CLEARWATER, Fla. – KOWABUNGA! INC. (NYSE Amex: KOW), a leading provider of performance-based advertising and technology solutions, announced that it will be launching a beta version of the Inuvo Platform on August 10, 2009. This initial launch is a complete re-engineering of the MyAp affiliate marketing solution that currently serves hundreds of advertising customers and thousands of publishers. The company has addressed feature/scale requests from clients and tackled a number of industry challenges that should provide differentiation in the marketplace.
In conjunction with this product launch and effective close of business on July 30, 2009, the company’s name will change to Inuvo, Inc. and the trading symbol for its common stock, which trades on the NYSE Amex, will be INUV. The stock will trade under the new name and symbol on July 31, 2009.
“This product launch signals our renewed focus on innovation in online advertising and is an important step forward for this organization and the industry,” said Richard K. Howe, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our vision for this platform will ultimately include all of the intellectual property acquired through several acquisitions across both the search and affiliate markets. The Inuvo Platform is designed as a framework that ultimately will allow the global development community the opportunity to build around the core, adding interfaces, widgets and applications that will benefit both advertiser and publisher alike.”
In this beta release, advertiser and publisher clients will have access to a self-serve console accessible via the company’s new website, www.inuvo.com, which will also be launched on August 10, 2009. Advertisers will be able to easily manage performance-based marketing campaigns and publishers will benefit from an improved dashboard and reporting environment.
The company’s new CUSIP number will be 46122 W 10 5. There will be no mandatory exchange of stock certificates. Following the name change, the share certificates which reflect the company’s prior name will continue to be valid. Certificates reflecting the new corporate name will be issued in due course as old share certificates are tendered for exchange or transfer to the company’s transfer agent, Colonial Stock Transfer Company, Inc., 66 Exchange Place, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, telephone 801-355-5740.
The company will continue to operate two business segments, Direct and Exchange. The Direct segment will contain all of the company’s direct marketing and lead generation assets. The Exchange segment comprises all the company’s technology, data and analytics which power the online marketplaces the company serves.
“To coincide with these changes and the launch of the Inuvo Platform, we have decided to adopt the Inuvo brand as the flagship for the entire company. Inuvo {in – new – vo} is a play on the words innovate and nouveau, both core to our product and brand philosophy. This brand better reflects our vision to transform the online pay-for-performance marketplace,” said Howe.
About Kowabunga!®, Inc.
Kowabunga is a leading provider of performance-based advertising and technology solutions. The company operates two businesses, a Direct Marketing business and an Advertising Exchange business. For more information, visit www.kowabunga.com.
