1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ViSalus Holdings LLC announces union with Blyth, Inc (NYSE: BTH)
(Los Angeles, Calif. August 5, 2008) – Weight Management and Nutritional
supplement maker ViSalus Holdings has announced an agreement to become a
member of Blyth’s family of companies and successful brands. Blyth is a leader
in the direct selling industry and ViSalus provides innovative health solutions
through high quality wellness products such as the Vi-PAK Advanced Anti-Aging
and Energy System, ViSalus NEURO Smart Energy Drink, and the Trim Slim
Shape Program for healthy weight loss and weight management.
As part of the comprehensive agreement, Blyth’s Chairman of the Board and
CEO, Robert B. Goergen, will be joining the ViSalus Board of Managers. The
Founders of ViSalus, Ryan Blair, Nick Sarnicola, and Blake Mallen, as well as the
ViSalus Management Team will remain in their roles and have renewed their
commitment toward building ViSalus into an international powerhouse in the
Health and Wellness Industry.
ViSalus, seed funded by Goergen Family’s The Ropart Asset Management
Funds (www.ropart.com) in December of 2005, provides Blyth entry into the
lucrative and fast-growing health and wellness industry. Blyth provides ViSalus
capital, leverageable assets and domain expertise to facilitate ViSalus’
aggressive expansion plans over the next several years.
“During the past three years, ViSalus has made significant investments in its
technology, infrastructure and product pipeline to create what we believe is a
business model with a distinct competitive advantage. In partnership with Blyth,
we will leverage those investments to accelerate our expansion while minimizing
risk,” said ViSalus CEO Ryan Blair.
Commenting on the alliance, Robert B. Goergen, Blyth’s Chairman of the Board
and CEO, said, “Today’s commitment builds further on Blyth’s long-term focus on
direct-to-consumer sales opportunities. Importantly, we are able to diversify
within the direct selling channel with products that appeal to different consumer
segments.” Mr. Goergen continued, “Our partnership with the founders of ViSalus
is mutually beneficial in that Blyth is entering a third direct selling product
category marketing consumable wellness goods and ViSalus can leverage
expertise from Blyth’s direct selling core competency, as well as various
corporate functions required by a growing enterprise. Moreover, longer term, our
experience entering international markets should be beneficial to ViSalus’
expansion.”
ViSalus Co-Founder and CMO Blake Mallen commented, “It feels great to know
that a cause we have put our lives into is now being recognized at this level. The
combination of Blyth’s experience and global infrastructure will give us a
competitive edge in our channel.”

2. “It is a proud day for ViSalus and our community of customers and distributors
that Blyth would consider our company a valuable portion to its strategy,” said
ViSalus Co-Founder and CSO Nick Sarnicola.
ViSalus Vice President of Marketing and Branding, Audrey Sommerfeld,
commented, “We now stand alongside the elite brands of Blyth, Inc., and the
alliance of ViSalus and Blyth gives our customers and distributors an
unparalleled opportunity.”
About ViSalus
ViSalus, with headquarters in Troy, Michigan and Los Angeles, CA, is a leading
Weight Management and Nutritional Supplement maker utilizing the direct selling
channel to distribute its products.
ViSalus may be found on the Internet at www.visalus.com
About Blyth, Inc.
Blyth, Inc., headquartered in Greenwich, CT, USA, is a Home Expressions
company that markets an extensive array of home fragrance products, decorative
accessories, seasonal decorations and household convenience items. The
Company sells its products through multiple channels of distribution, including
the home party plan method of direct selling, as well as through the wholesale
and catalog/Internet channels. Blyth also markets tabletop lighting and chafing
fuel for the Away From Home or foodservice trade. The Company manufactures
most of its candles and chafing fuel and sources nearly all of its other products.
Its products are sold direct to the consumer under the PartyLite® and Two
Sisters GourmetTM brands, to retailers in the premium and specialty retail
channels under the Colonial CandleTM, CBK® and Seasons of Cannon Falls®
brands, to retailers in the mass retail channel under the Sterno® brand, to
consumers in the catalog and Internet channel under the Miles Kimball®,
Exposures®, Walter Drake®, The Home Marketplace®, Easy ComfortsTM and
Boca JavaTM brands, and to the Foodservice industry under the Sterno®,
Ambria® and HandyFuel® brands. In Europe, Blyth’s products are also sold
under the PartyLite® brand. Blyth, Inc. may be found on the Internet at
www.blyth.com.
About The Ropart Asset Management Funds
The Ropart Asset Management Funds is a private equity firm that invests directly
in small to midsize companies. The firm pursues a flexible strategy, investing
throughout the capital structure and in multiple industries, including Business
Services, Healthcare Services, Consumer Products, Financial Services, and
Technology. www.ropart.com