Release – Colossus SSP Joins Industry Initiative to Bring Transparency to Digital Ad Auctions

Research News and Market Data on DRCT

October 09, 2024 9:00 am EDT

The participation aims to enhance industry standards while creating new opportunities for diverse digital publishers.

HOUSTON, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Colossus Media LLC (“Colossus SSP”), the inclusive supply-side advertising platform, today announced its participation in the Media Rating Council’s (MRC) newly formed Digital Ad Auction Standards Working Group. This initiative aims to bring greater transparency, standardization, and predictability to auction dynamics in the digital advertising marketplace.

The digital advertising ecosystem has long grappled with challenges surrounding auction transparency and consistency. The Auction Standards Working Group, spearheaded by MRC in coordination with member organizations, including 4A’s and others to establish insights, metrics, and standards to enable auction users to transact with complete knowledge and confidence. By fostering an environment of open dialogue and shared expertise, the working group seeks to develop comprehensive standards that will empower advertisers, publishers, and technology providers alike.

“At Colossus SSP, we’ve always believed that a transparent and efficient marketplace is the cornerstone of effective digital advertising,” said Anu Pillai, CTO of Direct Digital Holdings. “Our participation in the Digital Ad Auction Standards Working Group aligns perfectly with our mission to drive innovation and foster trust in the programmatic ecosystem. We’re committed to leveraging our expertise to contribute to industry standards that will benefit all stakeholders.”

The Auction Standards Working Group’s objective is crucial to the industry’s evolution, focusing on key areas such as:

  1. Enhancing transparency in digital ad auction rules and practices
  2. Standardizing reporting of auction variables and outcomes
  3. Developing a framework for independent audit and verification

Mark D. Walker, CEO, Co-Founder, & Chairman of Direct Digital Holdings, added: “As we push the boundaries of programmatic advertising, it’s crucial that we establish a common set of standards for auction transparency. This working group provides an opportunity to align innovation with industry-wide transparency goals. We’re excited to contribute our resources to making digital advertising more effective and trustworthy for all parties involved.”

“MRC greatly appreciates Colossus SSP’s participation in the Auction Standards Working Group,” stated Ron Pinelli Jr., SVP Digital Research and Standards at Media Rating Council. “We look forward to them participating in our effort to develop standards that will shape the future of transparency and reporting related to digital advertising auctions.”

As the working group begins its initial research phase, it will delve into the intricacies of various digital ad auction models, current disclosure practices, and reporting standards. This foundational work will pave the way for future phases aimed at developing and implementing industry-wide standards.

Participating in this initiative with the MRC will enhance Colossus SSP’s Momentum initiative, which supports underrepresented, diverse digital publishers with best practices, knowledge, resources, and tools. This participation positions Colossus as a conduit for these publishers to provide input into the MRC’s initiative more directly. In turn, Colossus will provide deeper insight into MRC’s accreditation framework in the area of auction transparency, allowing publishers to potentially unlock more ad dollars and opportunities.

About MRC
The Media Rating Council is a non-profit industry association established in 1963 comprised of leading television, radio, print and digital media companies, as well as advertisers, advertising agencies and trade associations, whose goal is to ensure measurement services that are valid, reliable and effective.

About Colossus SSP
Colossus SSP (Nasdaq: DRCT) owns and operates Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange142. The company offers a unified platform that serves various clients across various sectors, managing over 326 billion monthly impressions. Colossus SSP is committed to providing innovative, data-driven advertising solutions prioritizing ROI, DEI, and sustainability.

About Direct Digital Holdings
Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT), owner of operating companies Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange 142, brings state-of-the-art sell- and buy-side advertising platforms together under one umbrella company. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers advertisers of all sizes extensive reach within general market and multicultural media properties. The Company’s subsidiaries Huddled Masses and Orange 142 deliver significant ROI for middle market advertisers by providing data-optimized programmatic solutions at scale for businesses in sectors that range from energy to healthcare to travel to financial services. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell- and buy-side solutions generate billions of impressions per month across display, CTV, in-app and other media channels.

Direct Digital Holdings Logo (PRNewsfoto/Direct Digital Holdings)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colossus-ssp-joins-industry-initiative-to-bring-transparency-to-digital-ad-auctions-302270961.html

SOURCE Direct Digital Holdings

Released October 9, 2024

Release – Colossus SSP and Confiant Drive Unprecedented Safety and Ad Quality with Industry-Leading Partnership

Research News and Market Data on DRCT

October 08, 2024 10:32 am EDT

Partnership Reduces Malicious Ads and Enhances Security, Improving Ad Quality for Publishers and Advertisers Across the Digital Ecosystem

HOUSTON, Oct. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Colossus Media LLC (“Colossus SSP”), a subsidiary of the only Black-owned publicly traded advertising technology company, Direct Digital Holdings (DDH), announced today it has partnered with Confiant, a leader in cybersecurity for digital advertising, to combat criminal activity online and malicious advertising. This collaboration aims to safeguard publishers, advertisers and consumers by integrating Confiant’s advanced cybersecurity technology with the Colossus SSP platform.

The digital advertising landscape faces ongoing challenges from “malvertising,” a serious threat that encompasses various malicious activities from forced redirects to ransomware. Recent industry data highlights the severity of this issue, with 1 in every 79 ad impressions revealing significant security or quality issues, and U.S. consumers losing more than $12.5 billion to malicious ads in the past year. Recognizing these growing risks, Colossus SSP has taken a proactive approach to protect its network of over 21,000 publishers and the billions of impressions it serves monthly.

“Protecting users from online threats and malvertising is a critical priority. Thanks to our partnership with Confiant, we can offer publishers a safer platform for monetizing their inventory, while ensuring that advertisers reach real people in brand-safe environments,” said Lashawnda Goffin, Chief Executive Officer of Colossus SSP.

Colossus SSP’s new partnership addresses the industry’s security challenges by leveraging Confiant’s cutting-edge platform to monitor and block potentially malicious ads, complementing the company’s already rigorous quality control measures. This technique targets both security violations involving malicious code and quality violations such as misleading ads that lure users into scams. By enhancing overall security measures, the partnership delivers a safer, more trustworthy experience for users while ensuring advertisers’ campaigns are displayed in brand-safe environments.

