satisfaction with equity income in client portfolios since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, most have not changed their clients’ equity income allocations despite this year’s market volatility.

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is a leading global asset manager that provides a broad range of investment strategies and solutions for individual, institutional and corporate clients around the world. With more than 2,000 people, including over 450 investment advisors based in North America, Europe and Asia, we manage $498 billion1 of assets across developed and emerging market equities, fixed income, asset allocation solutions and alternatives.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global asset management group of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). For more information, please visit columbiathreeedneedleus.com. Follow us on Twitter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

1As of September 30, 2020. Includes all assets managed by entities in the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Adtrax: 3366268

© 2020 Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. All rights reserved.

Liz Kennedy 617.897.9394

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Consulting Banking Professional Services Finance

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City of Charlotte Charts Customer Digitalization Journey With Hansen CIS

City of Charlotte Charts Customer Digitalization Journey With Hansen CIS

MELBOURNE, Australia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Hansen Technologies (ASX:HSN) is pleased to announce that the City of Charlotte is now live with the company’s latest release of Hansen CIS. The city provides services to almost one million residents in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States and the most populous city in the state of North Carolina. The city has been a long-standing customer of Hansen since 1997.

This development marks a progressive upgrade to the latest version of Hansen CIS, as the City of Charlotte prioritizes its customer digitalization journey and aims to lower costs and increase operational efficiencies. Equipped with enhanced UI configuration capabilities and an expanded integration framework, Hansen CIS enables North American utilities and municipalities to manage the full customer service and revenue lifecycle for water services. The solution offers convenience and ease-of-use to streamline and coordinate billing operations with a secure, low cost of ownership. It also eliminates the need for expensive hardware purchases, while taking advantage of the latest secure technology maintained by Hansen – thus reducing operational risk. In addition to core support for water service, the City of Charlotte will also be able to benefit from new reporting capabilities enabled by the implementation of Hansen Business Intelligence.

Mark Goodman, Business Systems Management, City of Charlotte, commented: “The Hansen team has been invaluable in making this upgrade project come to fruition in a very timely manner – not to mention the most worry-free upgrade project for us in recent memory. With an ever-expanding populace, the City of Charlotte must have the requisite infrastructure in place to enable a progressive digital experience for our customers. Leveraging Hansen’s extensive expertise and the latest upgrade to Hansen CIS helps us accomplish this objective.”

John May, CEO, Americas, Hansen Technologies, commented: “Going back to 1997, the journey that Hansen and the City of Charlotte have shared for more than twenty years has been one of growth and success, in line with the increasing business expertise at the city. As the City of Charlotte continues to grow, we look forward to deepening our partnership in the years to come.”

The go-live at the City of Charlotte follows recently successful go-lives of Hansen CIS at the City of Columbus and the City of Regina.

For further information about Hansen Technologies, please visit www.hansencx.com.

About Hansen Technologies

Hansen Technologies (ASX: HSN) is a leading global provider of software and services to the energy, water and communications industries. With its award-winning software portfolio, Hansen serves 550+ customers in over 80 countries, helping them to create, sell, and deliver new products and services, manage and analyze customer data, and control critical revenue management and customer support processes.

For more information, visit www.hansencx.com

About the City Of Charlotte

The City of Charlotte provides services to more than 870,000 residents. The city’s priorities are workforce and business development; transportation, planning and the environment; safe communities; and great neighborhoods. For the latest news and updates about city government, visit the citywide newsroom at charlottenc.gov/newsroom, and follow @CLTgov on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Adnan Bashir

Senior Corporate Communications Manager

Hansen Technologies

+1 647-204-0999

KEYWORDS: Australia/Oceania Australia United States North America North Carolina

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Energy Technology Mobile/Wireless Energy Software Networks

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Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions’ Margaret Camp named a 2020 Notable Women in Technology award winner

Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions’ Margaret Camp named a 2020 Notable Women in Technology award winner

Twin Cities Business magazine recognizes innovators in financial technology

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Margaret Camp, Vice President of Business Unit Operations for Wolters Kluwer’s Compliance Solutions business, has been named as one of Twin Cities Business magazine’s2020 Notable Women in Technology award winners.The Notable Women in Technology award recognizes accomplished women in the field of technology throughout Minnesota, honoring their professional, civic, and philanthropic achievements, as well as their abilities to effect change and serve as role models and mentors to other women in their industry.

