Category: GLOBE-NEWSWIRE

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The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. Expands Global Presence with Launch of Sanborn Geophysics, ULC

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. is pleased to announce the establishment of its Canadian subsidiary, Sanborn Geophysics, ULC located just outside of Toronto. Sanborn Geophysics will focus on geophysical survey services and equipment sales, opening a new market to Sanborn.

With a commitment to advancing geospatial data collection and aerial survey capabilities, Sanborn Geophysics builds upon Sanborn’s extensive geospatial data expertise. John Copple, CEO of Sanborn, remarked, “The creation of Sanborn Geophysics expands Sanborn’s already extensive geospatial data collection and aerial survey capabilities. We’re uniquely positioned to not only collect specialized data but to do so with our own state-of-the-art equipment.”

Sanborn Geophysics was enabled by the purchase of assets from Nuvia Dynamics, Inc. Sanborn was also able to hire employees who have a proven track record in geophysics survey technology to staff Sanborn Geophysics. Some of Sanborn Geophysics employees have over 25 years of experience and previously worked for Nuvia Dynamics Inc (formerly known as Pico Envirotec Inc). Both prior companies have a distinguished record of accomplishment in developing geophysics survey technologies for mineral/oil exploration and geotechnical applications. Sanborn was supported by The Environmental Financial Consulting Group, LLC (EFCG). Terms were not disclosed.

“Sanborn Geophysics will create new opportunities for the company both domestically and internationally. This investment is to provide the best geospatial solutions for our clients,” said Copple.

About The Sanborn Map Company:
Sanborn’s leadership in the creation of high-quality spatial data began in 1866. Today Sanborn is at the forefront of spatial data collection and technology innovation and committed to offering clients the best in comprehensive state-of-the-art geospatial solutions tailored to their situation. As one of the largest providers of end-to-end GIS products and services in the U.S., Sanborn offerings include: oblique imagery, ortho imagery, lidar, sonar, geophysical, and hyperspectral data and mapping, secure data storage and streaming from our own data center, spatial analytics, custom application development, GIS-IT strategic planning and technical consulting, commercial data and cloud platforms, Sanborn SAAS geospatial solutions, staff augmentation, and GIS program managed services. The Sanborn advantage is to help customers identify the right data and tech, and to create solutions that match their needs, budget, and system requirements. Sanborn’s ISO 9001:2015 certification is a further demonstration of its commitment to quality.

For Media Inquiries:
Tom Harrington Jr, PhD
Chief Marketing Officer
tharrington@sanborn.com
(617) 413 7057

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9029925

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MGA Entertainment Establishes Four Subsidiaries to Support its Fast Growing International Business in the European Union

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGA), one of the largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies in the world, announced today it has established four wholly-owned subsidiaries in the European Union (EU) to support its fast growing international business. The four subsidiaries – MGA Toys Iberia S.L. (led by Managing Director Mila Gonzalez), MGA Entertainment Greece (led by Managing Director Panos Kalogeropoulos), MGA Entertainment Italy SRL (led by Managing Director Andrea Signorelli), and MGA Toys France (led by Managing Director Thierry Thivolle) – will support marketing and sales administration efforts, staffed by employees who have worked for MGA Entertainment in each of the markets, now employees of their respective subsidiary in the same roles. This move demonstrates the company’s commitment to growing its businesses in those markets and to its international business overall.

“Our business outside of the U.S is strong and increasingly important to MGA Entertainment. Establishing these new subsidiaries will allow us to grow our business more quickly in these important markets,” said MGA Entertainment Founder & CEO Isaac Larian. “I look forward to working closely with the teams in each of these markets to continue to bring new, innovative, and fun MGA toys and products to consumers across the EU.”

MGA previously announced its plans to merge with Zapf Creation AG, Europe’s leading manufacturer of nurturing dolls. MGA’s wholly-owned German subsidiary has entered into negotiations of a merger agreement which is expected to close in late Spring 2024.