The partnership between Colossus SSP and Confiant has already demonstrated impressive results. Security violations have been reduced from the industry average of 0.19% to less than 0.002%, while ad quality violations have dropped from 1.57% to 0.08%. This represents a nearly 95% reduction across both issues. As a result, ads served through Colossus SSP are now 20x safer compared to industry norms. These outcomes underscore Colossus SSP’s commitment to protecting the digital advertising ecosystem.

By providing a more secure environment for both consumers and advertisers, Colossus SSP and Confiant are working to improve user safety, enhance ad quality and implement robust security measures across the digital advertising landscape. This partnership reinforces Colossus SSP’s ongoing efforts to create a safer and more trustworthy digital advertising experience for all stakeholders. Advertisers can access Colossus SSP’s inventory directly or through leading DSPs, including Yahoo DSP, Microsoft Invest, and Zeta Global.

To read the case study. https://hubs.ly/Q02S3kRn0.

About Colossus SSP

Colossus SSP (Nasdaq: DRCT) owns and operates Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange142. The company offers a unified platform that serves various clients across various sectors, managing over 326 billion monthly impressions. Colossus SSP is committed to providing innovative, data-driven advertising solutions prioritizing ROI, DEI, and sustainability.

About Direct Digital Holdings

Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT), owner of operating companies Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange 142, brings state-of-the-art sell- and buy-side advertising platforms together under one umbrella company. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers advertisers of all sizes extensive reach within general market and multicultural media properties. The Company’s subsidiaries Huddled Masses and Orange 142 deliver significant ROI for middle market advertisers by providing data-optimized programmatic solutions at scale for businesses in sectors that range from energy to healthcare to travel to financial services. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell- and buy-side solutions generate billions of impressions per month across display, CTV, in-app and other media channels.

About Confiant

Confiant is the cybersecurity leader in detecting and stopping Malvertising attacks. Having built hundreds of integrations directly into the web’s ad tech infrastructure, Confiant has unparalleled visibility to the malware, scams, and fraud serving through ads today. Leveraging our security expertise, we deliver complete control over ads to publishers and ad platforms, also remediating quality issues, privacy violations, and mis-categorized ads. In publishing the industry’s leading ad quality benchmark report and mapping the threat actors that use ads-as-an-attack-vector at Matrix.Confiant.com, Confiant is leading the charge in protecting users from criminals hijacking the ad tech supply chain. Trusted by customers like Microsoft, Paramount, and Magnite, we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year.

Direct Digital Holdings Logo (PRNewsfoto/Direct Digital Holdings)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colossus-ssp-and-confiant-drive-unprecedented-safety-and-ad-quality-with-industry-leading-partnership-302270258.html

SOURCE Direct Digital Holdings

Released October 8, 2024

Release – Harte Hanks Announces New Leadership in Sales Transition

Research News and Market Data on HHS

Monday, 16 September 2024 08:05 AM

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 16, 2024 / Harte Hanks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), a global leader in customer experience for over 100 years, today announced a leadership transition within its sales organization.

Jason Chapman, a seasoned executive known for driving business transformation and leading global go-to-market teams, has been appointed as Interim Global Head of Sales and Marketing. Chapman takes over for Kelly Waller, who has stepped down as part of a planned departure due to personal reasons.

Kirk Davis, Chief Executive Officer, remarked: “The entire Harte Hanks team fully supports Kelly in her decision and wishes her the best as she moves forward. Kelly’s leadership has been instrumental in reshaping and expanding our sales organization. She fostered a customer-centric approach, enhanced accountability, and implemented a modern framework for success measurement. Thanks to her efforts, our sales pipeline has grown significantly, and we enter this transition and the final stretch of 2024 from a position of strength. We are well positioned for an executive of Jason’s caliber.”

Jason Chapman brings a wealth of experience from renowned organizations such as Bain & Company, SAP SE, Skillsoft, and most recently, Infor. In his previous roles, he successfully led large global go-to-market teams, introduced advanced productivity tools, developed partnership programs, restructured teams, and launched new go-to-market strategies. His efforts have consistently resulted in successful turnarounds, measurable transformations, and sustainable growth. Chapman holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Williams College.

Chapman commented on his new role: “Kelly’s initiatives have refocused Harte Hanks’ sales organization around the customer, creating a unified reporting structure to drive cross-selling and growth. I am eager to build on her accomplishments and leverage these improvements to accelerate sustainable growth. Harte Hanks has an exciting array of near-term opportunities, with solutions tailored to address the persistent challenges our customers face.”

In her parting remarks, Kelly Waller stated: “This past year at Harte Hanks has been incredibly rewarding. I am confident that we have built a formidable team, with the right structure to drive long-term growth. While a personal matter requires me to step aside, I believe in the strength of our executive team under Kirk’s leadership and the company’s ability to carry forward the progress we’ve made. I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”

About Harte Hanks:

Harte Hanks (NASDAQ:HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, Warner Bros Discovery, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea, and IBM, among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,000 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com.

As used herein, “Harte Hanks” or “the Company” refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks’ logo and name are trademarks of Harte Hanks, Inc.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Our press release and related earnings conference call contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. All such statements are qualified by this cautionary note, provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements other than historical facts are forward-looking and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “could,” “intends,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on current information, expectations and estimates and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In that event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in our securities could lose part or all of their investments. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors include: (a) local, national and international economic and business conditions, including (i) the outbreak of diseases, such as the COVID-19 coronavirus, which has curtailed travel to and from certain countries and geographic regions, created supply chain disruption and shortages, disrupted business operations and reduced consumer spending, (ii) market conditions that may adversely impact marketing expenditures, (iii) the impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict on the global economy and our business, including impacts from related sanctions and export controls and (iv) the impact of economic environments and competitive pressures on the financial condition, marketing expenditures and activities of our clients and prospects; (b) the demand for our products and services by clients and prospective clients, including (i) the willingness of existing clients to maintain or increase their spending on products and services that are or remain profitable for us, and (ii) our ability to predict changes in client needs and preferences; (c) economic and other business factors that impact the industry verticals we serve, including competition and consolidation of current and prospective clients, vendors and partners in these verticals; (d) our ability to manage and timely adjust our facilities, capacity, workforce and cost structure to effectively serve our clients; (e) our ability to improve our processes and to provide new products and services in a timely and cost-effective manner though development, license, partnership or acquisition; (f) our ability to protect our facilities against security breaches and other interruptions and to protect sensitive personal information of our clients and their customers; (g) our ability to respond to increasing concern, regulation and legal action over consumer privacy issues, including changing requirements for collection, processing and use of information; (h) the impact of privacy and other regulations, including restrictions on unsolicited marketing communications and other consumer protection laws; (i) fluctuations in fuel prices, paper prices, postal rates and postal delivery schedules; (j) the number of shares, if any, that we may repurchase in connection with our repurchase program; (k) unanticipated developments regarding litigation or other contingent liabilities; (l) our ability to complete anticipated divestitures and reorganizations, including cost-saving initiatives; (m) our ability to realize the expected tax refunds; and (n) other factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 which was filed on March 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements in this press release and our related earnings conference call are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Investor Relations Contact:

Rob Fink or Tom Baumann
646.809.4048/646.349.6641
FNK IR
HHS@fnkir.com

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.

Release – Harte Hanks to Report Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results on August 8, 2024

Research News and Market Data on HHS

Thursday, 25 July 2024 08:00 AM

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 25, 2024 / Harte Hanks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), a leading global customer experience company focused on bringing companies closer to customers for over 100 years, announced today that the company will release financial results for the second quarter of 2024, the period ended June 30, 2024, on Thursday, August 8, 2024, after the close of the market.

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results at 4:30 p.m. EDT on the same day. Interested parties may access the webcast at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2810/50867 or access the conference call by dialing 888-506-0062 in the United States or 973-528-0011 from outside the U.S. and using access code 821775.

A replay of the call can also be accessed via phone through August 22, 2024 by dialing (877) 481-4010 from the U.S., or (919) 882-2331 from outside the U.S. The conference call replay passcode is 50867.

About Harte Hanks:
Harte Hanks (NASDAQ:HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including Bank of America, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, HBOMax, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea and IBM among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,500 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com

As used herein, “Harte Hanks” or “the Company” refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks’ logo and name are trademarks of Harte Hanks.

Investor Relations Contact:

Rob Fink or Tom Baumann
646.809.4048 / 646.349.6641
FNK IR
HHS@fnkir.com

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.

Release – Codere Online Reports Favorable AGM Results and Changes to its Board of Directors

Research News and Market Data on CDRO

06/25/2024

Download(opens in new window)

Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, June 25, 2024 – (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Codere Online (Nasdaq: CDRO / CDROW, the “Company”), a leading online gaming operator in Spain and Latin America, today announced the favorable resolution of all 21 agenda items at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday at the registered office of the Company, including the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Gabriel Saenz de Buruaga, Mr. Taavi Davies and Mr. Claude Noesen have been appointed as directors for an initial term of one year, replacing Mr. Patrick Ramsey, Ms. Michal Elimelech, and Mr. Laurent Teitgen.

Mr. Gonzaga Higuero, CEO of Codere Group, was re-appointed as director and will also serve as Chairman of the Board going forward. In regards to these changes, Mr. Higuero stated “we welcome these new additions to the Board and look forward to working with them to build upon the significant progress achieved by the Company in recent years.”

Mr. Higuero further added “I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Pat for his valuable contribution and dedication as Chairman since Codere Online went public in 2021, and I am excited that he will be joining me in the Board of our parent company, Codere New Topco, following its recently announced recapitalization and as it looks ahead to a promising future.”

For detailed biographies of the members of our Board of Directors please visit our website.

Changes to Board Committees

In the Board of Directors meeting held last week ahead of the AGM, the following changes to the Company’s Committees were approved:

  • Audit Committee – Appointment of Mr. Claude Noesen as member. Mr. Borja Fernández and Mr. Daniel Valdez will continue to serve as Chairman and member, respectively.
  • Compliance Committee – Appointment of Mr. Mark Dunn as Chairman and Mr. Taavi Davies as member. Mr. Rafael Catalá and Ms. Yaiza Rodríguez will continue to serve as members.

About Codere Online
Codere Online refers, collectively, to Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. and its subsidiaries. Codere Online launched in 2014 as part of the renowned casino operator Codere Group. Codere Online offers online sports betting and online casino through its state-of-the art website and mobile applications. Codere currently operates in its core markets of Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Argentina. Codere Online’s online business is complemented by Codere Group’s physical presence in Spain and throughout Latin America, forming the foundation of the leading omnichannel gaming and casino presence.

About Codere Group
Codere Group is a multinational group devoted to entertainment and leisure. It is a leading player in the private gaming industry, with four decades of experience and with presence in seven countries in Europe (Spain and Italy) and Latin America (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay).

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Codere Online”) or Codere Online’s or its management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, for example, statements about Codere Online’s financial performance and, in particular, the potential evolution and distribution of its net gaming revenue; any prospective and illustrative financial information; and changes in Codere Online’s strategy, future operations and target addressable market, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans.

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this document and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Codere Online’s or its management team’s views as of any subsequent date, and Codere Online does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, Codere Online’s actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Codere Online does not presently know or that Codere Online currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include (i) changes in applicable laws or regulations, including online gaming, privacy, data use and data protection rules and regulations as well as consumers’ heightened expectations regarding proper safeguarding of their personal information, (ii) the impacts and ongoing uncertainties created by regulatory restrictions, changes in perceptions of the gaming industry, changes in policies and increased competition, and geopolitical events such as war, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and identify and realize additional opportunities, (iv) the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which Codere Online operates, (v) the risk that Codere Online and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize Codere Online’s services, or experience significant delays in doing so, (vi) the risk that Codere Online may never achieve or sustain profitability, (vii) the risk that Codere Online will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all, (viii) the risk that Codere Online experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations, (ix) the risk that third-party providers, including the Codere Group, are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations, (x) the risk that the online gaming operations will not provide the expected benefits due to, among other things, the inability to obtain or maintain online gaming licenses in the anticipated time frame or at all, (xi) the risk that Codere Online is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property, and (xii) the possibility that Codere Online may be adversely affected by other political, economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Additional information concerning certain of these and other risk factors is contained in Codere Online’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Codere Online or other matters and attributable to Codere Online or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

Trademarks
This document may contain trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of Codere Online or other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this document may be listed without the TM, SM, © or ® symbols, but Codere Online will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the rights of the applicable owners, if any, to these trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights.

