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The Channel Company Acquires Global Marketing and Data Services Agency bChannels

The Channel Company

The Channel Company, the premier provider of news, insights, strategy, events, and marketing services for the technology channel in the United States, today acquired bChannels, a leading global marketing and data services agency specializing in the technology channel. With this strategic acquisition, The Channel Company will scale its full portfolio of services worldwide. It also adds powerful new data-driven capabilities to expand its clients’ partner networks and drive revenue. “The acquisition of bChannels is a bold step in our commitment to give our customers every advantage in the marketplace. This creates an unmatched portfolio of solutions that will transform how we enable our clients to win — anywhere in the world,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. bChannels provides scalable to- and through-partner marketing services, powerful partner data analytics, and market intelligence. The bChannels portfolio has tremendous synergy with The Channel Company’s end-to-end ecosystem of business outcome-driven strategy, insights, events, and marketing services. A Powerful Combination of Unique Strengths The Channel Company offers a wide range of products and services focused on the technology channel, including its CRN media entity, top industry events, online communities, consulting, research, education, and a full-service marketing agency. Adding bChannels to The Channel Company’s portfolio means that customers already familiar with The Channel Company’s offerings will now have access to exciting new capabilities. bChannels helps global technology vendors accelerate revenue growth to and through channel partners with its portfolio of services, including in-region marketing, data analysis, and competitive intelligence. Powering the bChannels product offering is its Intelligent Index TM database, the world’s largest partner capability database of more than 660,000 partners. Customers of bChannels will benefit from the extensive portfolio of additional marketing, creative, events, and consulting services that The Channel Company offers. Shared Goals and Values The Channel Company and bChannels share a common vision to provide clients with the best possible outcomes, employees with career development opportunities, and the company with a bold commitment to strategic growth. “Our organizations share a similar culture of client excellence, innovation, and deep technology channel expertise. We also share the vision to offer the most powerful suite of services for the technology industry in any market across the globe,” said Phil Gowing, Group CEO and Founder of bChannels. “This acquisition positions us to capitalize on the significant growth opportunity around data analytics, market intelligence, and the need for highly strategic global marketing within the technology channel. We welcome bChannels to The Channel Company family and look forward to working together to transform our customers’ and our employees’ growth,” said Raddon. bChannels’ M&A advisor was Grant Thornton UK and legal advisor was Capital Law Limited. The Channel Company received legal advice from Jones Day and due diligence advice from Alvarez & Marsal. About The Channel Company Headquartered in Westborough, MA, The Channel Company has been servicing the technology channel community for over 35 years. From CRN, the #1 source of technology news, insights and analysis for the IT Channel, to industry-leading events that connect clients to customers, to powerful research and engaging education to accelerate growth, to transformative marketing services to maximize investment, The Channel Company provides a full suite of business outcome-driven services focused on addressing the channelâs unique needs. The Channel Company is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. www.thechannelcompany.com About bChannels With offices in the U.K., U.S., Spain, Malaysia, and Australia, bChannels is a leading global marketing and data services agency specializing in the channel. bChannels has helped global technology vendors accelerate revenue growth to and through channel partners for over 22 years through their portfolio of digital marketing, partner enablement and data intelligence services. bChannels provides a genuine presence in all regions and has a deep understanding of the cultural, economic, and market dynamics within them. This ensures delivery of program and project outcomes that maximize the sales potential in every partner network. www.bchannels.com Contact Details The Channel Company Corporate Communications +1 508-531-9172 corporatecommunications@thechannelcompany.com Company Website https://www.thechannelcompany.com

February 25, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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The Channel Company Acquires Global Marketing and Data Services Agency bChannels

