South Africa – Page 47 – Pakistan News Express

April 12, 2023

Escalent Acquires C Space, Hall & Partners

Union gives rise to an impressive global partner to the world’s leading businesses

Melissa Sauter

Escalent CEO

DETROIT, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top data analytics and advisory firm Escalent announces today it has acquired C Space and Hall & Partners from Omnicom. As leading partners to some of the world’s exceptional brands, Escalent, C Space and Hall & Partners have been helping companies innovate, improve, and navigate disruption for years. Now they are coming together to create a bigger, stronger and more capable partner to the world’s leading companies, combining deep industry expertise across brands, customers and products on a focused, global market insights platform to help clients find new sources of growth.

Together, the organizations have earned trusted partner status to the world’s leading brands across fast-growing industries including Automotive & Mobility, Consumer Goods & Retail, Financial Services, Health, and Technology as well as Energy, Telecom and Travel & Tourism.

“This union is rooted in unparalleled expertise in what drives human beings, cultures and markets—an understanding that makes our team incredibly valuable partners and positions our clients for success in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business climate,” said Escalent CEO Melissa Sauter. “Together, there is tremendous growth potential for our employees, clients and shareholders across the globe.”

Escalent + C Space, Hall & Partners

Escalent Acquires C Space, Hall & Partners

Hall & Partners brings an excellent research and brand management franchise coupled with proprietary technology including an award-winning brand knowledge management platform to the union. C Space brings the market-leading solution for building communities and customer relationships, and Escalent brings a strong global platform with deep industry knowledge, and advanced capabilities in secondary research and analytics. The combined organization creates a powerful global presence with nearly 2,000 consultants, researchers, data scientists, technologists and operational experts in 20 countries.

“This acquisition is a big win for our employees,” added C Space CEO Jessica DeVlieger. “Our organizations are forward-thinking and offer employees an opportunity to nurture their professional growth through expanded products and services that have a real impact on our clients, in an environment that celebrates diversity and recognizes each team member’s valuable contributions.”

“Over the coming year, cross-company teams will work together to develop a thoughtful plan that ensures our clients and employees feel the benefits from our combined organization,” said Hall & Partners CEO Tim Wragg. “We are perfectly balanced to offer deep resources and leading technology while remaining devoted to personal client relationships. We’re eager to start working toward our future.”

DeVlieger and Wragg will continue to lead their organizations as part of Sauter’s executive leadership team. Clients will continue to work with the same experienced teams, and there are no near-term plans to change company locations or merge brand identities.

“We are very excited to put together these amazing capabilities into a focused, yet global leader dedicated to the highest quality research and insights for our clients. Together the companies create a fantastic combination of depth of expertise with scale and growth capability, while still being focused on one shared core mission. As such, the combined organization will continue to differentiate with their clients through exceptional insights and partnership,” said J.T. Treadwell, Managing Director at STG, Escalent’s financial sponsor.

About Escalent
Escalent is an award-winning data analytics and advisory firm specializing in industries facing disruption and business transformation. As catalysts of progress for more than 40 years, we accelerate growth by creating a seamless flow between primary, secondary, syndicated, and internal business data, providing consulting and advisory services from insights through implementation. Escalent is headquartered in Livonia, Michigan with locations across the US and in Canada, China, India, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, UAE and the UK. Visit escalent.co to see how we are helping shape the brands that are reshaping the world.

About C Space

C Space is a global customer insight, strategy and innovation agency building customers into the ways businesses work. Partnering with the world’s best-known brands including Walmart, McDonald’s, IKEA and more, C Space helps clients unlock growth through the power of human relationships—co-creating with customers, instead of for them, for increased relevance, deeper loyalty and higher customer lifetime value. C Space’s full-service customer solutions are tailored to meet specific business needs with a focus on private online communities, co-creation events, workshops and powerful storytelling and insights activation. Headquartered in Boston, C Space has offices in London, New York, San Francisco and Mexico City.

