Category: News

A focus on premium video and omnichannel monetization drives long-term relationship into the future

announced the renewal of a global contract with Microsoft which sees the extension of existing technology solutions, the introduction of new ventures and follows over ten years of successful partnership. Microsoft is extending its use of Xandr’s sell-side platform, Xandr Monetize, and its Global Supply Evangelism relationship with Xandr, as Microsoft expands and diversifies its monetization strategy, focusing on increasing Microsoft’s unique audiences for advertisers across premium display, video and native supply in more than 100 countries. Concurrently, Microsoft is increasing its marketing spend that runs through Xandr’s Invest DSP and extending the Microsoft Audience Network demand platform to bid in the Xandr Marketplace.

“Our holistic relationship with Microsoft is entrenched in innovation and collaboration. We deeply value their continued trust in our platform and team to support formats that are so critical to the future of our advertising business”

 

“We always seek to align our partnership opportunities to serve the best interests of and to directly benefit the marketers and agencies looking to drive growth through our unique Microsoft audience. Our renewal with Xandr, after ten successful years of partnership, extends globally-scaled programmatic access to Microsoft’s audience that marketers rely on today,” said Kya Sainsbury-Carter, VP, Global Partner Sales at Microsoft.

“Our holistic relationship with Microsoft is entrenched in innovation and collaboration. We deeply value their continued trust in our platform and team to support formats that are so critical to the future of our advertising business,” said Dave Osborn, Senior Vice President, North America Commercial & Global Partnerships, Xandr. “Microsoft’s international growth on Xandr, across the buy- and sell-sides, and across leading formats like video and native, are critical components of our global marketplace as Xandr builds to support campaigns that span screens.”

With multiple consumer properties, including Microsoft News, MSN and Outlook.com, Microsoft has leveraged Xandr’s global technology solutions to connect its unique audiences programmatically to advertisers through both video and omnichannel demand at scale. As digital advertising budgets shift to video, Microsoft ramped up video monetization efforts supported by Xandr’s video technology solutions and unique video demand. Initially, Microsoft launched on Xandr Monetize with a single video ad format in one market and quickly expanded to three formats and into over sixty global markets. Those three video ad formats include instream pre-roll, outstream in-article and “BannerStream” which enables multiple media types to participate in a single unified auction.

Most recently, Microsoft was an early adopter of Xandr’s simplified server-side header bidding solution, Prebid Server Premium. With the technology, Microsoft consolidates its demand for video and native through the tools on Xandr Monetize, allowing for efficient private marketplace (PMP) buying and providing advertisers a unified path to access Microsoft supply.

On the buy-side, Microsoft has augmented its media spend through Xandr’s Invest DSP as one of its primary DSPs for marketing campaigns.

In 2020, Xandr joined the Microsoft Audience Network, which serves “Microsoft Audience Ads,” the only native advertising solution built by its trusted search platform, Microsoft Bing. Xandr has integrated premium third-party supply in the network, giving buyers the ability to target Microsoft unique audiences at scale across premium international native supply through Xandr Monetize.

ABOUT XANDR

A business unit within AT&T, Xandr powers a global marketplace for premium advertising. Our data-enabled technology platform, encompassing Xandr Invest and Xandr Monetize,

A focus on premium video and omnichannel monetization drives long-term relationship into the future

announced the renewal of a global contract with Microsoft which sees the extension of existing technology solutions, the introduction of new ventures and follows over ten years of successful partnership. Microsoft is extending its use of Xandr’s sell-side platform, Xandr Monetize, and its Global Supply Evangelism relationship with Xandr, as Microsoft expands and diversifies its monetization strategy, focusing on increasing Microsoft’s unique audiences for advertisers across premium display, video and native supply in more than 100 countries. Concurrently, Microsoft is increasing its marketing spend that runs through Xandr’s Invest DSP and extending the Microsoft Audience Network demand platform to bid in the Xandr Marketplace.

“Our holistic relationship with Microsoft is entrenched in innovation and collaboration. We deeply value their continued trust in our platform and team to support formats that are so critical to the future of our advertising business”

 

“We always seek to align our partnership opportunities to serve the best interests of and to directly benefit the marketers and agencies looking to drive growth through our unique Microsoft audience. Our renewal with Xandr, after ten successful years of partnership, extends globally-scaled programmatic access to Microsoft’s audience that marketers rely on today,” said Kya Sainsbury-Carter, VP, Global Partner Sales at Microsoft.

