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Recent News: Connecting the C-Suite to the Street


Recent News: New Comprehensive Suite of Website Services


Recent News: HTV Media Group Selects InVisionIR

InVisionIR is a New York-based advisory and consulting firm that specializes in helping public, privately held and pre-IPO companies create and maximize value by building and strengthening relationships with major institutional investors, retail & high-net worth investors and leading analysts worldwide.

With offices throughout the country including New York, Miami / Ft. Lauderdale, Denver and Santa Monica, we provide strategic counsel to corporate executives, including assisting in raising equity and/or debt through extensive relationships, and manage a high-quality network of professionals to help companies differentiate and better position themselves with the investment community.

Founded and directed by Andrew G. Backman, a 20-plus year industry veteran and proven Investor Relations and communications executive and supported by a team of seasoned, well-respected industry veterans, InVisionIR tailors Investor Relations and Communications programs for maximum impact.

Andy spent the first 15 years of his career in telecom, first at AT&T Corporation and Lucent Technologies, where he served in various finance, accounting and investor relations positions specializing in international business, including mergers and acquisitions, and managed several strategic financial transactions in Tokyo Japan, Taipei and Singapore. Andy was responsible for developing and implementing Lucent's individual and retail shareholder-marketing program, a program that was and still is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful investor relations programs in the industry.

After Lucent, Andy joined Corvis Corporation and led their historic Initial Public Offering in July 2000, just prior to the ultimate burst of the telecom bubble. Under his direction as Vice President of Investor Relations and Public Relations, Corvis became Broadwing Communications as a result of Corvis' acquisition of Broadwing in 2003. The Corvis Investor Relations program was nominated by Investor Relations Magazine for "The Best Investor Relations Program for an Initial Public Offering."

In late 2004, Andy changed industries and joined iStar Financial, one of the premier commercial real estate finance companies in the United States where he served as iStar's Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Marketing until founding InVisionIR. In addition to managing all the company's investor relations, marketing and advertising initiatives, Andy served as the company's sole spokesperson to the financial media and general press and was integrally involved in all capital markets and restructuring initiatives for the company.

Andy received his B.A. from Boston College in economics in 1990 and graduated at the top of his class in Lucent's Technologies prestigious Executive Financial Leadership Program. He is a member of NIRI's Senior Leadership Roundtable.

InVisionIR manages a high-quality network of multi-disciplined professionals to help client companies' better position and differentiate themselves within the investment community

Our network has been carefully chosen for its capabilities and track record and include experts in investment banking, legal, public accounting, corporate governance, proxy solicitation, securities transfer agencies, annual report development, marketing and social media.

We have personally worked with the professionals in each of the various disciplines within the InVisionIR Network and have hands-on experience in developing and executing initiatives in every area of expertise.

Guided by its client's goals and strategy, and managed by InVisionIR, the InVisionIR Network has the capabilities to address any aspect of your investor relations program.


InVisionIR Selected as Investor Relations and Strategic Advisor For Legendary Music Producer Ric Wake’s HTV Media Group
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InVisionIR Launches New Suite of Website Services to Maximize the Value of M&A and Corporate Transactions
read more



InVisionIR's Comprehensive Approach to Launching a Public Company - Connecting the C-Suite to the Street
read more

Increasing market scrutiny is the new reality. It will only intensify over time.

In a world where companies must fight to differentiate themselves and capture Wall Street's focus, analysts and investors expect an Investor Relations team that thoroughly understands your business; a pre-requisite to helping them effectively do their job.

The InVisionIR team knows that no two companies are alike. Our team works with each client to create strategic and credible programs that communicate the unique value proposition that each company brings to its marketplace.

We listen to our clients and work with them to develop robust and impactful programs, ensuring the proper information is being communicated in a timely and most effective manner.

