LIVONIA, Mich., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Valassis (NYSE: VCI), a leader in intelligent media delivery, announced today that it made this year's InformationWeek 500 -- a list of the top technology innovators in the United States. This is the fourth consecutive year Valassis has been named to this prestigious list, ranking in the top half on the 2013 list.

The company was recognized for how it innovates with technology to:

  • make business processes more efficient;
  • get better business intelligence to more associates; and
  • engage clients in new ways and with speed and urgency.

"I continually challenge our information technology team to think and act differently in today's rapidly changing world, embracing new technologies and solutions and ways to drive the greatest success for our clients," said Steve Carrington, Valassis Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Among the programs initiated in 2012 that further demonstrate how Valassis uses technology to drive its business is Media Express, a self-serve targeting capability, used by its sales team as well as its clients. A company known for its precise targeting utilizing an unrivaled blend of online and offline syndicated and proprietary data, this Valassis tool can use company or client data to perform geo-demographic and behavioral targeting in real time. Valassis has the ability to integrate an unmatched array of online and offline consumer data, 40 years of consumer insights, street-level targeting and multi-channel media distribution to help advertisers to precisely identify, locate and connect with their most valuable customers.

Another successful project used technology to optimize postage and transportation by centralizing transportation management, standardizing processes and instituting a new technology platform across its 17 Shared Mail facilities throughout the United States. A cross-functional team was tasked with innovating and re-engineering Shared Mail distribution to be more effective and efficient.

InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual InformationWeek 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments, and administrative practices of some of the best-known organizations in the country. Past overall winners include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, PACCAR Inc., The Vanguard Group, CME Group, National Semiconductor, Con-Way, and Principal Financial Group. Unique among corporate rankings, the InformationWeek 500 spotlights the power of innovation in information technology.

"The theme of this year's InformationWeek 500 is digital business. It's a movement, rooted in data analytics, mobile computing, social networking and other customer-focused technologies that are turning companies and industries on their ear," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "Every enterprise is now a digital business -- or needs to become one fast. The organizations in our ranking are leading the way."

The full list and additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at http://www.informationweek.com/1374.


About Valassis
Valassis (NYSE: VCI) is a leader in intelligent media delivery, providing over 15,000 advertisers proven and innovative media solutions to influence consumers wherever they plan, shop, buy and share.  By integrating online and offline data combined with powerful insights, Valassis precisely targets its clients' most valuable shoppers, offering unparalleled reach and scale.  Valassis subsidiaries include Brand.net, a Valassis Digital Company, and NCH Marketing Services, Inc.Valassis consumer brands include RedPlum® and save.com. Its signature Have You Seen Me?® program delivers hope to missing children and their families. To learn more, visit Valassis.com.

About InformationWeek
For more than 30 years, InformationWeek has provided millions of IT executives worldwide with the insight and  perspective they need to leverage the business value of technology. InformationWeek provides CIOs and IT executives with commentary, analysis and research through its thriving online community, digital issues, webcasts, proprietary research and live, in-person events. InformationWeek's award-winning editorial coverage can be found at www.informationweek.com.

InformationWeek is produced by UBM Tech, a global media business that brings together the world's technology industry through live events and online properties. Other UBM Tech's brands include EE Times, Interop, Black Hat,  Game Developer Conference, CRN, and DesignCon. The company's products include research, education, training, and data services that accelerate decision making for technology buyers. UBM Tech also offers a full range of marketing services based on its content and technology market expertise, including custom events, content marketing solutions, community development and demand generation programs. UBM Tech is a part of UBM (UBM.L), a global provider of media and information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion

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This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: price competition from our existing competitors; new competitors in any of our businesses; possible consolidation in our client base, a significant decrease in the number of stores in our in-store retailer network or a shift in client preferences for different promotional materials, strategies or coupon delivery methods, including, without limitation, as a result of declines in newspaper circulation and/or increased competition from new media formats including digital; an unforeseen increase in paper or postal costs; changes which affect the businesses of our clients and lead to reduced sales promotion spending, including, without limitation, a decrease of marketing budgets which are generally discretionary in nature and easier to reduce in the short-term than other expenses; our substantial indebtedness, and ability to refinance such indebtedness, if necessary, and our ability to incur additional indebtedness, may affect our financial health; the financial condition, including bankruptcies, of our clients, suppliers, senior secured credit facility lenders or other counterparties; certain covenants in our debt documents could adversely restrict our financial and operating flexibility; fluctuations in the amount, timing, pages, weight and kinds of advertising pieces from period to period, due to a change in our clients' promotional needs, inventories and other factors; our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel may affect our business and results of operations; a rise in interest rates could increase our borrowing costs; governmental regulation or litigation affecting aspects of our business, including laws and regulations related to the internet, internet-related technologies and activities, privacy and data security; potential security measure breaches or attacks; clients experiencing financial difficulties, or otherwise being unable to meet their obligations as they become due, could affect our results of operations and financial condition; uncertainty in the application and interpretation of applicable state sales tax laws may expose us to additional sales tax liability; a reduction in, or discontinuance of, dividend payments or stock repurchases; and general economic conditions, whether nationally, internationally, or in the market areas in which we conduct our business, including the adverse impact of the ongoing economic downturn on the marketing expenditures and activities of our clients and prospective clients as well as our vendors, with whom we rely on to provide us with quality materials at the right prices and in a timely manner. These and other risks and uncertainties related to our business are described in greater detail in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and the foregoing information should be read in conjunction with these filings. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Valassis

Caitlin Leddy, SHIFT Communications, Cleddy@shiftcomm.com, 617-779-1830; Mary Broaddus, Valassis, broaddusm@valassis.com, 734-591-7375

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