“Our holistic relationship with Microsoft is entrenched in innovation and collaboration. We deeply value their continued trust in our platform and team to support formats that are so critical to the future of our advertising business,” said Dave Osborn, Senior Vice President, North America Commercial & Global Partnerships, Xandr. “Microsoft’s international growth on Xandr, across the buy- and sell-sides, and across leading formats like video and native, are critical components of our global marketplace as Xandr builds to support campaigns that span screens.”

With multiple consumer properties, including Microsoft News, MSN and Outlook.com, Microsoft has leveraged Xandr’s global technology solutions to connect its unique audiences programmatically to advertisers through both video and omnichannel demand at scale. As digital advertising budgets shift to video, Microsoft ramped up video monetization efforts supported by Xandr’s video technology solutions and unique video demand. Initially, Microsoft launched on Xandr Monetize with a single video ad format in one market and quickly expanded to three formats and into over sixty global markets. Those three video ad formats include instream pre-roll, outstream in-article and “BannerStream” which enables multiple media types to participate in a single unified auction.

Most recently, Microsoft was an early adopter of Xandr’s simplified server-side header bidding solution, Prebid Server Premium. With the technology, Microsoft consolidates its demand for video and native through the tools on Xandr Monetize, allowing for efficient private marketplace (PMP) buying and providing advertisers a unified path to access Microsoft supply.

On the buy-side, Microsoft has augmented its media spend through Xandr’s Invest DSP as one of its primary DSPs for marketing campaigns.

In 2020, Xandr joined the Microsoft Audience Network, which serves “Microsoft Audience Ads,” the only native advertising solution built by its trusted search platform, Microsoft Bing. Xandr has integrated premium third-party supply in the network, giving buyers the ability to target Microsoft unique audiences at scale across premium international native supply through Xandr Monetize.

ABOUT XANDR

A business unit within AT&T, Xandr powers a global marketplace for premium advertising. Our data-enabled technology platform, encompassing Xandr Invest and Xandr Monetize, optimizes return on investment for both buyers and sellers. For more than 143 years, AT&T has used data and technology to inform and improve the consumer experience.

optimizes return on investment for both buyers and sellers. For more than 143 years, AT&T has used data and technology to inform and improve the consumer experience.

Investment will see Colt DCS take ownership to develop and operate hyperscale data centres across Tokyo and Osaka markets increasing capacity from 50MW to 140MW

Colt Data Centre Services (DCS), a leading provider of global hyperscale data centre solutions, today announced, that Fidelity has entered into a joint venture agreement with Mitsui & Co, and Mitsui & Co Asset Management Holdings, to provide state-of-the-art hyperscale data centres in Japan. The new joint venture will be owned 50:50 and will further strengthen Colt DCS’ presence in the Tokyo and Osaka regions of Japan.

“Data centres play a critical role in the digital transformation of businesses across the globe, and the demand for high-quality and environmentally conscious hyperscale data centres is huge”

 

The joint venture between Fidelity and Mitsui will allow Colt DCS to further accelerate its hyperscale strategy in Japan, where it has seen unprecedented success. The company pre-sold 94% of its capacity before the launch of its Inzai Three facility November of last year, and has recently been named Frost & Sullivan’s 2021 Japan Data Center Services Company of the Year, a prestigious award which examines criteria such as customer experience, operations excellence technical capabilities, and innovation. Colt DCS currently have 50MW existing built in Japan, which will almost triple to 140MW following the joint venture.

“Japan remains a strategic country of focus for our regional expansion, where the demand for large-scale data centre capacity outstrips supply,” commented Niclas Sanfridsson, CEO, Colt Data Centre Services. “Whilst Colt DCS already has a solid reputation in the market for working with the world’s largest hyperscale cloud providers and multi-national companies, the partnership with Mitsui and its strategic alliances will provide new opportunities for us to further penetrate the domestic enterprise sector and accelerate our land banking strategy.”

