-Company continued to invest in the Fintech sector through Marygold & Co.-

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Marygold Companies, Inc. (“TMC,” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: MGLD), a diversified global holding firm, today reported financial results for its 2025 second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2024 amounted to $8.0 million, compared with $8.5 million last year. The Company recorded a net loss of $1.7 million, equal to a loss of $0.04 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, compared with a net loss of $1.2 million, equal to a loss of $0.03 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Revenue for the six months ended December 31, 2024 totaled $15.9 million, with a net loss of $3.3 million, equal to a net loss of $0.08 per share, versus revenue of $16.7 million and a net loss of $1.7 million, or a net loss of $0.04 per share, for the comparable prior year period.

The revenue decline over both comparable prior year periods was primarily due to a reduction in average assets under management (“AUM”) at TMC’s largest subsidiary, USCF Investments, to $3.1 billion from $3.5 billion a year ago. AUM level directly impacts the management fees earned and typically fluctuates with global commodity pricing trends. Revenue also was impacted by a slight increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar, which negatively impacted currency translation values in the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. The performance of TMC’s core operating subsidiaries was within expectations, and the net loss principally reflected the Company’s continued expenses in the development and roll-out of its mobile banking fintech app through its Marygold & Co. subsidiaries in the U.S. and the U.K.

Cash and cash equivalents of $5.7 million at December 31, 2024 increased slightly from $5.5 million at June 30, 2024, the close of TMC’s prior fiscal year. Total stockholders’ equity decreased to $23.4 million at December 31, 2024 from $26.6 million at fiscal year-end, primarily reflecting the net loss incurred during the six months ended December 31, 2024.

“For the quarter just ended, we had budgeted for continued losses, based in large part on cash expenditures incurred by our Marygold fintech subsidiary,” said David Neibert, TMC’s Chief Operations Officer. “To help with cash needs for future development and rollout of our fintech app, we entered into a $4 million note during the first quarter, and in anticipation of an equity raise of $2.3 million in gross proceeds that was completed subsequent to the close of the second quarter, we finalized a prospectus supplement for our Form S-3 shelf registration. These actions produced expenses for the second quarter and contributed to the net loss.

“We are pleased that our operating subsidiaries in New Zealand, Canada and in the U.S. continue to do well overall. Moving into the second half of our fiscal year, we expect to significantly reduce expenses in our Marygold & Co. subsidiary, having successfully completed the proof-of-concept phase,” Neibert added.

Nicholas Gerber, TMC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We have spent nearly $20 million into what we refer to as the ‘Marygold Project,’ which includes Marygold & Co. and its counterpart, Marygold & Co. (UK) Limited. We view these costs as investments in TMC’s long-term future, and believe the Company is poised to move forward with the initial roll-out of the mobile app in the U.K. shortly, while we strategize on marketing direction for the app in the U.S.

“As shareholders, we all have gone through a painful period of enduring losses, while we refocused our corporate resources in the fintech sector. I believe we will turn the corner soon and begin to see some tangible results for those efforts,” Gerber said.

Business Units

The Company’s USCF Investments subsidiary, https://www.uscfinvestments.com/, acquired in 2016 and based in Walnut Creek, Calif., serves as manager, operator or investment adviser to 15 exchange traded products, structured as limited partnerships or investment trusts that issue shares trading on the NYSE Arca.

Gourmet Foods, https://gourmetfoodsltd.co.nz/, acquired in 2015, is a commercial-scale bakery that produces and distributes iconic meat pies and pastries throughout New Zealand under the brand names Pat’s Pantry and Ponsonby Pies. Acquired by Gourmet Foods in 2020, Printstock Products Limited https://www.printstock.co.nz, is a printer of specialized food wrappers and is located in Napier, New Zealand. Its operations are consolidated with those of Gourmet Foods.

Brigadier Security Systems, https://brigadierelite.com/, acquired in 2016 and headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, provides comprehensive security solutions to homes and businesses, government offices, schools and other public buildings throughout the province under the brands Brigadier Security Systems in Saskatoon and Elite Security in Regina, Canada.