Camp is responsible for setting operational strategy and providing strategic leadership for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, a leading risk and regulatory compliance business headquartered in Minneapolis. Her key responsibilities include directing and driving implementation of strategic initiatives to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of all business unit segments and functional areas, managing cross-business programs, and acting as a key liaison with other senior leaders to address business priorities and opportunities.

The award judges noted Camp’s successes in several key business areas, including helping transform Compliance Solutions’ customer due diligence and business proposal processes, spearheading operational excellence and leadership initiatives that boosted employee engagement scores well into the range of high-performing companies, and leading several major change management and process redesign initiatives. This work helped strengthen the business’ ability to better support customer efforts in managing significant regulatory and risk management challenges, most notably during a year of considerable upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Margaret and her team were integral in providing mission-critical support on several major enterprise initiatives in 2020, particularly amid massive, COVID-related disruptions in the marketplace. Her leadership on several fronts helped free up crucial business resources, allowing us to scale up a customized loan application technology, TSoftPlus, that facilitated lenders’ ability to help their customers access critical Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding as part of the U.S. CARES Act,” said Steven Meirink, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Compliance Solutions. “As a result, Wolters Kluwer was able to help main street businesses retain more than one million U.S. jobs, providing critical economic relief during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Since 2016, Camp has served on Goodwill-Easter Seals of Minnesota’s board, and she was recently appointed chair of its Services & Programs Committee. She has been actively engaged in Goodwill initiatives in the Twin Cities area—including helping develop and launch the inaugural Goodwill-Easter Seals Power of Work 2019 fundraising event in St. Cloud in honor of Goodwill’s 100th anniversary.

Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions is a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks and credit unions, insurers and securities firms. The business, which sits within Wolters Kluwer’s Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) division, helps these financial institutions efficiently manage risk and regulatory compliance obligations, and gain the insights needed to focus on better serving their customers and growing their business.

Wolters Kluwer’s GRC division provides an array of expert solutions to help U.S financial institutions manage regulatory and risk obligations, including customized offerings to address COVID-19 challenges. Compliance Solutions’ Paycheck Protection Program Supported by TSoftPlus™ helps lenders’ customers access critical stimulus funding. Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions’ iLien for Main Street helps lenders optimize their due diligence and lien management efforts when securing loans for small and medium-sized businesses under the Main Street Lending Program.

About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance

Governance, Risk & Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance.

Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of €4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide.

Paul Lyon

Global Corporate Communications Director

Governance, Risk & Compliance Division

Wolters Kluwer

Office +44 20 3197 6586

[email protected]

David Feider

Corporate Communications Manager, Banking & Regulatory Compliance

Governance, Risk & Compliance Division

Wolters Kluwer

Tel: +1 612-852-7966

[email protected]

On Twitter: @davidafeider

KEYWORDS: Europe United States Netherlands North America Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Professional Services Technology Finance Software Consulting Banking

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Blackstone Announces Significant Minority Investment in ISN, Global Leader in Third-party Contractor and Supplier Management Software, Valuing the Company at Over $2 Billion

Blackstone Announces Significant Minority Investment in ISN, Global Leader in Third-party Contractor and Supplier Management Software, Valuing the Company at Over $2 Billion

DALLAS & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced today that funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”) have made a significant minority investment in ISN, the global leader in third-party contractor and supplier management software, at a valuation of over $2 billion. The investment is led by Blackstone Growth (BXG), which focuses on providing growth capital to market-leading companies and helping them leverage Blackstone’s extensive global resources to further scale their businesses. As ISN is employee-owned, Blackstone will be the only outside stockholder in ISN. Blackstone’s backing will help fuel ISN’s continued growth through product innovation and expansion into new markets and geographies, potentially providing even more value to both new and existing customers.

Established in 2001, ISN’s software platform, ISNetworld, helps leading enterprises worldwide source and manage third-party relationships with contractors and suppliers while ensuring compliance with company, industry and regulatory standards. ISN’s subscription-based platform helps customers ensure that their contractors and suppliers meet key criteria for training, health and safety, cyber-security, and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). More than 650 clients, over 170 of which are Fortune 500 companies, rely upon ISNetworld to manage compliance data for more than 75,000 contactor subscribers across 85 countries.