The joint venture will appoint Colt Data Centre Services as the exclusive service provider for the design, development, operations and customer service management for the venture. Mitsui & Co., Realty Management Ltd., a private real estate fund management subsidiary of Mitsui will serve as the asset manager for the joint venture, covering structuring, financing, land sourcing, development support and Japanese customer marketing by utilising Mitsui group’s deep industrial capabilities.

“Data centres play a critical role in the digital transformation of businesses across the globe, and the demand for high-quality and environmentally conscious hyperscale data centres is huge,” added Shinsuke Waka, GM of Financial Business Division, from Mitsui & Co. “Through the management of the Mitsui Fund and our joint venture, Mitsui will utilise its unique financial and industrial capabilities to respond jointly to these needs with its global prestigious partners.”

About Colt DCS

Colt Data Centre Services provide true service and operational excellence in the design, build, delivery and operational management of hyperscale data centres and hybrid cloud solutions to our customers across Europe and Asia pacific.

We have over 25 years of experience in operating 26 state-of-the-art carrier neutral data centres across 18 cities, offering 24/7 security and local language support.

Our connectivity and colocation solutions allow our customers freedom to plan effectively for the growth of their business, knowing that their data centre strategy is ready for the demands of tomorrow. http://www.coltdatacentres.net/

Investment will see Colt DCS take ownership to develop and operate hyperscale data centres across Tokyo and Osaka markets increasing capacity from 50MW to 140MW

Colt Data Centre Services (DCS), a leading provider of global hyperscale data centre solutions, today announced, that Fidelity has entered into a joint venture agreement with Mitsui & Co, and Mitsui & Co Asset Management Holdings, to provide state-of-the-art hyperscale data centres in Japan. The new joint venture will be owned 50:50 and will further strengthen Colt DCS’ presence in the Tokyo and Osaka regions of Japan.

“Data centres play a critical role in the digital transformation of businesses across the globe, and the demand for high-quality and environmentally conscious hyperscale data centres is huge”

 

The joint venture between Fidelity and Mitsui will allow Colt DCS to further accelerate its hyperscale strategy in Japan, where it has seen unprecedented success. The company pre-sold 94% of its capacity before the launch of its Inzai Three facility November of last year, and has recently been named Frost & Sullivan’s 2021 Japan Data Center Services Company of the Year, a prestigious award which examines criteria such as customer experience, operations excellence technical capabilities, and innovation. Colt DCS currently have 50MW existing built in Japan, which will almost triple to 140MW following the joint venture.

“Japan remains a strategic country of focus for our regional expansion, where the demand for large-scale data centre capacity outstrips supply,” commented Niclas Sanfridsson, CEO, Colt Data Centre Services. “Whilst Colt DCS already has a solid reputation in the market for working with the world’s largest hyperscale cloud providers and multi-national companies, the partnership with Mitsui and its strategic alliances will provide new opportunities for us to further penetrate the domestic enterprise sector and accelerate our land banking strategy.”

The joint venture will appoint Colt Data Centre Services as the exclusive service provider for the design, development, operations and customer service management for the venture. Mitsui & Co., Realty Management Ltd., a private real estate fund management subsidiary of Mitsui will serve as the asset manager for the joint venture, covering structuring, financing, land sourcing, development support and Japanese customer marketing by utilising Mitsui group’s deep industrial capabilities.

“Data centres play a critical role in the digital transformation of businesses across the globe, and the demand for high-quality and environmentally conscious hyperscale data centres is huge,” added Shinsuke Waka, GM of Financial Business Division, from Mitsui & Co. “Through the management of the Mitsui Fund and our joint venture, Mitsui will utilise its unique financial and industrial capabilities to respond jointly to these needs with its global prestigious partners.”

About Colt DCS

Colt Data Centre Services provide true service and operational excellence in the design, build, delivery and operational management of hyperscale data centres and hybrid cloud solutions to our customers across Europe and Asia pacific.

We have over 25 years of experience in operating 26 state-of-the-art carrier neutral data centres across 18 cities, offering 24/7 security and local language support.

