Myles Udland at BusinessInsider.com Reports:
Post Holdings executive chairman Bill Stiritz has added to his stake in Herbalife.
Stiritz, who is Herbalife’s biggest individual shareholder, has added to his 8.2% position in Herbalife during the stock’s recent pullback, according to a report from CNBC’s Scott Wapner.
Wapner, citing sources, also reported that Stiritz had not sold a share of his stake in the company.
Earlier this month, Business Insider’s Julia La Roche reported that Stiritz had most likely suffered paper losses upward of $200 million on his position in the multilevel marketing company, which fell about 50% during 2014.
Stiritz is on the same side of the Herbalife trade as noted activist investor Carl Icahn, who is the company’s largest shareholder. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is well known for being short shares of Herbalife, and in a December 2012 presentation, Ackman called the company a pyramid scheme.
The FTC opened an investigation into Herbalife in March.
In September 2013, when Stiritz first initiated his position in Herbalife, the stock was trading just below $60 per share. On Friday, shares of Herbalife were just below $32.
Following Wapner’s report, shares of Herbalife, which had been lower Friday, were up as much as 3%.
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University of Alaska dedicates herb book to Fairbanks expert
by Successful IBO • • 0 Comments
When the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service published its book on growing and using fresh herbs in the Far North, dedicating it was as easy as sprinkling chives on a baked potato.
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Solavei Sues Stream Energy For Stealing Trade Secrets After Merger Talks
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
A Dallas District Court judge today blocked Stream Energy from using proprietary technology and information to launch a new mobile phone service after social commerce leader Solavei sued Stream for stealing trade secrets gathered during extensive merger talks.
Seattle-based Solavei sought the injunction to halt Stream and its marketing arm, Ignite, from using trade secrets and other intellectual property in launching a mobile phone service sold through an online direct-marketing platform – exactly the type of social commerce business pioneered and continuously innovated upon by Solavei. Stream’s mobile business was set to launch on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at an event in Las Vegas.
“Without benefit of Solavei’s confidential information and the guidance and explanation provided during due diligence, Defendants could not launch this new business – particularly not in a matter of months,” the lawsuit states.
Solavei provides high-quality, low-cost and contract-free mobile phone service in the United States. The company’s core business strategy combines social media, referral marketing and mobile service.
Stream is a Texas company involved in the direct marketing of retail electric service. Senior Stream executives named in the lawsuit are Chairman Rob Snyder, CEO Mark “Bouncer” Schiro and CFO Renee Hornbaker along with top Stream associates who were bound by specific confidentiality agreements.
In
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Views of the ECB stimulus from those who must make it work
by Successful IBO • • 0 Comments
The fate of the European Central Bank’s aggressive plan to stimulate the economy out of stagnation lies with the 340 million people in the 19-country euro alliance.
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Starbucks CEO gets 24 percent boost in 2014 pay package
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Starbucks Corp. CEO Howard Schultz received a 24 percent increase in his compensation package for 2014.
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This Week: Beauty Game Changers and Profit in the Party
by mbeeman@directsellingnews.com • • 0 Comments
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Industry Leaders Kevin Marino And Bob Doran Join Vemma
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Global wellness company Vemma, announced industry leaders Kevin Marino and Bob Doran have joined their affiliate marketing base.
During their combined 25 years in the industry Kevin and Bob have enjoyed significant success and become highly regarded direct selling figures. With the philosophy of helping others through servant leadership Kevin and Bob have developed a strong customer and representative base by sharing their deep passion and astute knowledge for the industry as well as effective growth and leadership mentoring efforts.
Both have expressed their excitement in joining the Vemma team. Bob referred to this move as the next chapter in their career; while Kevin went on to explain that he feels Vemma has the right business model, products that really matter to people, an extraordinary management team, as well as a great compensation plan.
In addition to the product and business opportunity Vemma offers, Bob said Vemma Founder and CEO, BK Boreyko, was a deciding factor in his choosing to find a new home at Vemma. He stated, “BK is the most passionate and charismatic leader I have met. He has his finger on the pulse of this industry. More importantly, he truly cares about those in the field making it happen, because
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Medifast Named SmartCEO Future 50 Award Winner For 4th Consecutive Year
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Medifast, Inc. (MED), a leading United States manufacturer and provider of clinically proven, weight-loss and healthy living products and programs is proud to be recognized by SmartCEO magazine as a 2015 Future 50 Blue Chip company for the fourth consecutive year
The prestigious annual Future 50 award honors a range of growing businesses in the Baltimore region including 50 fast-growth mid-sized companies, five small Emerging Growth companies and five large Blue Chip companies. As a Blue Chip winner, Medifast was identified as one of Baltimore’s leading businesses with strong foundational leadership and an innate drive for success.
“Medifast has continued to advance as a leader in the weight-loss industry and we are pleased to again be recognized by SmartCEO,” said Mike MacDonald, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Medifast. “This past year, we expanded into new markets and product categories to reach new customers. We partnered with Fitbit™, the market leader in the connected activity tracking space, and introduced an online tool for consumers to better track their progress. Our launch of new products and programs and entry into the connected health and wellness space supports our focus on enhancing the customer experience and helping to make a healthy lifestyle a reality for our customers.”
SmartCEO Future 50 award winners
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Avon In Possible Deal Talks For A Takeover; Reports Bloomberg
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Bloomberg Reports : Avon Products Inc. (AVP), the world’s largest seller of door-to-door cosmetics, jumped the most in almost two years after Dealreporter said the company has held talks with private equity firm TPG Capital about a possible transaction.
The report sent the shares up 15 percent to $8.66 in New York, the biggest one-day increase since February 2013. The stock declined 45 percent last year.
Avon is seen as a candidate for a leveraged buyout because it has strong cash flow, Dealreporter said, even though sales have been slumping in recent years. The takeover speculation follows the end of a six-year U.S. investigation into whether Avon’s Chinese subsidiary bribed local officials. The company pleaded guilty last month and agreed to adopt internal controls and pay $135 million in fines.
It isn’t clear if the TPG talks have advanced or whether Avon has hired advisers to consider a deal, said Dealreporter, which cited three unidentified people within the industry.
Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for TPG, declined to comment to Bloomberg News, as did Lindsay Fox, a spokeswoman for New York-based Avon.
Avon joins Elizabeth Arden Inc., another beauty company, in spurring takeover talk. Elizabeth Arden, maker of Elizabeth Taylor and Britney Spears brand perfumes, hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. last
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Mary Kay Celebrates Record Breaking Year And 50th Anniversary
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
In a town where records are made, Mary Kay is busy breaking them.
As the beauty company kicks off their annual U.S. Leadership Conference in Nashville this week, Mary Kay reports another year of double digit growth in global sales over a record-breaking year in 2013 when the company celebrated 50 years in business.
“After our biggest year in company history, Mary Kay markets around the world continue to set sales records,” said David Holl, President and Chief Executive Officer for Mary Kay Inc. “We’re celebrating the company’s success in Nashville this week and that for more than five decades now the Mary Kay opportunity has appealed to women of all backgrounds and ages who want to pursue short-or long-term financial goals.”
The city of Nashville will play host to more than 8,500 leading Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants during the conference held Jan. 18-24 at the Nashville Music City Center. Along with iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillacs, the weeklong conference brings Nashville nearly $3 million in direct visitor spending.
“From the live music scene to the shopping centers, restaurants and hotels, we’ve grown to love Nashville and are thrilled to be back for our annual Leadership Conference this year,” said Laura Beitler,