About MGA, Entertainment, Inc.
MGA Entertainment is one of the largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies in the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices globally, the company creates innovative, proprietary, and licensed consumer products and entertainment properties, including toys, games, dolls, apparel, consumer electronics, home décor, stationery, sporting goods, movies, and television series. The MGA family includes award-winning brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!™, Little Tikes®, Rainbow High™, Bratz®, MGA’s Miniverse™, Fluffie Stuffiez™, Na! Na! Na! Surprise™, Micro Games of America™, BABY born®, and Zapf Creation®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgae.com or check us out at LinkedIn, Threads, Instagram and Facebook.

Attachment

Alan Hilowitz
MGA Entertainment
+1.818.221.4431
news@mgae.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9030048

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Digital 2024: Global social media users pass 5 billion milestone

New report finds that the world averaged 8.4 new social media users per second over the past year

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meltwater, a global leader in media, social and consumer intelligence, and We Are Social, the socially-led creative agency, have released Digital 2024, their latest annual report on social media and digital trends worldwide.

In a year full of digital milestones, Digital 2024 shows that active social media user identities* have passed the 5 billion mark (5.04 billion), equivalent to 62.3 percent of the world’s population. The global total increased by 266 million over the past year – an annual growth of 5.6 percent.

The typical social media user now spends 2 hours and 23 minutes per day on their social platforms of choice, and uses 6.7 platforms each month. TikTok has the highest average time per Android user of any social platform globally, clocking in at an impressive 34 hours per month – equating to more than an hour per day using the platform. In second place is YouTube, with the average user spending just over 28 hours per month on its Android app.

In terms of the world’s ‘favorite’ social platform, Instagram has taken the crown from last year’s winner, WhatsApp. Digital 2024 shows that 16.5 percent of internet users between the ages of 16 and 64 consider Instagram their most loved platform, pushing WhatsApp into second place with 16.1 percent.

Digital 2024 is a 550+ page report that covers data points from across the entire online ecosystem, from social media to smart devices, gaming to social commerce.

Other key highlights from the report include:

  • The typical internet user now spends 6 hours and 40 minutes online each day – up by 3 minutes per day, or 1 percent, year-on-year.
  • Facebook – which celebrates its 20th birthday on 4th February – grew its global ad reach by more than 200 million over the past 12 months, delivering year-on-year growth of 10.5 percent.
  • LinkedIn, Snapchat, WeChat, and Pinterest all reported strong user growth year-on-year.
  • Digital ad spend grew by 10 percent year-on-year, with almost $720 billion spent on digital ads in 2023. Social ad spend increased by 9.3 percent to USD $207 billion, and investment in influencer activities increased by 17 percent.
  • The typical internet user now spends 17 minutes per day less watching TV content than they did this time last year – a decline of 8.2 percent year-on-year.
  • In a rich analysis of TikTok hashtags, Digital 2024 reports that TikToks tagged with #fyp (for your page) have amassed a total of 55½ trillion views – making it the platform’s top hashtag.

Alexandra Saab Bjertnæs, Chief Strategy Officer at Meltwater, said: “As social media enters its next chapter with five billion-plus users, understanding usage patterns, engagement, and emerging trends is crucial to helping brands find their unique voice amidst all the online chatter. The rise of TikTok, coupled with Instagram’s ‘favorite’ status and the growth of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, paints a picture of evolving preferences. With so many platform choices, brands need to really understand where their target audience is going for information—and shape compelling narratives that engage them with unparalleled precision and authenticity.”

Nathan McDonald, co-founder and group chief executive at We Are Social, commented: “Social media continues to be a vital part of the way we connect with one another, from building communities to researching purchases and everything in between. TikTok’s continued popularity has changed the way that people behave online – social is not somewhere where a broadcast approach works for brands, and the importance of thinking social first has never been more important. It’s encouraging to see strong growth across multiple social platforms, each offering something different, whether that’s Pinterest for social commerce or Facebook for connecting with communities. For marketers, understanding platform nuances – and how to use social media to connect in culturally relevant ways – will be more crucial than ever.”