Our connectivity and colocation solutions allow our customers freedom to plan effectively for the growth of their business, knowing that their data centre strategy is ready for the demands of tomorrow. http://www.coltdatacentres.net/

State owned insurance company, Sasria, to expedite claims for businesses destroyed in unrest
The recent wave of unrest that has blazed in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has left a trail of destruction that will impact our economy for years to come. eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, says that more than 40 000 businesses in the region have been affected and estimates that the damage to property and equipment will exceed R15 billion.
With most companies already in the process of rebuilding, Craig Mendelson, the Short-term Insurance Manager for Consolidated Group says there is some good news for business owners. The South African Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria) has been proactive in its dealings with insurance companies to ensure that claims will be expedited.
“The state-owned entity, Sasria, is the only insurer in South Africa that provides cover for loss or damage to insured property as a direct result of social unrest, including rioting, strike action and public disorder,” Craig explains.
“Businesses that have Sasria cover and have claims up to R50 000 should be paid out quickly as the Association has given certain insurance companies a mandate to settle these smaller claims directly. All larger claims will however have to go through the usual Sasria approval process; but the Association has promised that even these will be expedited.”
Craig expects that businesses with smaller claims will be paid out within a few weeks whereas larger claims may take up to two months or longer, depending on the complexity of the claim.
Sasria does not deal directly with the public but its cover is included as an option in most commercial and consumer insurance policies. If this is selected, the insurance company is responsible for administering the cover.
“Insurance companies offer insurance for unforeseen incidents including accidental damages, theft (not arising from riots) and weather-related damages. In practice, business owners take up this normal insurance, but supplement it with cover from Sasria,” says Craig.
“It’s a simple box ticking exercise when business owners select their cover and while many companies choose to include it, there are exceptions and unfortunately, there is no recourse now for these businesses as their regular insurance won’t pay out for damages caused by social unrest.”
Sasria cover comprises a number of categories including material damage to domestic and commercial property, goods in transit, motor and business interruption. Craig says this latter cover could be a saving grace for many businesses but cautions them to check their limitations.
“Saria Business Interruption insurance covers consequential or indirect financial losses suffered as a result of looting, property damages such as fire or vandalism during riots, strikes and public disorder amongst others. Usually, a time period is specified for this cover which varies from three to 24 months,” says Craig.
Knowing the period over which the business interruption cover will pay out may help companies with their expenses in the short-term while they are unable to trade but it could leave them exposed in the long-run, depending on how long they need to rebuild and become fully operational.
Sasria limitations also apply to the value of the business insured. If a business owner is insured by Sasria to the tune of R100 million and incurred damages or losses worth R500 million, Sasria will only pay out the insured amount. The owner will have to pay out of pocket to fix the uninsured damages.
To understand all these exclusions and limitations, Craig advises any business owner who is submitting a claim due to the recent riots to work directly with their broker.
“Your broker will help you to fast-track your claim and will handle the administration with Sasria for you. The most important part of this is to ensure that all the correct documentation is submitted from the start and if you get this right, it will assist in your claim been resolved speedily.

Tragically, South Africa is in the midst of violent protests and looting. A number of provinces are being affected, and many businesses and properties have been damaged.
AASYS (Advanced Automated Systems) believe they have the products and technology to prevent and contain any further damage.
AASYS is the sole distributor of LIOS products in South Africa. Using LIOS’s world-leading technology, fibre optic cables are deployed as a sensing and condition-monitoring solution fit for a wide variety of different applications – including the monitoring of the perimeter of businesses and buildings.
“The acoustics technology allows you to distinguish specific sounds – whether it’s a truck or car, a group of people or an individual, someone cutting the fence or digging under it – and provides an early warning so you can react in time to prevent an incident,” explains AASYS CEO, Yoni Margalit. “In addition, this technology enables the monitoring of temperature near the fibre optic cable – ensuring the early detection of fires.”
AASYS is also the sole distributor of Dafo. The Dafo Wet Chemical Handheld units are extremely effective at putting out tyre fires. “As reported in the news, many trucks have been set on fire during the rioting, and we believe this product will be useful in preventing further damage.”
Then there’s AASYS’s FOG microcapsule technology. The microcapsules contain a fire-suppressant chemical which is added to a paint, and automatically burst on reaching a certain temperature, thereby extinguishing an approaching fire at a very early stage.
“The paint can be applied to any surface to make it fire suppressant,” says Margalit. “It’s especially useful in this situation to protect armoured vehicles, petroleum tanks, delivery trucks and shop walls.”
AASYS takes pride in offering the most advanced condition monitoring and fire prevention and suppression systems in the world.
“This technology enables clients to save lives and protect assets, while ensuring businesses and industries stay up and running at all times,” says Margalit. “The damage is already severe, but we’d like to put our cutting-edge solutions to work to help prevent and minimise any further disruptions to our economy, and to the businesses which drive it.”

