Investor Relations for Acquisition Spanning Two Foreign Stock Exchanges

New York/Portland, Ore. — Jan. 30, 2012 — LANE PR, an independently owned public relations, investor relations and social media agency, was retained by Infinova to provide strategic counsel for a multinational acquisition last month. Infinova, a global provider of complete video surveillance solutions, entered into an $89 million agreement to acquire March Networks, a security and video surveillance peer, in December 2011. The collaboration with Infinova capped another profitable year for LANE PR.

“Infinova presented an extraordinary opportunity to rally the companies, their customers and the media around a positive business development with great potential,” said Wendy Lane Stevens, president of LANE PR. “At the same time, it offered an exciting opportunity for our agency to showcase and strengthen our expertise in the investor relations and financial arena.”

Approach Required Collaboration on Global Scale
LANE PR advised Infinova throughout the acquisition, working with senior management of both organizations to develop and implement a communications strategy and plan. The agency’s approach took several markets into consideration: headquartered in the U.S., Infinova maintains operations across the world and is publicly traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China, while the acquisition target – March Networks – is based in Ottawa, Canada, and was publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In addition, LANE PR’s program incorporated the various issues associated with required oversight and approval from regulatory bodies in the U.S., Canada and China.

Through public relations and investor relations counsel, LANE PR advised Infinova on all aspects of communications surrounding the acquisition, including timing, positioning, messaging and media outreach. The agency announced the acquisition and effectively conveyed the benefit of the new alliance to employees at both companies as well as to their customers and investors. Furthermore, LANE PR secured strategic media coverage, laying the foundation necessary to help Infinova to accelerate future growth.

Infinova One of Several Acquisitions in December
In addition to counseling Infinova throughout its transaction with March Networks, LANE PR advised clients D.A. Davidson and Thoma Bravo on communications surrounding several deals in December 2011.

Also in December, private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo announced the planned acquisition of Telestream®, the leading provider of video transcoding and digital media software solutions; InfoVista, a global leader of service performance assurance; and Blue Coat Systems, a provider of Web security and WAN optimization solutions.

About LANE PR  
LANE PR is a national, independent firm specializing in business-driven communications strategies with offices in New York and Portland, Ore. Founded in 1990, LANE PR provides integrated public relations, social media, crisis communications and investor relations services for clients in a host of industries, including financial services, consumer, food and beverage, and technology. 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 or follow @lanepr.

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Agency Reports 7.2% Revenue Growth over 2010

New York/Portland, Ore. — Jan. 26, 2012 — LANE PR, an independently owned public relations, investor relations and social media agency, grew revenue by 7.2 percent in 2011 relative to 2010. In addition, LANE PR welcomed new staff and new clients and garnered three industry awards.

“Although the economy again presented challenges in 2011, it served to reinforce the importance of delivering exceptional results for our clients,” said Wendy Lane Stevens, founder and president of LANE PR. “Not only were we able to maintain a high level of service for our clients, but we also were able to build our national client roster and build our staff.”

LANE PR Experienced Growth in Investor Relations, Social Media and Public Relations
Increased demand for specialized services and expertise drove growth for LANE PR.  During the past year, LANE PR invested in developing services aimed to deliver growth opportunities in the years ahead, particularly in the areas of investor relations and social media. In addition, the agency focused on expanding its core practice areas, including food and beverage, consumer lifestyle, technology and financial services.

In the financial arena, LANE PR advised clients D.A. Davidson and Thoma Bravo on communications surrounding several acquisitions, and the agency ended the year counseling Infinova, a global provider of complete video surveillance solutions, on an acquisition involving multiple foreign exchanges and regulatory agencies.

LANE PR added Washington-based Tree Top, ABtoC (American Beef to Consumer) and sustainable quick-service chain Burgerville to its food and beverage portfolio.

Evergreen Wings & Waves Waterpark, Music & Arts, Northview Hotel Group and ZAGG Inc., joined LANE PR’s consumer lifestyle portfolio, while Intellibot Robotics rounded out the agency’s technology portfolio.