About Hall & Partners

Hall & Partners is a team of unconventional thinkers, obsessed with how marketing influences the relationship between people, brands and culture. Born out of adland, we are the insight agency known for weaving creativity with science. We distil data through a strategic lens to reveal ‘uncommon insights’ – human truths tailored to individual brands, not blackbox data available to the masses. We partner with clients to shape brand strategy and optimize brand and campaign performance. Our award-winning approach amplifies insights across every business area, propelling marketing decision-making to create an unmatched competitive advantage. Headquartered in London, Hall & Partners has offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a9fa10fe-a141-4ab5-9823-af7a6ccf35c3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd85618f-f66f-4b47-957b-53e9fb689ffb

Contact        
Lisa Viselli, 734.779.6851

[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8806130

April 11, 2023

GlobeNewswire, Notified’s Newswire Distribution Network, Distributed a Record Number of Press Releases in 2022, Resulting in a 16% Increase Over the Last Two Years

Notified Sees Continued Momentum and Provides Best Practices for Press Release Distribution

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Notified, a globally-trusted technology partner for public relations, investor relations, and marketing professionals today announced that GlobeNewswire has seen a 16% increase in press releases distributed by clients over the last two years. This growth is underscored by a recent study conducted in partnership with PRWeek, which found 79% of public relations professionals believe that press releases are a valuable part of the media mix, with 65% reporting that they work on release content ‘extensively.’

As one of the world’s largest newswire distribution networks responsible for securely and reliably delivering mission-critical communications on behalf of more than one-third of the world’s 2,000 largest companies, GlobeNewswire distributes press releases in 150+ countries and 35 languages to drive visibility for key company news and announcements. It consistently receives praise from customers for offering high-quality support, and earned five badges in the G2 Spring Report 2023, for being highly rated by current users.

Last year, in response to the evolving needs of global businesses, GlobeNewswire added three new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) circuits – covering North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. Each circuit includes a comprehensive regional distribution network, plus a carefully curated list of journalists who have a special interest in ESG and corporate social responsibility, as well as trades covering environmental and philanthropic topics.

This year, GlobeNewswire is focused on advancing public relations technology by working hand-in-hand with those that will be using it. Just last month it introduced the first generative AI tool for press release creation offered by a newswire service. To learn more and apply for the GlobeNewswire AI press release generator beta, visit https://insight.notified.com/globenewswire-ai.

“GlobeNewswire’s continued growth is proof that the press release isn’t going anywhere – in fact, it’s an absolutely critical communications tool in today’s dynamic business environment for companies to tell their stories,” said Jessica Brown, VP of Marketing, Notified. “For organizations of any size, a press release is an indisputable, single source of truth and is essential to corporate communications strategy. Public Relations pros can gain an advantage by understanding best practices for distribution that directly improve visibility, syndication, and earned media results.”

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by selecting the image or link below:

The following tips, outlined in Notified’s latest eBook, “How to Improve Your Media Outreach in 2023” – provide guidelines for communicators to optimize ROI for press releases:

Understand SEO: improve search engine optimization by aligning keywords with messaging and target audience in a natural way. Remember that the first line presented in the press release is what will be viewed in Google search results.
Think Like a Journalist: be impartial and tactical with writing to create snappy, easy-to-read press releases – avoid jargon and be sure to lead with newsworthy facts, using quotes and data as proof points.
Use Multimedia to Improve Results: create a more comprehensive and engaging press release by including embedded (and downloadable) images, videos, audio clips, graphics, and other media. In the alternate text for images, add keywords or related search terms to increase search results. Use compressed images and standard file extension names such as .jpg or .jpeg and descriptive titles.
Leverage Your Online Newsroom: in a challenging media environment, the newsroom serves as a resource of up-to-date, easy to consume content and a source of information that journalists and stakeholders trust.

To learn more about GlobeNewswire, visit: https://www.globenewswire.com/

About Notified
Notified is committed to making it easy for brands to create and share powerful stories with the world. Our suite of world-class, award-winning solutions and our dedicated customer service team are relied upon by more than 10,000 global customers, from growing businesses and public companies to some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Notified’s solutions help businesses effectively share and amplify their stories—to customers, investors, employees and the media. From press release distribution via GlobeNewswire to earnings calls, IR websites, social listening, media engagement, webinars and digital experiences, Notified has you covered. Notified is a part of West Technology Group, LLC (formerly Intrado Corporation) controlled by affiliates of certain funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO). Notified is headquartered in New York, N.Y.

Learn more at www.notified.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or our blog.

Contact:
Hannah Freedman
Director, Media and Communications
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8805308

April 11, 2023

[INVNT GROUP]™ and MSM Form Strategic Partnership to Enhance Global Marketing Power of Talent and Brands across Motorsport Industry

New York, NY, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT and MSM, the global talent and motorsport agency announce a strategic business partnership offering best-in-class marketing and commercial solutions for talent, brands, and events across motorsports, entertainment and beyond.

