Zumba Fitness Announces Strategic Partnership With Top Media and Technology Firms
Posted: March 8, 2012 at 10:40 pm
MIAMI, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --ZumbaFitness, the global multimedia fitness leader and creator of the acclaimed Zumba dance-fitness party workout, announced today that The Raine Group and Insight Venture Partners made a minority investment in the company. The strategic partnership will further grow and optimize the company's digital and media footprint, generating even more mass awareness for the global brand. The partnership will bring new benefits to all members of the Zumba community including class participants, instructors, fitness facilities and the health and fitness industry.
"This strategic partnership will allow us to unlock the potential of our brand for years to come," said Alberto Perlman, CEO of Zumba Fitness. "As when we founded Zumba, the success of our instructors and their ability to improve the lives of Zumba enthusiasts is what continues to drive us. With Raine's media and entertainment resources and Insight's technology and social media expertise, we're perfectly positioned to make Zumba the premier lifestyle brand."
Since its inception more than ten years ago, Zumba Fitness has proven that it bridges an important gap a dance fitness workout that is appealing to both casual enthusiasts and active lifestyle consumers looking for a fun and energizing workout.
"What the founders, management team and Zumba instructors throughout the world have accomplished in the last ten years is truly remarkable," said John Salter, a partner at Raine."The intersection of sports, fitness and lifestyle is a key focus of our firm, and we are extremely excited to have Zumba as partners. We look forward to their continued leadership as we help them to further consolidate their strong position and accelerate their growth into major international markets for many years to come."
"As technology investors, we are extremely impressed by how Zumba's founders are leveraging media and technology to build value for their community in dance studios, gyms and online," said Jeff Horing, founder of Insight Venture Partners. "We are excited to be partnering with the Zumba Fitness team, and look forward to leveraging our technology expertise to continue improving the experience for Zumba instructors and participants, as well as assist in Zumba's growth worldwide."
In connection with the partnership, Zumba also announced that WME Entertainment, a strategic partner of Raine, will work with the Company to further build the global Zumba brand. "Zumba Fitness is an international phenomenon that has helped improve tens of millions of lives around the world," said Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of WME Entertainment. "Through this partnership, we will create unprecedented brand awareness and an infectious fusion of entertainment and fitness. I am thrilled to work with a brand that does so much good for so many people and that has such enormous potential."
The Zumba Fitness lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games, Fitness-Concert events and a lifestyle magazine. Following this transaction, current Zumba Fitness leadership will continue to own and control all operations of the Zumba brand. For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visitzumba.com
About Zumba Fitness, LLC
ZumbaFitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-party workout. Coined "fitness-parties," Zumba classes blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, which provide effective,total-body workouts. Founded in 2001, the company is now the largest branded fitness program in the world -- reporting more than 12 million weekly class participants, in over 110,000 locations, across more than 125 countries. In addition to its original Zumbaprogram, the company also offers a range of specialty classes, including Zumba Gold(for active older adults), ZumbaToning (body-sculpting class that uses maraca-like Toning Sticks), Aqua Zumba(the ultimate "pool party" workout), Zumbatomic(Zumba routines for kids), Zumba Sentao (chair-based Zumba class that strengthens, balances and stabilizes the core) and Zumbain the Circuit (a 30-minute workout that combines signature Zumbamoves with circuit training at timed intervals). The Zumbafitness lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games, Fitness-Concert events and a lifestyle magazine. For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visitzumba.comand find us onFacebookandTwitter.
A quick note about the Zumba trademark
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Zumba Fitness Announces Strategic Partnership With Top Media and Technology Firms
fnatic’s cArn about his retirement and IEM’s World Championship – Video
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fnatic's cArn about his retirement and IEM's World Championship - Video
Dravid likely to announce his retirement tomorrow-NewsX – Video
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Dravid likely to announce his retirement tomorrow-NewsX - Video
Prudential Retirement Calls for Establishment of Multiple Small Employer Plans
Posted: at 10:40 pm
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Prudential Retirements Jamie Kalamarides, senior vice president of Institutional Investment Products, testified today during a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on the shortage of retirement savings plans among small businesses.
Kalamarides discussed Prudential Retirements support for expanding retirement coverage through multiple small employer plans, which would allow groups of employers to pool resources under a single defined contribution plan, resulting in lower costs and simplified administrative requirements. Kalamarides testified that the establishment of multiple small employer plans may help close the retirement income gap for the more than 78 million employees who do not have a retirement plan, and help improve overall retirement security.*
During his testimony, Kalamarides explained that compliance with ERISAs reporting, disclosure and fiduciary requirements may be a concern for many small employers and, the ability to reallocate these responsibilities to professionals through a multiple employer plan would remove a major impediment to small employers extending retirement savings opportunities to their employees. Kalamarides further explained that, if multiple employer plans are to play a meaningful role in closing the retirement coverage gap clarifications and changes in the law are necessary, including expanding multiple employer plan sponsorship, reallocating fiduciary and plan administration responsibilities and eliminating nondiscrimination testing. For full version of testimony (link to testimony) and white paper, (link to whitepaper).