Contacts:

Investors and Media
Guillermo Lancha
Director, Investor Relations and Communications
Guillermo.Lancha@codere.com
(+34) 628 928 152

Primary Logo

Source: Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A.

View All News

Release – Harte Hanks Finalizes Annuity Purchase to Effectively Terminate Qualified Pension Plan I

Research News and Market Data on HHS

Nationwide to Provide Benefits to Plan I Pension Members as of August 2024

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 25, 2024 / Harte Hanks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), a leading global customer experience company focused on bringing companies closer to customers for over 100 years, announced today the successful divestment and termination of its obligations related to Qualified Pension Plan I (“Plan I”), effective as of August 2024.

On June 18, 2024, Harte Hanks selected and signed formal commitment letters with Nationwide to provide pension benefits to its Plan I pension members, commencing as of August 2024. Nationwide’s Pension Risk Transfer business leverages more than 60 years of annuity, defined benefit and risk management experience, as well as the company’s outstanding financial strength, to serve a book with more than 450 contracts with a focus on personalized service and transition simplicity. Harte Hanks will continue to make payments to plan members through the end of July 2024.

“We pride ourselves on offering a seamless transition experience for plan participants, helping them feel confident that their pension benefit will continue under our management,” said Paula Cole, vice president of Nationwide’s Pension Risk Transfer business. “We’re excited to welcome these new plan members to Nationwide and look forward to providing extraordinary care to them beyond just this transition.”

In accordance with the commitment letters with Nationwide, Harte Hanks made a one-time $6.1 million contribution to Plan I on June 20, 2024 and transferred $71.9 million of Plan I assets to Nationwide on June 24, 2024, thereby absolving Harte Hanks of all payment obligations under Plan I as of August 1, 2024. This annuity purchase completes Harte Hanks prior decision to terminate this pension plan, effective as of June 30, 2023.

“This plan termination and annuity agreement is a positive step to increasing Harte Hanks cash flow, as our Plan I pension payments will end as of July 31st, 2024, and our related PBGC insurance premium payments will stop shortly thereafter. This termination will also further streamline our balance sheet, removing the ongoing obligation related to Plan I. More importantly, we’re ensuring participants will be well taken care of by Nationwide, a company dedicated to extraordinary customer service,” commented David Garrison, Chief Financial Officer of Harte Hanks.

About Harte Hanks:

Harte Hanks (NASDAQ: HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, Bank of America, Warner Brothers Discovery, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea and IBM among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,500 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com

As used herein, “Harte Hanks” or “the Company” refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks’ logo and name are trademarks of Harte Hanks.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance.

For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Subscribe today to receive the latest news from Nationwide and follow Nationwide PR on X.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2024

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Our press release and related earnings conference call contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. All such statements are qualified by this cautionary note, provided pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements other than historical facts are forward-looking and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “could,” “intends,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on current information, expectations and estimates and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In that event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in our securities could lose part or all of their investments. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors include: (a) local, national and international economic and business conditions, including (i) market conditions that may adversely impact marketing expenditures, and (ii) the impact of economic environments and competitive pressures on the financial condition, marketing expenditures and activities of our clients and prospects; (iii) the demand for our products and services by clients and prospective clients, including (iv) the willingness of existing clients to maintain or increase their spending on products and services that are or remain profitable for us, and (vi) our ability to predict changes in client needs and preferences; (b) economic and other business factors that impact the industry verticals we serve, including competition, inflation and consolidation of current and prospective clients, vendors and partners in these verticals; (c) our ability to manage and timely adjust our facilities, capacity, workforce and cost structure to effectively serve our clients; (d) our ability to improve our processes and to provide new products and services in a timely and cost-effective manner though development, license, partnership or acquisition; (e) our ability to protect our facilities against security breaches and other interruptions and to protect sensitive personal information of our clients and their customers; (f) our ability to respond to increasing concern, regulation and legal action over consumer privacy issues, including changing requirements for collection, processing and use of information; (g) the impact of privacy and other regulations, including restrictions on unsolicited marketing communications and other consumer protection laws; (h) fluctuations in fuel prices, paper prices, postal rates and postal delivery schedules; (i) the number of shares, if any, that we may repurchase in connection with our repurchase program; (j) unanticipated developments regarding litigation or other contingent liabilities; (k) our ability to complete reorganizations, including cost-saving initiatives; and (l) other factors discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 which was filed on April 1, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release and our related earnings conference call are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Investor Relations Contact:
Rob Fink or Tom Baumann
646.809.4048 / 646.349.6641
FNK IR, HHS@fnkir.com,

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

Release – Cadent, LLC Completes Acquisition of AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc.

Research News and Market Data on ADTH

Jun 21, 2024

PDF Version

NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. (“AdTheorent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ADTH), a machine learning pioneer delivering measurable value for programmatic advertisers, today announced that Cadent, LLC, a leading provider of platform-based converged TV advertising solutions and a portfolio company of Novacap, one of North America’s established private equity firms, completed its acquisition of AdTheorent for $3.21 per share in an all-cash transaction that valued AdTheorent at approximately $324 million.

With the completion of the transaction, AdTheorent’s common stock has ceased trading and is no longer listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market and will not trade in any other public market.

Advisors:

Canaccord Genuity acted as financial advisor and McDermott Will & Emery LLP acted as legal counsel to AdTheorent in connection with the transaction. Moelis & Company LLC acted as lead financial advisor, and Baker Botts LLP provided legal counsel, to Cadent.

About AdTheorent:

AdTheorent uses advanced machine learning technology to deliver impactful advertising campaigns for marketers. AdTheorent’s advanced machine learning-powered media buying platform powers its predictive targeting, predictive audiences audience extension solutions and in-house creative capability, Studio A\T. Focused on the predictive value of machine learning models, AdTheorent’s product suite and flexible transaction models allow advertisers to identify the most qualified potential consumers coupled with the optimal creative experience to deliver superior results, measured by each advertiser’s real-world business goals. AdTheorent is headquartered in New York, with fourteen locations across the United States and Canada.