With over 40 years of experience and a proven track record of building standout relationships between brands, drivers, teams, and championships at the pinnacle of motorsport, MSM has developed an approach that is tailor-made for clients to unlock their full potential across sponsorship, hospitality, and bespoke events.

MSM specializes in identifying, nurturing, and supporting partnerships for brands and racing talent, providing lifelong value across every facet of the motorsport industry.

Led by Scott Cullather, CEO of INVNT.ATOM and President and CEO of [INVNT GROUP], the GROUP represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward thinking brands everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere, including Lamborghini, Samsung, General Motors, Meta, PepsiCo, Rolls Royce and more. [INVNT GROUP] was recently named Best Global Media Agency by Autocar for the 2023 Automotive Marcomm Awards.

[INVNT GROUP] consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ; events and experiences for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation and Web3 division, INVNT.ATOM; Hypnogram, the creative multimedia experience studio; and INVNT, the original Challenge Everything live brand storytelling agency.

“Our partnership with MSM is driven by our commitment to innovation-led brand storytelling across industries including automotive and motorsports, which continue to push culture forward. The MSM team brings a dynamic and historied expertise of the motorsport and entertainment sector. Our global [INVNT GROUP] team strategically leads brands and organizations towards the next frontiers of engagement and community building, activating impactful campaigns at scale. We’re excited to explore the boundless possibilities of this partnership, providing access to and opportunities with world-class experiences and brands,” said Scott Cullather, President & CEO of [INVNT GROUP] and CEO of INVNT.ATOM.

MSM take pride in their longstanding association with the prestigious SCUDERIA FERRARI, the most successful and the most legendary motorsport brand globally, as well as their role as a certified introducer for several teams across Formula 1, the FIA World Endurance Championship and MotoGP, granting unique access to next-level commercial opportunities with each brand.

Racing talent currently managed by MSM includes Ferrari stars Giancarlo FISICHELLA, Antonio FUOCO and Antonio GIOVINAZZI. Team partners also include AF CORSE, a leader in the world of Hypercar and GT racing with Ferrari.

“We are thrilled to partner with [INVNT GROUP] and fuse our expertise in motorsport with their innovative portfolio of disciplines, fueling our brand storytelling capabilities across strategy, culture, experiential, digital, and Web3. Combined with the group’s geographic spread across the world – which sync seamlessly with our key regional markets – this collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen our position as the go-to agency for all things motorsport, and we look forward to delivering even greater value and success for our clients,” noted Enrico Zanarini, Founder and CEO of MSM.

ABOUT [INVNT GROUP]

[INVNT GROUP] was established as an evolution of the founding global live brand storytelling agency INVNT in 2008, with a vision to provide consistent, meaningful, well-articulated BrandStory across all platforms.

With offices in New York, Sydney, London, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Stockholm, Detroit, and Washington D.C.; headed by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP], THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere.

The GROUP consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ; events for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM; creative multimedia experience studio, Hypnogram; and the original live brand storytelling agency, INVNT.

For more information visit: https://invntgroup.com/

ABOUT MSM

MSM is a leader in the world of motorsport and has been fostering standout relationships between brands, drivers, teams and championships for over 40 years.

The team specialises in individual and corporate management, offering clients their expertise across the marketing mix. MSM is active in sponsorship facilitation, commercial opportunity development and execution, client representation, tailored hospitality offerings, and managing bespoke events on and off track.

Having spent four decades in the most innovative sporting environment, MSM has developed an approach that is tailor-made for partners to unlock their full potential.

MSM’s deep insight and unparalleled know-how enable their partners to connect with both new and existing audiences in an authentic way, while also delivering measurable commercial impact.

For more information, https://msmgroup.com

Attachment

[INVNT GROUP] and MSM Form Strategic Partnership to Enhance Global Marketing Power of Motorsport Talent and Brands

For MSM Inquiries
Blake Martinelli
[email protected]

For [INVNT GROUP] Inquiries:
Jhonathan Mendez de Leon
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8805728

April 11, 2023

Call for Nominations: 2023 Global Citizen Award®

LONDON, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading international residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, in partnership with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian Andan Foundation, is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2023 Global Citizen Award.

Created in 2014, the Global Citizen Award is a tribute that honors remarkable individuals working to advance any one of the global challenges affecting humanity today – challenges that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

The 2023 laureate will be selected by a distinguished, independent committee and honored at the Global Citizen Award ceremony, the concluding event of the annual Henley & Partners Global Citizenship Conference – taking place this year in Dubai from 9 -10 November.