The Channel Company

WESTBOROUGH, MA – The Channel Company, the premier provider of news, insights, strategy, events, and marketing services for the technology channel in the United States, today acquired bChannels, a leading global marketing and data services agency specializing in the technology channel. With this strategic acquisition, The Channel Company will scale its full portfolio of services worldwide. It also adds powerful new data-driven capabilities to expand its clients’ partner networks and drive revenue. “The acquisition of bChannels is a bold step in our commitment to give our customers every advantage in the marketplace. This creates an unmatched portfolio of solutions that will transform how we enable our clients to win — anywhere in the world,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. bChannels provides scalable to- and through-partner marketing services, powerful partner data analytics, and market intelligence. The bChannels portfolio has tremendous synergy with The Channel Company’s end-to-end ecosystem of business outcome-driven strategy, insights, events, and marketing services. A Powerful Combination of Unique Strengths The Channel Company offers a wide range of products and services focused on the technology channel, including its CRN media entity, top industry events, online communities, consulting, research, education, and a full-service marketing agency. Adding bChannels to The Channel Company’s portfolio means that customers already familiar with The Channel Company’s offerings will now have access to exciting new capabilities. bChannels helps global technology vendors accelerate revenue growth to and through channel partners with its portfolio of services, including in-region marketing, data analysis, and competitive intelligence. Powering the bChannels product offering is its Intelligent Index TM database, the world’s largest partner capability database of more than 660,000 partners. Customers of bChannels will benefit from the extensive portfolio of additional marketing, creative, events, and consulting services that The Channel Company offers. Shared Goals and Values The Channel Company and bChannels share a common vision to provide clients with the best possible outcomes, employees with career development opportunities, and the company with a bold commitment to strategic growth. “Our organizations share a similar culture of client excellence, innovation, and deep technology channel expertise. We also share the vision to offer the most powerful suite of services for the technology industry in any market across the globe,” said Phil Gowing, Group CEO and Founder of bChannels. “This acquisition positions us to capitalize on the significant growth opportunity around data analytics, market intelligence, and the need for highly strategic global marketing within the technology channel. We welcome bChannels to The Channel Company family and look forward to working together to transform our customers’ and our employees’ growth,” said Raddon. bChannels’ M&A advisor was Grant Thornton UK and legal advisor was Capital Law Limited. The Channel Company received legal advice from Jones Day and due diligence advice from Alvarez & Marsal. About The Channel Company Headquartered in Westborough, MA, The Channel Company has been servicing the technology channel community for over 35 years. From CRN, the #1 source of technology news, insights and analysis for the IT Channel, to industry-leading events that connect clients to customers, to powerful research and engaging education to accelerate growth, to transformative marketing services to maximize investment, The Channel Company provides a full suite of business outcome-driven services focused on addressing the channelâs unique needs. The Channel Company is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. www.thechannelcompany.com About bChannels With offices in the U.K., U.S., Spain, Malaysia, and Australia, bChannels is a leading global marketing and data services agency specializing in the channel. bChannels has helped global technology vendors accelerate revenue growth to and through channel partners for over 22 years through their portfolio of digital marketing, partner enablement and data intelligence services. bChannels provides a genuine presence in all regions and has a deep understanding of the cultural, economic, and market dynamics within them. This ensures delivery of program and project outcomes that maximize the sales potential in every partner network. www.bchannels.com Contact Details The Channel Company Corporate Communications +1 508-531-9172 corporatecommunications@thechannelcompany.com Company Website https://www.thechannelcompany.com

February 25, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Gregg Castano, Founder and CEO of News Direct, is recognized in the PRWeek Dashboard 25 as one of the leading figures in the communications technology industry

