New York/Portland, Ore. — June 29, 2011 — LANE PR, an independently owned, national public relations agency, expanded its client roster in the first half of 2011 by signing 10 new accounts. The new LANE PR clients fall into the food and beverage, consumer, and financial sectors and represent several of the agency’s core practice areas.

The agency’s new clients are Burgerville, Cannon Beach Chamber, D.A. Davidson & Co./Davidson Companies,  Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasonings, Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark, Music & Arts, Northview Hotel Group, Nyxio Technologies, Tree Top and ZAGG Inc.

“We are very pleased to add these dynamic companies to our client roster,” said Wendy Lane Stevens, founder and president of LANE PR. “Collectively they represent a diverse mix of brands—some established and iconic, while others are just launching. Individually each of these new clients signifies an exciting opportunity for our agency to partner with businesses in various stages of development and help them strategically achieve their business growth goals. It is interesting and engaging work and we are excited to begin,” continued Stevens. 

About LANE PR’s new clients:

Consumer

Cannon Beach Chamber: Cannon Beach is located on the scenic northern coast of Oregon, 80 miles west of Portland. Surrounded by the rugged natural beauty of forests, ocean beaches, and rivers, Cannon Beach is only four miles in length and boasts a year-round population of approximately 1,600. With more than 750,000 visitors annually, Cannon Beach is one of the Oregon Coast’s most popular and relaxing destinations.

Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark: Evergreen Wings & Waves mission is to inspire and educate, promote and preserve aviation and space history, and honor the patriotic service of our veterans. The educational waterpark includes 10 waterslides, a wave pool and a children’s museum dedicated to teaching visitors about the power of water. The facility features more than 70,000-square-feet of educational fun, highlighted by a massive Evergreen International Aviation Boeing 747 aircraft that rests on the top of the building. Throughout the structure, waterpark visitors learn about the power of water and its effects on society through dozens of interactive exhibits and learning tools. 

Music & Arts: Music & Arts has served students, teachers, and families through retail stores and school representatives since 1952. Based in Frederick, Md., the company specializes in instrument rentals, music lessons and band and orchestra instrument sales. Music & Arts was acquired by Guitar Center Inc. in April 2005 to expand its offerings to the beginning and student musician.  Music & Arts now has more than 100 retail locations in 20 states.  

Northview Hotel Group: Based in Westport, Conn., and San Francisco, Northview Hotel Group is owned by Mark Mance and Simon Hallgarten and makes opportunistic hotel investments in the U.S. and overseas, as well as provides hotel management, asset management and construction management services for owners of hotels and resorts. The group recently acquired three resorts in Oregon, including Brasada Ranch just outside Bend in Powell Butte, Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, and Running Y in Klamath Falls.

ZAGG: ZAGG is a market leader in providing innovative consumer products like films, skins, audio and power solutions that protect, personalize, and enhance the mobile experience. ZAGG’s products are distributed worldwide with popular, award-winning brands such as the invisibleSHIELD®, ZAGGskins™, ZAGGsparq™, ZAGGbuds™, ZAGG LEATHERskins™, and ZAGGmate™. The patent-pending invisibleSHIELD, ZAGG’s flagship product, is the original thin film full-body protector, and is available in more than 5,000 precision pre-cut designs with a lifetime replacement warranty. ZAGG products are available online at ZAGG.com and in most major retailers. For more product or investor information please visit the company’s website at www.ZAGG.com.

Financial
 
D.A. Davidson & Co./Davidson Companies: Founded in 1935, D.A. Davidson & Co. is the largest full-service investment firm based in the greater Northwest. D.A. Davidson & Co. is part of Davidson Companies, an employee-owned financial services holding company based in Great Falls, Mont., which has 1,100 employees working in 17 states.  Also part of Davidson Companies are Davidson Trust Co., a wealth management and trust firm; Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional asset management firm; Davidson Fixed Income Management, a registered investment adviser providing fixed income advisory services; and Davidson Travel, a full-service travel agency.

Food & Beverage

Burgerville: Burgerville is a quick service restaurant company with 39 locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, serving guests fresh, great tasting food from a mission to “serve with love.” Burgerville’s values extend beyond locally grown berries, all-natural beef, Walla Walla onions and cage-free eggs. At Burgerville, the commitment to fresh, local and sustainable values is about helping people and communities thrive. The innovative company, established in 1961, is redefining industry norms by providing affordable health care for hourly employees and their dependents, purchasing wind power equal to their total energy use, converting used trans-fat free cooking oil to biodiesel and implementing comprehensive resource stewardship and recycling. 

Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasonings: Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasoning was created by former bartender Demitri Pallis in Seattle in 1988. Developed to provide bartenders with high-quality drink mixes that are delicious, fast and consistent, the Demitri’s line includes four Bloody Mary seasoning mixes including the Classic Recipe, Chilies and Peppers, Extra Horseradish and Chipotle-Habañero. Demitri’s also makes Rim Shot Rim Salt to add extra flavor to the perfect Bloody Mary. Demitri’s® All Natural Bloody Mary Seasoning sells in hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and grocery stores in all 50 states.

Tree Top: Since 1960, Tree Top has provided premium, quality juices, fruit based products and ingredients to consumers and most of the world’s leading food manufacturers.  The grower-owned co-operative operates seven processing facilities in the heart of Washington’s apple country, Oregon and California. With more than 1,000 growers, the co-op produces and markets the widest array of fruit-based products and solutions. Tree Top’s passion and attention to quality and craftsmanship make it the first choice for consumers.

Technology

Nyxio Technologies is leading provider of quality cutting edge consumer electronics available in the marketplace today. Nyxio Technologies’ flagship product – the VioSphere - is the only integrated flat screen TV and full PC available in the market today. Nyxio Technologies offers a wide range of products including the VioSphere, an all in one PC (The Realm) and LCD and LED TVs to name a few. The company’s corporate headquarters are in the Pacific Northwest, conveniently located in Portland, Ore. Nyxio Technologies has been in business since 2007 working across several vertical markets with distributors in multiple industries for the companys’ technology and innovative product lines.

About LANE PR  
LANE PR is a national, independent firm specializing in public relations-driven marketing strategies with offices in New York and Portland, Ore.  Founded in 1990, LANE PR provides integrated marketing communications and public relations for a host of industries, including consumer, food and beverage, technology and financial services.  The agency has won several awards during its 20 years, including the 2009 PR Week Young PR Professional of the Year, 2008 PRSA Bronze Anvil Award for outstanding public relations tactics, the 2008 Gold Bulldog Award for excellence in media relations and the 2010 Bronze Bulldog Award for Best New Product Launch. For more information about LANE PR, visit www.lanepr.com.

# # #

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Earnings and buyouts were the main talkers on StockTwits Wednesday, with tweets focusing on FedEx, Yahoo and ZAGG.

Shares of FedEx (FDX, Fortune 500) jumped nearly 3% after the shipping company reported fourth-quarter earnings and sales that topped forecasts. FedEx also boosted its forecast for the coming year.

Yahoo (YHOO, Fortune 500) was also in the spotlight, amid reports that CEO Carol Bartz may be on the way out. And separate reports named Yahoo as a possible bidder for Hulu, amid talk that the video streaming website was considering putting itself up for sale.

Tweets were also lighting up over ZAGG Inc. (ZAGG), a company that manufactures accessories for Apple’s (AAPL, Fortune 500) iPhone and iPad among other mobile devices. ZAGG shares soared 9% Wednesday, a day after the company said it bought rival iFrogz for $105 million.

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Increases brand portfolio, expands product offerings and broadens retail distribution.

Expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share.

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ZAGG Inc. (NASDAQ: ZAGG) (www.ZAGG.com) announced today the acquisition of privately held iFrogz, Inc. (www.iFrogz.com), a leading mobile device accessories company specializing in lifestyle audio products and protective cases, for approximately $105 million.

“This transaction represents an exciting next step in ZAGG’s evolution, and gives us scale within the rapidly growing protective cases and audio products markets by allowing us to immediately broaden our product line and drive the growth of our retail footprint”.

“This transaction represents an exciting next step in ZAGG’s evolution, and gives us scale within the rapidly growing protective cases and audio products markets by allowing us to immediately broaden our product line and drive the growth of our retail footprint,” said Robert G. Pedersen II, co-founder, president and CEO of ZAGG. “iFrogz is highly complementary to ZAGG in terms of brand positioning, product lines and customer base. This acquisition is a natural extension of our strategy to build complementary brands and increase overall market share by growing product lines and expanding distribution.”

iFrogz designs, manufactures and distributes protective cases, headphones and earbuds, and other accessories for smartphones, tablets and mobile devices under the iFrogz™ and EarPollution™ brands. The Company has built a reputation for selling high quality, fashionable products geared toward a youthful demographic at affordable price points. iFrogz products are sold worldwide through leading retailers such as AT&T, Best Buy and Walmart. The Company is based in Logan, Utah.

