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Avon In Possible Deal Talks For A Takeover; Reports Bloomberg

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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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Medifast Named SmartCEO Future 50 Award Winner For 4th Consecutive Year

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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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Mary Kay Celebrates Record Breaking Year And 50th Anniversary

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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,

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Kannaway Acquired By Medical Marijuana

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Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC Pink:MJNA), a leading industrial hemp industry innovator, is proud to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% membership interest of Kannaway, LLC. The amount of the sale is undisclosed.
The valuation of Kannaway is in the range of $119.6-242.7 million.
The agreement is expected to take at least 90 days to close and will effectively make the cannabis-based network marketing company a wholly owned subsidiary of the first-ever publicly traded cannabis company.
Kannaway’s valuation was performed by none other than esteemed financial advisory and investment banking firm, Houlihan Capital. The firm has performed valuations for similar category creators including: Urban Outfitters, Redbox, Micros Systems Inc., LeapFrog Enterprises, Tootsie Roll Enterprises, U.S. Airways Inc., and more. Houlihan Capital is a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and SIPC member, committed to the highest levels of professional ethics and standards.
“Quality, ethics and accountability are hallmark principles that are the foundation for each Medical Marijuana, Inc. company,” states Michelle Sides, Chief Operating Officer of Medical Marijuana, Inc. “We are thrilled at the addition of Kannaway to Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s investment portfolio as the Company’s leadership operates under the same beliefs.
Kannaway offers Medical Marijuana, Inc. shareholders a

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