Vini Letteri, a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Growth (BXG), said: “Companies and boards around the world are increasingly focused on ensuring the highest standards for risk management, compliance and ESG reporting. We believe ISN is leading the way, and that Blackstone can be a key partner in supporting its further growth. ISN is the perfect example of the type of company we’re looking to invest in at Blackstone Growth: it has outgrown traditional growth equity, but not Blackstone.”

Brian Dunlap, a Managing Director at Blackstone Growth (BXG), said: “ISN is a market leader that has experienced extraordinary success through its commitment to innovative technology and industry-recognized service to its blue-chip customers across sectors and its extensive network of trusted suppliers worldwide. We’re proud to be ISN’s only outside investor and look forward to deploying Blackstone’s global resources to help the company expand its mission of enhancing hiring organizations’ ability to source great contractors, manage risk and ensure employees and contractors get home safely every night.”

Bill Addy, Executive Chairman of ISN, said: “As we look to the future, Blackstone Growth’s global presence, operational resources, and network across sectors will help us achieve our long-term vision of providing the absolute best solution for our customers to ensure safe supply chain continuity. Together with Blackstone, we look forward to continuing our expansion into new sectors and geographies and investing further in our technology solutions to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.”

Joe Eastin, Chief Executive Officer of ISN, said: “I’m very proud of the progress the ISN team has made over the last 20 years. We have developed an industry-defining product, cultivated a powerful employee culture, executed an unparalleled level of customer service and created a network for capital-intensive companies to leverage best practices to keep worksites safe and supply chains efficient. Through this partnership with Blackstone, none of that changes. In fact, we look forward to enhancing our product offering, providing even more expertise to our valued customers and furthering the professional development of our employees.”

About Blackstone

Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $584 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

About ISN

ISN is the global leader in contractor and supplier information management, with over 20 years of experience connecting nearly 650 Hiring Clients, in capital-intensive industries, with more than 75,000 active contractors to promote safety and health in the workplace. ISN’s customizable platform, ISNetworld, includes data-driven insights and tools that help companies mitigate risks associated with global business practices such as supply chain continuity, regulatory compliance, sustainability, training and program conformance.

Headquartered in Dallas, ISN has additional offices in Los Angeles, Midland, New York, Calgary, Montréal, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Perth, Sydney and Auckland which provide award-winning support and training for our customers in more than 85 countries. ISN takes pride in leading worldwide efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of contractor management systems and in serving as a world-class forum for sharing industry best practices among its members. For more information, visit www.isn.com.

Blackstone

Matt Anderson

518-248-7310

[email protected]

ISN

ISN Media Relations

214-303-4977

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: California Texas United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Supply Chain Management Professional Services Data Management Other Construction & Property Technology Construction & Property Other Manufacturing Security Retail Finance Manufacturing

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Kontoor Brands Launches the Wrangler® Brand in China

Kontoor Brands Launches the Wrangler® Brand in China

Wrangler Apparel Now Available to Chinese Consumers through Digital Partnership with Tmall

GREENSBORO, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB), a global lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee®, today announced that Wrangler, a global icon in jeanswear and casual apparel, has expanded the brand’s international reach to China. Taking a digital-first approach, the initial product offerings are available for consumers through Tmall, a leading online retailer in China.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201217005657/en/

Wrangler, a global icon in jeanswear and casual apparel, has expanded the brand’s international reach to China. (Photo: Business Wire)

Wrangler, a global icon in jeanswear and casual apparel, has expanded the brand’s international reach to China. (Photo: Business Wire)

“One of Kontoor’s core strategic priorities includes expanding to new markets and geographies. Launching our iconic Wrangler brand in China, one of the fastest growing consumer markets in the world, is a key step toward that effort,” said Scott Baxter, President and CEO, Kontoor Brands. “As part of Kontoor Brands, the Wrangler brand is leveraging the collective experience that helped establish Lee as one of the leading denim brands in the Chinese market. This announcement marks an exciting milestone in the brand’s 70-plus year history.”

Since becoming an independent, publicly traded company in May 2019, Kontoor has identified China as a key area of focus in the organization’s international expansion strategy. The further globalization of the Wrangler brand illustrates Kontoor’s commitment to accelerating brand growth through new distribution channels and geographies.

