No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid Officially Launches in U.S. Market

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — No7, a leader in skincare innovation since 1935, announces the launch of the newest addition to their Laboratories collection, No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid. With chemical peels being one of the top reasons consumers in the U.S. visit a dermatologist, the product serves as a timely alternative for those seeking to replace in-office dermatological treatments at home. The product is a new addition to the No7 Laboratories collection and…

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — No7, a leader in skincare innovation since 1935, announces the launch of the newest addition to their Laboratories collection, No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid. With chemical peels being one of the top reasons consumers in the U.S. visit a dermatologist, the product serves as a timely alternative for those seeking to replace in-office dermatological treatments at home. The product is a new addition to the No7 Laboratories collection and strengthens No7’s commitment to providing advanced skincare formulas that deliver clinically proven results. 

A well-known alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid is a powerful water-soluble exfoliator that breaks down bonds in the outermost dead layer of the skin, lifting away dead surface skin cells and promoting the skin’s natural renewal process for a complexion that is recharged and radiant. In addition to glycolic acid, gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid and key ingredient in this formula, delivers both exfoliating, moisturizing, antioxidant benefits that help to improve user’s tolerance as well as contribute to efficacy.

«Exfoliation is a critical step in any proper skincare routine. I recommend No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid, as it is an easy-to-use, efficacious at-home peel that provides results after just one use,» states Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tess Mauricio.

«For best results, I suggest starting by using the peel once a week and working up to using 3 non-consecutive evenings a week. Apply to clean, dry skin, leave on for 5 minutes and wash away with water or a damp cloth. Follow with a night cream, such as No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck Day Cream SPF 30. I love this one because it includes SPF, which is important to use while incorporating peels into your routine,» she added.

After first use, 81% of women felt dramatically smoother skin1. After one week, 81% saw a healthier looking complexion2. After six weeks, 90% of women who were considering a professional peel treatment said it could now wait3.

Additionally, women noticed the following visible results:

  • Dramatically smoother feeling, baby soft skin.
  • Brightens for a radiant and healthy-looking complexion.
  • Clarifies and refines the appearance of pores.
  • Skin tone looks more even, and the appearance of long-standing marks is reduced.
  • Primes skin to make it the perfect booster to your No7 skincare regimen.

No7 Laboratories Resurfacing Peel 15% Glycolic Acid is available online at US.No7Beauty.com for $39.99.

For more information on No7, please visit https://us.no7beauty.com/.

About No7
Launched in the U.K. in 1935, the No7 brand has been rewriting beauty history for over 85 years, with the aim of helping women look and feel their best every day. The No7 team continues to invest in ground-breaking research and development, responding to the ever-changing needs of its millions of customers every day. From No7‘s range of clinically proven age-defying serums, to the breakthrough No7 Match Made service, No7 customers believe in the power of our products as much as we do.
No7 sits within the Global Brands portfolio of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.

1 Consumer testing on UK women after first use.
2 Consumer testing on UK women after one week.
3 Consumer testing on UK women considering a peel treatment at a clinic after six weeks.

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SOURCE No7

New Music Release: Music Industry Veteran Herb Partlow Takes His Game to the NEXT LEVEL

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Superb Muzic Productions announces a new music release! Composer and multi-instrumentalist Herb Partlow has been a radio personality, producer and artist, manager, recording and mastering engineer. This music industry veteran is excited to release his fifth contemporary jazz project. Herb takes his game to the NEXT LEVEL with the release of this innovative collection of deep grooves and smooth…

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Superb Muzic Productions announces a new music release! Composer and multi-instrumentalist Herb Partlow has been a radio personality, producer and artist, manager, recording and mastering engineer. This music industry veteran is excited to release his fifth contemporary jazz project. Herb takes his game to the NEXT LEVEL with the release of this innovative collection of deep grooves and smooth flows. 

This Charleston, SC native generates jazz for a new generation by merging funk, hip hop and contemporary jazz to create his own distinctive sound. Herb is a creative artist who knows how to harness today’s hottest vibes to compose and produce attention-grabbing music that he releases on his own Superb Muzic label. Sandy Shore (founder of smoothjazz.com) calls it «music for our modern times!» 