AdTheorent is consistently recognized with numerous technology, product, growth and workplace awards. AdTheorent was named “Best AdTech Platform” in the 2024 Digiday Media Awards and was honored with an AI Breakthrough Award and “Most Innovative Product” (B.I.G. Innovation Awards) for six consecutive years. Additionally, AdTheorent is the only seven-time recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s “Digital Advertising Leadership Award.” In September 2023, evidencing its continued prioritization of its team, AdTheorent was named a Crain’s Top 100 Best Place to Work in NYC for the tenth consecutive year. AdTheorent ranked tenth in the Large Employer Category and 26th Overall in 2023. For more information, visit adtheorent.com.

About Cadent:

Cadent connects the TV advertising ecosystem. Cadent helps advertisers and publishers identify and understand audiences, activate campaigns, and measure what matters – across any TV content or device. Aperture, the company’s converged TV platform, simplifies cross-screen advertising through a streamlined workflow that brings together identity, data, and inventory with hundreds of integrated partners. For more information, visit cadent.tv.

About Novacap:

Founded in 1981, Novacap is a leading North American private equity firm with over C$8B of AUM that has invested in more than 100 platform companies and completed more than 150 add-on acquisitions. Applying its sector-focused approach since 2007 in Industries, TMT, Financial Services, and Digital Infrastructure, Novacap’s deep domain expertise can accelerate company growth and create long-term value. With experienced, dedicated investment and operations teams as well as substantial capital, Novacap has the resources and knowledge that help build world-class businesses. Novacap has offices in Montreal, Toronto, and New York.

For more information, please visit www.novacap.ca.

Investor Contact:

David DeStefano, ICR
AdTheorentIR@icrinc.com
(203) 682-8383

Press Contact:

Melanie Berger, AdTheorent
melanie@adtheorent.com
(850) 567-0082

Release – Harte Hanks Launches Demand Generation In a Box

Research News and Market Data on HHS

Turnkey Suite of Services Give Small and Medium Businesses the Data, People, and Content Needed to Drive Interest in their Brand

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 19, 2024 / Harte Hanks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), the 101-year-old Massachusetts-based global leader in customer experience solutions, has unveiled its newest innovation – Demand Generation In a Box. It’s an all-in-one offering that combines data, sales, and marketing services for business-to-business lead generation and opportunity creation. Specifically geared toward small and medium businesses, Demand Generation In a Box includes comprehensive data to help companies identify high-potential leads. It can also include outsourced sales development representatives to streamline lead qualification and outbound sales efforts, and media, content, and digital marketing offerings.

“We’ve seen tremendous market demand for a turnkey solution with rapid deployment that will help companies generate more high-quality leads and close more business,” said Kelly Waller, SVP of Sales and Marketing for Harte Hanks.

“We know that scaling businesses worldwide are facing strong revenue headwinds. Everything from resource constraints and limited expertise to rapid content creation and data management demands. Moving forward, every dollar spent will need to work harder to grow at the same pace, and that’s why we are rolling out Demand Generation In a Box.”

Demand Generation in a Box services scale depending on the needs of the business. An Essentials package, which includes a foundational data package, weekly reporting, campaign strategy, sales playbook, and digital prospecting through email, display, and social media, starts at $10,000.

“Unveiling this new product is just one of the many bold initiatives we’ve launched this year under Elevate, our transformative program designed to expand our customer base, diversify our product lineup, and boost our efficiency. We’re also thrilled to kick off our first-ever global Enable360 event in London next week,” said Kirk Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Harte Hanks.

Demand Generation in a Box requires no new software or hardware and integrates seamlessly with existing business processes. Campaigns can be up and running in just six weeks to help drive high-quality leads and conversions.

Harte Hanks is unveiling Demand Generation in a Box at its flagship ENABLE360 event in London on June 25, 2024. Tickets are available at: https://e.hartehanks.com/enable360-2024

About Harte Hanks:

Harte Hanks (NASDAQ:HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including Bank of America, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, HBOMax, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea, Sony and IBM among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,500 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com.

As used herein, “Harte Hanks” or “the Company” refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks’ logo and name are trademarks of Harte Hanks.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements discussed in this release as well as in other reports, materials and oral statements that the Company releases from time to time to the public may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “target,” “forecast” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. Such forward-looking statements concern management’s expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated economic performance and financial condition and other similar matters. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected by the management of the Company. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events or results may differ significantly from these statements. Given these risk factors, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K (if any). These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Jen.London@hartehanks.com

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.

Release – Direct Digital Holdings Appoints BDO as New Auditor

Research News and Market Data on DRCT

June 10, 2024 4:10 pm EDT

HOUSTON, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRCT) (“Direct Digital Holdings” or the “Company”), a leading advertising and marketing technology platform operating through its companies Colossus Media, LLC (“Colossus SSP”), Huddled Masses LLC (“Huddled Masses”) and Orange 142 (“Orange 142”), today announced the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. (“BDO”) as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm, effective June 10, 2024.  

BDO, one of the world’s top five accounting firms, delivers assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients throughout the U.S. and around the globe. The firm is home to over 12,000 professionals spread across 75 U.S. offices. BDO succeeds Marcum LLP, which previously was the independent registered accounting firm providing audit services to the Company.

“We are pleased to engage BDO as our new independent auditor,” said Diana Diaz, Chief Financial Officer of Direct Digital Holdings. “The firm has deep experience in the advertising technology sector, working with many of our peers across the industry. Their leading expertise and fresh perspective will be valuable assets as we continue executing our growth strategy and striving for excellence in financial reporting and corporate governance. Now with our new auditor, we look forward to returning to a normal cadence of quarterly and annual filings as soon as possible.”

About Direct Digital Holdings

Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT), owner of operating companies Colossus SSP, Huddled Masses, and Orange 142, brings state-of-the-art sell- and buy-side advertising platforms together under one umbrella company. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers advertisers of all sizes extensive reach within general market and multicultural media properties. The Company’s subsidiaries Huddled Masses and Orange142 deliver significant ROI for middle market advertisers by providing data-optimized programmatic solutions at scale for businesses in sectors that range from energy to healthcare to travel to financial services. Direct Digital Holdings’ sell- and buy-side solutions manage on average over 115,000 clients monthly, generating over 326 billion impressions per month across display, CTV, in-app and other media channels.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws that are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties.