Perhaps you are looking to attract new capital investment or simply broaden or improve company awareness -- we have created programs to do just that. We take the time to learn your business, your company, your people and support them every step of the way. Our team is tireless in the pursuit of providing unparalleled client service and we excel at creating long-term, individualized client programs for maximum impact.

Led by the senior executive team of Andrew G. Backman and Douglas C. Dean, InVisionIR offers clients more than 40 years of Corporate and Investor Relations experience and expertise.

Since collaborating at AT&T and Lucent Technologies, both seasoned and well-respected professionals have been on the front lines during the market's volatile movements and historic events of the past two decades.

Andrew G. Backman
Chief Executive Officer

Andy spent the first 15 years of his career in telecom, first at AT&T Corporation and Lucent Technologies, where he served in various finance, accounting and investor relations positions specializing in international business, including mergers and acquisitions, and managed several strategic financial transactions in Tokyo Japan, Taipei and Singapore. Andy was responsible for developing and implementing Lucent's individual and retail shareholder-marketing program, a program that was and still is recognized as one of the most innovative and successful investor relations programs in the industry.

After Lucent, Andy joined Corvis Corporation and led their historic Initial Public Offering in July 2000, just prior to the ultimate burst of the telecom bubble. Under his direction as Vice President of Investor Relations and Public Relations, Corvis became Broadwing Communications as a result of Corvis' acquisition of Broadwing in 2003. Investor Relations Magazine nominated the Corvis Investor Relations program for "The Best Investor Relations Program for an Initial Public Offering."

In late 2004, Andy changed industries and joined iStar Financial, one of the premier commercial real estate finance companies in the United States where he served as iStar's Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Marketing until founding InVisionIR. In addition to managing all of the company's investor relations, marketing and advertising initiatives, Andy served as the company's sole spokesperson to the financial media and general press and was integrally involved in all capital markets and restructuring initiatives for the company.

Andy received his B.A. from Boston College in Economics in 1990 and graduated at the top of his class in Lucent's Technologies prestigious Executive Financial Leadership Program. He is a member of NIRI's Senior Leadership Roundtable.

Douglas C. Dean
Executive Vice President

Doug has led a variety of engagements including IPO and start-up activities, as well as the re-fresh of Investor Relations programs for established companies within the telecom, optics and aerospace industries. His experience is global with many targeted initiatives in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Before joining InVisionIR, Doug was the Vice President of Investor Relations for Opnext, a leading designer and manufacturer of fiber optic components, and led the company's Investor Relations organization through its 2007 initial public offering and beyond.

Prior to Opnext, Doug held positions as the head of Corporate Communications for B/E Aerospace, Vice President of Investor Relations for ECI Telecom, and Managing Director of Investor Relations for Lucent Technologies and AT&T Corporation.

Over his extensive Investor Relations career, Doug has built the long-term relationships with analysts, investors and the financial media that are critical to successful investor relations programs. His Street insights are fundamental in shaping executive counsel and driving Corporate positioning and messaging. Doug has the proven ability to broaden analyst coverage and increase investor base.

Doug has an MBA from the University of Chicago with an extensive financial, analytical and engineering background.

Maura Schafer
Senior Vice President – Marketing Communications

As a 20-year marketing industry veteran, Maura has created and implemented innovative and successful marketing communications programs in numerous industries.

Through her vast experience and key relationships developed during her two-plus decades in the industry, Maura's programs have accomplished key corporate objectives including attracting and retaining clients, building or repairing corporate image and brand. While at Fremont Investment & Loan, Maura led the bank's High-Quality Borrower Campaign, a combination of advertising, public relations and special events that helped facilitate Fremont's then growth objective to become the nation's leading commercial real estate construction lender. In 2007, when Fremont divested its Commercial Real Estate Lending Division, the business unit's distinctive reputation and brand help contribute to a successful sale to iStar Financial.

While working with national and international architecture firms including Perkowitz + Ruth Architects, Maura designed marketing communications programs that directly contributed to raising corporate profiles, as well as capturing incremental and higher-quality design commissions for each company.