PARADIGM SHIFT featuring Ricardo Love and DeLon Charley is the first single from this modern jazz album. On this song Partlow generates a serious buzz with a proprietary blend of funk, hip hop and jazz. Paradigm Shift was recently #1 on the Smoothjazz.com Global Listener Chart. The second radio single from the album is FUNKY JAZZ which features J. L. P. on saxophone, Ricardo Love on guitar, with Partlow playing all of the other instruments.

Playing keyboards, piano, bass, and drums, he lays a dynamic foundation with a groove intensive flow. Ricardo Love (guitar) and saxophonists DeLon Charley, Allen Omenka Webb, and J.L.P. take Partlow’s vision and vibe into the urban jazz fusion stratosphere!

Herb incorporates various elements to create jazz music with a slightly harder edge. Ricardo Love adds some radical guitar licks and co-production to make jazz music you can dance to. This album has some very smooth and jazzy music, but it also knocks with 808 kicks and drum rhythms that will appeal to the younger generation, as well as the traditional smooth jazz consumers. It’s a very «modern» version of jazz music! The NEXT LEVEL album is available on all streaming platforms and online stores.

This is «jazz music for a new generation.»

Media Contact:

Public Relations
Superb Muzic Productions, LLC
t:  510-776-4083
einfo@superbmuzic.com 

Related Images

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Next Level
Album Cover

Related Links

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Amazon

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SOURCE Superb Muzic Productions LLC

Royal Caribbean Group Enters Definitive Agreement to Sell its Azamara Brand to Sycamore Partners

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, retail and distribution investments, in an all-cash carve-out transaction for $201 million, subject to certain adjustments and closing conditions. Sycamore Partners will acquire the entire Azamara brand, including its three-ship…

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, retail and distribution investments, in an all-cash carve-out transaction for $201 million, subject to certain adjustments and closing conditions. Sycamore Partners will acquire the entire Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.

Royal Caribbean Group noted the transaction allows it to focus on expanding its Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea brands.

«Our strategy has evolved into placing more of our resources behind three global brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, and working to grow them as we emerge from this unprecedented period,» said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Group. «Even so, Azamara remains a strong brand with its own tremendous potential for growth, and Sycamore’s track record demonstrates that they will be good stewards of what the Azamara team has built over the past 13 years.»

«We are pleased that Royal Caribbean Group has entrusted Sycamore to support Azamara in its next phase of growth,» said Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners.  «We are excited to partner with the Azamara team and build on their many years of success serving the brand’s loyal customers.  We believe Azamara will remain a top choice for discerning travelers as the cruising industry recovers over time.»

Azamara’s value proposition and operations will remain consistent under the new arrangement, and Royal Caribbean Group will work in close collaboration on a seamless transition for Azamara employees, customers and other stakeholders. In conjunction with the transaction, Azamara Chief Operating Officer Carol Cabezas has been appointed President of the brand.

The transaction will result in a one-time, non-cash impairment charge of approximately $170 million. The sale of Azamara is not expected to have a material impact on Royal Caribbean Group’s future financial results.

Perella Weinberg Partners LP served as financial advisor to Royal Caribbean Group and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provided legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice to Sycamore Partners. 

About Royal Caribbean Group 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), is a cruise vacation company that owns four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity CruisesAzamara and Silversea.  Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of December 21, 2021.  Learn more at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com. 