Prudential Retirement delivers retirement plan solutions for public, private, and non-profit organizations. Services include state-of-the-art record keeping, administrative services, investment management, comprehensive employee investment education and communications, and trustee services. With over 85 years of retirement experience, Prudential Retirement helps meet the needs of over 3.6 million participants and annuitants. Prudential Retirement has $229.5 billion in retirement account values as of December 31, 2011. Retirement products and services are provided by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC), Hartford, CT, or its affiliates.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU - News), a financial services leader with approximately $901 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2011, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudentials diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudentials iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit http://www.news.prudential.com/.
* Employee Benefit Research Institute, Employment-Based Retirement Plan Participation: Geographic Differences and Trends, 010, Issue Brief No. 363, October 2011
0220434-00002-00
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Prudential Retirement Calls for Establishment of Multiple Small Employer Plans
Dream high 2 – We are the b [lower class’s performance ep 9] – Video
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Dream high 2 - We are the b [lower class's performance ep 9] - Video
Messi shrugs off personal achievement
Posted: at 10:39 pm
Lionel Messi shrugged off another night of personal achievement to focus on helping Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Argentinian became the first man to score five times in a game in Europe's premier club competition in another sensational solo display as title holders Barca eased into the last eight with a 7-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen.
Pep Guardiola's side were at their unplayable best with young substitute Cristian Tello also scoring twice as they advanced 10-2 on aggregate.
Messi, 24, was the undoubted star but he was quick to play down his own role to concentrate on the bigger picture.
He said: "The most important thing tonight is that all these goals we scored take us one step closer to winning the Champions League, which is our objective.
"We went out there wanting to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals and we achieved that.
"I have always said that it's fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. That's what happened against Leverkusen.
"The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals."
Messi's modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display.
The FIFA World Player of the Year earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games - he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 - before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area.
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Messi shrugs off personal achievement
Messi champions team over personal glory
Posted: at 10:39 pm
irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 15:09
Soccer:Lionel Messi shrugged off another night of personal achievement to focus on helping Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Pep Guardiolas side were at their unplayable best with young substitute Cristian Tello also scoring twice as they advanced 10-2 on aggregate. Messi, 24, was the undoubted star but he was quick to play down his own role to concentrate on the bigger picture.
He said: The most important thing tonight is that all these goals we scored take us one step closer to winning the Champions League, which is our objective. We went out there, wanting to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals and we achieved that.
I have always said that its fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. Thats what happened against Leverkusen. The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals.
Messis modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display. The FIFA World Player of the Year earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area.
Last nights haul plus the recent hat-trick for Argentina against Switzerland means Messi has scored 14 goals in his last five games for club and country. Its all about enjoying the moment; from how it went with Argentina the other week to how its going right now for my club.
The sweetest part of it, for me, is that the team continues its run of form at the moment, winning games in style; thats the way to go as far as we can in the Champions League.
As for the draws for the next rounds, I dont care which opponents we end up facing or when. Any club which has reached this stage is only here because it has done its work very well, and whoever we draw is going to be tough opposition.
Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas claimed Messi is the best player ever to play the game. The midfielder said: You can expect anything from Leo. He is the best player in history; we have never seen anyone like him. He didnt play at the weekend and he wanted to do well. He enjoys being on the pitch and we are happy to have him.
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Messi champions team over personal glory
Trent Barringer Receives Outstanding Personal Performance Award, Named to Elite Advisors Team
Posted: at 10:39 pm
At its 2012 Annual Business Conference, Ziegler financial advisor, Trent Barringer, was presented the companys award for Outstanding Personal Performance and was named to Zieglers team of Elite Advisors. The awards were presented to Barringer by Zieglers CEO, Tom Paprocki.
(PRWEB) March 08, 2012
Barringer was one of four Ziegler associates to receive the Outstanding Personal Performance Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements as a financial advisor. Our clients interests come first, said Paprocki at the firm-wide recognition ceremony held on February 28, 2012, at the Chicago House of Blues. We create high value relationships for clients, knowing that their success will assure our own. Trent goes above and beyond for his clients and for Ziegler. He supports our brand and maintains Zieglers core values.
Additional to receiving one of Zieglers most prestigious recognition awards, Barringer was also named to the firms Elite Advisors team of 15 advisors. The Elite Advisor Award is presented to Zieglers top performing financial advisors who go above and beyond in their daily routines to put their clients interests above all else.