News Direct

News Direct, the state-of-the-art news and content distribution service designed to meet the demands of modern media outreach, today announced that CEO and Founder, Gregg Castano, has been selected as one of PRWeek’s Dashboard 25 for 2022, which spotlights leaders shaping today’s $4.1 billion communications technology sector. “Having progressed in the comms tech space for over 32 years I am elated to receive recognition from PRWeek and join this year’s rankings of 25 influential veterans in the industry,” said Gregg Castano, Founder and CEO of News Direct. “I see a lot of innovation budding in the comms sector and it’s truly an exciting time to be leading News Direct in our mission to help move the industry forward so professionals have the modernized tech they need to stay ahead of the curve in today’s digital age”. Every year, PRWeek shares a list of 25 of the most influential people in communications technology, representing the enterprises that are shaping the communications industry. The annual list is published on PRWeek’s Dashboard, a resource used by communication professionals to track developing news in the field. This year’s Dashboard 25 members represent the biggest comms tech providers and platforms in the market and those up-and-coming disruptors that are inspiring the next phase of innovation. These individuals have achieved success within their own organizations, inspired colleagues past and present, and elevated communications technology to new heights through innovative and transformative work. “PRWeek Dashboard 25 is an amazing opportunity to celebrate the achievements of senior practitioners in the comms tech space, encompassing social media monitoring, influencer management, media analysis, media monitoring and press release distribution,” said Frank Washkuch, executive editor, PRWeek. “This list is a Who’s Who of the people helping PR executives prove their hard work is effective.” Throughout his career, Castano gained a comprehensive understanding of the news distribution industry which he used to launch News Direct to transform user experience, workflow, and pricing models to leverage the advances of the digital age. Key aspects Castano set to improve include the utilization of automation and AI to streamline editorial processes and provide greater control for the issuer, restructuring payment models to make pricing more transparent and predictable, and updating industry-leading security protocols. Castano’s achievements were recognized alongside other industry leaders, including executives at Google, PwC, Edelman, Critical Mention, WE, Cision, and more. The full list of nominees can be found on PRWeek here. To learn more about News Direct, please visit https://newsdirect.com. About News Direct News Direct provides news and content distribution for PR, IR, Corporate Communications and Marketing professionals. Our automated platform delivers a completely reimagined, intuitive workflow, industry-leading security, transparent, flat-rate pricing and actionable analytics. Further, News Direct has deployed an array of innovation including advanced automation, isolation cloud technology and custom software for the most dynamic, efficient and flexible platform available today. To learn more visit newsdirect.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Contact Details North 6th Agency Kevin Pryor +1 212-334-9753 newsdirect@n6a.com Company Website http://www.newsdirect.com

February 24, 2022 02:02 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Swirl Films Announces New Leadership Additions Beginning in 2022

Swirl Films

Swirl Films, Inc., the leading independent film and television production company with a core focus in diversity inclusion, announces new leadership to start 2022. Gray Television, a broadcasting company with local television stations in 113 markets, is a majority investor in Swirl Films. “We are thrilled with the momentum we are building already in 2022, especially with these two fantastic additions to our team,” said Eric Tomosunas, CEO of Swirl Films. “Swirl Films is well-positioned for continued growth and to continue to deliver incredible content to our clients.” The new hires at Swirl Films include: Angela Plasschaert, newly appointed COO, joins Swirl Films from A&E Studios, where she focused on role-built processes and procedures across the company. Celebrating over three decades in the entertainment industry, Angela’s newest position will work to execute the overall strategy and growth plan for the company, while being very involved in creating original content for scripted and non-scripted productions. Before accepting her role at A&E, Angela obtained a wealth of experience in physical production, producing content that aired on many cable and TV networks. In the early 2000s, Angela’s talents were called on to navigate the world of reality TV, an unscripted environment that brought many new challenges. She began advising on mega hits such as Fear Factor, Jackass and Mythbusters. This new industry led her to start the very first Entertainment Risk Consulting firm in the United States, specializing in high-risk production. Abbey Sibucao (formerly MacDonald) is the new SVP of Scripted Development for Swirl Films where she will lead the development function for all original scripted programming that will play an important role in the continued growth of Swirl’s expansive slate of film and series across all broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. She was previously VP of Current Programming & Development at Bounce TV, where she oversaw projects from initial development through production and continued to service the content for current programming. Sibucao started her career at New Wave Entertainment where she focused on talent management and production. Sibucao also has her own firm, A10 Talent Management. She will continue to work with her current clients while working at Swirl Films. Both Plasschaert and Sibucao will report directly to Tomosunas. Swirl Films provides the full suite of production services from script to screen for movies, biopics, scripted series, award shows and documentaries. Networks and Streamers rely on the company for their efficient production services model and ability to adapt to the ever changing content landscape. Last year, Gray Television’s sport and entertainment production unit Tupelo Honey, purchased the majority stake in Swirl Films’ ATL Film Studios. “The recent investments we’ve made in Swirl Films are a reflection of our support and belief in the future of the film industry in Georgia,” said Hilton H. Howell, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Gray Television. “These new leadership additions allow Swirl Films to support its current and future client base.” Eric Tomosunas founded Swirl Films in 2001. Swirl Films has produced projects including the wildly popular original drama series, Saints & Sinners, and produced high-quality films and series for TV One, BET, Bounce, Lifetime, Hallmark, Reel One, Netflix & Up TV. Swirl Films provides services and content across various areas of production spanning from script to screen, for movies, biopics, scripted series, award shows and documentaries. Swirl Films owns and operates its own 100,000 square foot film studio, ATL Film Studios, outside of Atlanta. Gray Television, Inc. is a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Gray is the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States. Our television stations serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 80 markets with the top-rated television station and 100 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. We also own video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Honey, and PowerNation Studios, as well as the studio production facility Third Rail Studios. For additional information, please visit www.gray.tv. Contact Details Swirl Films Eric Tomosunas, CEO +1 470-355-0610 Gray Television Rick Burns, Vice President, Corporate Relations +1 323-493-0123 Company Website https://www.swirlfilms.com/