Early in her career, Maura worked in the corporate and investor relations division in Grey Advertising's GCI Group based in Los Angeles. The varied client list and excellence of execution provided a solid basis for her continued extraordinary program development and client service focus.

Maura is a member of the Urban Land Institute's Los Angeles (ULI-LA's) Communications Committee. She is a board member of Stepping UP, an Orange County-based organization that provides support services, tutoring and college scholarships for children living in low-income housing projects.

Maura holds a Master of Arts degree in public communications from Fordham University and a bachelor of arts degree in European studies from Loyola Marymount University.

Joel Springer
Senior Vice President – Marketing Design, Development and Implementation

Joel has over a decade of experience in design, marketing and product architecture. He has worked for companies ranging from startup ventures to Fortune 500 companies including American Express, TransUnion, Fremont Investment & Loan, and iStar Financial, where his role included brand design, brand management, promotion, user interface design, and usability testing. His expertise in creating impactful brands and user-centered web applications played a key role in the companies' successes.

InVisionIR's Comprehensive Approach to Launching a Public Company - Connecting the C-Suite to the Street

If you are contemplating an Initial Public Offering within the next year, you will benefit from a comprehensive IPO Advisory Service now available from InVisionIR.

Based upon over 40 years of Corporate and Investor Relations experience, we believe an Initial Public Offering not an event. It's a process. A process that begins long before the first day of trading and continues long after the company goes public.

The IPO is Not an Event... It's A Process

InVisionIR professionals have helped lead and manage some of the most successful and high-profile Initial Public Offerings in history and have the experience and expertise to help any company through the IPO maze.

We have the proven track record and unique capabilities to execute and support all critical initiatives required during the IPO process. From the underwriter, stock exchange and transfer agent selection process, to message development and investor targeting, InVisionIR knows what needs to be done to support a successful IPO. We will work closely with your company and all constituents to properly prepare for day one trading and beyond. And we will tailor your investor relations communications for maximum impact and will help you create a strategic, credible long-term investor relations program.

Your Long-Term Partner for Successful Communication to the Street

Click here for more information on how InVisionIR can help your company or call us directly at 845-271-3393.




InVisionIR Launches New Suite of Website Services to Maximize the Value of M&A and Corporate Transactions

New York – June 3, 2012 – InVisionIR today announced that it has launched a new comprehensive suite of website services designed to maximize the effectiveness of Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate transactions that require quick turnaround and typically lead to unprecedented traffic demands.

The new services further enhance InVisionIR’s existing website design and development capabilities and seamlessly integrates into any company’s existing website and social media program. The new suite of website services include:

  • Website Development and Support for Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate transactions in 48 hours or less.
  • Web and Video Hosting to manage the unprecedented traffic demand of M&A and Corporate transactions.
  • Performance Monitoring to detect web traffic patterns, produce business intelligence and evaluate reach and effectiveness of web initiatives.
  • Social Media Monitoring and Reporting of all major social networks to gauge hour-by-hour changes in perceptions of corporate initiatives.
  • 24 / 7 Staffing Capabilities for high-intensity engagements that require quick turn around.

“Under the pressure of time, a site that is poorly designed and not built to handle unanticipated traffic volume will do more to hurt your business than to help it,” said Andrew G. Backman, chief executive officer of InVisionIR. “Our new suite of website services is based on a proven process designed to deliver the desired results from the outset.”

InVisionIR CEO to Speak at NIRI 2012 Annual Conference

Mr. Backman will moderate a panel discussion at NIRI’s 2012 Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington on Monday, June 4 at 4:15 pm PDT, entitled “Developing a Strategic Approach to Investor Relations.” This session will cover Investor Relations best practices on topics pertaining to effectively positioning and differentiating a company as an investment. Discussion topics will include engaging the buy-side, targeting, the importance of the sell-side, communication platforms, guidance practices and technology.

