The Nautilus Group Files Supplemental Proxy Materials
NEW YORK--May 24, 2002--The Nautilus Group, Inc. (NYSE: NLS - News), a leading marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health and fitness products, today announced that it has filed supplemental proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The supplemental filing clarifies certain biographical information regarding Brian R. Cook, chief executive officer, and Rod W. Rice, chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary, in particular their current status as Certified Public Accountants. While both Mr. Cook and Mr. Rice were previously Certified Public Accountants, they have not participated in continuing education programs to maintain these licenses during their full tenure as executive officers at the Company.
The biographies for Mr. Cook and Mr. Rice in the supplemental proxy materials read as follows:
BRIAN R. COOK has served on the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer of The Nautilus Group, Inc. (formerly Direct Focus, Inc.) since 1986. He also serves as Chairman. Mr. Cook has more than 23 years of business management and corporate experience. Prior to joining The Nautilus Group, Inc., he held various financial and managerial positions at Sea Galley Stores, Inc., a large, publicly owned restaurant company. Mr. Cook also acted as the Chief Financial Officer for a manufacturer of industrial fasteners. Previously, he was a certified public accountant with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company. Mr. Cook received his B.A. in business administration with a major in accounting from Western Washington University.
ROD W. RICE has been with The Nautilus Group, Inc. (formerly Direct Focus, Inc.) since 1994, serving first as the company's controller. In 1995, he assumed his current role of Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rice also serves as Treasurer and Secretary of the company. Formerly, Mr. Rice worked as an accountant with Deloitte & Touche. From 1995 to 1996, he was licensed as a certified public accountant by the State of Washington. Mr. Rice received his B.S. in business administration with a major in accounting from Portland State University.
About The Nautilus Group
The Nautilus Group, Inc. (formerly Direct Focus, Inc.) is a leading marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health and fitness products sold under such well-known names as Nautilus, Bowflex, Schwinn and StairMaster. The Company currently markets its Bowflex home fitness equipment and Nautilus Sleep Systems through its direct-marketing channel, using an effective combination of television commercials, infomercials, response mailings, the Internet, and inbound/outbound call centers. The Company sells its Nautilus, Schwinn and StairMaster commercial fitness equipment through its sales force and selected dealers to health clubs, government agencies, hotels, corporate fitness centers, colleges, universities, and assisted living facilities. The Nautilus Group also markets and sells a complete line of consumer fitness equipment, under its Nautilus, Schwinn and StairMaster brands, through a network of specialty dealers, distributors, and retailers worldwide. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, Wash. The Nautilus Group is located on the Web at www.nautilusgroup.com.
From time to time, The Nautilus Group may issue forward-looking
statements relating to its products and services, including statements
regarding its Nautilus, Schwinn Fitness, and StairMaster businesses.
Factors that could affect The Nautilus Group's actual results include
its reliance on a limited product line, fluctuations in advertising
rates, market acceptance of its existing and future products, growth
management challenges including the growth resulting from the
acquisition of the assets of Schwinn Fitness in September 2001 and
StairMaster in February 2002, a decline in consumer spending due to
unfavorable economic conditions, government regulatory action, its
ability to effectively identify and negotiate any future strategic
acquisitions, its ability to integrate the StairMaster business and
any other acquired businesses into its operations, unpredictable
events and circumstances relating to international operations
including its use of foreign manufacturers, and general economic
conditions. Please refer to our reports and filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual
report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for a further
discussion of these risks and uncertainties. We also caution you not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to
update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new
information, events or circumstances after the date they were made or
to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact:
For The Nautilus Group, Inc.
StreetConnect
Michael Newman, 206/320-1231 (Investors)
mnewman@stct.com
or
Fleishman-Hillard
Dan Gugler, 213/489-8293 (Media)
guglerd@fleishman.com