Wrangler products are now available on Tmall.com, a leading online retailer in China. The launch was celebrated with an activation at Innersect, a multi-day consumer event.

“We’ve reimagined the adventurous optimism of Wrangler’s cowboy spirit for the Chinese market, developing a brand platform designed to resonate with China’s youth and young at heart,” said John Gearing, VP & GM, Kontoor Asia Pacific. “We are building awareness and demand for the brand through our initial digital product offerings. In the coming months, we will accelerate our focus on creating engaging and innovative experiences designed to introduce Wrangler’s best-in-class apparel products to the Chinese consumer.”

The brand expects to expand its product offerings along with additional marketing activations in spring 2021.

About Kontoor Brands

Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB) is a global lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands: Wrangler® and Lee®. Kontoor designs, manufactures and distributes superior high-quality products that look good and fit right, giving people around the world the freedom and confidence to express themselves. Kontoor Brands is a purpose-led organization focused on leveraging its global platform, strategic sourcing model and best-in-class supply chain to drive brand growth and deliver long-term value for its stakeholders. For more information about Kontoor Brands, please visit www.KontoorBrands.com.

Investors:

Eric Tracy

Senior Director, Investor Relations

[email protected]

or

Media:

Julia Burge

Director, External Communications

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: North Carolina China United States North America Asia Pacific

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Fashion Online Retail Retail Consumer Women Teens Men

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Wrangler, a global icon in jeanswear and casual apparel, has expanded the brand’s international reach to China. (Photo: Business Wire)
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Symphony RetailAI Named to Food Logistics’ 2020 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers

The company’s supply chain solutions enable retailers to create a holistic approach – connecting and automating information, processes and people through technology

DALLAS, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Symphony RetailAI, the leading global provider of integrated AI-enabled marketing, merchandising and supply chain solutions for FMCG retailers and manufacturers, today announced that it has been named to Food Logistics’ 2020 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list. The annual list honors leading software and technology providers that ensure a safe, efficient and reliable global food and beverage supply chain. Symphony RetailAI was listed in 11 categories including data synchronization, predictive analytics, supply chain management and warehouse management systems.

Today’s retailers are presented with new challenges each day. There’s both a historical reliance on sales data to drive business and a desire to have a more customer-centric focus and operations. As retailers focus more on measuring every aspect of their businesses, they are creating a lot of data, which is often not converted into practical insights that help them make more effective decisions. This “micro focus” on data has broken the supply chain into micro processes that don’t work in a cohesive way. Symphony RetailAI delivers a connected, omnichannel solution suite that helps retailers deliver on their customer promises.

“In addition to the existing challenges retailers face, the global COVID-19 pandemic has added complexity to the supply chain and also highlighted the supply chain’s critical nature,” said Patrick Buellet, Chief Strategy Officer, Symphony RetailAI. “The dramatic increase in online grocery volume exposed the food retail industry’s need for quicker adoption of modernized processes and technology to fuel efficiency and agility. In fact, in a survey of FMCG retailers and CPGs, Symphony RetailAI found that 89% of those surveyed believe that the events of COVID-19 are driving retailers to optimize the supply chain to support omnichannel strategies faster than anticipated.”

With artificial intelligence and master data management at the core, Symphony RetailAI’s supply chain solutions enable retailers to achieve a holistic view of the customer that fuels profitable growth – connecting and automating information, processes and people through technology – to deliver on their promises to customers. The solutions leverage all available data to drive productivity and allow retailers to get granular and highly specific views of data instantaneously and remove manual elements from key processes, such as replenishment, so that they can quickly drive real change in line with customer requirements.

Symphony RetailAI’s supply chain solutions help streamline the food logistics supply chain with:

  • Omnichannel Communication – creating a smooth and transparent workflow across the business to serve the customer as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
  • Fulfillment – minimizing the time to customer without damaging profitability.
  • Supplier Collaboration – delivering a high level of internal and external synchronization.

“From fleet management to warehouse management to simply just track and trace along the cold food chain, these software and technology providers have definitely stepped it up to ensure cold food and beverage products continue moving along the line without incident,” said Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief, Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “This pandemic has thrown the food industry a curveball, but many of these providers fast-tracked the development and deployment of their solutions to ensure food safety, traceability, visibility and quality assurance. So, to these winners and others in the industry working to make a difference, thank you.”