February 23, 2022 12:49 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Goodway Group Named Global Digital Agency for Cybersecurity Company, Trellix

Goodway Group

Goodway Group, a leading data and tech-enabled brand-performance digital marketing services firm, has partnered with Trellix, a newly launched cybersecurity company, for digital media and marketing services. Goodway Group will lead Trellix’s brand awareness multi-channel digital media strategy and analytics efforts, including the Trellix brand launch and advertising campaign. “We are thrilled to partner with Goodway Group to accelerate brand awareness,” said Brett Hannath, Chief Marketing Officer, Trellix. “As a new brand seeking to stand out in a crowded industry, Goodway Group’s understanding of the B2B technology landscape and their use of data to deliver results were huge selling points.” Trellix selected Goodway Group for its digital media expertise, award-winning AI-powered technology, as well as its extensive experience executing domestic and international campaigns on behalf of leading B2B brands. A market-leading security player, Trellix is a modern and innovative security company defining the extended detection and response (XDR) market. Goodway Group will be charged with driving awareness and targeting technology and business leaders globally. “We are honored to partner with Trellix on its first branding campaign,” said Michael Hayes, Chief Growth Officer at Goodway Group. “Our digital credentials are perfectly aligned with Trellix’s launch and growth goals. Our work with challenger brands navigating the complex media landscape and making smart and strategic investments to advance growth are two critical components to standing out in such a highly competitive space.” Trellix builds resilience and confidence in organizations through machine learning and automation. Trellix’s living security ecosystem, which learns and adapts to protect its customers from the most advanced threats, brings bold innovation to the XDR space. About Goodway Group Goodway Group is a leading data-driven and technology enabled digital media and marketing services firm with offices in the U.S. and the UK. Our diverse team of digital strategists, media practitioners, technologists, and data scientists have won the most prestigious awards for innovative marketing technology, impactful work, and inclusive remote-first places to work including being honored as a multi-year Ad Age Best Places to Work, Ad Exchanger’s Best Use of Technology by an Agency Award, and two MarTech Breakthrough Awards. The firm deploys deep expertise across both consumer and B2B marketing, including brand-performance advertising, retail media and commerce, and advanced analytics using proprietary digital programmatic technologies, data, analytics methodologies, and consultation. Goodway Group is a 100-year-old independent and remote first media and marketing services firm. Find Goodway Group online at goodwaygroup.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.Goodway Group. Honestly Smart Digital. About Trellix Trellix is a global company redefining the future of cybersecurity. The company's open and native extended detection and response (XDR) platform helps organizations confronted by today's most advanced threats gain confidence in the protection and resilience of their operations. Trellix's security experts, along with an extensive partner ecosystem, accelerate technology innovation through machine learning and automation to empower over 40,000 business and government customers. More at https://trellix.com. Contact Details Kite Hill PR for Goodway Group Patrice Gamble goodway@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.goodwaygroup.com/

February 23, 2022 09:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

amika Taps Assembly to Lead Integrated Media Program Aimed at Growing Its Passionate Communities of Haircare Enthusiasts