About InVisionIR

InVisionIR is a New York-based advisory and consulting firm that specializes in helping public, privately held and pre-IPO companies create and maximize value by building and strengthening relationships with major institutional investors, retail & high-net worth investors and leading analysts worldwide. InVisionIR provides strategic counsel to corporate executives, including assisting in raising equity and/or debt through extensive relationships, and manages a high-quality network of professionals to help companies differentiate and better position themselves with the investment community. For more information, visit www.invisionir.com and join us on LinkedIn.

InVisionIR Selected as Investor Relations and Strategic Advisor For Legendary Music Producer Ric Wake’s HTV Media Group

New York – June 3, 2012 – InVisionIR today announced that it has been selected to provide Investor Relations and Strategic Advisory Services to HTV Media Group LLC, an innovative producer of live, on-demand original media and entertainment content.

HTV Media Group’s (HTMG) flagship brand, HOLLYWOOD.TV, is a leading provider of celebrity media content, offering customized news feeds to major networks and news agencies around the world. HTMG’s chief executive officer is Academy Award and Grammy winning producer and composer, Ric Wake. Mr. Wake has produced music for some of the world's most renowned artists including Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Trisha Yearwood, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony and Anastasia. Under Mr. Wake’s direction, HTMG is quickly positioning itself to take advantage of the continued and monumental shift in demand for online and mobile video programming. HTMG’s state-of-the-art platform allows for the launch and distribution of original online programming through mobile devices or other internet-enabled devices, and its streamlined content production processes are able to produce network TV quality programming with higher efficiency and lower cost.

“We’re honored to work with Ric and his team to further develop and execute their strategic business plan utilizing the power of the InVisionIR network,” said Andrew G. Backman, chief executive officer of InVisionIR. “HOLLYWOOD.TV is a great idea, in a great market and we will leverage our diverse experience and capabilities to help set the stage for opening the door to the investment community.”

“We look forward to Andy and his team’s expertise and counsel as they help position us with the investment community and develop a strategic investor relations program based on a comprehensive understanding of our business, our market and our significant opportunities,” said Ric Wake, chief executive officer of HTV Media Group.

InVisionIR will help HTMG build on the foundation of its well-known HOLLYWOOD.TV brand, its deep industry insights, and its extensive network. HOLLYWOOD.TV is a major celebrity content provider to Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Access Hollywood, EXTRA, E!, TMZ, Perez Hilton and numerous other television and online broadcasters.

"We use HOLLYWOOD.TV's footage daily on The Insider and ET," said Linda Bell Blue, Emmy Award-winning producer and executive producer of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider.

With a library of over 25,000 high-definition celebrity videos archived, HOLLYWOOD.TV has the largest and most compelling collection of celebrity footage and is generating revenue with over 20 global customers directly and through distribution partnerships including its recent content distribution partnership with Reuters. Since its launch, HOLLYWOOD.TV’s footage has been seen by over 3 billion viewers in 150 countries worldwide and is the third most viewed YouTube reporters channel with over 380 million views.

“I love HOLLYWOOD.TV,” said Kim Kardashian. “I have known them and worked closely with them since the beginning of my career.”

“HOLLYWOOD.TV is a marketing powerhouse with the deepest network of industry connections to successfully market and brand any venture,” said Mallika Sherawat. “We've partnered with them on several projects and the results were over the top.”

About InVisionIR

InVisionIR is a New York-based advisory and consulting firm that specializes in helping public, privately held and pre-IPO companies create and maximize value by building and strengthening relationships with major institutional investors, retail & high-net worth investors and leading analysts worldwide. InVisionIR provides strategic counsel to corporate executives, including assisting in raising equity and/or debt through extensive relationships, and manages a high-quality network of professionals to help companies differentiate and better position themselves with the investment community. For more information, visit www.invisionir.com and join us on LinkedIn.