Acquired in 2017, San Clemente, Calif.-based Original Sprout, www.originalsprout.com, produces and distributes a full line of vegan, safe, non-toxic hair and skin care products, including a “reef safe” sun screen, throughout the U.S. and in many regions throughout the world.

Marygold & Co., https://marygoldandco.com/, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is a wholly owned TMC subsidiary established in 2019 to explore opportunities in the financial technology sector. Marygold & Co. (UK) Limited, https://marygoldandco.uk/, also a wholly owned TMC subsidiary, was established in the U.K. in 2021 and operates through two U.K.-based investment advisory business units: Marygold & Co Limited (fka/Tiger Financial and Asset Management), acquired in 2022, http://www.tfam.co.uk/, and Step-by Step Financial Planners, acquired in 2024, https://www.sbsfp.co.uk/, that manage clients’ financial wealth across a diverse product range.

About The Marygold Companies, Inc.

The Marygold Companies was founded in 1996 and repositioned as a global holding firm in 2015. The Company currently has operating subsidiaries in fund management, financial services, food manufacturing, printing, security systems and beauty products, under the trade names USCF Investments, Marygold & Co., Marygold & Co. Limited, Step By Step Financial Planners, Gourmet Foods, Printstock Products, Brigadier Security Systems and Original Sprout, respectively. Offices and manufacturing operations are in the U.S., New Zealand, U.K., and Canada. For more information, visit www.themarygoldcompanies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, should not be relied upon as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, significantly reducing expenses in the Marygold & Co. subsidiary, along with the risks disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list of factors is not inclusive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Media and investors, for more Information, contact:
Roger S. Pondel
PondelWilkinson Inc.
310-279-5965
rpondel@pondel.com

Contact the Company:
David Neibert, Chief Operations Officer
949-429-5370
dneibert@themarygoldcompanies.com

Kaiser & Partners’ 2024 data reveals changing news consumption patterns with an overwhelming number (84%) of respondents citing at least one way they fact-check news read on social media

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In its fourth annual survey on trust and credibility in news sources, Kaiser & Partners, an Earnscliffe Strategies Company (K&P), highlights the resilience of established news media as the most trusted source of information with almost three in five (59%) respondents agreeing. The findings also reveal a generational shift towards diverse platforms while reinforcing the continued dominance of traditional outlets.

Highlights

• Over half (56%) of respondents in Canada say the way they consume news has changed over the past year, with the most cited changes being an increase in online news from established news sources (25%) and watching more broadcast TV news (20%). This trend is especially notable among Gen Z and Boomer respondents.
• For the fourth consecutive year, established media (i.e., newspapers/online newspapers, broadcast news, radio) remains the source of information that all generations find the most credible. This is perhaps one of the catalysts of change noted above.
• Three in five (62%) respondents say that recent changes to news media have caused them to trust it less. The top factors eroding trust are political or celebrity influencers on the news (33%), paid/advertorial content (31%), and algorithm-fed newsfeeds (31%).
• When it comes to news on social media, most respondents (84%) say they use at least one means of fact-checking, such as finding other articles to confirm information (32%), finding the original source (23%), or vetting the credibility of the person sharing the information (20%).

Trust in Established News Media Rises Across Canada

For the fourth consecutive year, established news media remains the top source for credible news with nearly three in five (59%) respondents agreeing. Almost half (45%) of Gen Z respondents find established news media amongst the most credible sources compared to nearly a quarter (22%) of Gen Z respondents who said they found information from experts on social media to be the most credible (the highest among generations). It’s clear younger Canadians are increasingly turning to online platforms but still demonstrate a growing appreciation for credible, fact-checked journalism.

“Trust is foundational in the media, and Canadians are showing us that established journalism remains vital,” said Janine Allen, president at Kaiser & Partners. “However, with evolving consumption patterns and increasing access to diverse platforms, communicators need to meet audiences where they are, while maintaining credibility and integrity.”

About a third of respondents in Canada pointed to three main causes of trust erosion: political or celebrity content in the news (33%), the prevalence of paid or advertorial content from organizations (31%), and algorithms that tailor news feeds (31%). Gen Z and Millennial respondents – that is, those from generations with higher reported rates of social media usage – are more likely to say that algorithms influencing results on their feeds (35% each) is causing them to trust media less.