*social media user identities may not represent unique individuals

To view and download the report go to: https://www.meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends

For more information, please contact:
Kelly Costello
pr@meltwater.com

About Meltwater
Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social, consumer and sales intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents and 2,300 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact. Learn more at meltwater.com.

About We Are Social

We are a global socially-led creative agency, with unrivalled social media expertise. With over 1,300 people in 19 offices around the world, we deliver a global perspective to our clients in a time when social media is shaping culture.

We make ideas worth talking about. We understand social behaviours within online communities, cultures and subcultures, spanning the social and gaming landscape. We work with the world’s biggest brands, including Adidas, Samsung, Netflix and Google, to reach the right people in a strategic, relevant and effective way.

We Are Social is part of Plus Company.

To learn more, visit www.wearesocial.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9029074

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Carry1st annonce un investissement stratégique de Sony Innovation Fund

LE CAP, Afrique du Sud, 30 janv. 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Carry1st, le principal éditeur de jeux et la première plateforme de commerce numérique d’Afrique, annonce un investissement stratégique de Sony Innovation Fund, la filiale de capital-risque de Sony Group Corporation (« Sony »). Carry1st est le premier investissement de Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, une initiative créée par Sony pour soutenir la croissance des entreprises de divertissement en Afrique.

Stimulée par l’adoption croissante des technologies, l’industrie du jeu en Afrique compte plus de 200 millions de joueurs uniques et devrait atteindre une taille de marché de plus d’un milliard de dollars en 2024, selon les données de Newzoo et Carry1st. Bien que la présence de consoles officielles soit limitée, l’Afrique présente une opportunité de croissance incroyable pour ce secteur, en particulier avec l’essor des services en direct.

« Nous sommes ravis d’unir nos forces à celles de Sony Innovation Fund: Africa », a déclaré Cordel Robbin-Coker, PDG et co-fondateur de Carry1st. « Cette relation aidera Carry1st à définir l’avenir de l’industrie du jeu vidéo en Afrique. Chez Carry1st, nous pensons que le marché africain des consoles est une opportunité largement sous-estimée. Nos capacités régionales distinctes, associées à l’expertise de Sony en matière de jeux et de divertissements, en font une combinaison gagnante. Ensemble, nous espérons offrir les meilleurs jeux du monde aux joueurs de toute l’Afrique ».

« Nous sommes ravis de nous associer à Carry1st pour notre premier investissement en Afrique », a déclaré Antonio Avitabile, directeur général, EMEA, Sony Ventures Corporation. « Nous pensons que le marché des jeux vidéo en Afrique représente un énorme potentiel inexploité, dont nous espérons faire l’expérience et auquel nous espérons contribuer grâce à notre investissement dans Carry1st. Nous sommes impatients de travailler en étroite collaboration avec l’équipe de direction exceptionnelle de Carry1st pour soutenir la croissance de l’entreprise et explorer les opportunités commerciales avec les sociétés du groupe Sony ».

À propos de Carry1st
Carry1st est le premier éditeur africain de jeux et de contenus numériques. Sa mission est de diffuser des contenus de qualité sur les marchés frontières en résolvant des problématiques difficiles. Carry1st développe et publie des jeux, en octroie les licences et les monétise efficacement grâce à Pay1st, une plateforme de paiement alternative et une place de marché en ligne pour les jeux numériques. Carry1st a conclu des partenariats avec des sociétés telles qu’Activision, Supercell et Riot Games pour diffuser à grande échelle des jeux tels que Call of Duty: Mobile et Valorant et a lancé des jeux comme Africa Glam (Nanobit), Mancala Adventures, SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off, Ludo Blitz et Mine Rescue pour les joueurs en Afrique. Carry1st a levé plus de 60 millions de dollars depuis sa fondation en 2018 et compte parmi ses investisseurs Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), BITKRAFT, Google, Riot Games et Nas.