Barringer joined Ziegler Wealth Management in 2004, and has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. His focus is on financial and retirement planning, working with his clients to identify their financial goals and needs, and offering investments and advice tailored to help each client achieve their financial goals.
Barringer lives in Sheboygan with his wife, Angela, and daughter, Erica, and is very involved in the local community. He is an active member of The Town of Sheboygans Lions Club and has involved the entire Ziegler Sheboygan office with the "Meals on Wheels" food program for seniors.
Zieglers Sheboygan office is located at 1414 North Taylor Drive, Suite 215, in Sheboygan. The general phone number at the office is (920) 458-7751. For more information about Barringer and Ziegler, please visit http://www.Ziegler.com/Trent-Barringer.
About Ziegler:
The Ziegler Companies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ZGCO) together with its affiliates (Ziegler) is a specialty investment bank with unique expertise in complex credit structures and advisory services. Nationally, Ziegler is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms in its specialty sectors of healthcare, senior living, religion and education finance, as well as corporate finance and FHA/HUD. Headquartered in Chicago, IL with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler creates tailored financial solutions including bond financing, advisory, private placement, seed capital, M&A, risk and asset management. Ziegler serves institutional and individual investors through its wealth management and capital markets distribution channels.
Christine McCarty Ziegler 312 596 1617 Email Information
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Trent Barringer Receives Outstanding Personal Performance Award, Named to Elite Advisors Team
ECB fires inflation warning, trumpets success of cash flood
Posted: at 10:38 pm
By Eva Kuehnen and Annika Breidthardt
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank signaled its policy course was slowly turning on Thursday, delivering a surprise warning on inflation and calling governments and banks to build on its recent blitz of radical support measures to foster a full crisis recovery.
The ECB kept interest rates at a record of low of 1 percent for a third month running as expected, after completing two monster injections of cheap cash which have flushed over a trillion euros of three-year money into the euro zone.
Despite lowering its euro zone growth forecasts, it strengthened its rhetoric about a euro zone recovery, saying there were signs of a pick up, rather than the phrase "tentative signs" it has used since the start of the year.
The central bank also raised its forecasts for inflation this year, partly because of climbing oil prices.
"At least for the time being, a rate cut is clearly off the table ... they took away the easing bias," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. "They sounded a bit more positive but staff projections were worse ... at least the chance of the euro zone falling off the cliff is very low right now."
ECB President Mario Draghi left little doubt that unless there was a relapse in the debt crisis, the bank had now done all it planned to in terms of extraordinary measures and that governments and banks needed to take up the baton.
"Both LTROs (3-year loan injections) have had such a powerful effect ... we have to see exactly how the financial landscape has changed as a result," Draghi told the post meeting news conference.
"I think the ball is in the governments' and the other actors' - especially banks - court to continue their reforms, to repair their balance sheets so that they can actually support the - especially banks now - support the recovery."
MIXED FORECASTS
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ECB fires inflation warning, trumpets success of cash flood
ECB sees slower growth, flags success of money flood
Posted: at 10:38 pm
By Eva Kuehnen
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank lowered its euro zone growth forecast after holding interest rates at record lows on Thursday, and said things would have been much worse without its dramatic action to pump a trillion euros into the banking system.
The ECB's staff forecasts showed the economy could shrink by 0.5 percent this year and at best grow by a meagre 0.3 percent, a slight downgrade of its previous estimate.
"Available survey indicators confirm signs of a stabilisation in the euro area economy. However, the economic outlook is still subject to downside risks," ECB President Mario Draghi told a news conference, after the central bank left interest rates at 1.0 percent.
Meanwhile, a recent 20 percent rise in oil prices is rekindling inflation to some extent. It is now forecast to be higher, at between 2.1 and 2.7 percent this year, above the ECB's target of close to but below two percent.
"Owing to rises in energy prices and indirect taxes, inflation rates are now likely to stay above 2 percent in 2012, with upside risks prevailing," Draghi said.
The latest Reuters poll of 74 economists suggests the ECB will hold rates at 1.0 percent until well into 2013.
German Bund futures rose while European shares and the euro trimmed gains after Draghi said growth forecasts had been cut.
"In our view, the projections are still relatively optimistic as hard data have failed to show the "stabilisation" process, especially in the (euro zone) periphery. Risks are clearly skewed to the downside," said Annalisa Piazza at Newedge Strategy.
Draghi was in no doubt that the ECB's twin three-year funding operations, which pumped over 1 trillion euros into the euro zone banking system, had saved the currency bloc from a serious crisis.
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ECB sees slower growth, flags success of money flood