2007'04.26.Thu
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. Reports Significant Growth in Revenue and Earnings; Appointed to Boeing's Global Tanker Team
April 26, 2007
- First quarter EPS increased 163 percent to $0.50 as
net income grew to
$70 million
- Revenue grew 42 percent to $954 million; Operating
earnings more than
doubled to $104 million
- Won new aftermarket business on 777 Thrust Reversers;
Chosen by Boeing
to provide Next Generation 737 and 777 nacelle
component repair and
overhaul services; Selected to be on Boeing's Global
Tanker Team
- 2007 guidance reaffirmed, reflecting strength of the
commercial
aerospace market
Table 1. Summary Financial Results
1st
Quarter
($ in millions, except per share data) 2007
2006(1) Change
Revenues $954
$671 42%
Operating Income $104
$51 104%
Operating Income as a % of Revenues 10.9%
7.5% 340 BPS
Net Income $70
$23 204%
Net Income as a % of Revenues 7.3%
3.4% 390 BPS
Earnings per Share (Fully diluted) $0.50
$0.19 163%
Fully Diluted Weighted Avg Share
Count (Million) 139.0
117.5
(1) Excludes Spirit Europe acquired on April 1, 2006
WICHITA, Kan., April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Spirit
AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) reported significant
increases in its first quarter financial results and
reaffirmed its 2007 financial guidance, reflecting strong
commercial aerospace markets globally and continued
execution of the company's strategy.
Spirit's first quarter net income rose over 200 percent
to $70 million from $23 million a year ago, and fully
diluted earnings per share rose 163 percent to $0.50 per
share from $0.19 per share last year. Revenue for the
quarter increased 42 percent to $954 million from $671
million, and the company's operating margins rose to 10.9
percent from 7.5 percent last year. First quarter 2007
results include Spirit Europe which was acquired on April
1, 2006. Spirit Europe's revenue for the first quarter 2007
was
$127 million.
"Solid overall performance combined with increased
production volume and productivity improvements drove this
quarter's results," said President and Chief Executive
Officer Jeff Turner. "Revenues increased, operating
margins improved and we continue to make good progress on
the 787 program," Turner added. "We are pleased
to make progress in our aftermarket business and to be
selected to Boeing's Global Tanker Team that is offering
the KC-767 Advanced Tanker to the United States Air Force.
Boeing's selection of Pratt & Whitney 4062 engines for
the program and our sole source supplier agreement with
Boeing for thrust reversers on Pratt & Whitney's
engines adds potential growth to our propulsion business
and provides potential increased demand for engine pylons
and forward fuselages for the KC-767 program. Looking
forward, we expect to deliver financial performance that
reflects the strength of our design and manufacturing
capabilities, the talent of our people, and the application
of industry leading technology."
The company continued to build momentum in its
aftermarket business during the month of April with an
initial agreement to provide overhaul services and rotables
leasing to Cathay Pacific on up to 10 sets of Trent 800
Thrust Reversers. Additionally, Spirit was designated by
Boeing as a provider of nacelle component repair and
overhaul services for Boeing 777 and Next Generation 737
airplanes.
Spirit's backlog during the quarter increased from
$19.2 billion to $19.9 billion, as combined net orders for
323 aircraft at Boeing and Airbus out paced their combined
deliveries of 221 aircraft. Spirit's backlog is calculated
based on contractual prices for products and expected
delivery volumes from the published firm order backlogs of
both Boeing and Airbus.
During the first quarter, Spirit updated its contract
profitability estimates resulting in a favorable change in
contract estimates of $6 million. Almost all of the
estimate changes are reflected in the Wing Systems segment
and were driven by favorable cost trends within the current
contract blocks. Because Spirit recognizes changes in
contract estimates utilizing the cumulative catch up method
of accounting under Statement of Position 81-1,
approximately $1 million of the favorable adjustment
relates to revenues recognized in 2005, and approximately
$5 million relates to revenues recognized in 2006. Largely
offsetting the favorable cumulative catch up adjustment in
the quarter were certain adjustments at Spirit Europe,
including a contract loss provision also recorded in the
Wing Systems segment. First quarter 2006 results included a
$34 million favorable cumulative catch up adjustment.
Cash flow from operations for the first quarter 2007
was $50 million reflecting planned increases in working
capital primarily for the 787 as the airplane enters
production. Cash flow from operations declined 44 percent
from the prior year period due to the $71 million reduction
in customer advances in the first quarter of 2007.
Investments in capital expenditures totaled $88 million in
the quarter (Table 2). Over half of the investment in
property, plant and equipment supported the start-up of the
787 program.
Cash balances at the end of the quarter were $157
million, down from year end 2006 levels reflecting planned
investment in Spirit's core businesses. Debt balances at
the end of the first quarter were $615 million, down
slightly from the year end level.
Table 2. Cash Flow and Liquidity
1st Quarter
($ in millions)
2007 2006(1)
Cash Flow from Operations
$50 $90
Purchases of Property, Plant & Equipment
($88) ($94)
Liquidity
March 29 December 31
2007 2006
Cash
$157 $184
Current Portion of Long-term Debt plus Long-term Debt
$615 $618
(1) Excludes Spirit Europe acquired on April 1, 2006
OUTLOOK
The company's financial guidance for 2007 is
reaffirmed. The company is forecasting solid growth in 2007
that reflects strong operating performance across business
segments and higher commercial airplane deliveries.
Spirit's 2007 revenue is expected to be between $4.0
billion and
$4.1 billion, approximately 25 percent higher than 2006, as
increased market demand for large commercial transport
aircraft from Boeing and Airbus drives additional shipset
deliveries. This revenue projection is based on previously
issued 2007 Boeing and Airbus delivery guidance of 440-445
and 440-450 aircraft, respectively, and includes the
initial deliveries to Boeing of Spirit products on the 787
program as well as a full year of revenue from Spirit
Europe (Table 3).
Table 3. Financial Outlook
2007
Guidance
Revenues
$4.0B - $4.1B
Operating Income
$400M - $420M
Operating Income as a % of Revenues 9.8% -
10.5%
Depreciation and Amortization
$120M - $125M
Earnings Per Share (Fully Diluted)
$1.80 - $1.90
Effective Tax Rate
~34%
Cash Flow from Operations* +
/ - $280M
Capital Expenditures + / -
$300M
Customer Reimbursement of Capital Expenditures ~
$45M
Research & Development Expense + / -
$60M
Average Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding 141M
* Includes $40-$50 million of customer advances for
capital expenditures
Spirit's operating margins are expected to be between
9.8 percent and
10.5 percent as benefits from higher volumes, cost
reduction and productivity initiatives, as well as lower
R&D and stock compensation expenses expand operating
margins vs. 2006 actual results. Spirit's 2007 fully
diluted EPS guidance is between $1.80 and $1.90 per share.
Cash flow from operations is expected to be +/- $280
million, which includes additional working capital spending
for the new 787 program. Fiscal 2007 capital expenditures
are expected to be +/- $300 million. Approximately 50
percent of the capital expenditures will be utilized to
complete the installation of production capacity for the
new 787 program. Spirit anticipates approximately $45
million of customer reimbursement to partially offset these
capital expenditures.
Depreciation and amortization expenses are forecasted
to be between $120 and $125 million as new capital
equipment is placed into service.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements
that reflect the plans and expectations of Spirit
AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. To the extent that statements in
this press release do not relate to historical or current
facts, they constitute forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"may," "will," "expect,"
"intend," "estimate,"
"anticipate," "believe,"
"project," "continue," or other similar
words. These statements reflect Spirit AeroSystems Holdings,
Inc.'s current view with respect to future events and are
subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown.