Companies on this year’s 2020 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers list are profiled in the November/December 2020 print issue of Food Logistics, as well as online.

About 

Food Logistics



Food Logistics
 is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the world’s most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media.

About Symphony RetailAI

Symphony RetailAI is the leading global provider of role-specific, AI-enabled revenue growth management solutions and customer-centric insights for retailers and CPG manufacturers across the entire value chain. Our proven, industry-leading, AI-enabled software, coupled with the industry’s only conversational natural-language AI interface, CINDE, provides key users with proven prescriptive and preemptive recommendations that make it easy to identify end-to-end growth opportunities, activate plans and realize measurable profit and revenue growth. Our solutions are specific to key decision-maker roles focused on profitable growth across the retail value chain from source to consumer. With our strong global partner ecosystem, we serve more than 1,200 organizations worldwide – including 15 of the top 25 global grocery retailers, 25 of the top 25 global CPG manufacturers, thousands of retail brands, and hundreds of national and regional chains – all through the Microsoft Azure Cloud. Symphony RetailAI is a SymphonyAI company. More at Symphony RetailAI.

About SymphonyAI

SymphonyAI is the fastest-growing private group of B2B AI companies, backed by a $1 billion commitment to deliver next-generation AI solutions for transforming the enterprise. SymphonyAI addresses use cases in healthcare and life sciences, retail and CPG, industrial manufacturing, energy, oil & gas, media and entertainment, defense, and financial services. Since its founding in 2017, SymphonyAI has grown rapidly to a group of eight companies with a combined revenue run rate of more than $350 million. Over 2,000 talented leaders, data scientists, and other professionals operate the group under the leadership of one of Silicon Valley’s most successful serial entrepreneurs, Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, founder of the Wadhwani Foundation. More at SymphonyAI.

Media Contact

Adrienne Newcomb
Ketner Group Communications (for Symphony RetailAI)
[email protected]



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PSB Holdings, Inc. announces semi-annual cash dividend of $0.21 per share and restarts its stock repurchase program

WAUSAU, Wisc., Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PSB Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: PSBQ), parent company of Peoples State Bank, is pleased to announce that on December 15, 2020, its Board of Directors declared a regular semi-annual cash dividend of $0.21 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable January 29, 2021 to shareholders of record as of January 8, 2020 and represents an increase of 5.0% over the $0.20 per share semi-annual cash dividend declared on December 17, 2019. The current dividend continues a 56-year tradition of cash dividends to PSB shareholders including 27 consecutive years of increased cash dividends declared per share.

PSB’s Board of Directors also renewed its regular quarterly common stock repurchase program allowing for the repurchase of up to 5,000 shares of common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 as opportunities arise at prevailing market prices with repurchases on the open market or directly from shareholders. The extent of such repurchases are dependent upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. Year-to-date through December 16, 2020, 18,434 shares of common stock have been repurchased under the program at an average cost of $25.95 per share.

PSB President and CEO Scott M. Cattanach said, “We continue to produce strong financial performance from a combination of historically high mortgage volume and higher loan and deposit generation that has resulted in growing revenues. These results give us the ability to return funds to shareholders and provide sufficient capital levels as we pursue opportunities to further accelerate growth with our recent announcement of the WBI purchase. Restarting a limited share repurchase program now will allow us to provide support for the share price as we look to acquire additional shares when opportunities allow.”


About PSB Holdings, Inc.

PSB Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Peoples State Bank. Peoples is a community bank headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving north central Wisconsin from nine full-service banking locations in Marathon, Oneida, Vilas and Milwaukee counties and loan production office in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Peoples also provides investment and insurance products, along with retirement planning services, through Peoples Wealth Management, a division of Peoples. PSB Holdings, Inc. is traded under the stock symbol PSBQ on the OTCQX Market. More information about PSB, its management, and its financial performance may be found at www.psbholdingsinc.com.


Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forwardlooking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forwardlooking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about PSB Holdings’ business based, in part, on assumptions made by management and include, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential growth of PSB Holdings, its future profits, expected stock repurchase levels, future dividend rates, future interest rates, and the adequacy of its capital position. Forward-looking statements can be affected by known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, but not limited to, strength of the economy, the effects of government policies, including interest rate policies, risks associated with the execution of PSB Holdings’ vision and growth strategy, including with respect to current and future M&A activity, and risks associated with global economic instability relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on PSB Holdings, and Peoples, and their customers, and other risks. The forwardlooking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made and PSB Holdings does not undertake any obligation to update any forwardlooking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Relations Contact

PSB Holdings, Inc.
1905 Stewart Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401
888.929.9902
[email protected]



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DoubleVerify Gains MRC Accreditation for Integrated Third-Party Measurement on Facebook

DV’s integrated third-party measurement offers advertisers increased transparency across their media buys

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DoubleVerify (“DV”), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics, today announced that the Media Rating Council (MRC) has extended DV’s accreditations to include DV’s impression and viewability measurement (as defined by MRC’s viewability standard) and reporting for display and video ads on Facebook and Instagram. This marks the first time a third-party solution has been accredited by the MRC for integrated viewable impression measurement on a large digital platform such as Facebook. 

“MRC’s accreditation of DoubleVerify for its integrated viewability measurement on the Facebook and Instagram platforms represents a major achievement,” noted George W. Ivie, Executive Director and CEO of the MRC. “This first of its kind MRC accreditation, which resulted from an end-to-end audit that included elements of both Facebook’s data collection and transmission, and DV’s ingestion, processing, and reporting of that data, can give advertisers and others who rely on it the assurances they need that independent, third-party advertising measurement is achievable today on large digital platforms.”

DV’s third-party integrated measurement solution allows clients to see their media spend across all digital platforms and environments, and the MRC accreditation of DV’s viewability solution with Facebook and Instagram marks an important move to increase transparency within the industry. MRC accreditation is the culmination of a process involving an audit, conducted by independent CPAs on MRC’s behalf, to verify that a measurement service’s procedures, controls, disclosures and reporting meet established industry standards for validity, reliability and effectiveness. Ad placements accredited as reported by DV include those covered in MRC’s earlier audit of the data points collected, processed, and passed to third parties through the Facebook and Instagram pipeline process, namely, display & video creatives served within the Facebook Newsfeed on desktop and mobile web as well as those served on the Facebook/Instagram mobile apps.

“Being the first to achieve accreditation for third-party measurement on a large digital platform such as Facebook is an attestation of DV’s commitment to reliable and accurate processes and methodologies across our platform and company,” said Matt McLaughlin, COO at DoubleVerify. “This has been a multi-year project, which included auditing of Facebook as well as DV, and we are proud to be the first accreditation of an integration with Facebook’s apps and technologies.”

The MRC’s viewability standard, first set in 2014, helps brands ensure they only pay for inventory that is likely to have had the chance to be seen. Integrated third-party measurement on Facebook and Instagram gives advertisers a clear understanding of their investment and allows them to drive performance by optimizing campaigns toward viewable placements.

DV first received MRC accreditation in February 2013 for its impression quality suite of services and desktop display viewability. In 2015, the MRC accredited DV for desktop video ad viewability and invalid traffic for both desktop and mobile web, and in 2017, DV received additional accreditation for the detection of invalid traffic within mobile apps.

For more information about DoubleVerify, contact [email protected]

About DoubleVerify

DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics. DV’s mission is to be the definitive source of transparency and data-driven insights into the
quality and effectiveness of digital advertising for the world’s largest brands, publishers and digital ad platforms. DV’s technology platform provides advertisers with consistent and unbiased data and analytics that can be used to optimize the quality and return on digital ad investments. Since 2008, DV has helped hundreds of Fortune 500 companies gain the most from their media spend by delivering best in class solutions across the digital advertising ecosystem, helping to build a better industry. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com.

About Media Rating Council (MRC)

The MRC is a non-profit industry association established in 1963 composed of leading television, radio, print and Internet companies, as well as advertisers, advertising agencies and trade associations whose goal is to ensure measurement services that are valid, reliable and effective. Measurement services desiring MRC Accreditation are required to disclose to their customers all methodological aspects of their service; comply with the MRC Minimum Standards for Media Rating Research and other standards MRC produces; and submit to MRC-designed audits to authenticate and illuminate their procedures. In addition, the MRC membership actively pursues research issues they consider priorities in an effort to improve the quality of research in the marketplace. Currently more than 100 research products are audited by the MRC.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Contact: [email protected]