About Sycamore Partners 
Sycamore Partners is a private equity firm based in New York. The firm specializes in consumer, distribution and retail-related investments and partners with management teams to improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their business. With approximately $10 billion in aggregate committed capital raised since its inception in 2011, Sycamore Partners’ investors include leading endowments, financial institutions, family offices, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. For more information on Sycamore Partners, visit www.sycamorepartners.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release relating to, among other things, our future performance estimates, forecasts and projections constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, but are not limited to: statements regarding revenues, costs and financial results for 2020 and beyond.  Words such as «anticipate,» «believe,» «could,» «driving,» «estimate,» «expect,» «goal,» «intend,» «look into,» «may,» «plan,» «project,» «seek,» «should,» «will,» «would,» «considering», and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements.  Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the following: the impact of the global incidence and spread of COVID-19, which has led to the temporary suspension of our operations and has had and will continue to have a material adverse impact on our business, liquidity and results of operations, or other contagious illnesses on economic conditions and the travel industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our Company in particular, such as: the current and potential additional governmental and self-imposed travel restrictions, the current and potential extension of the suspension of cruises and new additional suspensions, guest cancellations; our ability to obtain sufficient financing, capital or revenues to satisfy liquidity needs, capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs; the effectiveness of the actions we have taken to improve and address our liquidity needs; the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of our business, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; incidents or adverse publicity concerning our ships, port facilities, land destinations and/or passengers or the cruise vacation industry in general; our ability to accurately estimate our monthly cash burn rate during the suspension of our operations; concerns over safety, health and security of guests and crew; any protocols we adopt across our fleet relating to COVID-19such as those recommended by the Healthy Sail Panel, may be costly and less effective than we expect in reducing the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 on our cruise ships; further impairments of our goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable; an inability to source our crew or our provisions and supplies from certain places; the incurrence of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases on our ships and an increase in concern about the risk of illness on our ships or when traveling to or from our ships, all of which reduces demand; unavailability of ports of call; growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns; changes in US foreign travel policy; the uncertainties of conducting business internationally and expanding into new markets and new ventures; our ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel; changes in operating and financing costs; our indebtedness, any additional indebtedness we may incur and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, interest rate and fuel price fluctuations; the settlement of conversions of our convertible notes, if any, in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, which may result in substantial dilution for our existing shareholders; our expectation that we will not declare or pay dividends on our common stock for the near future; vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity; the risks and costs associated with protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and others;  the impact of new or changing legislation and regulations or governmental orders on our business; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; the effects of weather, natural disasters and seasonality on our business; emergency ship repairs, including the related lost revenue; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; the unavailability or cost of air service; and uncertainties of a foreign legal system as we are not incorporated in the United States.

In addition, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently heightened by and will continue to be heightened by, or in the future may be heightened by, the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks.

More information about factors that could affect our operating results is included under the caption «Risk Factors» in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as our other filings with the SEC, and the captions «Risk Factors» and «Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations» in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as updated by our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2020, copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.rclinvestor.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213007/RCG_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

Gotham Book Prize Announces Finalists for Best New York City-based Novel

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Gotham Book Prize, an annual award created to encourage and honor writing about New York City in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, today announced the ten finalists for the first annual winner. A jury made up of leading New Yorkers and…

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Gotham Book Prize, an annual award created to encourage and honor writing about New York City in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, today announced the ten finalists for the first annual winner. A jury made up of leading New Yorkers and authors, including novelist Melissa Rivero and poet Safiya Sinclair, nominated a short list of ten eligible books, including:

  • Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
  • The Index of Self-Destructive Acts by Christopher Beha
  • Kings County by David Goodwillie
  • You Again by Debra Jo Immergut
  • The City We Became by N.K Jasmin
  • The Hard Hat Riot: Nixon, New York City, & the Dawn of the White Working-Class Revolution by David Paul Kuhn
  • Luster by Raven Leilani
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
  • Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld

The Gotham Book Prize was created in July 2020 by Bradley Tusk and Howard Wolfson to support New York City and its arts community by recognizing what makes the city so special as it enters a challenging recovery from Covid-19. The Prize will be awarded annually to the best book published that calendar year (both works of fiction and nonfiction) that either is about New York City or takes place in New York City. Now that the finalists have been chosen, the jury will vote on one winner and the first prize will be awarded in March of 2021. The winner will receive $50,000.

«We created the Gotham Book Prize last summer for two reasons: we thought the best book either set in NYC or about NYC each year should be recognized and rewarded; and in a time of struggle, preserving NYC’s mystique in literature – books that make smart, ambitious people from all over the world want to live in NYC – is more important than ever,»  said Howard Wolfson and Bradley Tusk in a statement. «This is an incredible list and speaks to the imagination of all creative, smart and talented people our city attracts.»