Henley & Partners Chairman and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, says the awardee’s work needs to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable social groups, particularly with a connection to migration-related issues. “The Global Citizen Award is open worldwide to those working in a field with a direct link to the issues they are looking to affect and excludes political figures, opinion leaders, and celebrities. The committee is looking for remarkable and inspirational individuals who demonstrate vision, courage, and innovation in driving global change, and whose actions and outlook contribute to a more just, peaceful, connected, and tolerant world.”

The selection process is confidential and is based on a majority decision of the Award Committee. The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal designed by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of USD 20,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee’s humanitarian efforts. In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting the selected project through the firm’s network of more than 40 offices worldwide.

Since its inception, the Global Citizen Award has honored many remarkable individuals. The first laureate was German entrepreneur Harald Höppner, who set up the refugee humanitarian aid project Sea Watch. Another recipient was Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Africa’s largest disaster relief organization, and Monique Morrow, Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet, a digital identity project that aims to bring hope to the estimated 1.1 billion individuals in the world who cannot prove their legal identity. Diep Vuong, Co-Founder and President of the Pacific Links Foundation, was awarded for her work in Southeast Asia campaigning for the rights of those enslaved by human trafficking, and Prof. Dr. Padraig O’Malley received his Global Citizen Award in recognition of his work on conflict resolution and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Iraq.

Commenting on the award’s history and significance, Dr Kaelin says global citizenship ideals are a founding principle of Henley & Partners, and through its partnership with the Andan Foundation, the firm is able to provide support to those global citizens displaced by war, conflict and climate change. “All of our Global Citizen Award laureates have inspired us with their willingness to act in confronting a problem that many see as simply too vast to address. The issues that we face today transcend the family, the tribe, the village, and the nation. It’s more critical than ever that we do what we can to support those working on initiatives that directly change the lives of vulnerable people around the world.”

Nominations close on Friday, 30 June 2023. For more information on how to submit your nomination, please contact Tina Savic at [email protected]

About the Andan Foundation

The Andan Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian foundation based in Switzerland. It is regulated by the Swiss Federal Authority for the Supervision of Foundations and audited annually by BDO.

Andan leads private sector initiatives to support families fleeing their homes due to war, internal conflict, and climate change. It identifies and develops innovative, sustainable solutions promoting refugees’ self-reliance, boosting their resilience, and fostering their inclusion in their new countries. Andan prioritizes projects that expand economic, financial, and political opportunities for both refugee populations and the communities that welcome them. Andan facilitates and propels partnerships between the private sector and UN agencies, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions concerned with refugees and migrants.

Andan’s main, long-term project is the Andan Global City, which will completely upend and reform how we deal with the growing global refugee and migration crisis.

https://www.andan.org/

About Henley & Partners

Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 40 offices worldwide.

The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.

The firm also runs a leading government advisory practice that has raised more than USD 10 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs.

https://www.henleyglobal.com

Media Contact

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Nicklin

Group Head of Public Relations

[email protected]

Mobile: +27 72 464 8965

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000803210

April 10, 2023

From Inner Life to Outer World: How Women, Gen Z Are Invested in Business Education

Survey finds interest in tech sector stagnates for post-school career while the U.S. continues to attract global talent upon rebounding mobility

RESTON, Va., April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — People thinking about going back to business schools are more interested in enriching their lives than increasing their incomes, according to a survey of prospective students of graduate management education (GME) released by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association representing leading business schools. Seventy-nine percent of prospective students worldwide are motivated to pursue GME to better their lives and develop their potential—15 percentage points more than the next-best motivator, increasing income.

Furthermore, women, millennials, underrepresented U.S. candidates, and first-generation prospective students are all statistically more likely to indicate post-GME career preference for the government or nonprofit sector, which tends to be more stable and socially engaged though less lucrative than the private sector. Gen Z, on the other hand, are most interested in entering the finance and accounting industry, and about 10 percentage points more likely to cite increasing their incomes and expanding their networks as top motivators for pursuing GME than their older counterparts.

“In response to queries frequently received from our schools, we asked additional questions in our survey this year because meaningful shifts in prospective student demographics are underway. Understanding candidates from Gen Z—now the largest generation applying to business schools—is critical as programs plan for expanding the pipeline down the road,” said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC. “We want to take a closer look at the trends among women, first-generation, and U.S. underrepresented candidates to equip schools with the knowledge that ensures every talented person can benefit from the best business education for them.”