Such risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results of
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. to vary materially from
those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and
therefore we caution investors not to place undue reliance
on them. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to: our customers' aircraft build rates; the
ability to enter into supply arrangements with additional
customers and satisfy performance requirements under
existing contracts; any adverse impact on our customers'
production of aircraft; the success and timely progression
of our customers' new programs including, but not limited
to The Boeing Company's 787 aircraft program; future levels
of business in the aerospace and commercial transport
industries; competition from original equipment
manufacturers and other aerostructures suppliers; the
effect of governmental laws; the effect of new commercial
and business aircraft development programs; the cost and
availability of raw materials; the ability to recruit and
retain highly skilled employees and relationships with
unions; spending by the United States and other governments
on defense; the continuing ability to operate successfully
as a stand alone company; the outcome of ongoing or future
litigation and regulatory actions; and exposure to
potential product liability claims. Additional information
as to factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from our forward-looking statements can be found
in Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.'s filings with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Spirit
AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. undertakes no obligation and
does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release, except as
required by law.
Appendix
Segment Results
Fuselage Systems
Fuselage Systems segment revenue for the first quarter
was $445 million, up 26 percent over the same period last
year as deliveries on the 737 and 777 programs increased.
Revenues in the first quarter 2006 were negatively impacted
by the IAM strike at Boeing which occurred in September of
2005. Fuselage Systems posted double-digit segment
operating margins of 18.6 percent for the first quarter
2007, up from 17.0 percent in the same period of 2006 as
R&D expense on the 787 program declined; higher
production rates were realized; and 737 model-mixes shifted
to longer aircraft types.
Propulsion Systems
Propulsion Systems segment revenue for the first
quarter was $260 million, up 20 percent over the same
period last year as deliveries increased in support of
primary customer production volume. Propulsion Systems
posted improved double-digit segment operating margins of
15.5 percent for the first quarter 2007, up from 13.8
percent in the same period of 2006 as R&D expense on
the 787 program declined and higher production rates were
realized.
Wing Systems
Wing Systems segment revenue for the first quarter was
$241 million, up from $92 million over the same period last
year. Spirit Europe was acquired on April 1, 2006, and
contributed $127 million to the first quarter 2007
revenues. Wing Systems posted segment operating margins of
9.6 percent for the first quarter 2007, up from 6.0 percent
in the same period of 2006 as R&D expense on the 787
program declined and favorable cost trends generated
favorable changes in contract estimates that were largely
offset by certain adjustments, including a loss provision
at Spirit Europe, during the first quarter 2007.
Table 4. Segment Reporting
1st Quarter
($ in millions, except margin percent) 2007
2006(1) Change
Segment Revenues
Fuselage Systems $445.2
$353.7 25.9%
Propulsion Systems $260.4
$216.5 20.3%
Wing Systems $241.2
$92.0 162.2%
All Other $7.3
$8.6 (15.1%)
Total Segment Revenues $954.1
$670.8 42.2%
Segment Earnings from Operations
Fuselage Systems $83.0
$60.1 38.1%
Propulsion Systems $40.3
$29.8 35.2%
Wing Systems $23.2
$5.5 321.8%
All Other $0.8
$0.5 60.0%
Total Segment Operating Earnings $147.3
$95.9 53.6%
Unallocated Corporate SG&A Expense
($42.5) ($43.4) 2.1%
Unallocated Research & Development Expense
($1.0) ($1.9) 47.4%
Total Earnings from Operations $103.8
$50.6 105.1%
Segment Operating Earnings as % of Revenues
Fuselage Systems 18.6%
17.0% 160 BPS
Propulsion Systems 15.5%
13.8% 170 BPS
Wing Systems 9.6%
6.0% 360 BPS
All Other 11.0%
5.8% 520 BPS
Total Segment Operating Earnings as % of Revenues 15.4%
14.3% 110 BPS
Total Operating Earnings as % of Revenues 10.9%
7.5% 340 BPS
(1) Excludes Spirit Europe acquired on April 1, 2006
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
For the Three
For the Three
Months Ended
Months Ended
March 29, 2007
March 30, 2006
($ in millions,
except per share data)
Net Revenues $954.1
$670.8
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 794.8
533.0
Selling, general and administrative 45.1
44.8
Research and development 10.4
42.4
Total Costs and Expenses 850.3
620.2
Operating Income 103.8
50.6
Interest expense and financing fee
amortization (8.9)
(11.2)
Interest income 7.7
7.1
Other income, net 2.0
1.4
Income From Continuing Operations
Before Income Taxes 104.6
47.9
Income tax provision (34.8)
(25.4)
Net Income $69.8
$22.5
Earnings per share
Basic $0.54
$0.20
Diluted $0.50
$0.19
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 29, 2007
December 31, 2006
(unaudited)
($
in millions)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $157.3
$184.3
Accounts receivable,net 256.8
200.2
Other receivable 32.6
43.0
Inventory, net 947.0
882.2
Income tax receivable --
21.7
Other current assets 78.1
89.1
Total current assets 1,471.8
1,420.5
Property, plant and equipment, net 841.0
773.8
Long-term receivable 196.4
191.5
Pension assets 215.4
207.3
Other assets 115.5
129.1
Total assets $2,840.1
$2,722.2
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $357.6
$339.1
Accrued expenses 185.8
198.5
Current portion of long-term debt 24.9
23.9
Other current liabilities 21.2
8.2
Total current liabilities 589.5
569.7
Long-term debt 590.2
594.3
Advance payments 600.5
587.4
Other liabilities 124.6
111.8
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.01,
10,000,000 shares authorized, no
shares issued and outstanding --
--
Common stock, Class A par value
$0.01, 200,000,000 shares
authorized, 68,159,104 and
63,345,834 issued and outstanding,
respectively 0.7
0.6
Common stock, Class B par value
$0.01, 150,000,000 shares
authorized, 71,446,595 and
71,351,347 shares issued and
outstanding, respectively 0.7
0.7
Additional paid-in capital 867.2
858.7
Accumulated other comprehensive income 70.4
72.5
Accumulated deficit (3.7)
(73.5)
Total shareholders' equity 935.3
859.0
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $2,840.1
$2,722.2
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(unaudited)
For the
Three For the Three
Months Ended
Months Ended
March 29,
2007 March 30, 2006
($
in millions)
Operating activities
Net income $69.8
$22.5
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating
activities
Depreciation expense 20.9
16.7
Amortization expense 1.9
1.1
Accretion of long-term
receivable (5.5)
(5.0)
Employee stock compensation
expense 6.6
13.4
Loss on disposition of assets 0.1
--
Deferred taxes 6.0
2.3
Pension, net (8.1)
(3.2)
Changes in assets and liabilities,
net of acquisition
Accounts receivable (54.3)
(75.4)
Inventory, net (63.6)
(26.5)
Other current assets 10.3
4.4
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities (11.5)
26.0
Customer advances 29.2
100.0
Income taxes payable 23.8
11.0
Deferred revenue and other
deferred credits 9.4
14.7
Other 15.1
(12.0)
Net cash provided by
operating activities 50.1
90.0
Investing Activities
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment (87.5)
(93.8)
Reimbursement of capital expenditures 11.4
--
Financial derivatives 1.1
--
Net cash (used in) investing
activities (75.0)
(93.8)
Financing Activities
Principal payments of debt (4.6)
(1.8)
Pool of windfall tax benefits 2.5
--
Executive stock investments --
0.5
Net cash (used in) financing
activities (2.1)
(1.3)
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash and cash equivalents --
--
Net (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents for the
period (27.0)
(5.1)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of the period 184.3
241.3
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the
period $157.3
$236.2
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Phil Anderson
Tel: +1-316-523-1797
Media
Sam Marnick
Tel: +1-316-523-3330
PR
2007'04.26.Thu
Governments Must Act on Biggest Epidemic in Human History
April 26, 2007
-- New IDF Consensus on Prevention of Diabetes is Launched
BARCELONA, Spain, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
diabetes pandemic is threatening to overwhelm global
healthcare services. Today, the International Diabetes
Federation (IDF) launched a new consensus statement on
diabetes prevention, to be published in the May issue of
Diabetic Medicine, hot on the heels of a December 2006
United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for
concerted international action.