The jury of leading New Yorkers and leading authors includes:

  • Writer, entrepreneur and sociologist Anna Akbari
  • Documentarian and filmmaker Ric Burns
  • Novelist and memoirist Stephanie Danler
  • Fordham professor and political scientist Dr. Christina Greer
  • Writer, poet and Director of the Curator Culture series at The Bass Museum Tom Healy
  • NYU Professor and Director of the Rudin Center for Transportation Mitchell Moss
  • American University professor and novelist Patricia Park
  • Novelist Melissa Rivero
  • Poet Safiya Sinclair
  • Queens Public Library CEO and former NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott

Wolfson works for Bloomberg Philanthropies, serving as its Education program lead and also runs Mike Bloomberg’s SuperPAC. Tusk is a venture capitalist, political strategist, writer and philanthropist. The two became friends while working on Bloomberg’s 2009 re-election campaign.

The winner will be named in April 2021. For more information, please visit gothambookprize.org.

Contact: Rachel Livingston, rachel@tuskstrategies.com

 

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SOURCE Gotham Book Prize

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Awards Contract to CHZ Technologies

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CHZ Technologies, LLC was awarded a contract «Waste to Energy» from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contract’s objective is to provide evidence that the Thermolyzer™ technology, a non-incineration process, can recycle each of the five different complex…

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CHZ Technologies, LLC was awarded a contract «Waste to Energy» from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contract’s objective is to provide evidence that the Thermolyzer™ technology, a non-incineration process, can recycle each of the five different complex feedstock mixes efficiently and economically and generate electricity with feedstock input of 4 (or 10) tons/day.

«We are grateful for this opportunity to illustrate how the technology performs using feedstock that is reflective of what is sent to landfills every day across the nation,» said Ernest Zavoral, CEO of CHZ Technologies, LLC. «The technology essentially recycles almost all of the waste into beneficial recycled saleable products. The technology is a waste industry disruptor,» he explained.

An additional benefit of the Thermolyzer technology is that it will economically recycle byproducts of aluminum, steel, non-ferrous materials and glass that can be sold for profit. To meet this objective as the proposal states, 14 tests must be done on the five different waste mixtures. These results must show that the Thermolyzer technology can:

  1. operate economically at a rate of no more than 10 tons/day of Mixed Solid Wastes,
  2. recycle  a variety of mixed waste that include plastics #1-7, metals, organics, and both wet and dry waste, and
  3. produce useable output energy safely and meet environmental permitting at any location.

About CHZ Technologies:
CHZ Technologies, LLC, based in Austintown, Ohio, was established in 2014 with the purpose of creating an innovative, unique multistage thermal process through its patented Thermolyzer™ technology. Thermolyzer converts all hydrocarbon-containing materials into an renewable ultra-clean synthesis gas and a clean, salable byproducts. The renewable syngas can be used to generate electricity or steam heat in appropriately designed gas turbines, internal combustion engines and boilers.

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SOURCE CHZ Technologies LLC

«Miss Virginia» Movie Screening and Q&A to Celebrate School Choice Virtually

FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kentucky families statewide will meet up virtually to celebrate educational freedom and school choice with a Netflix viewing party of «Miss Virginia.» On Sunday, Jan. 24, tune in from the comfort of your home to enjoy this powerful feature film and an exclusive Q&A with the woman whose true story inspired the movie.

The movie viewing will begin at <span…

FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kentucky families statewide will meet up virtually to celebrate educational freedom and school choice with a Netflix viewing party of «Miss Virginia.» On Sunday, Jan. 24, tune in from the comfort of your home to enjoy this powerful feature film and an exclusive Q&A with the woman whose true story inspired the movie.

The movie viewing will begin at 6 pm EST. The Q&A with school choice heroine Virginia Walden Ford will take place over Zoom at 8 pm EST and will be led by Dr. Gary Houchens, professor of educational administration, leadership, and research at Western Kentucky University.

Whether families are looking for a new school for the 2021-2022 year or love their current school, the movie screening will offer shareable information and encouragement. Families can  register for the free event here.