As used below, “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Company. We use words such as “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “likely,” “believe,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, but not all forward-looking statements include these words. All of our forward-looking statements involve estimates and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the information described under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) and subsequent periodic and or current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience and our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this press release, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond our control) and assumptions. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual operating and financial performance and cause our performance to differ materially from the performance expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. We believe these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the restrictions and covenants imposed upon us by our credit facilities; our ability to secure additional financing to meet our capital needs; any significant fluctuations caused by our high customer concentration; risks related to non-payment by our clients; reputational and other harms caused by our failure to detect advertising fraud; operational and performance issues with our platform, whether real or perceived, including a failure to respond to technological changes or to upgrade our technology systems; restrictions on the use of third-party “cookies,” mobile device IDs or other tracking technologies, which could diminish our platform’s effectiveness; unfavorable publicity and negative public perception about our industry, particularly concerns regarding data privacy and security relating to our industry’s technology and practices, and any perceived failure to comply with laws and industry self-regulation; our failure to manage our growth effectively; the difficulty in identifying and integrating any future acquisitions or strategic investments; any changes or developments in legislative, judicial, regulatory or cultural environments related to information collection, use and processing; challenges related to our buy-side clients that are destination marketing organizations and that operate as public/private partnerships; any strain on our resources or diversion of our management’s attention as a result of being a public company; the intense competition of the digital advertising industry and our ability to effectively compete against current and future competitors; any significant inadvertent disclosure or breach of confidential and/or personal information we hold, or of the security of our or our customers’, suppliers’ or other partners’ computer systems; as a holding company, we depend on distributions from Direct Digital Holdings, LLC (“DDH LLC”) to pay our taxes, expenses (including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement) and any amount of any dividends we may pay to the holders of our common stock; the fact that DDH LLC is controlled by DDM, whose interest may differ from those of our public stockholders; any risks associated with the material weakness that was identified in our review of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022; any failure by us to maintain or implement effective internal controls or to detect fraud; our ability to complete the audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023; and other factors and assumptions discussed in our Form 10-K and subsequent periodic and current reports we may file with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual operating and financial performance may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors that could cause our business not to develop as we expect emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each currently known or new factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Investors:
Brett Milotte, ICR
investors@directdigitalholdings.com   

Direct Digital Holdings Logo (PRNewsfoto/Direct Digital Holdings)

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/direct-digital-holdings-appoints-bdo-as-new-auditor-302168640.html

SOURCE Direct Digital Holdings

Released June 10, 2024

Release – AdTheorent Named Best AdTech Platform in 2024 Digiday Media Awards

Research News and Market Data on ADTH

May 22, 2024

NEW YORK, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADTH), a machine learning pioneer using privacy-forward solutions to deliver measurable value for programmatic advertisers, today announced that it has been named “Best AdTech Platform” in the 2024 Digiday Media Awards. The Digiday Media Awards honor the companies that are modernizing digital media.

AdTheorent named  “Best AdTech Platform” in the 2024 Digiday Media Awards.

   

AdTheorent is a digital media platform with transformational privacy-forward methods to execute high-performing programmatic digital advertising campaigns for brand and agency customers. Rather than focusing on targeting user IDs, AdTheorent uses advanced data science and machine learning to score ad impressions based on the statistical likelihood that serving ads on such impressions will yield desired campaign business goals. AdTheorent builds custom machine learning models for each campaign goal and deploys them to the platform for automated execution and optimization. In addition, AdTheorent’s groundbreaking algorithm-based and ID-independent audience targeting solution has re-conceptualized what a targetable digital audience can be, leveraging advanced algorithms – not user IDs – to focus campaign delivery within each advertiser’s desired target audience while driving performance. AdTheorent’s privacy-forward approach to digital advertising and its ability to drive superior performance for advertisers sets the company apart from others in the industry. 

“AdTheorent brings a foundationally different approach to programmatic advertising which drives business outcomes for advertisers in a privacy-forward and efficient manner. We remain committed to building and enhancing the most advanced and differentiated machine learning-powered advertising technology and solutions ever deployed in market,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of AdTheorent. “We are honored to win the Digiday Media Award for ‘Best AdTech Platform’ and thank the judges for this valuable recognition.”

The 2024 Digiday Media Awards recognize companies that are modernizing the digital media industry through technology, partnerships, and innovation. Digiday’s panel of industry-leading judges evaluated hundreds of entries to identify the companies or campaigns that clearly demonstrate success based on the following criteria: Innovation, Creativity, Consumer Value, Results and Overall. Digiday’s awards programs are some of the most influential in the industry.

For more information about AdTheorent’s approach, click here.

About AdTheorent
AdTheorent (Nasdaq: ADTH) uses advanced machine learning technology and privacy-forward solutions to deliver impactful advertising campaigns for marketers. AdTheorent’s machine learning-powered media buying platform powers its predictive targeting, predictive audiences, geo-intelligence, audience extension solutions and in-house creative capability, Studio A\T. Leveraging only non-sensitive data and focused on the predictive value of machine learning models, AdTheorent’s product suite and flexible transaction models allow advertisers to identify the most qualified potential consumers coupled with the optimal creative experience to deliver superior results, measured by each advertiser’s real-world business goals. 

AdTheorent is consistently recognized with numerous technology, product, growth and workplace awards. AdTheorent was named “Best Buy-Side Programmatic Platform” in the 2023 Digiday Technology Awards and was honored with an AI Breakthrough Award and “Most Innovative Product” (B.I.G. Innovation Awards) for five consecutive years. Additionally, AdTheorent is the only seven-time recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s “Digital Advertising Leadership Award.” AdTheorent is headquartered in New York, with fourteen locations across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit adtheorent.com.

(PRNewsfoto/AdTheorent, Inc.)