Full-time MBA programs continue dominance while in-person experience trumps for Gen Z

Since 2019, the two-year MBA has been the preferred program among candidates globally. This year, the one-year MBA surpassed it as the most popular program choice, though the difference remains within the margin of error. Taken together, the full-time MBA of any duration continues to surpass interest in more flexible or executive MBAs and business master’s programs.

Gen Z is most interested in the two-year MBA and millennials are most interested in the one-year MBA. Despite growing up as digital natives, Gen Z also have a strong preference for in-person study, with 80 percent of Gen Z reporting preference for this modality compared to 69 percent of millennials. This could be an indication of where each generation is in their career—older candidates may have more established networks or more responsibilities at work or at home, while younger candidates are more interested in expanding their networks and may have more ease entering and exiting GME.

Flexibility speaks to women candidates as interest in the technology sector stagnates

It is true overall global preference remains with in-person learning. But online—and especially hybrid—programs have made in-roads with groups most likely to benefit from the flexibility they offer, specifically women, first-generation, and millennial candidates.

“There is no doubt that these programs play an important role in the overall equity of graduate management education, attracting candidates who rely on flexible program delivery and may not otherwise pursue a business degree,” said Anthony Wilbon, dean of Howard University’s School of Business and a board member of GMAC.

After graduation, consulting remains the top post-GME industry across generations and regions. Though change may be on the horizon in the number two slot – the technology industry – as Gen Z show more interest in finance and accounting than technology. While data was collected largely before the recent retraction of the tech industry, this year’s results demonstrate underlying challenges with the pipeline of GME candidates interested in tech—namely that Gen Z, women, and underrepresented U.S. candidates are less interested in the field.

The United States remain the top consideration as a study destination

COVID-19 forced people around the world to stay at home, but candidates are again looking to study abroad. Prospective students interested in studying outside of their country of citizenship are up, especially in Europe and Asia/Pacific Islands compared to last year – 84 percent of candidates from Asia are looking to study outside of their country of citizenship compared to 79 percent last year, and 81 percent of candidates from Europe are looking to study outside of their country of citizenship compared to 77 percent last year.

The trends driving candidates to study in places like the United States and Western Europe have not changed since last year. After losing the top spot for a year in 2020, the U.S. remains the most preferred study destination – driven by reputation and perceived career preparation, with 42 percent of respondents indicating interest, followed by Europe (37%) and Canada (9%). While candidates perceive U.S. GME programs as more expensive than others in Europe, Canada, or Australia, candidates also believe there is more financial aid available in the United States.

About the Prospective Student Survey

For more than a decade, the GMAC Prospective Students Survey has provided the world’s graduate business schools with critical insights into the decision-making processes of people currently considering applying to a graduate management education (GME) program. This year’s summary report considers data collected in the 2022 calendar year from 2,710 respondents in 131 countries around the world. Among them, 40 percent are female, 44 percent are younger than 24 years-old, 21 percent are U.S. underrepresented population, and 55 percent majored in a non-business field as undergraduates. The survey continues to explore trends in the candidate pipeline, program preferences, and career goals, with new questions added this year about first-generation candidates, motivations for pursuing graduate management education, and social issues like sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The report also considers the longevity of trends in online and hybrid education and candidate mobility brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. GMAC provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry as well as resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC’s websites, including mba.com, to learn about MBA and business master’s programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams and get advice on successfully applying to MBA and business master’s programs. BusinessBecause and GMAC Tours are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
Mobile: 202-390-4180
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8804854

April 6, 2023

From Mine to Rostrum: Sotheby’s to Auction One of the Greatest Gem Discoveries of the Century

Estrela de Fura

Estrela de Fura – Gem

AT 55.22 CARATS, THE RARE GEMSTONE IS THE LARGEST & MOST VALUABLE RUBY TO EVER APPEAR AT AUCTION

EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE IN EXCESS OF $30 MILLION UNEARTHED IN MOZAMBIQUE AND CUT FROM A 101 CARAT ROUGH

THE WORLD’S LARGEST GEM-QUALITY RUBY IN EXISTENCE – THE ESTRELA DE FURA 55.22 WILL HIGHLIGHT SOTHEBY’S MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AUCTION THIS JUNE