The event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2021, which will feature more than 33,000 celebrations across all 50 states.

«We are excited to bring families from across the state together for a live online screening of ‘Miss Virginia’ in celebration of National School Choice Week,» said Dr. Houchens. «I am looking forward to leading a conversation with Virginia Walden Ford after the screening about the importance of school choice and sharing it with all Kentucky families.»

This event is hosted by EdChoice Kentucky, an organization educating the Commonwealth on the benefits of educational choice policies.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities –– such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases –– to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

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SOURCE National School Choice Week

Royal Caribbean Group Enters Definitive Agreement to Sell its Azamara Brand to Sycamore Partners

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, retail and distribution investments, in an all-cash carve-out transaction for $201 million, subject to certain adjustments and closing conditions. Sycamore Partners will acquire the entire Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet and…

MIAMI, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Azamara brand to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, retail and distribution investments, in an all-cash carve-out transaction for $201 million, subject to certain adjustments and closing conditions. Sycamore Partners will acquire the entire Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. 

Royal Caribbean Group noted the transaction allows it to focus on expanding its Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea brands.

«Our strategy has evolved into placing more of our resources behind three global brands, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, and working to grow them as we emerge from this unprecedented period,» said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Caribbean Group. «Even so, Azamara remains a strong brand with its own tremendous potential for growth, and Sycamore’s track record demonstrates that they will be good stewards of what the Azamara team has built over the past 13 years.»

«We are pleased that Royal Caribbean Group has entrusted Sycamore to support Azamara in its next phase of growth,» said Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners.  «We are excited to partner with the Azamara team and build on their many years of success serving the brand’s loyal customers.  We believe Azamara will remain a top choice for discerning travelers as the cruising industry recovers over time.»

Azamara’s value proposition and operations will remain consistent under the new arrangement, and Royal Caribbean Group will work in close collaboration on a seamless transition for Azamara employees, customers and other stakeholders. In conjunction with the transaction, Azamara Chief Operating Officer Carol Cabezas has been appointed President of the brand.

The transaction will result in a one-time, non-cash impairment charge of approximately $170 million. The sale of Azamara is not expected to have a material impact on Royal Caribbean Group’s future financial results.

Perella Weinberg Partners LP served as financial advisor to Royal Caribbean Group and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provided legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice to Sycamore Partners. 

About Royal Caribbean Group 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), is a cruise vacation company that owns four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity CruisesAzamara and Silversea.  Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of December 21, 2021.  Learn more at www.rclcorporate.com or www.rclinvestor.com. 

About Sycamore Partners 
Sycamore Partners is a private equity firm based in New York. The firm specializes in consumer, distribution and retail-related investments and partners with management teams to improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their business. With approximately $10 billion in aggregate committed capital raised since its inception in 2011, Sycamore Partners’ investors include leading endowments, financial institutions, family offices, pension plans and sovereign wealth funds. For more information on Sycamore Partners, visit www.sycamorepartners.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release relating to, among other things, our future performance estimates, forecasts and projections constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, but are not limited to: statements regarding revenues, costs and financial results for 2020 and beyond.  Words such as «anticipate,» «believe,» «could,» «driving,» «estimate,» «expect,» «goal,» «intend,» «look into,» «may,» «plan,» «project,» «seek,» «should,» «will,» «would,» «considering», and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements.  Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the following: the impact of the global incidence and spread of COVID-19, which has led to the temporary suspension of our operations and has had and will continue to have a material adverse impact on our business, liquidity and results of operations, or other contagious illnesses on economic conditions and the travel industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our Company in particular, such as: the current and potential additional governmental and self-imposed travel restrictions, the current and potential extension of the suspension of cruises and new additional suspensions, guest cancellations; our ability to obtain sufficient financing, capital or revenues to satisfy liquidity needs, capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs; the effectiveness of the actions we have taken to improve and address our liquidity needs; the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of our business, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; incidents or adverse publicity concerning our ships, port facilities, land destinations and/or passengers or the cruise vacation industry in general; our ability to accurately estimate our monthly cash burn rate during the suspension of our operations; concerns over safety, health and security of guests and crew; any protocols we adopt across our fleet relating to COVID-19such as those recommended by the Healthy Sail Panel, may be costly and less effective than we expect in reducing the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 on our cruise ships; further impairments of our goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable; an inability to source our crew or our provisions and supplies from certain places; the incurrence of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases on our ships and an increase in concern about the risk of illness on our ships or when traveling to or from our ships, all of which reduces demand; unavailability of ports of call; growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns; changes in US foreign travel policy; the uncertainties of conducting business internationally and expanding into new markets and new ventures; our ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel; changes in operating and financing costs; our indebtedness, any additional indebtedness we may incur and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, interest rate and fuel price fluctuations; the settlement of conversions of our convertible notes, if any, in shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, which may result in substantial dilution for our existing shareholders; our expectation that we will not declare or pay dividends on our common stock for the near future; vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity; the risks and costs associated with protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and others;  the impact of new or changing legislation and regulations or governmental orders on our business; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; the effects of weather, natural disasters and seasonality on our business; emergency ship repairs, including the related lost revenue; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; the unavailability or cost of air service; and uncertainties of a foreign legal system as we are not incorporated in the United States.