Navigating Social Media in the Age of Misinformation

With the rise of social media as a main news source, an overwhelming number (84%) of respondents have cited at least one way of fact-checking information they see on these platforms. Methods include seeking corroborating articles (32%), verifying the original source (23%), or evaluating the sharer’s credibility (20%). But not all generations have the same reflexes when it comes to fact-checking, with Boomers being the most likely to say they would just ignore information if they feel it is fake (22%) or that they do not fact check news on social media at all (14%). Gen Z respondents, for their part, are more likely to cross-reference using other social media sources (15%) or speaking to their friends or family (18%).

The Impact of Bill C-18

Canada’s Online News Act and the resulting Meta news ban have notably reshaped the information ecosystem with over half (56%) of respondents saying the way they consume news on social media has changed, impacting where they check on Canadian or international news. Nearly one in five (20%) respondents say they’ve increased reliance on traditional media for Canadian news, with Boomers (25%) leading this trend. Meanwhile, Gen Z respondents are adapting by turning to alternative platforms like Reddit and TikTok, reflecting a generational divide in how the law has influenced news habits.

In terms of international news, over half (56%) of respondents stated that their consumption had changed in the wake of Bill C-18, but the way this change occurs varies across generations. Younger respondents were more likely to say they decreased their international news consumption (14% of Gen Z and 15% of Millennials compared to 6% of Boomers) and admit that they were less aware of global events (13% of Gen Z and Millennials each, compared to 4% boomers) as a result of these changes.

Looking Ahead

As social media use grows, particularly among Gen Z, the divide between traditional and digital platforms will continue to shape the media landscape. Despite challenges, the enduring credibility of established news media suggests an unabated demand for rigorous, fact-based journalism.

“Canadians of all ages are navigating an evolving news environment,” Allen continued. “The findings highlight opportunities for the media and communications industry to innovate and rebuild trust, ensuring accessibility and reliability in today’s digital age.”

About Kaiser & Partners

Founded in 2011, Kaiser & Partners Inc., an Earnscliffe Strategies company, quickly became Canada’s leading public relations and communications agency. With practitioners operating across Canada, the agency offers clients a full suite of bilingual, strategic communications services across industry sectors. Visit the agency’s website at www.kaiserpartners.com.

About the Survey

The survey, conducted by Earnscliffe Strategies’ opinion research team, was in field from November 28 to December 1, 2024, and engaged a representative stratified sample of 2,018 respondents living in Canada (with an effective national sample size of 1,875) who are members of Leger’s LEO panel. For comparison purposes only, a survey of this size would have a margin of error of +/- 2.3% at a confidence level of 95%.

Media Inquiries:
Carrie Pala
carrie.pala@kaiserpartners.com
613-408-2846

SERIES TO STREAM GLOBALLY IN APRIL

MBS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADN, ANIPLUS, GKIDS, AND TROPICS, ANNOUNCE THE THEATRICAL GLOBAL PREMIERE FOR UPCOMING ANIME SERIES, WITCH WATCH

VIEW TRAILER HERE

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. announced in partnership with ADN, Aniplus, GKIDS, and Tropics, a global theatrical premiere for the highly anticipated new anime series WITCH WATCH, based on the Weekly Shonen Jump manga of the same name. The theatrical premiere will begin outside of Japan on mid-March, ahead of the worldwide streaming release scheduled for April.

Based on the popular manga by Kenta Shinohara (SKET Dance), WITCH WATCH is a hilariously magical rom-com following teenage witch Nico and her Ogre familiar Morihito, who is tasked with her protection after a dire prophecy is cast over her. With a witch-in-training and an Ogre now living under one roof, what could possibly go wrong? WITCH WATCH brings together a hilariously offbeat cast of mystical characters, and as they deal with various magical mishaps, this hilarious and spellbinding new rom-com will leave you in stitches week after week.