Over 280 participants in nine provinces and countless cities have proven the power of collective action, successfully smashing the target of #67000litres of soup set by food rescue organisation Chefs with Compassion.
Despite significant setbacks due to the unrest in KZN and Gauteng, and spiralling Covid cases, the humanity and compassion of South Africans made it possible for a total of 70 897 litres to be cooked, resulting in 283 588 people receiving a cup of soup on Mandela Day.
The #67000litres for Mandela Day initiative was launched by Chefs with Compassion, a volunteer-based food rescue organisation, in 2020 when chefs in professional kitchens stepped up to cook soup in honour of Madiba. This year, the challenge was opened up to corporates and home cooks to cook safely in their own kitchens and donate their lovingly cooked soup to a beneficiary in their immediate area.
Teamwork in Gauteng
Stories of incredible dedication and belief in making a difference were the hallmarks of this year’s #67000litres campaign. One such story emerged from Joburg when a donation of six pallets of lettuce from Fresh Mark was turned into thousands of litres of delicious soup by two neighbouring hotels at OR Tambo International Airport – Protea Hotel by Marriott®? O.R. Tambo Airport and the Radisson Blu OR Tambo Airport. The Radisson Blu’s entire team – from housekeepers to the General Manager – worked round the clock for six days, upping their intended quota of 1 000 litres to an eventual 14 000 litres of soup, resulting in in 56 000 people in the south and east of Joburg receiving a meal. Simultaneously, the Protea Hotel by Marriott®? O.R. Tambo Airport exceeded their target of 200 litres by 3,080%, cooking a total of 6 160 litres. Nationally, the Marriott International group participated through 11 of their hotels around the country, bringing in a total of 8,172 litres to the #67000litres Challenge.
Home cooks
Hundreds of home cooks contributed smaller amounts to the total and here too there were heart-warming stories of great compassion and effort. Well-known foodies Hilary Biller and Jenny Kay, who registered to cook 5 litres ended up taking 50 litres to the Bramfischerville community – 1000% more than their commitment. A partnership of two chef friends, Chef Trey of Brisket & Biscuits and Food Network celebrity chef Katlego Mlambo, cooking at the HTA School of Culinary Art in Randburg, took their intended contribution of 20 litres to 200 litres, which was donated to MES for their work in the inner city of Joburg.
Overberg foraging
In the Western Cape, a collaboration spearheaded by Chef Greg Henderson of The Wild Food Revolution and Culinary Concepts with two local breweries and the local community in Hermanus, Kleinmond and surrounding areas resulted in just under 4 000 litres of soup being cooked almost entirely from foraged ingredients. The soup, along with 800 loaves of bread donated by Blue Ribbon, was donated to communities in Stanford, Hawston, Zwehile, Caledon, Mount Pleasant, Kleinmond, Botrivier. Says Chef Greg, “The rains filled the dams and we lost 1500kg of waterblommetjies with the dam wall bursting, but we made a plan and had 200kg of waterblommetjies and 50kg of amaranth added to our soup, hand harvest salt, wild fennels seeds from last season harvests, plus additional spices from Le Merchant and 800kg of potatoes from Food 4 Love, which enabled us to increase our volume. Over and above the soup cooked, we delivered one ton of produce to a community kitchen in Strand that serves 2 500 children five days a week plus 12 tons of produce was sent to KZN. It was a busy, emotional and humbling week.”
Partnerships
“We are humbled and in awe of the impact that achieving the target of 67 000 litres of cook has had, and of the collective action that made this possible. Thank you to every participant for every drop of soup, to our premier partner, Compass Insure, our technology partner SYSPRO, our many, many sponsors, partners, volunteers, kitchens and beneficiaries,” says Chef Coo Pillay, Chefs with Compassion’s national project manager.
One of the most remarkable stories this year was the collaboration with the SA Poultry Association, who donated over eight tons of chicken meat and almost 10 000 eggs donated through farmers. “There is so much hardship in this troubled time, so as an industry we wanted to reach out in brotherhood this Mandela Day to help those who are facing hunger. For one day at least, there will be a warm and nutritious, protein-rich meal for each of the people reached by this initiative,” says Izaak Breitenbach, GM of Sapa’s broiler organisation. Three of the biggest producers, Astral Foods, RCL Foods and Country Bird Holdings challenged one another to donate chicken meat worth R67 000, or around 2.6 tons, each. Quantum Foods joined in with 67 x 10 dozen Nulaid eggs, and East London producer Beckley Brothers and the Pietermaritzburg-based KwaZulu-Natal Poultry Institute each pitched in with 67 dozen eggs. Gauteng egg farmer Aldabri Agricultural pledged 67 litres of liquid eggs and 67 trays each of large and extra-large eggs. A further ton of meat was donated by Bush-Valley Chicken Farm in Tzaneen, ensuring that feeding programmes in several outlying districts can also benefit from the initiative.
In Johannesburg, the Joburg Market donated 7 tonnes of potatoes, cabbage, green beans, turnip, celery, purchased through their CSI fund and distributed to Chefs with Compassion’s existing kitchens to enable them to cook massive volumes of soup for Mandela Day
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of this year’s #67000litres included NGOs that work tirelessly to ensure that people don’t go hungry, such as MES, churches, orphanages, and soup kitchens. On the less formal front, many of the recipients of the #67000litres soup were homeless people who were served by participants driving to find people in need of their nourishing soup.
The future for Chefs with Compassion
“We are called upon to make every day Mandela Day, and that is the philosophy that has driven Chefs with Compassion from the very beginning. We will be continuing the work we do every day in our sharehouse in Joburg, and hopefully expanding beyond that to meet the growing need around the country,” says Arnold Tanzer, chairman of Chefs with Compassion.
“We invite every participant in this year’s challenge, once a week, to cook for those who, through no fault of their own, face the daily desperation of hunger.”
Chefs with Compassion is a volunteer-based food rescue organisation that was founded in May last year in response to the massive increase in hunger. To date, Chefs with Compassion has served over 1,9 million meals.
To find out more about Chefs with Compassion, go to www.cwc.org.za. Donations received through the #67000litres campaign and on an ongoing basis are used to fund the organisation’s Johannesburg operation, which rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and connects this perfectly good food to volunteer chefs, cooks and communities. Chefs with Compassion’s cost per meal to rescue, cook and feed a hungry South African is R10