"The UN resolution is a huge win in the fight
against the biggest disease epidemic in human history.
Diabetes is responsible for close to 4 million deaths every
year. With 246 million people with diabetes now and 380
million people with diabetes by 2025, diabetes is set to
bankrupt national economies(1)," said Professor Paul
Zimmet, Director, International Diabetes Institute and
co-author of the consensus. "Type 2 diabetes can be
prevented, but it will take enormous political will on the
part of governments to make this a reality. They can
achieve this by creating the environment that allows
individuals to make lifestyle changes. That is why we are
calling on all countries to endorse the UN resolution and
to target entire populations through the development and
implementation of National Diabetes Prevention
Plans."
The new IDF consensus recommends that all individuals
at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes be identified
through opportunistic screening by doctors, nurses,
pharmacists and through self-screening.
Professor Sir George Alberti, Past President of IDF and
co-author of the new IDF consensus said: "There is
overwhelming evidence from studies in the USA, Finland,
China, India and Japan that lifestyle changes (achieving a
healthy body weight and moderate physical activity) can
help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in those at
high risk(2-6). The new IDF consensus advocates that this
should be the initial intervention for all people at risk
of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as the focus of
population health approaches."
In addition to the need for individual lifestyle
change, IDF recognizes that there are powerful
environmental forces that influence the behavioural, eating
and exercise patterns of the community.
"Inadvertently, our own government authorities may
have contributed to this epidemic by allowing developers to
create urban social problems," said Professor Avi
Friedman, Professor of Architecture at McGill University,
Montreal. "Urban sprawls are part and parcel of new
developments without proper attention to building design,
sidewalks, bike paths, public transport corridors, playing
fields and friendly exercise areas that are essential and
need to be accessible to people who want to maintain a
healthy lifestyle."
National Diabetes Prevention Plans will therefore
require coordinated policy and legislative changes across
all sectors including health, education, sports and
agriculture, as well as the formation of strategic
relationships. They must be culturally sensitive and
targeted to mobilize all sectors of the community.
"Diabetes is already a massive social cost, and it
is up to politicians to decide whether they will spend more
and more money on acute care and drugs, or invest in
prevention by supporting lifestyle change among the entire
population," said Professor Alberti.
"A Kyoto-like agreement on diabetes prevention and
management is needed among governments worldwide if we are
to prevent this problem from becoming catastrophic,"
concluded Professor Zimmet.
For further information, please access the webcast of
the press conference via
http://www.idf.org/webcast/barcelona
Notes to Editors
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the
global advocate for more than 240 million people with
diabetes worldwide. It represents 200 diabetes associations
in more than 150 countries. The mission of IDF is to promote
diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. IDF is a
non-governmental organisation in official relations with
the World Health Organisation.
About Diabetes
Each year 7 million people develop diabetes and the
most dramatic increases in type 2 diabetes have occurred in
populations where there have been rapid and major changes in
lifestyle, demonstrating the important role played by
lifestyle factors and the potential for reversing the
global epidemic. A person with type 2 diabetes is 2 - 4
times more likely to get cardiovascular disease (CVD), and
80% of people with diabetes will die from it. Premature
mortality caused by diabetes results in an estimated 12 to
14 years of life lost. A person with diabetes incurs
medical costs that are two to five times higher than those
of a person without diabetes, and the World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 15% of annual
health budgets are spent on diabetes-related illnesses (
http://www.idf.org ).
There is conclusive evidence that good control of blood
glucose levels and management of high blood pressure and
aspects of the lipid profile (blood fats) can slow the
progression to or of type 2 diabetes, and substantially
reduce the risk of developing complications (such as
cardiovascular, eye and kidney disease) in people with
diabetes.
Acknowledgment
The IDF consensus on diabetes prevention was supported
by an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
References
(1) Diabetes Atlas, third edition, International
Diabetes
Federation, 2006
(2) Pan X, Li g, Hu Y, Wang J, Yang W, An Z. Effects
of
diet and exercise in preventing NIDDM in people
with
impaired glucose tolerance. The Da Qing IGT and
Diabetes Study. Diabetes Care 1997; 20: 537-544
(3) Tuomilehto J. Lindstrom J, Eriksson J, Valle T,
Hamalainen H. Prevention of type 2 diabetes
mellitus
by changes in lifestyle among subjects with
impaired
glucose tolerance. N Engl J Med 2001; 344:
1343-1350
(4) Ramachandran A, Snehalatha C, Mary S, Mukesh B,
Bhaskar
A, Vijay V. The Indian Diabetes Prevention
Programme
shows that lifestyle modification and metformin
prevent
type 2 diabetes in Asian Indian subjects with
impaired
glucose tolerance (IDPP-1). Diabetologia 2006; 49
(2):
289-297
(5) Knowler W, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, Hamman RF,
Lachin JM. Reduction in the incidence of type 2
diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin.
N
Engl J Med 2002; 346: 393-403
(6) Kosaka K, Noda M, Kuzuya T. Diab Res Clin Pract
2005;
67: 152-162
For more information, please contact:
Anne Pierson
Press Events Manager, IDF
Tel: +32-2-543-1623
Mobile: +32-475-343-788
Email: anne@idf.org
Kait Ayres
Mandarin Healthcare Communications
Tel: +44-1727-854-239
Mobile: +44-7850-374860
Email: kait.ayres@talk21.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Toyota Produces Brand-New Corolla ZR Engine in TEDA
April 26, 2007
TIANJIN, China, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- --
Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA)
announced today that the brand-new ZR engine from Toyota
was off the production line at the second plant of Tianjin
FAW Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. The engine, which meets the
tail gas emissions set-out by the Euro III standard, and
that has the potential to also meet the Euro IV standard,
will be installed in Toyota's new Corolla, which will be
off the production line at the third plant of Tianjin FAW
Toyota Engine Co., Ltd. next month.
(Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/20061103123230-28.jpg )
The manufacturer of the ZR engine, Tianjin FAW Toyota
Engine Co. Ltd., is the core parts manufacturer of Tianjin
FAW Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. The ZR engine has the
characteristics of high performance, low fuel consumption
and low emissions, and it ranks top amongst its
international peers in terms of motive power, fuel economy
and environmental protection.
The environmentally-friendly engines are produced
simultaneously and its output will reach 220,000 sets every
year, which means the Chinese market is playing an
increasingly important role for Toyota and the position of
Tianjin Binhai New Area is undoubtedly more and more
prominent in its strategy for the China market.
About Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area
(TEDA)
Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA)
was established in 1984 with the approval of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China. It is one of
the first state-class economic-technological development
areas in the country.
TEDA is located in the center of a larger area
bordering Bohai Sea and the east of the Asia-Europe Land
Bridge, thus serving as the gate to the two super cities of
Beijing and Tianjin, and the throat connecting the northeast
of China. By the end of 2005, 4,067 foreign companies have
landed in TEDA. Of the Fortune 500 companies, 57
multinational companies, from 10 countries and regions,
including such well-established multinational giants as
Motorola, Samsung and Toyota, invested in 123 enterprises
in TEDA. In 2000, "Fortune" listed TEDA as one
of the most highly recommended economic areas in China. In
2002 UNIDO listed TEDA as one of the most dynamic areas of
China together with Shenzhen, Suzhou, Wenzhou, Shanghai
Pudong and Xi'an High-tech Park.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.investteda.org .