Assembly

Global omnichannel agency, Assembly, has been chosen by prestige haircare brand, amika, to lead its integrated media program, with an emphasis on driving sustained awareness and building brand equity. amika has emerged as a go-to haircare brand through its ‘ all hair is welcome ’ positioning, which represents 10 unique collections of haircare for every hair type, texture, and style. amika has called on global data-driven agency, Assembly, as its partner in expanding its community of brand enthusiasts through its distinct, disruptive, and impactful messaging connected to purpose and inclusivity. “amika is a brand that has authentically lived its core values of kindness and inclusivity while doing good for the planet far before it was ‘cool’ or even an expectation from consumers,” said Kim Davis, Vice President at Assembly. “This is one of those best of both world partnerships where we get to bring the latest in media innovation to a brand that’s as committed as we are to nurturing people and the planet. We’re looking forward to developing an out-of-the-box channel strategy that maximizes brand awareness for amika.” amika was built with purpose at its heart by creatives, stylists, and product enthusiasts alike, and encourages a diverse and creative culture that’s fueled by radical thinking. In placing people and the planet at its core, the brand has maintained its mission of bringing progress to the beauty industry. “The name ‘amika’ means friend—to hair, hairstylists, the planet, our communities, and each other—and it’s truly embedded into everything we do. We want our customers to know us for not only our high-quality products, but our commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet," said Chelsea Riggs, amika’s Brand President. “We were impressed by Assembly’s integrated approach across the funnel to help accomplish our goals and we were immediately aligned in our vision.” This year marks a strategic shift in digital media investment for amika, with an increased focus on driving awareness and new customer acquisition. Assembly will partner with amika to develop a full-funnel multi-channel strategy to achieve these goals. The team’s focus for the year includes strengthening paid social investment, a renewed focus on paid media influencer integrations, and continued momentum in search and display. Assembly and amika will also work together to introduce new high-impact channels to amika’s mix, including CTV, TikTok and localized OOH. “We’re flexible and agile, which gives us an opportunity to test and learn in new channels and platforms where we know our customers are spending their time. We have some big brand and product moments coming up this year, and we’re also excited to see how measurement helps support all of the work we’re doing in increasing the focus on brand awareness and consideration,” said Kelley Martin, amika’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. About Assembly: Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,500 of the industry’s top talent, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that help brands find the change that fuels growth. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com for more information. About amika: A friend to hair, hairstylists, to her, him, them and you. The name amika means friend in the language Esperanto & represents our belief in the power of community and the beauty of diversity. Straight out of Brooklyn, where creativity and hustle are a way of life, we’re a collective of creatives, hairstylists, chemists, and product enthusiasts. We only make products that make us proud. 10 collections for every hair type, texture and style. Visit www.loveamika.com for more information, and follow @amika on Instagram. Contact Details Assembly Sara Pollack, VP of Marketing +1 917-438-4922 sara.pollack@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

February 23, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Jewellery World Awards honours industry leaders

Jewellery World Awards (JWA)

DUBAI, UAE - Media OutReach - 23 February 2022 - The Jewellery World Awards (JWA) unveiled the Recipients during a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai (JGT Dubai). Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery (IMJ), JWA is the only business awards programme for the international jewellery industry covering the whole supply chain from mines to market. Navrattan Kothari (fourth from right) Recipient of JWA 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Letitia Chow, chairperson and founder of JWA at IMJ remarked, “The jewellery industry has once again demonstrated its resilience and ability to adapt with what we witnessed at this year’s JWA. With the achievements and success stories shared by the recipients, we are inspired by their vision, innovative approach and thirst for excellence to move forward even in times of adversity.” The evening’s highest accolade was given to Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Navrattan Kothari, who has shown compassionate and driven leadership in the past six decades. Aside from transforming his family business into a global conglomerate, he has also been dedicated to supporting the local communities where KGK Group operates in. The Recipients are: 1. Lifetime Achievement Award Navrattan Kothari 2. Brand of the Year – Retail Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Hong Kong 3. Industry Innovation of the Year Diamonds On Call Limited, Hong Kong Emerald Jewel Industry India Limited, India Picup Media, Hong Kong Shenzhen Link Gold Technology Co Ltd, China 4. Manufacturer of the Year – Diamond KGK Group, Hong Kong 5. Manufacturer of the Year – Jewellery Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company, Vietnam 6. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – APAC CHJ Jewellery, China YLG Bullion Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore 7. Outstanding Small Enterprise of the Year (50 full-time employees and below) Brilliant Cuts Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka 8. Outstanding ESG Performance of the Year Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd, China 9. Young Entrepreneur of the Year (age 40 and below) Do Minh Duc, DOJI Gold & Gems Group JSC, Vietnam Joyee Zhao, BOJEM, China James Courage, one of the principal judges of JWA said, “Judging from the participants’ responses and initiatives, one can say that the industry continues to push the boundaries in order to safeguard the welfare of its employees and satisfy its customers — even in the harshest conditions. Their ability to innovate, adapt and meet the market’s needs is testament to our Honourees’ resilience, passion, drive and humanity.” Albert Cheng, also a principal judge added, “In the past 18 months, all our Honourees showcased resiliency, flexibility and rapid digitisation to battle the negative effects of COVID-19. On behalf of the judging panel, I salute all Recipients who have succeeded in these unprecedented times.” Kent Wong, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group (CTF), said, “We are honoured and proud to be a Headline Partner of JWA for 10 straight years. We look forward to collaborating with our peers and driving the industry towards more milestones and achievements in the future.” Lin Qiang, President & Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), who also is one of the judges noted, “The global jewellery industry is clearly recovering from the effects of the pandemic. The Chinese diamond business, for one, had a robust rebound. Such growth largely results from the unremitting efforts made by our colleagues in the industry. JWA continues to serve its purpose as a stage for celebrating these achievements and more.” JWA is supported by Headline Partners CTF and SDE, and Honoured Partners KGK Group and Guangdong GD Land Group Limited. JGT Dubai, jointly organised by IMJ and the Italian Exhibition Group, is supported by official partner, DMCC. Contact Details JWA Marketing +852 2516 2184 marketing@JWAwards.com