   

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adtheorent-named-best-adtech-platform-in-2024-digiday-media-awards-302152145.html

SOURCE AdTheorent

Melanie Berger, AdTheorent, melanie@adtheorent.com, 850-567-0082

Release – AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. Announces Withdrawal of Acquisition Proposal from Third Party and Next Steps in Cadent Transaction

Research News and Market Data on ADTH

May 16, 2024

PDF Version

NEW YORK, May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. (“AdTheorent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ADTH), a machine learning pioneer delivering measurable value for programmatic advertisers, today announced that the third party that had submitted a non-binding acquisition proposal to acquire the Company for $3.35 per share has withdrawn such proposal, and has informed the Company that it does not intend to submit another acquisition proposal. This proposal had been submitted during the go-shop period that followed AdTheorent’s announcement of the execution of a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Cadent, LLC (“Cadent”), a leading provider of platform-based converged TV advertising solutions and a portfolio company of Novacap, one of North America’s established private equity firms, agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of AdTheorent common stock for $3.21 per share in cash, or approximately $324 million. 

The Company recently disclosed that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (“HSR”) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired on May 6, 2024. Expiration of the HSR waiting period was a condition to the closing of the pending transaction with Cadent.

The Company and Cadent continue to remain subject to the Merger Agreement, and pursuant thereto, the Company intends to mail as promptly as reasonably practicable a definitive proxy statement to its stockholders in connection with a special meeting of stockholders to approve the Cadent transaction.   

About AdTheorent:

AdTheorent uses advanced machine learning technology and privacy-forward solutions to deliver impactful advertising campaigns for marketers. AdTheorent’s advanced machine learning-powered media buying platform powers its predictive targeting, predictive audiences, geo-intelligence, audience extension solutions and in-house creative capability, Studio A\T. Focused on the predictive value of machine learning models, AdTheorent’s product suite and flexible transaction models allow advertisers to identify the most qualified potential consumers coupled with the optimal creative experience to deliver superior results, measured by each advertiser’s real-world business goals. AdTheorent is headquartered in New York, with fourteen locations across the United States and Canada.

AdTheorent is consistently recognized with numerous technology, product, growth and workplace awards. AdTheorent was named “Best Buy-Side Programmatic Platform” in the 2023 Digiday Technology Awards and was honored with an AI Breakthrough Award and “Most Innovative Product” (B.I.G. Innovation Awards) for six consecutive years. Additionally, AdTheorent is the only seven-time recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s “Digital Advertising Leadership Award.” In September 2023, evidencing its continued prioritization of its team, AdTheorent was named a Crain’s Top 100 Best Place to Work in NYC for the tenth consecutive year. AdTheorent ranked tenth in the Large Employer Category and 26th Overall in 2023. For more information, visit adtheorent.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It:

This release may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “proposed merger”). In connection with the proposed merger, the Company filed its Preliminary Proxy Statement on April 30, 2024. This communication is not a substitute for the Preliminary Proxy Statement or any other document that AdTheorent may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. When the Company files its proxy statement in definitive form (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) with the SEC, the Company will mail the Definitive Proxy Statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed merger. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE COMPANY’S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (WHEN AVAILABLE), BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and security holders are or will be able to obtain the documents (when available) free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or free of charge from the Company by directing a request to David DeStefano, Investor Relations at AdTheorentIR@icrinc.com or (203) 682-8383.

Participants in the Solicitation:

AdTheorent, Cadent, and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of AdTheorent in favor of the proposed merger. Additional information about AdTheorent’s directors and executive officers is set forth in AdTheorent’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024 (the “Form 10-K/A”). To the extent holdings of AdTheorent’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in the Form 10-K/A, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information concerning the interests of AdTheorent’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of AdTheorent’s stockholders generally, will be set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the proposed merger when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation:

This release is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.

Forward Looking Statements:

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” or words or phrases with similar meaning. Such statements may also include statements regarding the completion of the proposed merger and the expected timing of the completion of the proposed merger, the management of AdTheorent upon completion of the proposed merger and AdTheorent’s plans upon completion of the proposed merger. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the market for programmatic advertising developing slower or differently than AdTheorent’s expectations, the demands and expectations of clients and the ability to attract and retain clients and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of AdTheorent’s control, that may cause AdTheorent’s business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the control of AdTheorent, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including under circumstances that would require the Company to pay a termination fee; the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain stockholder approval for the proposed merger or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed merger; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from AdTheorent’s ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed merger; AdTheorent’s ability to retain and hire key personnel in light of the proposed merger; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed merger that may impact AdTheorent’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the ability of the buyer to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the proposed merger; potential litigation relating to the proposed merger that could be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on AdTheorent’s relationships with its customers, operating results and business generally; and the risk that the proposed merger will not be consummated in a timely manner, if at all. AdTheorent refers you to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and comparable sections of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this report are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on AdTheorent or its business or operations. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and AdTheorent does not undertake any obligation to update, revise or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Investor Contact:

David DeStefano, ICR
AdTheorentIR@icrinc.com
(203) 682-8383

Press Contact:

Melanie Berger, AdTheorent
melanie@adtheorent.com
(850) 567-0082

Release – AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. Announces Expiration of “Go-Shop” Period Contained in Previously Announced Merger Agreement and Receipt of Acquisition Proposal

Research News and Market Data on ADTH

May 6, 2024

PDF Version

NEW YORK, May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AdTheorent Holding Company, Inc. (“AdTheorent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ADTH), a machine learning pioneer delivering measurable value for programmatic advertisers, today announced the expiration of the 33-day “go-shop” period pursuant to the terms of the previously announced definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Cadent, LLC (“Cadent”), a leading provider of platform-based converged TV advertising solutions and a portfolio company of Novacap, one of North America’s established private equity firms, agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of AdTheorent common stock for $3.21 per share in cash, or approximately $324 million. The “go-shop” period expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 4, 2024.

During the go-shop period, AdTheorent received one acquisition proposal (the “Go-Shop Proposal”) from a third-party (the “Go-Shop Party”), pursuant to which the Go-Shop Party proposed to acquire all outstanding shares of AdTheorent common stock for $3.35 per share in cash. The Go-Shop Proposal is non-binding and subject to the completion of confirmatory due diligence, as well as the negotiation of a definitive merger agreement with the Go-Shop Party. On May 6, 2024, AdTheorent’s board of directors determined, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, that the Go-Shop Proposal would reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Company Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and provided Cadent with written notice of the Go-Shop Proposal. The Merger Agreement permits AdTheorent, following the delivery of such notice, to engage in further discussions and negotiations with the Go-Shop Party, and to continue to take any other actions that were permitted during the go-shop period, in response to the Go-Shop Proposal.