For more information, please contact:
Ding Lei of TEDA
Tel: +86-22-2520-1616
2007'04.26.Thu
Thomson Scientific Publishes "World IP Today" Analyzing Global Patent Activity and Technology Innovations Over the Past Decade
April 26, 2007
Reports Created in Observance of "World Intellectual
Property Day" as Declared by the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO)
PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
--
Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation
(NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information
solutions to the worldwide research and business
communities, today published two issues of World IP Today
in global observance of "World Intellectual Property
Day" as declared by the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO).
"Thomson Scientific enjoyed the opportunity to
support WIPO by celebrating World Intellectual Property
Day," said Stephen Trotter, Senior Patent Analyst,
Thomson Scientific. "Further, we were inspired by
this year's theme: Encouraging Creativity and thought it
appropriate to evaluate the global IP landscape to
determine which countries are forging change in the areas
of patents and technology innovation."
World IP Today: A Thomson Scientific Report On Global
Patent Activity from 1997-2006 highlights patent output
from the G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States)
plus China and South Korea. Findings indicate:
-- Global patent activity has grown by 72% over the
past
decade with a 34% increase in "unique
inventions" or
brand new inventions
-- Since 1997, the U.S. and China have shown the most
impressive growth with 145% and 470% increases
respectively, encroaching on Japan's still-leading
position
-- China dominates unique inventions by academia, with
an
eight-fold increase since 1997
-- South Korea matures as an innovative nation and
safeguards more inventions worldwide than ever
before
-- Despite China's surge in patent activity, there is
little
focus on protecting Chinese intellectual property
outside
of China
World IP Today: A Thomson Scientific Report On Global
Technology Innovations from 1997-2006 reviews the massive
increase in technology innovations developed globally over
the past ten years (1997-2006), highlighting tri-lateral
inventions or inventions that have been filed in the U.S.,
Europe and Japan. Among the key findings:
-- Inventions relating to semiconductors,
telecommunications
and computing experience huge growth rates of 75%,
86%
and 172% respectively since 1997
-- Japan can be credited with the current state of
today's
high-tech market, holding the majority share of
tri-lateral inventions across all technologies in
2006
-- Samsung is the top patent assignee in tri-lateral
inventions for 2006
-- Samsung and Denso lead the way in diversified
multinationals in terms of tri-lateral inventions in
2006
For complete copies of these Thomson Scientific
"World IP Today" reports, including the
methodology behind the findings, please visit:
http://scientific.thomson.com/press/insight/
For more information on World Intellectual Property
Day, please visit the World Intellectual Property
Organization website at:
http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/world_ip/2007
About The Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation ( http://www.thomson.com ) is a
global leader in providing essential electronic workflow
solutions to business and professional customers. With
operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson
provides value-added information, software tools and
applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax,
accounting, financial services, scientific research and
healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on
the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX:
TOC).
Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson
Corporation. Its information solutions assist
professionals at every stage of research and
development-from discovery to analysis to product
development and distribution. Thomson Scientific
information solutions can be found at
scientific.thomson.com.
For more information, please contact:
Allison Hagan
Thomson Scientific
Tel: +1-215-823-1881
Email: allison.hagan@thomson.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Corning To Bring Generation 8 Capability to Taiwan
April 26, 2007
Additional Large Size Capacity Will Support Customers in
Taiwan and Japan
CORNING, N.Y. April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Corning
Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) announced on April 25 that its
board of directors has approved a capital expenditure plan
of $129 million to further expand manufacturing capacity
for large-size glass substrates for active matrix liquid
crystal displays (LCD) at its Taichung, Taiwan
manufacturing facility.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200612081746.jpg
)
In addition to enabling Generation (Gen) 8
manufacturing capabilities in Taiwan, the investment will
create additional finishing capacity for Gen 7.5. The
expenditure will be incurred over two and a half years,
with glass substrate production expected to begin by
mid-2008.
"Very large Gen sizes, such as Gen 8, are all
about TV," said James P. Clappin, president of Corning
Display Technologies. "As LCD becomes a leading
technology for televisions in the 40-inch and larger size
range, this expansion helps our customers in Taiwan and
Japan meet the growing demand."
"Bringing Gen 8 finishing capability to the
Taichung facility offers the flexibility of meeting future
Taiwan demand with local capacity," said Alan T.
Eusden, president, Corning Display Technologies Taiwan.
At 2160 x 2460 mm, Gen 8 is currently the largest glass
substrate available, but next-generation substrates are
already on the horizon.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated ( http://www.corning.com ) is the
world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on
more than 150 years of materials science and process
engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone
components that enable high-technology systems for consumer
electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications
and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates
for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic
substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems;
optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for
telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug
discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass
solutions for a number of industries including
semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and
metrology.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve a variety of business risks and other
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. These risks and uncertainties include the
possibility of changes in global economic and political
conditions; currency fluctuations; product demand and
industry capacity; competition; manufacturing efficiencies;
cost reductions; availability of critical components and
materials; new product commercialization; changes in the
mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new
plant start-up costs; possible disruption in commercial
activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict,
political instability or major health concerns; adequacy of
insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and
divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete
inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to
enforce patents; product and components performance issues;
stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or
regulatory developments. Additional risk factors are
identified in Corning's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no
obligation to update them in light of new information or
future events.
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations Contacts: Corning
James E. Terry
Tel: +1-607-974-7343
Email: terryje@corning.com
Daniel F. Collins
Tel: +1-607-974-4197
Email: collinsdf@corning.com
Media Relations Contact: Taiwan
Shao-Kang Lee
Tel: +886-2-27160338, ext. 6221
Mobile: +886-932-886990
Email: leesk@corning.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Kenneth C. Sofio
Tel: +1-607-974-7705
Email: sofiokc@corning.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Tarceva(R) Extends Life of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
April 26, 2007
Newly published results show significant improvement in
survival when
innovative, oral cancer drug Tarceva is added to
chemotherapy
BASEL, Switzerland, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- New
results published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology show
that adding Tarceva (erlotinib) to gemcitabine chemotherapy
significantly improves survival by 22 percent in patients
with advanced pancreatic cancer.(1)
This survival increase is impressive as pancreatic
cancer is a particularly fatal form of cancer responsible
for over 80,000 deaths across Europe each year.(2) Despite
significant advances in the treatment of many other
tumours, treatment options for pancreatic patients are
extremely limited and until now, no therapies have
demonstrated an improvement in survival for the past
decade.
"This study is important because it shows the
benefit of a new approach to treat this deadly
disease," said Dr. Malcolm Moore, Study Chair and
Chief of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Princess
Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto. "This is the
first study in ten years to demonstrate an improvement in
survival in pancreatic cancer, and as a physician I'm
delighted to have additional treatment options for my
patients."
Data from this study, conducted by the National Cancer
Institute of Canada (NCIC), formed the basis of the recent
European approval of Tarceva for the treatment of patients
with metastatic pancreatic cancer (in combination with
chemotherapy) announced in January this year.
The results showed a statistically significant increase
in overall survival in patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer who received Tarceva plus gemcitabine, compared to
patients receiving gemcitabine alone with an overall 22
percent improvement in survival (p=0.038). A higher
percentage of patients were alive at 12 months in the group
treated with Tarceva plus gemcitabine, compared to those
treated with chemotherapy alone (23% v 17%; p=0.023).
Progression-free survival was also significantly improved
for patients treated with Tarceva (p=0.004).