“Already in its rough state, the Estrela de Fura showed its extraordinary quality traits with a potential to become a one-of-a-kind gemstone.
The cutter was able to realize this potential and created a faceted ruby with an astounding 55.22 ct weight, displaying a saturated and homogeneous red color, combined with a degree of clarity unseen in any other unheated ruby of comparable size.
To see a natural ruby of this size, with such a combination of quality characteristics spared from treatment was considered almost unimaginable.
The natural ruby of 55.22 ct is setting a new record not only for Mozambican rubies, but also for rubies in general.”
The Gübelin Gem Lab

NEW YORK, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When FURA Gems announced its historic uncovering of the world’s largest gem-quality ruby ever discovered in September 2022, the news dominated headlines the world over, prompting tremendous excitement and taking the gemstone market by storm. Unearthed from FURA’s ruby mine in Montepuez, Mozambique in July of 2022, the gemstone – weighing an astonishing 101 carats – was subsequently named Estrela de FURA (Star of FURA in Portuguese), in a nod to its outstanding depth of color and size, and to shine a spotlight on Mozambique as a rich source of premium quality rubies. Even in its rough, untouched state, Estrela de FURA was considered by experts as an exceptional treasure of nature for its fluorescence, outstanding clarity and vivid red hue, known as ‘pigeon’s blood’ – a color traditionally associated only with Burmese rubies.

Estrela de Fura _ Raw gem

Now seven months after its initial debut, as the hammer fell on the final lot of The Exceptional Luxury Evening Auction in Hong Kong, speculation on the ruby’s whereabouts were finally put to rest when Sotheby’s auctioneer, Uni Kim, officially unveiled Estrela de FURA 55.22 to the world. Weighing a sizable 55.22 carats, this exceptionally important and rare Mozambique gem is the largest gem-quality ruby to ever appear at auction. Its combination of rich saturation of color, untouched by heat treatment, highly crystalline appearance and incomparable size that – with an estimate in excess of $30 million – places Estrela de FURA 55.22 as the most valuable and important ruby ever to come to market.

Following an initial series of studies of the 101 carat rough crystal to determine cutting options in the beginning of year, Estrela de FURA was masterfully cut and faceted by a team of artisans – with the rough transformed into a beautiful cushion-shaped stone, which according to a report from the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), “resulted in vivid red hues due to multiple internal reflections.” The report further states, “a natural ruby from Mozambique of this size and quality can be considered very rare and thus anexceptional treasure of nature.” The aforenamed gem is profoundly rich in chromium which, when exposed to ultraviolet light – as found in sunlight – causes the stone to radiate a fiery red fluorescence, further enhancing the stone’s vibrancy, as though lit from within.

Estrela de Fura _ lifestyle

The ruby has become one of the most sought-after colored gemstones at a time when color dominates the world of jewels and rarity drives the market. Rubies of this importance and magnitude are exceedingly rare, with only two examples having ever broken the $15 million barrier at auction, making the appearance of the present gem a landmark event in itself. The Gübelin Gem Lab states further that the ruby “is setting a new record not only for Mozambican rubies, but also for rubies in general.” Estrela de FURA 55.22 is poised to make history as it sets to surpass The Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59 carat ruby of Burmese origin, which sold for $30.3 million ($1,185,451 per carat) at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2015, and still holds the world auction record for a ruby*.

The stone’s new journey commences today at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, where it will then embark on a worldwide tour, with exhibitions scheduled in Taipei, China, Singapore, Geneva and Dubai (full dates will be released in due course) before it stars in Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on 8 June.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“The miraculous discovery last year of the 101 carat Estrela de FURA at the FURA mine in Mozambique was of immense importance, shocking all those in the jewelry world. Now, in its newly transformed state of 55.22 carats, Estrela de FURA 55.22, is a true wonder of nature and sensational stone of perfect color and exceptional clarity, combined with a superb cushion shape. It is undoubtedly positioned to become the standard bearer for African rubies – and gemstones in general, bringing global awareness to their ability to be on par with, and even outshine, those from Burma, which have traditionally been the most desirable and recognizable source for rubies,” declares Quig Bruning, Head of Sotheby’s Jewelry, Americas.

“We, at FURA, are incredibly proud of the discovery of Estrela de FURA at such an early part of our Mozambican journey. Important gemstones, such as Estrela de FURA, are extremely rare, and a beautifully faceted gem-quality ruby of 55.22 carats is almost unheard of. From the in-depth analysis and study of the stone – through the process of cutting and polishing – we have worked with the utmost care and respect for the Ruby, recognizing its importance and stature. Witnessing the completion of Estrela de FURA 55.22 was a monumental achievement for all of us, and we are excited that a new page in the story of this incredible gem and Mozambican rubies is about to be written with Sotheby’s,” declares Dev Shetty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FURA Gems.