February 23, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CSG Unlocks the Potential of 5G with Launch of Future-Ready, SaaS Commerce Solution, CSG Encompass

CSG

The digital future is here and 5G is reinventing the way digital services are created, delivered and consumed. Imagination and a trusted communications service provider (CSP) are all that stand in the way of the next era of digitally immersive experiences. To catapult the industry into this next age of digital innovation, CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) today launched Encompass. A SaaS, open, integrated and modular solution, CSG Encompass crushes the complexity of multi-sided, B2B2X ecosystems to enable dynamic, agile and scalable collaboration across a multitude of partners. With Encompass at the heart of an interconnected ecosystem of enterprises, consumers and partners, CSPs can differentiate themselves with a future-ready solution that unlocks the limitless possibility of 5G-enabled offerings that excite customers and deliver seamless commerce. “5G operators need rapid ROI for their networks but have been hampered by the uncertainty of how to deliver value-added services and monetize their vision at the same time,” said Ken Kennedy, COO and president of revenue management and digital monetization, CSG. “CSG Encompass is the answer to this dilemma. Encompass provides the modular, yet holistic, solution CSPs need to innovate and co-create with partners. For onboarding, offer creation, quoting of services, order management, fulfillment, charging and settlements, CSG Encompass makes delivering a 5G B2B2X marketplace easier. Our cloud-based, open architecture offers the configurability and scalability necessary to create the dynamic, game-changing, digital ecosystems CSPs have been waiting for.” “Businesses and consumers alike want to interact and transact digitally with convenience and ease, which means not having to do the hard work of bundling components from multiple suppliers themselves,” John Abraham, principal analyst, Analysys Mason. “B2B2X ecosystems, which bring together digital services from a consortium of partners, are the foundation for delivering these seamless experiences. To be successful, they require an open, integrated solution that can manage the intricate, interconnected commerce cycles that are needed by today’s 5G service providers to fully engage with a more diverse range of partners. CSG’s broad portfolio, exposure to a large number of CSP customers and expertise in delivering large scale transformation projects positions the company well to help CSPs resolve the complexities of B2B2X marketplaces and enable new engagement and monetization opportunities.” Core capabilities of CSG Encompass include: Management of the connected B2B2X commerce cycle across CSPs, their partners and their customers including unified catalog, configurable pricing and quoting, order orchestration, charging and settlements A richly functioned, comprehensive, integrated solution that builds on CSGs expertise in delivering complex, differentiated business models and ecosystems for IoT and B2B2X A modular, open standards-based, decoupled solution that is network vendor and service agnostic, and can be deployed in the cloud and as a managed service Leading companies need technologies that can deliver future-ready digital offerings and winning experiences that will drive better business outcomes, quicker time to value and lower risk. CSG Encompass is the solution for CSPs looking to amplify the value of their 5G investments and reinvent the way they do business. For more information visit, https://info.csgi.com/portfolio-csg-encompass. # # # About CSG CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For nearly 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Copyright © 2022 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Global Public Relations +1 (917) 520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details CSG Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