Pancreatic cancer is the sixth most frequently
occurring cancer in Europe.(4) In 2002, there were more
than 78,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in
Europe, with a death rate of approximately 82,000 people
per year.(2) Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat as it
is often resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and
tends to spread quickly to other parts of the body, leading
to its high mortality and short life expectancy. Most people
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have less than one year to
live.(5) This is the second cancer type in which Tarceva
has demonstrated a clear survival benefit and it makes
Tarceva the first and only EGFR(x) targeted treatment to
have shown a significant survival benefit in patients with
pancreatic cancer, when added to gemcitabine, and in
patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).(3)
The multi-centre, randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled Phase III international study was
conducted by the National Cancer Institute of Canada,
Clinical Trials Group at Queen's University (NCIC CTG) in
cooperation with AGITG and investigators in 15 other
countries and co-sponsored by OSI Pharmaceuticals. The
study evaluated Tarceva at 100mg/day or 150mg/day in
patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic
cancer. Patients received either gemcitabine with Tarceva
or gemcitabine plus placebo. A total of 569 patients were
randomised into the study, with 285 patients receiving
Tarceva plus gemcitabine and 284 patients receiving placebo
plus gemcitabine. Treatment was generally well tolerated in
both arms. Most adverse events associated with Tarceva plus
gemcitabine in this study were mild-to-moderate, and
consistent with those observed in previous clinical trials
including rash and diarrhoea.
Tarceva has been approved by the FDA since November
2005 for treatment of locally advanced, unresectable or
metastatic pancreatic cancer in combination with
gemcitabine chemotherapy, and has been approved for
treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer in the European
Union since January 2007.
Tarceva has been approved in the European Union since
September 2005 and in the US since November 2004 for the
treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic
NSCLC after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy
regimen. Early-stage trials of Tarceva are also being
conducted in several other solid tumours as part of the
ongoing research programme.
Notes to Editors
About the Study
The study evaluated Tarceva at 100 mg/day or 150 mg/day
in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic
cancer and randomised patients to receive either
gemcitabine plus concurrent Tarceva or gemcitabine plus
placebo. Gemcitabine was dosed at 1,000 mg/m(2) IV once
weekly. Tarceva plus placebo was taken orally at 100 or 150
mg/day until disease progression or unmanageable toxicity.
Approximately 75 percent of the patients in the study had
metastatic disease and 25 percent had locally advanced
disease. The study had sites in the United States, Asia,
Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. The study was
conducted by the National Cancer Institute of Canada
Clinical Trials Group based at Queen's University, Ontario
in collaboration with OSI Pharmaceuticals.
About Tarceva
Tarceva (erlotinib) is a small molecule that targets
the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1) pathway.
HER1, also known as EGFR, is a key component of this
signalling pathway, which plays a role in the formation and
growth of numerous cancers. Tarceva blocks tumour cell
growth by inhibiting the tyrosine kinase activity of the
HER1 signalling pathway inside the cell.
Taken as an oral, once-daily therapy, Tarceva is the
only EGFR-inhibitor to have demonstrated a survival benefit
in lung and pancreatic cancer. Currently most lung and
pancreatic cancer patients are treated wholly with
chemotherapy which can be very debilitating due to its
toxic nature. Tarceva works differently to chemotherapy by
specifically targeting tumour cells, and avoids the typical
side-effects of chemotherapy.
Tarceva is approved in the US and across the European
Union for patients with locally advanced or metastatic
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at
least one prior chemotherapy regimen. It is also approved
in the US for the first-line treatment of patients with
locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic
cancer, in combination with gemcitabine chemotherapy, and
in the EU for treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Tarceva is currently being evaluated in an extensive
clinical development programme by a global alliance among
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Genentech and Roche, focussing on
earlier stages of NSCLC. Additionally, Tarceva is being
studied in combination with Avastin in NSCLC and in a wide
variety of other solid tumour types.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of
the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in
the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a
supplier of innovative products and services for the early
detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease,
the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to
improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is a
world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of
medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market
leader in virology. In 2005, sales by the Pharmaceuticals
Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the
Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss
francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150
countries and has R&D agreements and strategic
alliances with numerous partners, including majority
ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Additional
information about the Roche Group is available on the
Internet (www.roche.com).
About Roche: http://www.roche.com
About Genentech: http://www.gene.com
About cancer: http://www.health-kiosk.ch
Roche in Oncology:
http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mboncology05e.pdf
.
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are
protected by law.
(x). Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
References:
1. Moore MJ, Goldstein D, Hamm J, et al: Erlotinib
plus
gemcitabine compared with gemcitabine alone in patients
with advanced pancreatic cancer: A phase III trial of the
National Cancer Institute of
Canada Clinical Trials Group. J Clin Oncol doi:
10.1200/JCO.2006.07.9525.
2. Ferlay J et al. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer Incidence,
Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide. IARC CancerBase No. 5,
Version 2.0, Lyon; IARC
Press 2004.
3. Shepherd FA, Pereira TE, Ciuleanu EH, et al. A
randomized placebo-controlled trial of erlotinib in
patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
following failure of 1st line or 2nd line chemotherapy. A
National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group
(NCIC). (Abstract #7022), ASCO 2004.
4. Michaud DS. 2004. Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer
Minerva
Chir. Apr; 59(2):99-111.
5. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk
For more information, please contact:
Ann Blumenstock
Resolute Communications
Tel: +44-207-397-7484
2007'04.26.Thu
Genesis Bioventures, Inc. Announced Today that the Company is Participating in the 2007 International Capital and China Industrial Development Forum in Beijing, China
April 26, 2007
LOS ANGELES, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Mr.
Douglas C. Lane, CEO, stated today that Genesis
Bioventures, Inc. were invited to participate in the 2007
International Capital and China Industrial Development
Forum in Beijing. The Company's agent for the Mad Cow
testing in the Pacific Rim, Mr. Stuart Brame with
BioBusiness Development Company, and Dr. Robert Petersen,
President of Prion Developmental Laboratories
("PDL") are attending that conference in Beijing
now. "There is very high interest for PDL's BSE Rapid
Assay product in China. We are very excited to be invited
to participate in this event to promote our Mad Cow disease
testing." Lane said. "We are very excited as well
about the business opportunities in this rapidly expanding
market and see a solid opportunity for PDL's BSE Rapid
Assay to address food safety concerns in China. Mr. Stuart
Brame and BioBusiness Development have been very active
opening new opportunities for us in the Pacific Rim."
About Genesis Bioventures, Inc.
Genesis Bioventures, Inc. ("GBI") (OTC Bulletin
Board: GBIW) is a publicly traded biomedical company that
is commercializing two novel diagnostic products that meet
very large global unmet needs: the Mammastatin Serum Assay
("MSA"), a breast cancer diagnostic risk
assessment test, and the Rapid BSE Assay, a fast and cost
effective diagnostic test for on-site detection of Mad Cow
Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy "BSE").
The Mammastatin Serum Assay is offered through Biomedical
Diagnostics, LLC, a Genesis Bioventures' wholly owned
subsidiary. The Rapid BSE Assay is offered through Prion
Developmental Laboratories ("PDL"), a Genesis
Bioventures subsidiary investment company. Both products
are at the commercial stage of development. Technology and
product development are completed. Commercial launch will
occur upon closing of the Company's financing. GBI offers
senior executive management, corporate and business
development, financial management, PR, and investment
financing management to both operating companies.