Scott Huskinson, president and co-founder of iFrogz, said, “We are excited to become part of the ZAGG team. iFrogz and ZAGG share similar cultures and a passion for designing innovative and functional products that enhance the mobile device experience of millions of consumers worldwide. Together, we plan to leverage our combined resources to expand our market share.”

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, ZAGG acquired all of the outstanding stock of iFrogz for $50 million of cash, 4.4 million restricted shares of ZAGG common stock, and assumed approximately $5.0 million of outstanding debt. The cash portion of the purchase price, as well as certain closing fees and expenses, will be financed through a new senior credit facility led by Cerberus Business Finance and PNC Bank.

Going forward, iFrogz will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZAGG led by Mr. Huskinson and will continue to be based in Logan, Utah. In 2010, iFrogz generated $40.9 million of revenue, and for 2011, is expected to generate over $60 million of revenue with operating margins in line with ZAGG’s previously disclosed guidance. ZAGG expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive on an earnings per share basis, excluding one-time transaction-related expenses. ZAGG will provide updated consolidated guidance on its second quarter earnings call.

Webcast Information

ZAGG will provide additional details on this acquisition on a conference call to be webcast Tuesday, June 21, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Interested parties can follow the conference call online at ZAGG.com/investors or at ZAGG’s page at investorcalendar.com. The call will be available for replay for 30 days by dialing 1-877-660-6853 and entering account number 286 and call ID number 374520. A webcast playback of the conference call will also be available through Investor Calendar’s event website until September 21, 2011, and will be archived on the ZAGG website for one year.

Further information about this transaction can also be found on the Company’s website at www.ZAGG.com/investors.

About ZAGG

ZAGG® is a leading mobile device accessories provider featuring innovative films, skins, audio and power solutions that protect, personalize, and enhance the mobile experience. ZAGG’s products are distributed worldwide with popular, award-winning brands such as the invisibleSHIELD®, ZAGGskins™, ZAGGsparq™, ZAGGbuds™, ZAGG LEATHERskins™, and ZAGGmate™. The patented invisibleSHIELD, ZAGG’s flagship product, is the original thin film full-body protector, and is available in over 5,000 precision pre-cut designs with a lifetime replacement warranty. ZAGG products are available online at ZAGG.com and in major retailers. For more product or investor information please visit the Company’s web site at www.ZAGG.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company. The forward-looking statements in this document address a variety of subjects including, for example, the expected 2011 revenue of iFrogz and the potential benefits of the acquisition. In addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release, there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include: (1) the ability to achieve business plans, including with respect to more value-conscious consumers and growing existing sales and volume profitably despite high levels of competitive activity, especially with respect to the product categories and geographical markets (including developing markets) in which the Company has chosen to focus; (2) successfully managing and integrating iFrogz; (3) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (4) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply sources (including off-shore supplier and plant manufacturing sources); (5) the ability to successfully implement, achieve and sustain cost improvement plans in manufacturing and overhead areas; (6) the ability to successfully manage currency (including currency issues in volatile countries), debt (including debt related to the Company’s acquisition of iFrogz) and certain commodity cost exposures; (7) the ability to stay close to consumers of mobile devices in an era of increased media fragmentation; (8) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation; and (9) the ability to successfully manage regulatory, tax and legal matters (including patent, and other intellectual property matters). For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

In connection with the proposed acquisition, the Company has filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, attached to which is a copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and iFrogz and the financing documents between the Company, iFrogz and various lenders. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Form 8-K and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission at the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov and at www.ZAGG.com/investors.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6767258&lang=en

Contacts
Company:
ZAGG Inc.
Nathan Nelson, 801-263-0699 ext. 107
nnelson@zagg.com
or
Investor Relations:
Genesis Select Corp.
Kim Rogers-Carrete, 949-429-7408
krogersc@genesisselect.com
or
Media Contact:
LANE PR
Amber Roberts, 212-302-5964
Amber@lanepr.com

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Day 3:  NIRI Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida

I’m beginning my third day at the conference and some leading themes on what is most important to the IR and Investor Relations Officer (IRO) function have begun to emerge.   Here are a few: 

•   IR must possess internal credibility. 

•   The IRO should separate noise from reality.

•   There is only one message or story, IR can carry it.

•   IR must serve as a strategic partner in order to frame the context for company strategy to the street.

•   IR can bring shareholders along with the company strategy and help identify and articulate the markers/sign posts to show the company’s progress on the journey.

•   Transparency, which is increasingly important, should be reinforced through IR but that doesn’t mean you share everything. Use balance.

•   Embrace the naysayers! Acknowledge honest, critical insights. It’s not always easy, but it’s always valuable.