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Claranova to redeem minority interest in PlanetArt subsidiary Acquisitions News 

Claranova to redeem minority interest in PlanetArt subsidiary

Paris, France-based Claranova announced the signing of a binding agreement between its subsidiary PlanetArt LLC and Société Commune Européenne de Participation (“SCEP”), for the redemption of between 25% and 65% of the 7.7% minority interest SCEP holds in PlanetArt. With this transaction, Claranova will have a greater share of PlanetArt’s future performance. Total cash consideration paid out to SCEP from PlanetArt’s... Read More
NRF: 2021 holiday sales grew 14.1 percent to record $886.7 billion News 

NRF: 2021 holiday sales grew 14.1 percent to record $886.7 billion

Retail sales during 2021’s November-December holiday season grew 14.1 percent over 2020 to $886.7 billion, easily beating the National Retail Federation’s forecast and setting a new record despite challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions and the ongoing pandemic, said the NRF. The number includes online and other non-store sales, which were up 11.3 percent at $218.9 billion. The numbers exclude... Read More
Imaging Brands acquires specialty lighting brand Spiffy Gear News 

Imaging Brands acquires specialty lighting brand Spiffy Gear

Imaging Brands, the designer and manufacturer of innovative photography and filmmaking equipment, has acquired Spiffy Gear. Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Udi Tirosh, Spiffy Gear has focused on developing specialty lighting products for professional photographers and videographers. The Spiffy Gear acquisition is part of Imaging Brands’ strategic growth plans for the professional photo and video markets. Along with Tether Tools, the... Read More
VAIsual, Smarterpix sign world first synthetic media distribution agreement News 

VAIsual, Smarterpix sign world first synthetic media distribution agreement

Synthetic content pioneer VAIsual and PantherMedia, Germany’s leading stock photo agency, announced an industry first: 100% synthetically generated stock images are now available for legal licensing. “It is estimated that within the next 5 to 10 years, 95% of all images we see will be AI-generated media,” said Michael Osterrieder, VAIsual founder and CEO.  “Synthetic content, photography generated by algorithms, is the future of... Read More
Eugene Smith Fund elects new president and executive committee News 

Eugene Smith Fund elects new president and executive committee

The Board of Trustees of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund announced its election of a new president and executive committee, along with three new board members. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, Scott Thode will become President of the Smith Fund, replacing Phillip Block who held the position for four years. Block will remain a member of The Fund’s Board of... Read More
NRF says Omicron could contribute to uncertainty,  inflation but shutdowns are unlikely Market research News 

NRF says Omicron could contribute to uncertainty, inflation but shutdowns are unlikely

The COVID-19 omicron variant will bring uncertainty to the economy in 2022 and could contribute to inflation, but is unlikely to cause widespread shutdowns or slowdowns, said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist, National Retail Federation (NRF). “Even with the experience of the past two years, there is no model that can predict how the economy responds to a pandemic,” Kleinhenz said.... Read More
RRD receives unsolicited non-binding cash proposal for $11.00 per share Acquisitions News 

RRD receives unsolicited non-binding cash proposal for $11.00 per share

Just when it looked like the bidding war for R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. (RRD) was won by Chatham Asset Management, the company announced the receipt of an unsolicited non-binding “Alternative Acquisition Proposal” to acquire all of the outstanding shares of RRD’s common stock for $11.00 per share in cash, from an unnamed “Strategic Party”. Under the terms of the Chatham... Read More
Shutterfly reports ransomware attack; Lifetouch and BorrowLenses affected News 

Shutterfly reports ransomware attack; Lifetouch and BorrowLenses affected

Personalized photography leader Shutterfly reported a ransomware attack on Sunday, Dec. 26. The incident was first made public by Bleeping Computer, which claimed a source identified the attackers as the Conti ransomware group. In a statement (reproduced below) Shutterfly said portions of the Lifetouch and BorrowLenses business were affected. They experienced interruptions with Groovebook, manufacturing offices, and some corporate systems as... Read More
Class action against Ancestry.com use of yearbooks continues News 

Class action against Ancestry.com use of yearbooks continues

Legal Newsline reports a class-action lawsuit alleges genealogy site Ancestry.com is using photos of people without their permission. According to the report, Clifford Law Offices and Morgan & Morgan, representing Sergio Bonilla, filed their case on Dec. 14 in Chicago federal court, taking aim at Ancestry’s use of school yearbooks from the 20th century. “Ancestry has not received consent from, given... Read More
Fortune features Shutterfly CEO on supply chain News 

Fortune features Shutterfly CEO on supply chain

U.S. business website Fortune featured a discussion with Shutterfly CEO Hilary Schneider about the company’s dominance of holiday the photo card market, supply chain issues, and its foray into NFT. Writer Jane Their wrote Shutterfly, which on average sends out 165 million holiday cards a year, has a broad experience with supply chain challenges. “We have a real advantage,” Schneider... Read More
Gooten announces $15 million capital raise, unveils new leadership Investments News People on the Move 

Gooten announces $15 million capital raise, unveils new leadership

On-demand printer Gooten raised $15 million in combined primary equity and debt from Tech Pioneers Fund with participation from existing investors KEC Ventures and ff Venture Capital. The company is also announcing the promotion of Maddy Alcala to president of Gooten. Founded in 2015, Gooten operates a smart supply chain for brands looking to optimize their eCommerce business through print-on-demand manufacturing. Now with more... Read More
ACDSee releases new multi-document interface editing software Gemstone News Updates 

ACDSee releases new multi-document interface editing software Gemstone

ACD Systems International has launched its new standalone Multi-Document Interface (MDI) image-editor, Gemstone. With a layered editor and up-to-date RAW support, the $79.99 Gemstone is set to offer users of the software a new element to their editing experience, the company said. “We’re thrilled to release our latest software to the market in Gemstone,” says Frank Lin,  COO and CTO,... Read More