In addition, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently heightened by and will continue to be heightened by, or in the future may be heightened by, the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks.

More information about factors that could affect our operating results is included under the caption «Risk Factors» in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as our other filings with the SEC, and the captions «Risk Factors» and «Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations» in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as updated by our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2020, copies of which may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.rclinvestor.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

Athletic Republic Coming to Boca Raton

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Athletes in Boca Raton and surrounding communities will soon have access to science-based training proven to increase speed, power, agility, and stamina. Athletic Republic, the leading sports performance training franchise, is opening in Boca Raton in early spring of 2021 to give athletes of all ages a better way to train and achieve their athletic goals.

The new facility will…

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Athletes in Boca Raton and surrounding communities will soon have access to science-based training proven to increase speed, power, agility, and stamina. Athletic Republic, the leading sports performance training franchise, is opening in Boca Raton in early spring of 2021 to give athletes of all ages a better way to train and achieve their athletic goals.

The new facility will draw on Athletic Republic’s three decades of experience in  sports performance training. Scholastic athletes can prepare for their next competitive season with Acceleration Training, which can be tailored to meet the needs of specific sports. Adults can take advantage of the AR-FIT program to stay in shape, get stronger, and move better; older clients can stay vital and active with classes designed to build strength, stability, and balance.

Athletic Republic Boca Raton will be located at 3013 W. Yamato Road Suite B-14 in the Woodfield Plaza. The 5000-square foot facility will feature specialized equipment, a roomy turf area, and a juice bar. The small-group classes will be run by certified trainers who implement training programs designed to address the specific needs of individual athletes; local coaches can also take advantage of team training programs. The facility is convenient to a number of schools in the area.

Athletic Republic Boca Raton is owned and operated by Jeff and Julie Cohen, who have a combined 30 years of experience as small business owners in the area, including in sporting goods. Through their experience raising highly successful hockey and lacrosse athletes, they saw first-hand the value of proper training and the impact it has on sports performance. It inspired them to dedicate themselves to helping athletes of all ages meet and exceed their fitness and training goals.

«As parents, we obtained a unique view to understanding the needs of young student athletes looking to build a foundation in their sport,» according to the Cohens. «We are looking forward to further serving the needs of the Boca Raton and Delray beach communities by creating a safe but challenging environment for athletes to perform at their best.»

For more information, please visit https://bocaraton.athleticrepublic.com.

About Athletic Republic
Athletic Republic is the leading sports performance training franchisor. It is the premier destination for individualized, sport-specific training for athletes of all ages and abilities. For information, visit www.athleticrepublic.com.