February 23, 2022 06:35 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Simplifying Social Media for Small Business Owners: Tips on How Local Businesses Can Stand Out in 2022

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/mQc2Uxrk-EU Small business owners have already had to get creative in so many ways in the past few years. According to a survey from Adobe, 74% of small business owners are facing creative burnout. One way to reset and refresh their business is by improving their social media presence. For a small business owner who may already be feeling stretched creatively, social media can seem daunting or time intensive. Natalie Zfat partnered with Adobe Creative Cloud Express on a media campaign to provide small business owners with helpful tips to better reach customers and get their business back on its feet. No matter their budget or confidence level for graphic design, here are some of the tips she shared to easily create standout graphics, photos, and videos in no time: Inspiration can strike at the oddest times. Creative Cloud Express allows you to create quick, easy content on the fly – with thousands of high-quality templates to customize your Instagram Stories, video cover slides, timeline carousels and more. Carousels outperform single-image Instagram posts. According to research by SocialInsider, the average engagement rate increases by 2% when using all 10 carousel slides, and carousels with a mix of video and images see the highest engagement rate per post at 2.33%. Filling the carousel with gorgeous content is easy when you use Creative Cloud Express, which lets you easily search through Adobe Stock images and leverage more than 20,000 fonts. Did you know that social media posts with video have 48% more views? Creative Cloud Express makes it super easy to edit and customize videos (even if video editing isn't your forté). It's no secret that social media users scroll quickly, and it can be tricky to stand out. 82% of small business owners know that a creative design will drive business, but 45% cite that they don’t have either the time, tools or skills to bring their ideas to life. One way to “stop the scroll” is with compelling animation and imagery. Creative Cloud Express lets you incorporate animated elements easily and create beautiful, thumb-stopping imagery that will catch your audience's eye. Something as simple as a colorful, animated shape layered behind text - or a funny GIF or sticker - will help your message stand out and allow you to inject more of your personality. And the best part: You don’t have to be a designer to get it done. Use “Quick Actions” powered by Adobe Sensei to remove backgrounds from photos, trim and merge videos, convert videos to GIF, and more. Integrate your brand's aesthetic across multiple platforms for a cohesive experience. Creative Cloud Express allows you to build your brand by uploading logos, colors and more. This makes it easy to seamlessly adapt your brand creative for social media, email marketing, website and more. The Shared Libraries feature in particular makes it easy for anyone and everyone on your team to work from a cohesive bank of templates to achieve that brand consistency. The Instagram algorithm is ever-changing, but we know that content that inspires shares and saves does particularly well, especially when that content is in video form. 74% of small business owners acknowledge that they are facing major hindrances to their creativity right now. To maximize engagement, aim for content that is beautiful, funny or educational. Infographics and video tutorials (“How To’s”) are a great way to do this - and Creative Cloud Express offers stunning, customizable graphs, charts and other great visuals that lend themselves to shareable content. Think of your social media profile as your storefront. 55% of small business owners say their online presence is more critical to their success than a physical store. Is your bio fully fleshed out? Is it clear what you're offering your audience? Creative Cloud Express allows you to create beautiful, robust profiles, with thousands of high quality templates for banner images, profile photos, Instagram Highlight covers and more – all customizable with your brand colors and typography. Don't have a brand book (yet)? Dip into Creative Cloud Express’ Stock and Fonts database for thousands of unique, stunning imagery and font styles for marketing materials like logos, flyers, banners, and more. To learn more about Creative Cloud Express and its different graphic design features go to: adobe.com/express About Natalie Zfat: According to Mark Cuban, “Natalie Zfat doesn’t mess around.” Natalie Zfat is a social media expert, speaker and host who has partnered with some of the most iconic brands in the world, including Samsung, Facebook, CNBC and LinkedIn. Curating original social media content, strategy and campaigns, Natalie gains millions of impressions for the brands she advocates for. When she’s not with her clients, Natalie loves sharing her social media thought leadership in her Forbes column, on television and at conferences and universities, including the New York Times, CBS, Carnegie Mellon, NYU Stern School of Business, SXSW and CES. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 04:34 PM Eastern Standard Time

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