About the International Capital and China Industrial
Development Forum:
In order to strengthen exchange and cooperation between
international capital and Chinese government and its
enterprises, explore channels and modes of supporting the
innovation and development of industrial economies with
international companies, provide an experience exchange and
mutual communication platform for owners and investors of
high-tech, environmental protection, energy resource,
agricultural projects, etc. and push on the healthy, fast
and sustained development of various industrial economies,
"2007's first forum on international capital and
China's industrial development and international
cooperative project negotiations conference" under the
organization of China High-tech Industrialization
Association will be held as a grand conference in the
international investment field and function as a business
platform for extensive exchange and cooperation of
international economies!
Forward-Looking Statements
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains
forward-looking information. Statements that are not
descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking
statements provided under the "safe harbor"
protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements are
statements about anticipated financial or operating
results, financial projections, business prospects, future
product performance and other matters that are not
historical facts. Such statements often include words such
as "believes," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends,"
"plans," "estimates" or similar
expressions.
For more information, please contact:
Genesis Bioventures, Inc.
Mr. Douglas C. Lane, CEO
Tel: +1-310-443-4102
Web: http://www.gnsbio.com
2007'04.26.Thu
The9 Limited AnnouncesSignificant Player Demand in Soul of the Ultimate Nation(TM) All-Access Open Beta Testing in China
April 26, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, April 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ The9
Limited
(Nasdaq: NCTY) ("The9"), a leading online game
operator in China, today announced that Soul of The
Ultimate Nation(TM)("SUN"),a highly-anticipated
3D massively multiplayer online role playing game
("MMORPG")developed by a leading Korean game
developer and operator, Webzen, Inc. ("Webzen"),
and exclusively operated by The9 in mainland China, has
achieved peak concurrent usersof approximately 400,000
players in the first week of its all-access open beta
testing.
On April 18, 2007, The9 launched all-access open beta
testingfor SUN. Shortly thereafter, all initial24 server
realms running on a total of four server sites were filled
to capacity with eager players. To accommodatethe
significant player demand, later the same day, The9opened
four additional server realms. The following day,
The9opened the remaining four server realms, which resulted
in the full utilization of the initial four server sites,
and achieved peak concurrent users in excess of 400,000
players. On April 25, 2007, The9 launched a brand new
fifth server site, opening all its eight server realms, to
allow more players to experience the exciting SUN game.
The success of SUN's all-access open beta testing once
again demonstrates The9's strong operational capabilities
and its leadership in the growing online games industry in
China. We will continue to launch server sites for SUN to
meet the demands of Chinese game players. At the same
time, we intend to continue to work with Webzen to provide
content upgrades so as to bring fantastic gaming experience
to Chinese players and to pave the way for even bigger
successes of the SUN game in China.
About The9 Limited
The9 Limited is a leading online game operator in
China.The9's business is primarily focused on operating and
developing MMORPGs for the Chinese online game players
market. The9 directly or through affiliates operates
licensed MMORPGs, consisting of MU(R), Mystina Online,
Blizzard Entertainment(R)'s World of Warcraft(R), and its
first proprietary MMORPG, Joyful Journey West(TM), in
China. It has also obtained exclusive licenses to operate
additional MMORPGs in China, including Granado Espada, Soul
of The Ultimate Nation(TM), Guild Wars, Hellgate: London,
Ragnarok Online 2, Emil Chronicle Online,and Huxley. The9
is also working on the development of a 3D fantasy MMORPG
game, FantasticMelody Online(TM).
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements.
These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates,"
"future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates" and similar
statements. Among other things, the business outlook and
quotations from management in this press release contain
forward-looking statements. The9 may also make written or
oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F
and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in
press releases and other written materials and in oral
statements made by its officers, directors or employees to
third parties. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about The9's beliefs and expectations,
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of
important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to, The9's limited operating history as an
online game operator, political and economic policies of
the Chinese government, the laws and regulations governing
the online game industry, information disseminated over the
Internet and Internet content providers in China,
intensified government regulation of Internet cafes, The9's
ability to retain existing players and attract new players,
license, develop or acquire additional online games that
are appealing to users, anticipate and adapt to changing
consumer preferences and respond to competitive market
conditions, and other risks and uncertainties outlined in
The9's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F.
The9 does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, except as required under
applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Dahlia Wei
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
The9 Limited
Tel: +86-21-5172-9990
Email: IR@corp.the9.com
Website: http://www.corp.the9.com/
2007'04.26.Thu
ZigBee Alliance Members Connect With Telecom Market
April 25, 2007
Alliance Members Developing New Solutions for Secure Mobile
Payments, Information Delivery, Health Care Monitoring,
Location Based Services
SAN RAMON, Calif., April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
The ZigBee(R) Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies
creating wireless solutions for use in energy, residential,
commercial and industrial applications, today announced its
expansion into the telecom market with a new initiative
extending mobile telephone networks while providing new
capabilities for mobile phone users. The new ZigBee Telecom
Profile will feature secure mobile payment, information
delivery, health care monitoring, peer-to-peer small data
sharing and other location based services and features.
The Alliance's growth into the telecom market is driven
by industry experts from leading network operators and
technology providers including Motorola, Huawei
Technologies, Samsung Electronics, ETRI, KDDI R&D
Laboratories Inc., OKI Electric Industry, Orange FT,
Telecom Italia and TSC Systems. These members are examining
ways to leverage the inherent strengths of ZigBee: low
power, reliable mesh networking, AES128 security, low data
rate and global network acceptance. Because ZigBee is the
global wireless language connecting dramatically different
devices, companies can develop new mobile applications
while gaining access to ZigBee-based home and commercial
building automation devices.
"ZigBee offers cost-effective, standards-based
wireless networking solutions emphasizing mobility,
reliability and ease of use -- a perfect fit for today's
increasingly mobile phone oriented world," said Bob
Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "By
formalizing what was already happening in the market, our
members are giving telecom companies new ways to expand
revenue, while simplifying the lives of mobile phone users
everywhere. Any company developing proprietary telecom
solutions should get involved with ZigBee and participate
in the Alliance's thriving ecosystem now."
The New ZigBee Mobile Device
ZigBee mobile devices include mobile telephones and
personal digital assistants with embedded ZigBee technology
or using a ZigBee SIM card. These devices act as a mobile
terminal and/or as a sensor control device anywhere there
is a ZigBee network or ZigBee access point. Potential
applications currently in development include:
-- Secure Mobile Payments: Mobile users pay for goods
and
services by waving handset in front of scanner and
entering a pin number
-- Information Delivery: Users receive news,
downloads
(messages, ring tones, images, etc.),
advertisements
from network operators or localized information such
as
weather, traffic updates and movie show times based
on
their current location or neighborhood
-- Health Care Monitoring: Continuously monitored
health
data is recorded on a handset and transmitted to
the
patient's doctor. In an emergency situation, such
as
the absence of patient response or alarming vital
signs, the mobile device can be programmed to
immediately
alert emergency services
-- Peer-to-Peer Small Data Sharing: Small files such
as
ring tones, images, address book contacts and other
information provided by telecom operators is shared
easily between two ZigBee-enabled mobile devices
-- Location Based Services: Discounted rates for
calls
from a ZigBee mobile phone users in a certain zone
offers savings to users
The ZigBee Alliance is currently more than 220 Alliance
Members strong and has a presence in 24 countries spanning
six continents. OEMs and end-product manufacturers now
represent 30 percent of the global membership. ZigBee is
the only standards-based technology designed to address the
unique needs of low-cost, low-power, wireless sensor
networks for remote monitoring, home control, and building
automation and embedded network applications in the
industrial and consumer markets. Companies wanting to
participate in the development of the ZigBee Specification,
or planning on creating ZigBee products, can join the
Alliance by visiting www.zigbee.org/join/. The latest
ZigBee Specification is available for free download from
the ZigBee Web site.
ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies
working together to enable reliable, cost effective,
low-power, wirelessly networked, monitoring and control
products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee
Alliance membership comprises technology providers and
original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Membership is
open to all. Additional information can be found at
http://www.zigbee.org .
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Schader
ZigBee Alliance
Tel: +1-925-275-6672
Email: kschader@inventures.com
Tommy Tse
GolinHarris
Tel: +1-415-274-7915
Email: ttse@golinharris.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Moody's Upgrades Xinhua Finance's Ratings to B1
April 25, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua
Finance Limited ("XFL"; TSE Mothers: 9399; OTC:
XHFNY), China's premier financial information and media
service provider, today announced that Moody's Investors
Service has upgraded its corporate family rating and senior
unsecured bond rating to B1 from B2. The outlook for both
ratings is stable.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200611140926.gif
)
Moody's said in its statement that the upgrade was
based upon the IPO of XFL's subsidiary, Xinhua Finance
Media's (XFMedia), as well as XFL's better-than-expected
financial results for the full year 2006.
Moody's commented that, "The proceeds raised from
the IPO of XFMedia had strengthened the group's liquidity.
The automatic conversion of all of the outstanding
convertible preferred shares and convertible loans into
Class A common shares under XFM has also improved the
group's adjusted leverage."
Xinhua Finance Media is China's leading diversified
financial and entertainment media company targeting high
net-worth individuals nationwide. The company reaches its
target audience via TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and
other distribution channels. Through its five synergistic
business groups, Advertising, Broadcast, Print, Production
and Research, XFMedia offers a total solution empowering
clients at every stage of the media process. It raised
$300 million at its IPO on NASDAQ and debuted on March 9,
2007 under the ticker XFML. XFL owns 36.9% of the Company
following the IPO.
Moody's also acknowledged the ongoing positive
developments in XFL's operational performance with FY06
operating results slightly ahead of expectations.
In February, XFL reported, under International
Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), 2006 full
year consolidated revenue of US$175.0 million and net income
of US$18.7 million, which represented gains of 59% and 82%
respectively over those of the last fiscal year and came in
ahead of forecasts of US$166.0 million and US$18.5 million,
respectively.
Xinhua Finance CEO Fredy Bush said, "We're pleased
to have received this upgrade, which represents Moody's'
recognition of our strategy for long-term profitable growth
and the strides we've made across all of our service lines,
especially the milestone in our distribution business with
Xinhua Finance Media successfully listed on NASDAQ."
"We're well positioned to deliver on our strategic
plans to maintain our market leadership in our content
service, and meanwhile profit from our unique distribution
platform targeting the increasing high-net-worth
demographics in China," she added.
According to Moody's, the stable outlook reflects its
expectation that XFL would execute its business plan as
planned and maintain its competitiveness in the near to
medium term.
Notes to Editors
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's premier financial
information and media service provider and is listed on the
Mothers board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADR: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and
the world, Xinhua Finance serves financial institutions,
corporations and re-distributors through four focused and
complementary service lines: Indices, Ratings, Financial
News and Investor Relations. Founded in November 1999, the
Company is headquartered in Shanghai with 20 news bureaus
and offices in 19 locations across Asia, Australia, North
America and Europe.
For more information, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com .
This is a press release to the public and should not be
relied on as information to make an investment decision by
any investor. Investors should read the Company's
Securities Report filed to Tokyo Stock Exchange and
consider the risk factors together with other information
contained therein when making an investment decision. This
press release contains some forward-looking statements that
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of
factors could cause actual results, performance,
achievements of the Company or industries in which it
operates to differ materially from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Xinhua Finance
Hong Kong/Shanghai
Ms. Joy Tsang
Tel: +852-3196-3983, +852-9486-4364,
+86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
Japan
Mr. Sun Jiong
Tel: +81-3-3221-9500
Email: jsun@xinhuafinance.com
Taylor Rafferty (Media/IR Contact)
Japan
Mr. James Hawrylak
Tel: +81-3-5444-2730
Email: james.hawrylak@taylor-rafferty.com
United States
Mr. John Dudzinsky
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Email: John.Dudzinsky@taylor-rafferty.com
Europe
Faisal Kanth
Tel: +44-20-7614-2900
Email: Faisal.Kanth@taylor-rafferty.co.uk
2007'04.26.Thu
Avnet Wins AMD's Distributor of the Year 2006 Award for Asia Pacific
April 25, 2007
Avnet's Dedicated Sales and Marketing Focus on AMD Products
Delivers No. 1 Global Distribution Position for Fourth Year
in a Row
HONG KONG, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Avnet
Technology Solutions, Asia, an operating group of Avnet,
Inc., (NYSE: AVT) announced today that its Computing
Components business unit was recently recognized as AMD's
(NYSE:AMD) top-performing global distributor for 2006.
Avnet Computing Components is the channel's leading source
globally for AMD technology, and was also honored Avnet as
Distributor of the Year for the Asia Pacific, Europe and
North America regions. This marks the fourth consecutive
year that Avnet achieved the No. 1 global distribution
position for AMD products.
"Avnet's 35-year partnership with AMD has earned
us a unique position of global strength and local expertise
within the sales channel for whitebox system builders,"
said Jaideep Malhotra, vice president and GM, Asia Pacific.
"Avnet Computing Components strategically aligns its
sales and marketing efforts with AMD's to consistently
drive growth with channel partners in every region. During
2006, Avnet invested in high growth markets for AMD
products by deploying new resources in China, India, and
South Asia Pacific (including Australia). We plan to
continue our success in 2007, in part by helping our
channel partners develop innovative solutions that take
advantage of AMD's multi-core platforms."
Key to Avnet's long-term success with AMD has been its
comprehensive support for new product launches. The company
works with a variety of global and regional AMD-approved
infrastructure partners to develop complete solutions for
its PC systems builder and value-added reseller (VAR)
channel partners prior to launch dates. Avnet also provides
dedicated sales, marketing, financial, solutions support to
help its channel partners profitably grow their businesses
faster.
"We truly appreciate Avnet's long-term commitment
to AMD," said Pierre-Yves Ferrard, corporate vice
president, Worldwide Channel Sales & Marketing at AMD.
"Relationships like these don't develop overnight.
Year after year, Avnet is there for us with an unrelenting
passion for expanding our global reach, and helping our
channel partners take advantage of new growth
opportunities."
About Avnet Computing Components, Asia Pacific
Avnet Computing Components, Asia Pacific is part of the
Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet Inc.
(NYSE:AVT). The technology channel's No. 1 source globally
for current and next-generation AMD technology, Avnet
Computing Components provides cost-effective AMD
processor-based desktop, notebook and server solutions and
complementary components for value-added resellers, system
builders and OEMs.
About Avnet
With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70
countries worldwide, Avnet markets, distributes and adds
value to the products of the world's leading electronic
component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and
embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a
breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as
supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product
assembly, device programming, computer system integration
and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year
ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25
billion. Visit http://www.avnet.com/ .
For more information, please contact:
Peggy Lee
Avnet Technology Solutions, Asia Pacific
Tel: +852-2176-5386
Email: peggy.lee@avnet.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Avnet Electronics Marketing's X-Fest Explodes into Action in China
April 25, 2007
Standing Room Only for Attendees at Beijing Launch Event,
Exceeding Projections by More Than 200 Percent
PHOENIX and SAN JOSE, Calif., April 25
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- There was standing room only at the
launch of Avnet Electronics Marketing's X-Fest global
seminar and training series in Beijing on 3 April -- the
first in a 90-city worldwide programme jointly sponsored by
Avnet, Xilinx and industry leaders together in a
collaborative effort to provide system level solutions for
customers to meet with design challenges.