Media Contact:
Julie Cohen
(561) 866-4019
289478@email4pr.com 

 

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SOURCE Athletic Republic

FASTSIGNS® Ranked #1 In Category on Annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500 List for Fifth Consecutive Year

CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s…

CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® for the fifth consecutive year. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks FASTSIGNS as #44 overall — the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100 — for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

«We are incredibly proud to once again be the #1 franchise opportunity in the sign, graphics, and visual communications sector. After such an unprecedented year with so much uncertainty, our business model continued to show its resiliency and FASTSIGNS emerged strong and poised for growth in 2021,» said Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. «This recognition is proof of our outstanding international network of franchisees and their commitment to serving their communities as well as our exceptional franchise support team that worked around the clock to help the system succeed.»

Fastsigns Holdings Inc., parent company of FASTSIGNS, reported a strong year of growth amid the pandemic, most notably making its first acquisition with the addition of NerdsToGo, an emerging IT services brand, to its portfolio. Additionally, FASTSIGNS signed 31 franchise agreements to develop new, co-branded, and conversion centers worldwide and the opening of 30 locations, including the brand’s first center in the Dominican Republic. Much of FASTSIGNS’ success in 2020 can be credited to centers being deemed essential businesses, allowing franchisees to pivot their services to focus on what matters most — serving their customers.

This year, Fastsigns Holdings Inc. aims to sell 30 NerdsToGo franchises nationwide as part of its plans to grow the brand’s presence in new and existing markets. FASTSIGNS is aiming to sign at least 35 franchise agreements across the U.S. in markets such as Southern California, the Midwest, New England, and along the Northeast Corridor. FASTSIGNS is particularly focusing on its co-brand and conversion programs, which helps existing business owners add a FASTSIGNS to their store or fully convert their business to a FASTSIGNS franchise. FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more, diversify their product lines and services to meet the growing demand for signs, graphics, and visual communications. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee.

«I spent over 30 years as the owner of an independent sign shop before converting my business into a FASTSIGNS franchise in 2016,» said Jeffrey Chudoff, a FASTSIGNS franchisee in Maple Shade, New Jersey. «I could not imagine what it would have been like to operate during the pandemic without the support of FASTSIGNS and our network of franchisees. While so many small businesses struggled or closed their doors permanently, we exceeded $1 million in revenue for the first time. I was truly in business for myself, but not by myself.»

FASTSIGNS is known in the industry for equipping its franchisees with tools vital to securing the ongoing success of each individual location. In addition to the brand’s online FASTSIGNS University, FASTSIGNS partners with 1HUDDLE, a workforce-training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity.

FASTSIGNS also offers a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee — a savings of $24,875.

FASTSIGNS is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity. In 2020, Entrepreneur magazine named FASTSIGNS a Top Growth Franchise and one of the Top Franchises for Veterans. Additionally, FASTSIGNS was ranked on Franchise Times’ annual Top 200+ list, Franchise Gator recognized the brand as one of its Top 100 Franchises of 2020, Franchise Direct named FASTSIGNS one of the Top 100 Global Franchises, and Franchise Business Review named FASTSIGNS one of its Top Franchises for Second Careers and Top Franchises for Veterans. In 2019, the brand was named to America’s Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine. Franchise Business Review has also recognized FASTSIGNS as one of the «Best of the Best» for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years, as well as one of its Top 50 Franchises for Women and Top Service Franchises lists in 2019. FASTSIGNS has also received the Canadian Franchise Association Franchisees’ Choice for eight consecutive years.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679).

About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 740 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in 8 countries including the United States and Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, the United Arab Emirates, Malta and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive signage and graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, promote their products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touchpoints. 

In 2020, Fastsigns Holdings Inc. acquired GTN CAPITAL GROUP, LLC the parent company of NerdsToGo, an emerging IT services franchise brand. Learn more about sign and graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns, Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or call 214.346.5679).

Contact:
Chelsea Bear
Fish Consulting
954-893-9150
cbear@fish-consulting.com 

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SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.