The series is brought to life by Bibury Animation Studios (The Quintessential Quintuplets), is directed by Hiroshi Ikehata (FLCL Progressive), and features character designs from Haruko Iizuka (Horimiya) with music from Yukari Hashimoto (A Sign of Affection).

Worldwide Theatrical Release

In celebration of the launch of the new TV animation series, scheduled to begin streaming in April, the theatrical premiere of WITCH WATCH, released under the moniker WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY, kicks off with screenings in North America on March 16^th from GKIDS. WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY will additionally come to theaters in Asia beginning March 13^th from Tropics, in selected European countries in March from ADN, and in Korea in March from Aniplus. Further release details will be announced in collaboration with the theatrical premiere partners in each region.

“WITCH WATCH is an exciting animation born from an outstanding original story and the passionate dedication of its production team. Nico's whimsical and extraordinary magic will surely captivate your heart and leave a lasting impression. With its hilarious twists and turns, we hope you'll enjoy laughing out loud in the theater,” said Producer Hiroyuki Aoi of Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc.

Global streaming release

WITCH WATCH will stream globally this April. For platform specific details, please check ADN, Aniplus, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, and Tropics’ website.

For more information about WITCH WATCH, please visit the official English language social media accounts:
X: @WITCHWATCH_EN
Instagram: @witchwatch_en
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@witchwatch-anime

About WITCH WATCH

Morihito Otogi, a high school student who comes from a lineage of ogres, enjoys a peaceful, ordinary life until his childhood friend, Nico, moves in with him. Nico is a witch-in-training, and chooses Morihito to be her familiar. While Nico is thrilled to reunite with her old friend and crush, Morihito is tasked with the perilous duty to protect her from a foretold calamity. Between the unpredictable chaos caused by Nico’s magic, and the awkwardness of sharing a home, their lives become a whirlwind of supernatural hijinks and threats.

Puppy love meets magical mischief and danger in WITCH WATCH, the endlessly charming and riotously funny new anime series. Based on the Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Kenta Shinohara (SKET Dance), get the first sneak peek of the upcoming anime with WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY, a special theatrical premiere event featuring the first three episodes and exclusive interviews.

About MBS

Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. (MBS) is known as a pioneer in the Japanese broadcasting industry. Tracing back through history, MBS was one of the first commercial radio stations in Japan, starting its first radio broadcasts in 1951 and later beginning terrestrial television broadcasting in 1959. MBS has its head office in Osaka, which is the business center of Kansai, the western part of Japan, with new emerging businesses and innovative ideas. For anime, MBS has been co-producing and broadcasting for more than half a century. The broadcaster is the TV home to numerous global hit anime franchises like “Attack on Titan,” “Full Metal Alchemist” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.” In addition to co-producing those and many other series, MBS was a co-producer of “Akira,” seen as one of the most influential anime films of all time. https://www.mbs.jp/english/

Press Contact
GKIDS for MBS: gkids@42west.net

Nominations are now open for the 17th annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, presented by Western Union

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The story of Canada is the story of immigrants coming to this land for freedom, opportunity and success. While immigration numbers are currently trending down, the contributions that immigrants have made to building this country are undeniable. Canadian Immigrant, with the support of presenting sponsor Western Union, is therefore pleased to open the call for nominations for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards of 2025, to shine a spotlight on these nationbuilders who have adopted Canada as their own.

Now in its 17th year, the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, supported by COSTI, is the first and only national awards program celebrating immigrant success stories from coast to coast.

Spotlighting immigrants from diverse backgrounds who contribute to Canada’s economy, innovation, arts and communities, is an important way of bringing communities together, instead of farther apart. The Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards is the leader in sharing the inspiring stories of immigrants to not only honour their contributions, but to provide role models for other newcomers.

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized among the top immigrants in Canada? Canadian Immigrant and Western Union are now calling on Canadians to nominate an immigrant or refugee who has an inspirational success story to share at www.canadianimmigrant.ca/top25.

Immigrants who have been honoured with this prestigious national award in past years include two Governor Generals, actors like Mena Massoud, of Aladdin movie fame, athletes like Toronto Argonauts’ Hénoc Muamba, restaurateurs like Vikram Vij, and artists like ballerina Chan Hon Goh, as well as many unsung heroes who have made giving back to Canada an integral part of their lives.