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RUBY MINING IN MOZAMBIQUE

Ruby mining in Mozambique beholds a long, rich history, with the first significant discoveries of ruby deposits in the country dating back to the 1960s. However, it was not until the early 2000s that the mining of rubies in Mozambique gained real momentum, with the discovery of the Montepuez ruby deposit in the northern part of the country, where the Estrela de FURA rough crystal was originally found. The best of these rubies from Mozambique are characterized by an outstanding transparency and rich color, resulting in extraordinary overall quality. The Montepuez ruby deposit is one of the largest ruby deposits in the world, attracting significant interest from international mining companies.

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A NOTE TO EDITORS

*The current world record for a ruby sold at auction is held by the ‘Sunrise Ruby,’ a 25.59 carat Burmese stone, which was auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2015 for $30.3 million. This price also established a new record for any ruby per carat ($1,185,451 per carat), at the time

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ABOUT FURA GEMS

FURA Gems Inc. is a young coloured gemstone mining and marketing company established in 2017. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, FURA has over 1,200 employees across continents. It is the first truly pioneering, creative and ethical enterprise to cover the entire spectrum of coloured gemstones.

FURA has three mining operating subsidiaries in Colombia, Mozambique, and Australia, that mine emeralds, rubies, and sapphires respectively. It is the fastest growing coloured gemstone mining company with the sole objective of ensuring stability and traceability of ethically mined coloured gemstones from rough to retail.

FURA Gems will allocate a portion of the proceeds of the sale towards setting up the Fura Training Academy to support the community where it operates in Mozambique.

The key objective is to promote access to qualified education and technical training to the local population in different work streams such as mining, carpentry, engineering, and agriculture to provide them with a sustainable income. www.furagems.com

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CONTACT AT FURA GEMS INC. FURA COMMUNICATION

MR GIANLUCA MAINA | [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000802550

April 5, 2023

Notified’s Investor Relations Event Platform Delivers New Features to Create Engaging and Accessible Stakeholder Communications

Latest Enhancements Improve User Experience for Earnings and Investor Days

NEW YORK, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals, today announced a series of enhancements that are now available in its Investor Relations (IR) Event Platform – including expanded features that bolster digital accessibility compliance and improve stakeholder engagement for earnings and investor days. The latest developments to the platform enable Notified customers to meet compliance requirements while creating high-impact events to strengthen and expand their shareholder base, learn more about their investment community, and access the insights and analytics they need to make informed decisions.

“In today’s complex business environment, the responsibility of successfully managing communications between corporate leadership and stakeholders is absolutely critical,” said Nimesh Davé, president, Notified. “Companies want to raise awareness, increase visibility and stay competitive. At Notified, we are committed to developing the tools that empower companies to amplify their stories by innovating traditional IR processes to meet evolving investor expectations and ultimately support successful business outcomes. The latest enhancements to Notified’s IR Event Platform enable innovation by delivering flexibility and optionality, while ensuring industry-leading compliance and security.”

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by selecting the image or link below:

These enhancements include:

Enhanced Digital Accessibility and Compliance: Notified’s webcast players are regularly assessed and updated based on evolving accessibility requirements, in partnership with digital accessibility solution provider Level Access. The enhanced IR Event Platform webcast has an upgraded user experience that supports our customers in meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) Level AA standards, including screen reader compatibility.
New, Customized Layouts: new tools such as a welcome lobby and countdown clock are available to build excitement for highly anticipated events. Companies can match their full website look and feel by turning webcasts into one or multipage microsites.
Powerful Stakeholder Engagement: end users have increased control of their experience, including the ability to manage playback speed for both live and on-demand content, utilize live DVR to pause and resume without missing anything, and access to a picture-in-picture feature for video webcasts.
Optionality and Scalability: Notified’s IR Event Platform is available in Essentials and Expert modes – these new, flexible product versions enable IR teams to select a solution that meets their unique needs and budgets while ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all users.

“Notified’s IR Event Platform enables finance teams to make the most of required communications – it is purpose-built for investor communications and corporate reporting,” said Erik Carlson, COO and CFO, Notified. “We’ve prioritized the features and functionality that our clients depend on to meet today’s standards – including unmatched delivery, security, customer service and flexibility–while enabling future innovation.”