New Heart Disease Book, ‘Life 2.0’ by Kevin Kirksey Offers Inspiration for Better Living

DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Life 2.0: A Journey from Near Death to New Life by Kevin Kirksey shares the emotional story of Kirksey’s near-death experience, having had no prior signs, symptoms, or warnings of being in trouble, and the…

DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Life 2.0: A Journey from Near Death to New Life by Kevin Kirksey shares the emotional story of Kirksey’s near-death experience, having had no prior signs, symptoms, or warnings of being in trouble, and the lessons he learned upon his survival. Life 2.0 aims to save and extend others’ lives while providing individuals with a new perspective on life and a deeper appreciation of the little things that can profoundly change the course of one’s life.

After asking his doctor a simple question, which later proves to save Kirksey’s life, he takes a simple test which showed that he was at extremely high risk of a near term highly probable fatal cardiac event or stroke. Kevin Kirksey immediately came face to face with his mortality, accepting the reality that severe cardiac disease threatened to take his life in the immediate short term. Following open-heart surgery, due to his observations of many little things that were done for him, he began down a road of profound physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation. Life 2.0: A Journey from Near Death to New Life follows Kirksey’s experiences during this trying time, encouraging motivated individuals to examine their own lives as well.

Life 2.0 examines Kirksey’s journey through recovery and beyond, touching on how caregivers’ selflessness inspired him to consider living a different life, one he never imagined possible. Through this candid, heartwarming story, Life 2.0: A Journey from Near Death to New Life will serve as an inspiration for healthcare workers, patients, and their families, as well as anyone who has found themselves amid a life-changing experience. Kevin Kirksey hopes that his story will remind men and women of the virtues in life that truly make it worth living.

Praise for Kevin Kirksey and «Life 2.0 – A Journey From Near Death to New Life»

«Life 2.0 is an incredible account of one man’s stark recognition of his mortality and the beautiful path to health and the new life he experiences. Not since Steven Levine’s «A Year to Live» have I read a more moving account of how a brush with death can be a lesson to live more fully. Kevin shows us the preciousness of life that we sometimes take for granted and how to continue this amazing journey of life with a newfound faith and love for those we encounter.»

—  Michael Conley, San Francisco, California

«Life 2.0 is a call to move forward with our lives, bringing the best of our past with hope for the future and humanity. Mr. Kirksey came to his Life 2.0 through a life-altering illness and long rehabilitation. Still, he notes that all of us can access Life 2,0 by examining our hearts and asking ourselves those all-important questions regarding our purpose on Earth and what matters most. It is an important work that challenges the reader to live a richer, more meaningful life.»

—  Dr. Kimberly Townsend, Syracuse, NY

«Kevin’s story is a true inspiration and brought me to tears at points. What he’s gone through some would call luck, others would call a miracle. Regardless of what you would call it one thing is certain: it’s a pretty incredible story. When it’s all over, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be rethinking your health and planning your own v.2.0.»

Tim Bryant, Eaton Rapids, Michigan

If you would like more information about this topic or schedule an interview with Kevin Kirksey, please call Kevin Kirksey at 972.400.2186.

About Kevin Kirksey:
Kevin Kirksey has lived and documented his story of profound transformation to living Life 2.0. His journey, including the unusual set of circumstances that led to his extended and enhanced life, has been shared with many through writing, speaking, print media, internet, and television. Kevin works with healthcare organizations, Medical Schools, and the American Heart Association to raise awareness of cardiac disease so that lives can be saved, restored, extended, and enhanced. Kevin and his family reside in Dallas, TX. To learn more about Kevin, his book, his speaking, and what others say about his journey, visit (www.kevinkirkseyauthor.com)

More About This Title:
Life 2.0: A Journey from Near Death to New Life by Kevin Kirksey, also appearing in Publisher’s Weekly Hot Releases – December 2020, will be released by Morgan James Publishing on January 19, 2021. Life 2.0—ISBN 9781631950469—has 238 pages and is being sold as a trade paperback for $16.95. To order from Amazon use https://amzn.to/3hv89tL

About Morgan James Publishing:
Morgan James publishes trade quality titles designed to educate, encourage, inspire, or entertain readers with current, consistent, relevant topics that are available everywhere books are sold. (www.MorganJamesPublishing.com)

MEDIA CONTACT:                                                     
Kevin Kirksey
972.400.2186
289463@email4pr.com 

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SOURCE Kevin Kirksey