“We cannot wait to see who will be nominated this year!” said Sanjay Agnihotri, Publisher of Canadian Immigrant, a national multimedia platform and producer of the awards. “From what we have seen over the last decade and a half, there seems to be a neverending supply of inspiring immigrant role models who have gone above and beyond to build successful lives in Canada, while making this country a better place. At Canadian Immigrant, we are grateful to have this amazing platform to recognize and amplify these inspirational Canadians.”

“Western Union’s mission throughout our long history as a company is one of being purpose-driven, connecting people and communities through financial inclusion, while placing the customer at the center of everything we do,” said Nathan Stone, Country Director of Western Union, Canada. “The close connection between our Canadian customers and their families living abroad together with the role our services play in helping create better lives are inextricably linked. As sponsor of these prestigious awards, we celebrate the contributions made by those that call Canada their new home and support them in their journey toward prosperity.”

Eligibility Criteria
A nominee can be anyone who has immigrated to Canada and has since contributed to the success and uplifting of this country and/or its people. Achievements can be either professional or personal. Nominees must be aged 15 or older, hold landed immigrant (permanent resident) or citizen status in Canada, and reside in Canada.

Nomination Process
Nominations can be made at www.canadianimmigrant.ca/top25 until March 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST. A distinguished panel of judges made up of past winners will review all nominees and present a list of 75 finalists who will be announced in April, after which all Canadians can vote for their favourite nominees. The 25 winners will be announced in August 2025 in Canadian Immigrant and online at CanadianImmigrant.ca.

Entrepreneur Award
This will be the 11th consecutive year and 2^nd year sponsored by COSTI that one of the Top 25 winners will also be selected for the additional Entrepreneur Award, honouring one of the Top 25 who has demonstrated entrepreneurial excellence in business. No additional application is required to apply for this award.

Youth Award
For the ninth consecutive year, one of the Top 25 will be awarded the additional Youth Award, which recognizes young immigrants between the ages of 15 and 30 who are making a difference through achievement and/or service, and who exhibit great potential as long-term contributors to Canada. No additional application is required to apply for this award.

About Canadian Immigrant
Attracting more than 400,000 readers each month and over 100,000 visitors a month online, Canadian Immigrant is a national multimedia platform to help immigrants succeed in Canada, with content, resources and events on careers, education and settlement. Canadian Immigrant is the producer of the cross-country Canadian Immigrant Fairs. Canadian Immigrant is a division of Metroland Media Group, a dynamic media company with more than 100 community and daily newspapers in print and online, as well as innovative websites including wheels.ca, goldbook.ca, save.ca and localwork.ca. Learn more at canadianimmigrant.ca.

About Western Union
Western Union is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Western Union’s platform provides seamless cross-border flows and its leading global financial network bridges more than 200 countries and territories and over 130 currencies. We connect businesses, financial institutions, governments, and consumers through one of the world’s widest reaching networks, accessing billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and approximately 600,000 retail locations. Western Union connects the world to bring boundless possibilities within reach.

Canadian Immigrant
Laura Jackman, 647-212-0549
ljackman@metroland.com

Western Union
Brad Jones
Bradley.Jones@wu.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--500 Degrees, an agency of digital content makers specializing in design and implementation of digital content for multi-use retail on a global scale, recently announced the promotion of Shawn Brown to President and Chief Operating Officer. Brown, who previously served as Executive Vice President and COO, will oversee the creative, client services and production teams. The leaders of those disciplines will report directly to Brown.

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to step into this leadership role. My goal is not only to drive the company forward but also to cultivate a culture of hard work and innovation, while building meaningful relationships and delivering unwavering support to our clients,” said Brown. “I look forward to working with the talented team at 500 Degrees to drive the growth of our company and build a lasting legacy of innovation and excellence.”

Brown will focus on three key priorities: fueling growth through diversification and strategic partnerships, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance client support and launching a new digital content studio to streamline content development and accelerate time-to-market.