À propos de Sony Ventures Corporation
Sony Ventures Corporation gère le Sony Innovation Fund (SIF), qui investit dans des entreprises technologiques émergentes à tous les stades de leur développement, ainsi que dans des start-ups qui cherchent à résoudre des défis environnementaux mondiaux. Le Sony Innovation Fund s’engage aux côtés de startups pionnières pour contribuer au développement de technologies de rupture, au lancement de nouvelles entreprises et à la protection de l’environnement tout en recherchant un retour sur investissement. Sony Ventures Corporation est basée au Japon. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.sonyinnovationfund.com.

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter :
Alexandra Lloyd de Nara Communications
lexandra@naracommunications.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000911197

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Carry1st anuncia um investimento estratégico do Sony Innovation Fund

CIDADE DO CABO, África do Sul, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Carry1st, a principal editora de jogos e plataforma de comércio digital da África, anuncia um investimento estratégico do Sony Innovation Fund, a divisão de capital de risco da Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”). A Carry1st é o primeiro investimento do Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, que foi criado pela Sony como uma iniciativa para promover o crescimento de empresas de entretenimento na África.

O setor de jogos da África, impulsionado pelo rápido aumento da adoção de tecnologia, tem mais de 200 milhões de usuários únicos e deve representar um mercado de mais de US$ 1 bilhão em 2024, de acordo com dados da Newzoo e Carry1st. Embora a disponibilidade formal de consoles seja limitada, a África apresenta uma incrível oportunidade de crescimento para esse setor, principalmente com o aumento dos serviços em tempo real.

“É com entusiasmo que nos unimos ao Sony Innovation Fund: Africa”, disse Cordel Robbin-Coker, CEO e cofundador da Carry1st. “Esta parceria ajudará a Carry1st a promover o futuro dos jogos na África. Na Carry1st, consideramos o mercado africano de consoles uma oportunidade extremamente subestimada. Nossas competências regionais diferenciadas, aliadas à experiência da Sony em jogos e entretenimento, formam uma combinação poderosa. Juntos, esperamos levar os melhores jogos do mundo aos usuários de toda a África.”

“É com entusiasmo que saudamos a Carry1st como nosso primeiro investimento na África”, disse Antonio Avitabile, Diretor Geral – EMEA, Sony Ventures Corporation. “Consideramos que há um enorme e inexplorado potencial para o mercado de jogos na África, que esperamos explorar e contribuir com nosso investimento na Carry1st. Estamos ansiosos para trabalhar em conjunto com a equipe de gestão de primeira classe da Carry1st a fim de auxiliar o crescimento da empresa e explorar possíveis oportunidades de negócios com as empresas do Grupo Sony.”

Sobre a Carry1st
A Carry1st é a principal editora de jogos e conteúdo digital da África. Sua missão é oferecer conteúdo incrível em mercados fronteiriços, resolvendo problemas difíceis. A Carry1st desenvolve, licencia e publica jogos e os monetiza eficazmente com a Pay1st, uma plataforma própria com outras opções de pagamento e um mercado on-line para itens de jogos digitais. A Carry1st firmou parcerias com empresas como Activision, Supercell e Riot Games para ajudar a expandir jogos como Call of Duty: Mobile e Valorant e lançou jogos como Africa Glam (Nanobit), Mancala Adventures, SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off, Ludo Blitz e Mine Rescue para usuários na África. A Carry1st arrecadou mais de US$ 60 milhões desde sua criação em 2018 e conta com investidores como Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), BITKRAFT, Google, Riot Games e Nas.

Sobre a Sony Ventures Corporation
A Sony Ventures Corporation administra o Sony Innovation Fund (SIF), que investe em empresas de tecnologia emergentes em todos as suas fases, bem como em startups que solucionam desafios ambientais globais. O SIF colabora com startups pioneiras para ajudar a fomentar o desenvolvimento de tecnologias revolucionárias, lançar novos negócios e contribuir para o meio ambiente, buscando o retorno do investimento. A Sony Ventures Corporation é sediada no Japão. Saiba mais em www.sonyinnovationfund.com.