AM General, a global leader in military grade tactical vehicles and mobility systems, recently received a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract from the United States Army to provide two HUMVEE 2-CT Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer Systems (MHS)  for the U.S. Army’s characterization test. 

 

HUMVEE 2-CT Hawkeye Demonstration at Camp Grayling, Michigan 

“AM General’s integration of Soft Recoil technology onto mobile platforms demonstrates our commitment to the innovation required to make future combat vehicles lighter, more survivable, and more lethal,” said Regis Luther, SVP Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. “We are honored to support the U.S. Army’s efforts to test and prove mobile howitzer systems.” 

AM General and its strategic partner, Mandus Group, have been integrating the soft recoil technology (SRT) onto light, mobile, transportable, and survivable platforms without sacrificing firepower. SRT is a disruptive technology that will reduce the firing loads for direct and indirect weapons systems, enabling combat systems to meet emerging requirements. The technology is ready now and can be deployed on existing weapons platforms for an immediate effect on the battlefield. Soft recoil enables reduction in overall system weight, making systems more agile and responsive to benefit the supported maneuver commander. 

The HUMVEE 2-CT (M1152 two-door cargo truck) that serves as the mobile platform, will come with a standard 14,100 lb. gross vehicle weight, 205 hp engine, and antilock braking system (ABS). While the U.S. Army conducts characterization testing of the 2-CT Hawkeye MHS over the next year, AM General and Mandus Group will continue to refine the technology for integration of the soft recoil technology onto other mobile platforms. Scalability is already being tested with a 155mm prototype. The group is also exploring integration onto other existing and future combat systems. 

About AM General
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineering, manufacturing and logistics support of military grade tactical vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 70 countries. AM General has extensive experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. 