500 Degrees, which has locations in Columbus, Miami and Toronto, creates digital, print and experiential content designed to engage consumers across every channel, at every step of the buying journey. With a focus on QSR, the agency delivers fully integrated technology and creative.

500 Degrees is part of Eastport Holdings, a network of forward-thinking, digital-first agencies that provide a comprehensive range of specialized marketing solutions to clients across North America, South America and Europe. As President and COO, Brown will serve as the primary liaison with Eastport leadership, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment across strategic initiatives and partnerships within the Eastport ecosystem.

“Shawn has been a driving force behind the success of 500 Degrees and is responsible for building strong, long-lasting client relationships, while fiercely promoting professional growth and development for our U.S. and Canadian teams,” said Bubba Patton, Chairman, Eastport Holdings. “His extensive experience, visionary leadership and deep commitment to excellence make him ideally suited to guide 500 Degrees to its next phase of success.”

About 500 Degrees

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, 500 Degrees is a tech-enabled business services and creative agency dedicated to producing and delivering high-quality digital content on a global scale. Since its founding in 2015, 500 Degrees has established a strong foundation in the retail, food and quick-service restaurant (QSR) industries, providing innovative solutions that drive meaningful results. The agency is powered by a team of more than 90 talented professionals working across business hubs in Ohio, Florida and Toronto, Canada. As part of the Eastport Holdings agency network, 500 Degrees leverages its global reach and local expertise to help brands create impactful, scalable content that resonates with audiences worldwide.

About Eastport Holdings

Eastport Holdings, LLC is a marketing services holding company whose portfolio of firms helps transform their U.S. and global clients with advertising, data intelligence, strategic media planning and buying, digital experience, content fulfillment, brand activation, public relations and other specialty communications services.

Eastport’s 500+ professionals serve a diverse range of ambitious clients and brands, including Burger King, Microsoft, PA Lottery, VARI desk, HUGHES, Dish Latino, Facebook, Pepsi, POLARIS, Honda, Tim Hortons and Popeyes.

MEDIA CONTACT
Bridget McNie
Senior Communications Director
412-953-9114
bmcnie@9rooftops.com

Generative AI streamlines translation of member communications and documents for Medicare Advantage Organizations

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Messagepoint announced today that it has been named a winner for the second consecutive year in the 2025 BIG Innovation Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, in the software category. The Healthcare Touchpoint Exchange, a SaaS solution designed to support Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) in preparing health plan materials, was recognized for its groundbreaking new AI-powered translation capabilities.

“The demand for translated Medicare Advantage materials has surged in the last few years due to regulatory changes and growing recognition of diverse member needs. For years, MAOs have relied on fragmented, expensive and time-consuming translation services for member materials, frequently rushing to meet the stringent deadlines of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” said Sohail Malik, vice president, Healthcare Solutions at Messagepoint. “Messagepoint’s AI-powered translation and translation accuracy checks enable translation of these complex materials faster, more affordably and with greater accuracy than ever before. We’re honored to be recognized by the Business Intelligence Group for this innovation.”

The Healthcare Touchpoint Exchange leverages Messagepoint’s no-code content authoring environment to automate and streamline the preparation of complex, regulated documents—including the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), Evidence of Coverage (EOC) and Summary of Benefits (SB)—as well as other communications, such as pre- and post-enrollment materials and marketing materials.

This award centers on the platform’s innovative AI-powered translation and translation accuracy capabilities, powered by Messagepoint’s proprietary AI engine, MARCIE, which include:

• AI-powered translation into 60+ languages up to 20 times faster than humans
• AI-powered accuracy checks that validate semantic meaning, formatting, variables and named entities are consistent across all language versions of a communication, significantly reducing quality assurance time and preventing translation errors
• Integrated glossaries that align AI translations with corporate and industry-specific terminology

In preparation for the 2025 Annual Enrollment Period, the Healthcare Touchpoint Exchange helped teams reduce translation workloads by 50%, reduce translation costs by over 60% and save thousands of hours in quality assurance.