Para obter mais informações, entre em contato com:
Alexandra Lloyd na Nara Communications
Alexandra@naracommunications.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000911197

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Le KFSH&RC-Madinah reçoit le prestigieux prix 2023 Human Experience Guardian of Excellence de Press Ganey

RIYAD, Arabie Saoudite, 30 janv. 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Le King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) de Médine a remporté le prix 2023 Human Experience Guardian of Excellence décerné par Press Ganey pour ses performances exceptionnelles en matière de services ambulatoires tout au long de l’année écoulée. Cette reconnaissance prestigieuse a honoré un groupe distingué d’établissements de soins de santé, parmi environ 1 500 établissements dans le monde, pour s’être classé parmi les 5 % les plus performants en matière d’expérience des patients au cours d’une année.

Par ce prix, Press Ganey, une organisation mondiale de premier plan dans la mesure et l’amélioration de l’expérience des patients, reflète l’engagement de la KFSH&RC à fournir des solutions de soins de santé de premier ordre et des expériences exceptionnelles pour les patients à travers divers services de soins de santé dans un cadre intégré d’éducation et de recherche.

En tant qu’établissement de premier plan ayant pour vocation de placer l’expérience humaine au cœur des soins de santé, le KFSH&RC-Madinah s’est assuré une position notable parmi les cinq premiers pour cent des prestataires de soins de santé accrédités, reconnus pour leur excellence en matière d’expérience des patients, de satisfaction des employés, de sécurité et de performance en matière de qualité des soins cliniques.

Le Dr Nizar Khalifa, directeur général du KFSH&RC-Madinah, a déclaré : « Cette réussite est le résultat de nos efforts continus pour donner la priorité aux patients, favoriser l’expérience positive des employés et obtenir des résultats cliniques efficaces, soulignant notre engagement à fournir des soins de santé d’excellence selon les normes les plus élevées, en donnant la priorité à la fois à nos employés et à notre communauté. »

La cérémonie de remise du prix Press Ganey 2023 sera annoncée plus tard en février. Alors que le KFSH&RC célèbre cette distinction avec son personnel dédié, ses partenaires et la communauté, il réaffirme son engagement continu à adopter une approche axée sur l’humanité et un état d’esprit centré sur le patient, s’alignant sur le programme de transformation des soins de santé décrit dans la Vision saoudienne 2030, contribuant activement à la réalisation d’une société plus saine et plus dynamique.

Le King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre fait partie des leaders mondiaux en matière de soins de santé spécialisés, et d’innovation, servant de centre de formation et de recherche médicale avancée. Grâce à des partenariats stratégiques avec d’éminents établissements locaux, régionaux et internationaux, l’hôpital se consacre à l’avancement des technologies médicales et à l’élévation des normes de soins de santé dans le monde entier.

À propos du King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC):

Le King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) est un établissement de soins de santé de premier plan au Moyen-Orient, conçu pour être le choix optimal pour tous les patients à la recherche de soins spécialisés. L’hôpital s’enorgueillit d’une riche histoire dans le traitement des cancers, des maladies cardiovasculaires, des transplantations d’organes, des neurosciences et de la génétique.

En 2023, « Brand Finance » a classé le King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre au premier rang des centres médicaux universitaires au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique et parmi les 20 premiers au niveau mondial. En outre, en 2022, le magazine Newsweek l’a reconnu comme l’un des principaux fournisseurs de soins de santé dans le monde.

Dans le cadre de la Vision saoudienne 2030, un décret royal a été publié le 21 décembre 2021 pour transformer l’hôpital en une entité indépendante, à but non lucratif et détenue par le gouvernement, ouvrant ainsi la voie à un programme de transformation complet visant à atteindre un leadership mondial dans le domaine des soins de santé grâce à l’excellence et à l’innovation.

Une photo accompagnant ce communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22c5c112-3a86-42fe-9f41-6b58b16e0d06

COORDONNÉES

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter :

Essam Al-Zahrani, rédacteur en chef des médias, 0555254429

Abdullah Al-Awn, rédacteur en chef des médias, 0556294232

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9028497