LANE PR Added, Promoted Staff 
LANE PR added four staff members to its team. Brian Nakashima was hired as the agency’s chief financial officer, Brandi Cook as account director, Jeff Segvich as senior account executive and Rob Bitter as account coordinator.

The agency also promoted several members of its staff: Angie Galimanis to vice president, Amber Roberts to managing director, Alison Siebert and Katie Stringer to account directors, Tracy Anderson to senior account executive and Olga Walsh to account executive.

Amy Paterson, a 15-year veteran of LANE PR, was appointed to a newly created position, vice president of social media.

LANE PR Received Industry Recognition
LANE PR was recognized for its work with Roundarch, a digital consulting agency based in New York. LANE PR’s Roundarch team received the Bronze Bulldog Award for Best New Product Launch for their efforts surrounding the new technology at the New York Jets Meadowlands Stadium.

The agency also received a PRSA Spotlight Award in crisis communications. LANE PR garnered the award for its role in revealing the truth, reversing misconceptions and restoring the reputation of Adventist Medical Center following a tragic death on its campus.

LANE PR was also recognized as the Small Agency of the Year at the 2011 Bulldog Stars of PR awards.

About LANE PR  
LANE PR is a national, independent firm specializing in business-driven communications strategies with offices in New York and Portland, Ore. Founded in 1990, LANE PR provides integrated public relations, social media, crisis communications and investor relations services for clients in 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 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 or follow @lanepr.

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Effort launched to publicize benefits of grass landscapes

By MITCH LIES

Capital Press

Oregon’s grass seed industry has been watching from the sidelines in recent years as landscape writers tout the benefits of replacing grass lawns with artificial turf, rock gardens and other nongrass landscapes.

Not any more.

Oregon’s three turf grass commissions recently decided to enter the game.

The Oregon tall fescue, fine fescue and ryegrass commissions have dedicated $150,000 to a campaign touting the benefits of real grass.

“This project responds to negative things we see in the U.S. regarding fine turf,” said Bryan Ostlund, administrator of the three commissions.

“We’ve all seen the articles about no-mow lawn, turfless lawns,” Ostlund said. “But there’s been no discussion defending the message we want to move forward.”

Campaigns against natural grass even have made their way into politics. A New Jersey lawmaker in a recent session introduced a bill giving a tax credit for taking out grass lawns. Fortunately, Ostlund said, the bill was defeated.

“We’ve got to try to do what we can to slow this trend,” Ostlund said. “We might be coming in a little after the fact, but we better get in and get moving.”

The message the grass seed industry hopes to spread is that natural grass provides several environmental and societal benefits.

Grass lawns have a cooling effect, Ostlund said. They are good for soils, help reduce water runoff and sequester carbon.

Grasses also beautify neighborhoods and city parks, Ostlund said.

The campaign doesn’t single out Oregon-grown grasses, Ostlund said, even though Oregon is the nation’s leading producer of grass seed.

“We’re not talking about Oregon,” he said. “We’re not branding Oregon. We’re not saying, ‘Buy Oregon.’

“The message is limited to the value of fine turf,” he said.

A steering committee of grass seed commissioners and others in the industry chose the public relations firm Lane PR to run the campaign. The firm has offices in Portland and New York.

The campaign will rely on free placement of stories and messages in print and broadcast media, said Angie Galimanis, a vice president of the firm.

The firm is launching the campaign in the Northeast in time to influence spring landscaping decisions.

Commissioners will analyze the campaign after the end of the fiscal year on June 30 and consider whether to go forward.

“I don’t see an end to the campaign any time soon,” Ostlund said. “We’ll analyze it after this first year with the full intention that this is a long-term project.”

View the list here.

Consumer Cellular has grown its revenue from $17 million to $185 million in just six years by selling the newest technology to the oldest American consumers.

Now the Tigard-based mobile phone service provider expects to add as many as 250 jobs to its current employment base of 450 in 2012 and grow revenue by 35 percent as it edges closer to reaching 1 million customers. Along the way, Consumer Cellular stands out as proof of the Baby Boomer generation’s considerable buying power.

“Boomers aren’t that different from everybody else,” said Consumer Cellular CEO John Marick.

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