About Mandus Group
Mandus Group designs, engineers, supplies, and supports artillery weapon systems and associated maintenance equipment in the United States and around the world. Mandus Group has extensive and unique experience and capabilities in heavy artillery design, engineering, and life cycle support which places it as a recognized leader in this segment of military weapon systems.  Located in Rock Island, Illinois, Mandus Group is comprised of a highly experienced workforce of artillery professionals that are dedicated to providing innovation, quality, and on time performance.  Please see more information about Mandus Group at www.mandusgroup.com  

Co-founder of Noah and Former Design Director at Supreme to Redefine Iconic Menswear Brand 

 

 

J.Crew Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Brendon Babenzien, Co-Founder of Noah and former Design Director at Supreme, as Creative Director of J.Crew Men’s.  Babenzien will work alongside J.Crew Group CEO Libby Wadle to redefine the iconic brand, merging the vitality and creativity of today’s style subcultures with an innovative appreciation of classic menswear.  

 

Babenzien will lead J.Crew Men’s design, instilling the brand with the free-thinking point of view and visionary focus on responsible business models that have earned him critical acclaim throughout his impressive career. Babenzien’s vision as Design Director at Supreme elevated a niche skate wear brand to the global stage, while his founding of Noah earned him further international renown for building a brand with a high standard of quality menswear while challenging the status quo by seeking to further positive change within the industry. As Creative Director of J.Crew Men’s, Babenzien will for the first time turn his focus towards the evolution and reimagination of a true American classic.    

“J.Crew has always been a part of my life – quietly, subtly in the background, slowly becoming the platform from which to build my personal style. I’m excited to join the team and build a positive future that meets the interests of the thoughtful consumers that exist today, satisfying not just their sophisticated taste level but their demands for responsible business practices,” said Babenzien. “J.Crew is in the unique position to help men achieve the confidence we all seek both stylistically and as consumers. I look forward to working with Libby and the rest of the J.Crew family to achieve these goals.” 

“Brendon is a singular talent in the fashion world. He’s a true storyteller, and it’s that depth of vision and creativity that have led to his proven ability to build beloved brands that customers obsess over.  His unique point of view, willingness to take risks and insider status will be invaluable to J.Crew’s commitment to step outside ourselves and disrupt our brand and the industry in a progressive way,” said Wadle.  “Brendon has always had an innate ability to pursue meaningful creative with integrity and is obsessively engaged with what is happening in the industry. His authentic connection to the brand serves as a perfect foundation upon which to drive the future of J.Crew Men’s, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him to the team.”  

Babenzien will begin his work with J.Crew Men’s effective immediately, reporting directly to Wadle.  His first full collection for the brand is scheduled to debut in the second half of 2022. 

About J.Crew Group
J.Crew Group is an internationally recognized omnichannel retailer of women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. As of [May 17, 2021], the Company operates [151] J.Crew retail stores, [143] Madewell stores, and [147] J.Crew Factory stores in nearly every state in the United States, and also maintains J.Crew, Madewell, and J.Crew Factory websites. For more information visit jcrew.com, madewell.com and jcrewfactory.com 

DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ:DRIO), a pioneer in the global digital therapeutics market, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire PsyInnovations, Inc. (dba wayForward), a behavioral health digital platform that includes AI-enabled screening to triage and navigate members to specific interventions, digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), self-directed care, expert coaching and access to in-person and telehealth provider visits.  The wayForward platform fills an all too common hole in existing behavioral health coverage for people who may not need or be able to access provider-based treatment.  wayForward is currently providing its full suite of digital behavioral health services to approximately 20,000 members and 20 self-insured employers. 

 

Unfortunately, the behavioral health care a person receives today is dictated more by the setting in which a person receives it than what the person would best respond to.  The result is higher cost care, increased patient attrition and impaired outcomes. The wayForward platform is unique in the industry in that it focuses on AI-based screening, digital tools and coaching to match members to the optimal level of care, including those who may not require care by a licensed clinician psychologist or psychiatrist, while providing access to those providers through a customer’s existing network or partners’ networks.  This results in improved engagement and clinical outcomes. Very few solutions in the market provide the clinical rigor of digital CBT and coaching as the first line of care. Rather than competing with existing in-person and telehealth-based solutions, wayForward integrates with them seamlessly.  This creates a pathway to work collaboratively with other behavioral health solutions and provider networks rather than compete with them.  