If and when AdTheorent notifies Cadent that the board of directors has determined that the Go-Shop Proposal constitutes a Superior Company Proposal, and that it intends to terminate the Merger Agreement in favor of the Go-Shop Proposal, Cadent will be entitled to certain “match rights” under the Merger Agreement prior to any such termination. There is no assurance that AdTheorent’s receipt of the Go-Shop Proposal will lead to a Superior Company Proposal or an alternative transaction with the Go-Shop Party in lieu of the existing transaction with Cadent.

At this time, the Company remains subject to the Merger Agreement, the provisions of which will remain in effect unless and until the Merger Agreement is terminated. The Board has not made an “Adverse Recommendation Change” (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The Company does not intend to disclose further developments with respect to this process unless and until it determines it is appropriate to do so, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

About AdTheorent:

AdTheorent uses advanced machine learning technology and privacy-forward solutions to deliver impactful advertising campaigns for marketers. AdTheorent’s advanced machine learning-powered media buying platform powers its predictive targeting, predictive audiences, geo-intelligence, audience extension solutions and in-house creative capability, Studio A\T. Focused on the predictive value of machine learning models, AdTheorent’s product suite and flexible transaction models allow advertisers to identify the most qualified potential consumers coupled with the optimal creative experience to deliver superior results, measured by each advertiser’s real-world business goals. AdTheorent is headquartered in New York, with fourteen locations across the United States and Canada.

AdTheorent is consistently recognized with numerous technology, product, growth and workplace awards. AdTheorent was named “Best Buy-Side Programmatic Platform” in the 2023 Digiday Technology Awards and was honored with an AI Breakthrough Award and “Most Innovative Product” (B.I.G. Innovation Awards) for six consecutive years. Additionally, AdTheorent is the only seven-time recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s “Digital Advertising Leadership Award.” In September 2023, evidencing its continued prioritization of its team, AdTheorent was named a Crain’s Top 100 Best Place to Work in NYC for the tenth consecutive year. AdTheorent ranked tenth in the Large Employer Category and 26th Overall in 2023. For more information, visit adtheorent.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It:

This release may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “proposed merger”). In connection with the proposed merger, the Company filed its Preliminary Proxy Statement on April 30, 2024. This communication is not a substitute for the Preliminary Proxy Statement or any other document that AdTheorent may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. If and when the Company files its proxy statement in definitive form (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) with the SEC, the Company will mail the Definitive Proxy Statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed merger. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE COMPANY’S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (IF AND WHEN AVAILABLE), BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and security holders are or will be able to obtain the documents (if and when available) free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or free of charge from the Company by directing a request to April Scee, Investor Relations at AdTheorentIR@icrinc.com or (646) 277-1219.

Participants in the Solicitation:

AdTheorent, Cadent, and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of AdTheorent in favor of the proposed merger. Additional information about AdTheorent’s directors and executive officers is set forth in AdTheorent’s Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024 (the “Form 10-K/A”). To the extent holdings of AdTheorent’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in the Form 10-K/A, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information concerning the interests of AdTheorent’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of AdTheorent’s stockholders generally, will be set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the proposed merger if and when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation:

This release is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.

Forward Looking Statements:

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” or words or phrases with similar meaning. Such statements may also include statements regarding the completion of the proposed merger and the expected timing of the completion of the proposed merger, the management of AdTheorent upon completion of the proposed merger and AdTheorent’s plans upon completion of the proposed merger. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the market for programmatic advertising developing slower or differently than AdTheorent’s expectations, the demands and expectations of clients and the ability to attract and retain clients and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of AdTheorent’s control, that may cause AdTheorent’s business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the control of AdTheorent, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including under circumstances that would require the Company to pay a termination fee; the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain stockholder approval for the proposed merger or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed merger; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from AdTheorent’s ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed merger; AdTheorent’s ability to retain and hire key personnel in light of the proposed merger; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed merger that may impact AdTheorent’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the ability of the buyer to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the proposed merger; potential litigation relating to the proposed merger that could be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on AdTheorent’s relationships with its customers, operating results and business generally; and the risk that the proposed merger will not be consummated in a timely manner, if at all. AdTheorent refers you to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and comparable sections of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this report are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on AdTheorent or its business or operations. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and AdTheorent does not undertake any obligation to update, revise or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Investor Contact:
David DeStefano, ICR
AdTheorentIR@icrinc.com
(203) 682-8383

Press Contact:
Melanie Berger, AdTheorent
melanie@adtheorent.com
(850) 567-0082

Release – Harte Hanks to Report First Quarter 2024 Financial Results on May 9, 2024

Research News and Market Data on HHS

CHELMSFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2024 / Harte Hanks, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHS), a leading global customer experience company focused on bringing companies closer to customers for over 100 years, announced today that the company will release financial results for the first quarter of 2024, the period ended March 31, 2024, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, after the close of the market.

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss these results at 4:30 p.m. EDT on the same day. Interested parties may access the webcast at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2810/50446 or access the conference call by dialing 888-506-0062 in the United States or 973-528-0011 from outside the U.S. and using access code 689651.

A replay of the call can also be accessed via phone through May 23, 2024, by dialing (877) 481-4010 from the U.S., or (919) 882-2331 from outside the U.S. The conference call replay passcode is 50446.

About Harte Hanks:

Harte Hanks (NASDAQ:HHS) is a leading global customer experience company whose mission is to partner with clients to provide them with CX strategy, data-driven analytics and actionable insights combined with seamless program execution to better understand, attract and engage their customers.

Using its unparalleled resources and award-winning talent in the areas of Customer Care, Fulfillment and Logistics, and Marketing Services, Harte Hanks has a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s premier brands, including Bank of America, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Pfizer, HBOMax, Volvo, Ford, FedEx, Midea, Sony and IBM among others. Headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Harte Hanks has over 2,500 employees in offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

For more information, visit hartehanks.com

As used herein, “Harte Hanks” or “the Company” refers to Harte Hanks, Inc. and/or its applicable operating subsidiaries, as the context may require. Harte Hanks’ logo and name are trademarks of Harte Hanks.

Investor Relations Contact:

Rob Fink or Tom Baumann
646.809.4048 / 646.349.6641
FNK IR
HHS@fnkir.com

SOURCE: Harte Hanks, Inc.



View the original press release on accesswire.com