“Humanity relies on innovation to improve our lives and the planet,” said Russ Fordyce, CEO of the Business Intelligence Group. “We’re thrilled to spotlight Messagepoint as a shining example of innovation making a profound impact globally.”

The 2025 BIG Innovation Awards celebrate organizations and individuals pushing boundaries and advancing their industries. Winners are evaluated by a panel of seasoned business leaders and executives who consider creativity, measurable results and overall impact in their selections.

About Messagepoint

Messagepoint is a leading provider of customer communications management software. Only Messagepoint harnesses AI-powered Content Intelligence to automate and simplify the process of migrating, optimizing, authoring and managing complex customer communications for non-technical (business) users. Customers rely on its award-winning platform to consistently deliver exceptional, highly personalized customer communications across all platforms and channels. For more information, visit www.messagepoint.com.

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

Media Contact:
Patricia Kilgore
Sterling Kilgore
630-567-9379

Caruso instinctually renders AI voice content perfectly—the first time—and is 30% faster on average than previous models.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WellSaid, the industry’s most trusted AI voice platform for businesses, today announced the upcoming launch of its highly anticipated “Caruso” model. As the company’s fastest and most performant model yet, Caruso offers the highest audio quality available in the industry to date, and is set to redefine the way creators work. Coming Q1 2025, Caruso will be available in WellSaid Studio and equipped with new features like AI Director, which leverages patented technology to enable users to adjust emotional intonation and performance just as a human director would in a professional recording studio. Caruso improves first-take capabilities and, unlike competitors, limits the need for re-rendering content. With Caruso, users can expect WellSaid voices to say it right the first time.

“We’re excited to introduce Caruso, with new architecture built from the ground up that’s designed to deliver faster speeds, the highest quality audio in the market, and a more intuitive product to give our business users a competitive edge,” said Brian Cook, CEO of WellSaid. “With these upgrades, users can enjoy AI voices that say it right the first time, drastically reducing the time and effort that goes into re-rendering audio clips, setting us apart from competing platforms. Not only will Caruso help organizations streamline workflows, but it will help them improve their bottom line.”

With the launch of Caruso, customers can expect the following updates:

• Ultra-High Quality and Speed: Caruso sets a new standard for high-fidelity AI voices and studio-quality voice narration with the highest quality audio output in the market to date – ready for any type of prime-time coverage. Additionally, users will see reduced latency, with Caruso rendering audio 30% faster.
• Improved Control with WellSaid’s AI Director: Pitch, pace, and emotional intonation adjustments allow users to precisely instruct each script to get the most engaging performance every time, making AI voice narration feel like working with a real voice actor.
• Improved Pronunciation: Caruso’s intelligent engine, combined with Oxford phonetic spelling data, reduces the need for users to modify or store mispronounced words. Where other AI Voice platforms fail in pronunciation, Caruso eliminates the need for users to spend time tweaking their scripts by saying it right the first time.
• Enterprise Capabilities: Increased team collaboration features allow companies to integrate WellSaid seamlessly into existing workflows. Additionally, in line with the EU AI Act, WellSaid actively employs responsible AI practices that support transparency, consent, and privacy.

The new Caruso model builds on WellSaid’s flagship AI voice platform that optimizes audio content creation for corporate training, advertising and marketing, product and customer education, and more. Unlike competitors, WellSaid’s closed-source platform uses exclusive voice data from professional voice actors who have consented and are compensated for their work. This approach ensures WellSaid customers have commercial usage rights for any voice content they create on the WellSaid platform. WellSaid is trusted by over 50 percent of Fortune 500 brands, including LinkedIn, T-Mobile, ServiceNow, Accenture, and more.

For additional information, please visit wellsaid.io/caruso.

About WellSaid

WellSaid is an advanced AI voice platform. The company’s Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology leverages proprietary AI models, which are trained on exclusive and licensed voice data, to generate natural sounding voice overs. WellSaid’s TTS system can produce unique dialects, accents, and languages to optimize audio content creation for corporate training, advertising, products, experiences, video production, publishing, audiobooks, and more. Built with ethics at its core, WellSaid’s responsible AI platform is trusted by 50 percent of leading Fortune 500 brands including LinkedIn, T-Mobile, ServiceNow, and Accenture. For more information, visit wellsaid.io.