With decades of market experience, Notified is the #1 provider of IR webcasts and a trusted provider to 88% of the Fortune 100. In addition to being Systems and Organization Controls 2 (SOC2) certified, it continues to partner with industry leading accessibility advisors for webcasts and websites, solidifying Notified’s ability to reach client goals while maintaining security and accessibility. The company’s comprehensive suite of solutions enable businesses to effectively reach and engage customers, investors, employees and the media – from press release distribution via GlobeNewswire to earnings calls, IR websites, social listening, media engagement, webinars and digital experiences.

“It’s deeply rewarding to support businesses that share our commitment to creating a more equitable digital world,” said Tim Springer, CEO, Level Access. “Notified has prioritized digital accessibility by building inclusive experiences for its customers and continues to prioritize accessibility to align with new feature releases. We couldn’t be prouder of our work together on the IR Event Platform, and we’re confident our collaboration will continue to change the status quo for online inclusion in the future.”

To learn more about Notified’s IR Event Platform, visit: https://www.notified.com/IR/earnings-day

About Notified:
Notified is committed to making it easy for brands to create and share powerful stories with the world. Our suite of world-class, award-winning solutions and our dedicated customer service team are relied upon by more than 10,000 global customers, from growing businesses and public companies to some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Learn more at www.notified.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or our blog.

Contact:

Hannah Freedman

Director, Media and Communications

[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8802163

April 4, 2023

Vytelle Closes $20MM in Series B Funding to Accelerate Genetic Progress in Cattle

LENEXA, Kansas, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vytelle, a precision livestock company, has raised $20MM in Series B funding to accelerate genetic progress in cattle. With this new investment, Vytelle will continue to expand its global operations, while delivering the most accessible, reliable, and predictable reproductive technology available to customers today.

The investment was led by Forage Capital Partners, a Calgary based growth equity fund that invests across the entire food and agriculture value chain. New investor, Mountain Group Partners, joins current investors, Grosvenor Food and Ag Tech, Open Prairie, Fulcrum Global Capital, Serra Ventures, and KC Rise to complete the round.

Forage Capital Partner, Jim Taylor said, “Vytelle has proven their ability to scale and deliver consistent results for the benefit of cattle producers aiming to accelerate genetic progress around the world. We are impressed with Vytelle’s track record of growth and delivery and are excited about what the future will bring.”

Vytelle’s integrated technology platform combines Vytelle ADVANCE, a breakthrough in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology, with Vytelle SENSE, an animal performance data capture system, and Vytelle INSIGHT, an artificial intelligence based genetic analytics engine.

As the fastest growing advanced reproduction company, Vytelle is easily accessible to more than 50% of the US cow herd. Combining this footprint, with Vytelle’s curation of the world’s largest multibreed efficiency database, provides the infrastructure to impact bovine genetic progress rapidly. Progressive cattle producers can use the technology to multiply the impact of elite livestock productivity and profitability, sustainably delivering more protein with fewer inputs.

“We are delighted to have secured this new investment; this is indicative of strong market interest in our products and services. Our mission is clear, and we are grateful for the support of our investors who join us on our journey to ensure meat and milk are viable food choices for future generations.” said Kerryann Kocher, CEO of Vytelle.

About Vytelle

Vytelle is a precision livestock company reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimize their herds. Through Vytelle’s integrated technology platform, generations of genetic gains can be made in just a few years. This allows producers to sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, helping to ensure meat and milk are viable, competitive food choices for future generations. For more information about Vytelle, please visit www.vytelle.com.

About Forage Capital Partners

Forage Capital Partners is Canada’s most experienced team of Ag & Food investors, having managed over $500 million in commitments to the industry over the last 18 years. Forage Capital Ag & Food Business Solutions Fund works to provide its portfolio companies with the stability and flexibility they need to expand and adapt their business models during these challenging times. The fund will invest with creative business owners that are looking to capitalize on new and innovative opportunities. For more information on Forage Capital Partners, visit www.foragecapitalpartners.com.

About Mountain Group Partners

Mountain Group Partners is a Nashville-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies predominantly in the life sciences, animal health and disruptive technology sectors.  The firm has invested in companies across animal health primarily in companion animals and technologies centered on improving protein production.  Mountain Group takes a hands-on approach to investing based upon its deep operational experience and currently has over $300 million in assets under management. For more information on Mountain Group Partners, visit www.mtngp.com.

Attachment

Vytelle Announces Series B Funding

Lisa Rumsfeld
Vytelle
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8801024