Recognized for its product capabilities, wayForward has won innovation challenges with Anthem and Blue Cross BlueShield of Illinois and has demonstrated strong member utilization and clinical outcomes, including a 48% reduction in anxiety and a 59% reduction in depression in third-party studies.  The ability of the wayForward platform to integrate with third parties streamlines interoperability and is consistent with Dario’s philosophy of making behavior change easier.  The wayForward team, including its two founders, Ritvik Singh, CEO of wayForward and Dr. Navya Singh, Chief Clinical Officer of wayForward, will join the Dario team. We believe that wayForward’s base of self-insured employer customers validates the commercial opportunity, and there will be immediate combined value in leveraging Dario’s sales and marketing organization and wayForward’s technology organization in India. 

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Dario agreed to pay $30.0 million  of consideration, with $25.0 million due at closing and a future contingent payment of up to $5.0 million if behavioral health revenues from the Company exceed a certain threshold in 2022. The upfront component of the purchase price will be paid by a combination of $6.0 million in cash and $19.0 million in shares of Dario common stock.  Dario will issue approximately 891,182 shares of common stock at the closing, which is subject to customary closing conditions and hold-backs. If earned, the contingent payment will be paid in shares of Dario common stock.  The number of shares issuable in the transaction was determined based on the 60-day volume weighted average share price (VWAP) of $21.09 that ended on May 14, 2021.  These shares will be subject to a mandatory lock-up over a 6-18 month period. wayFoward is expected to be accretive to revenue in 2021 with substantially more contribution to revenue in 2022.  With the majority of the merger consideration being in equity and minimal post-closing investment expected to be required to achieve operational objectives, Dario believes that it will maintain its healthy balance sheet after adding wayForward’s scale and capabilities to its platform. 

Approximately 20% of the population has a behavioral health need each year, and approximately 29% of people with a chronic condition have a behavioral health issue. With the addition of wayForward’s solution, Dario’s platform is one of the most comprehensive multi-condition solutions in the industry covering diabetes, hypertension, pre-diabetes, musculoskeletal and behavioral health. Post-acquisition, Dario’s platform will cover 6 of the 7 top benefit areas employers seek to address, according to a survey by Mercer. We believe that this acquisition enhances the integrated care that Dario’s platform can provide and substantially increases the portion of customers’ population that may be eligible for Dario’s services. 

“We are excited to join Dario.  wayForward was started with the mission to bring precise, readily available and cost-effective behavioral healthcare to all those in need. We believe that combining our platform with Dario’s best in class solutions for chronic disease will allow us to provide an industry leading product with superior outcomes and member experience and continue on our mission; now with an expanded client base. The experience of their team and existing sales & marketing infrastructure will help accelerate sales, reduce customer acquisition cost and maximize the value of our platform,” stated Ritvik Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of wayForward. “More importantly, the integrated platform will benefit patients who now have the opportunity to utilize the effective combined Dario/wayForward solution for multiple chronic conditions in a convenient digital experience.” 

“Dario is a strong, flexible AI-driven platform that allows for new offerings to be seamlessly added to our open architecture. Over the last year, we have consistently stated our desire to provide a suite of best-in-class solutions for multiple chronic conditions on one platform, including behavioral health as a top priority. We are excited to deliver on our stated goals. We believe the wayForward offering and management team will be great, synergistic additions to our technology foundation,” stated Erez Raphael, Dario CEO. 

Rick Anderson, President & General Manager of North America, stated “Adding wayForward to our already robust platform allows us to provide a complete solution to our members and customers.  Our current collaborations with wayForward on customer requests for proposal made it clear that they are a natural partner for us.  It broadens the opportunities for both companies by expanding the customers we can pursue and the number of members in each customer that we can serve.  We look forward to leveraging our commercial team to accelerate the adoption of wayForward’s  solution on an integrated and stand-alone basis.” 

More information, including an Dario Health Corp Deck, can be found in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2021. 

Sullivan & Worcester LLP is acting as legal counsel to Dario in connection with the acquisition.