PR
Devan West
wellsaid@bigfishpr.com

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (“Postmedia” or the “Company”) today released financial information for the three months ended November 30, 2024.

“The results of our first quarter signal a positive start to the 2025 fiscal year and demonstrate meaningful progress, with total revenue growing compared to this time last year,” said Andrew MacLeod, Postmedia President and Chief Executive Officer.

“I am particularly encouraged by the trajectory of our advertising revenue stream, which is showing positive year-over-year growth. This, combined with strong performance in our circulation and parcel divisions, reflects the successful execution of our strategic initiatives and the increasing value we deliver to our partners,” said MacLeod. “As we move forward, we remain focused on sustainable growth and operational excellence across all our business segments."

First Quarter Operating Results

Revenue for the quarter was $110.3 million as compared to $104.6 million in the same period in the prior year, representing an increase of $5.7 million (5.4%). The revenue increase was primarily due to increases in advertising revenue of $5.6 million (11.1%), circulation revenue of $3.3 million (10.3%) and parcel revenue of $0.4 million (2.8%), partially offset by decreases in other revenue of $3.6 million (43.8%). Excluding the impact of the Saltwire asset acquisition, advertising revenue for the quarter increased by 1.4%. As such, excluding the impact of any acquisition related activity, advertising revenue has increased in comparison to the same quarter in the prior year for the first time since the third quarter in 2022.

Total operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and restructuring increased $6.1 million, or 6.1%, for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, relative to the same period in the prior year. The increase relates to increases in compensation, distribution and other operating expenses, partially offset by a decrease in newsprint and production expense.

Operating income before depreciation, amortization and restructuring in the quarter was $5.5 million, a decrease of $0.4 million relative to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in operating income before depreciation, amortization and restructuring is due to an increase in operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and restructuring, partially offset by an increase in total revenue. Excluding the impact of the Saltwire asset acquisition, operating income before depreciation, amortization and restructuring in the quarter was $3.1M.

Net loss in the quarter ended November 30, 2024 was $24.5 million, as compared to a net loss of $10.6 million in the same period in the prior year. The increase in net loss was primarily the result of an increase in restructuring expenses, interest expense, loss on disposal of right-of-use assets, foreign currency exchange losses and a decrease in operating income before depreciation, amortization and restructuring, partially offset by a decrease depreciation, amortization, and net financing expense.

Additional Information

Additional information, including financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis can be found on the Company’s website at www.postmedia.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Note: All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

About Postmedia Network Canada Corp.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B) is the holding company that owns Postmedia Network Inc., a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 130 brands across multiple print and digital platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. Our expertise in home delivery and expanding distribution network powers Postmedia Parcel Services. For more information, visit www.postmedia.com, www.postmediasolutions.com and www.postmediaparcelservices.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release may include information that is “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has tried, where possible, to identify such information and statements by using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should” and similar expressions and derivations thereof in connection with any discussion of future events, trends or prospects or future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements with respect the implementation and results of the Company’s transformation initiatives, continued benefits of historical results into future periods, the realization of anticipated cost savings, the identification and undertaking of ongoing cost savings initiatives. By their nature, forward-looking information and statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: competition from digital and other forms of media; the effect of economic conditions on advertising revenue; the ability of the Company to build out its digital media and online businesses; the failure to maintain current print and online newspaper readership and circulation levels; the realization of anticipated cost savings; possible damage to the reputation of the Company’s brands or trademarks; possible labour disruptions; possible environmental liabilities, litigation and pension plan obligations; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and the prices of newsprint and other commodities.

For a complete list of our risk factors please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our annual management’s discussion and analysis for the years ended August 31, 2024 and 2023. Although the Company bases such information and statements on assumptions believed to be reasonable when made, they are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from any such information and statements in this press release. Given these risks and uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of such information or statements. Other than as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update such information or statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such information or statements.

For more information:
Media Contact
Communications
inquiries@postmedia.com

Investor Contact
John Bode
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Transformation Officer
investors@postmedia.com

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