More than 300 delegates -- twice the number originally
anticipated -- packed the main ballroom and function rooms
of the X-Fest venue in downtown Beijing for specialised
training on design solutions for FPGA circuitry and the
components surrounding FPGAs.
X-Fest also created a sensation at its next stop,
Shanghai, attracting close to 300 delegates to an event
originally designed for half that number. In addition to
technical sessions, attendees in Shanghai and Beijing also
witnessed demonstrations and displays sponsored by Agilent
Technologies, Analog Devices, Hirain, Lauterbach,
LynuxWorks, National Semiconductor, Rigol, Synplicity,
Texas Instruments, The MathWorks and Xilinx, which offered
a unique opportunity to explore some of the latest design
solutions.
"We thought China was the obvious choice to launch
the X-Fest global seminar series because it is the heart of
the global electronics manufacturing machine," said
Tim Barber, vice president of global Xilinx marketing for
Avnet Electronics Marketing. "The outstanding results
of these first two sessions demonstrate that Avnet hears
the voice of customers and fulfilled their needs - the
customers are driving for system level solutions and moving
away from the single component solution support, which help
them overcome design challenges and complex market
demand."
After the kick-off in Beijing and Shanghai, X-Fest
events continue to run throughout April in five other China
cities including Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xian, and
Shenzhen. X-Fest will continue its global tour throughout
May-July 2007 in locations in Asia, including Korea, India,
Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan. X-Fest events
are also planned throughout Europe, Japan and North
America. Complete program and registration information is
available online at http://em.avnet.com/xfest07 .
"The global X-Fest program is the first of its
kind in the electronics distribution industry," Barber
added. "Joining forces with Xilinx and our other
partners has created an event which encompasses an entire
ecosystem of providers who can showcase the latest design
solutions that integrate with Xilinx FPGAs. What attendees
get is something very special -- an intense, single-day
session where design engineers can connect with multiple
suppliers to explore the latest breakthroughs in the FPGA
design space."
Attendees left the first two X-Fest events armed with
the tools and practical knowledge necessary to tackle new
and existing design challenges for embedded processing,
DSP, power supplies, memory interfaces and analog front
ends.
"The key to X-Fest's success is that it gives
design engineers deep insight into the key technology
domains. These are areas where Xilinx FPGAs deliver unique,
high impact capabilities, such as embedded processing,
digital signal processing, serial connectivity and logic
design," said Omid Tahernia, vice president and
general manager of the Processing Solutions Group at
Xilinx. "We look forward to replicating this success
as the event rolls on to cover 90 cities around the world,
allowing designers to explore and assess how these
breakthrough solutions can be applied to their own design
innovations.".
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of
Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500
company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic
original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic
manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 70 countries,
distributing electronic components from leading
manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and
supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at
http://www.em.avnet.com .
About Avnet
With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70
countries worldwide, Avnet (NYSE: AVT) markets, distributes
and adds value to the products of the world's leading
electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer
manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers.
Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service
capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics
solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer
system integration and engineering design assistance. For
the fiscal year ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue
of $14.25 billion. Visit www.avnet.com/ .
About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. is the worldwide leader of programmable
logic solutions. For more information, visit
http://www.xilinx.com .
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Snowden
Xilinx North America
Tel: +1-408-879-6146
Email: tamara.snowden@xilinx.com
Jody Janusch LaRoque
Avnet Electronics Marketing Public Relations
Tel: +1-406-624-6171
Email: jody.janusch@avnet.com
Jaime Chan
Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia
Tel: +852-2410-2735
Email: jaime.chan@avnet.com
2007'04.26.Thu
New Marsh Study Indicates: As Risks Rise, So Do Concerns Among National Oil Companies About Their Ability to Cope
April 25, 2007
Those Responsible for 90% of World's Oil Reserves Express
Concern About Their Full Understanding of the Emerging
Risks They Face
NEW YORK, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Less than 10%
of National Oil Company (NOC) leaders surveyed by Marsh Inc.
strongly feel they have a full understanding of the risks
they face -- and how to effectively manage them.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200704251152.gif
)
This finding was contained in a new study released
today by Marsh, the world's leading risk and insurance
services firm, examining risks and operational challenges
among state-owned oil enterprises. Marsh gathered much of
the data from a recent groundbreaking global risk advisory
meeting held in Dubai and attended by approximately 250
leaders from NOCs, government and academia.
"The Impact of Risk on National Oil
Companies," available at http://www.marsh.com , also
reveals a strong desire by NOC leaders to understand risk
better and find better ways to share related best
practices. More than 90% of the NOC leaders Marsh polled
agreed that more discussion forums were needed.
"The spectrum of risk that business leaders face
today is far more complex than ever before," said
Brian Storms, chairman and CEO of Marsh. "Not too long
ago, the top concern for an NOC might have been a fire at a
refinery. But the study we conducted at the Marsh National
Oil Companies Conference in Dubai shows that newer risks --
such as the impact of climate change -- are moving near the
top of the list."
Storms added: "As the world's premier broker, we
will continue to provide clients with unrivaled excellence
in insurance placements. But we'll also deliver the best
in business risk advice to help clients like NOCs go beyond
risk transfer and turn their potential liabilities into
competitive advantages."
Andrew George, Marsh's Marine & Energy leader in
Dubai, said: "We're hopeful the many eye-opening
findings contained in this new research will help
accelerate an open dialogue on the risk issues and business
challenges NOCs face. Our mission is to promote greater
awareness and collaboration among companies that are
assuming critical leadership roles in the global energy
market."
Marsh also cited other potential risks faced by
national oil companies, including the potential for a
terrorist act to halt distribution, the effects of a major
natural disaster on production, the potential vulnerability
of supply chains - especially due to the threat of avian
flu, as well as a variety of operational risks, reputation
risks, strategic risks and financial risks.
In response to the findings within the report, Marsh
said it will again sponsor and lead its second annual risk
advisory conference for NOCs in February of 2008.
About Marsh
Marsh has 26,000 employees and annual revenues
approaching $5 billion. The firm provides advice and
transactional capabilities to clients in over 100
countries. Marsh is a unit of Marsh & McLennan
Companies (MMC), a global professional services firm with
approximately 55,000 employees and approximately $12
billion in annual revenues. MMC is also the parent company
of Guy Carpenter, Kroll, Mercer, and Putnam Investments.
MMC's stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York,
Chicago, and London stock exchanges. MMC's Web site is
http://www.mmc.com . Marsh's Web site is
http://www.marsh.com .
For more information, please contact:
Starry ZOU
Marketing and Communications Manager
Marsh Greater China
Tel: +86-10-6533-4008
Email: starry.zou@marsh.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Honoured At China Hotel Investment Summit -- Being Recognised as the Best in Service Excellence in the Industry
April 25, 2007
Starwood wins International Hospitality Excellence Award at
the largest annual gathering in the China hotel industry
SINGAPORE, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Starwood
Hotels & Resorts has been voted as Best International
Hotel Chain for Hospitality Excellence at the recent China
Hotel Investment Summit (CHIS) in China, organized by HVS
International.
The prestigious CHIS International Hospitality
Excellence Award recognizes leading organizations that are
committed to advancement of the hospitality industry and
has consistently delivered excellence in the hospitality
service sector. The recipient should have an international
presence and demonstrated commitment towards excellence.
CHIS 2007 is the most established and largest hotel summit
of its kind on China's hospitality investment, and is
attended by close to 500 top leaders of the international
hotel community and prominent Chinese hoteliers.
As the first international hotel chain to enter China
over 25 years ago, Starwood has been very active with
training and development of the upscale service standards
in China through various training programs and brand
standards for products and services, raising the
hospitality service standards in the upscale and luxury
segments of China to a whole new level with its entry.
These training programs include comprehensive and
continuous activities and initiatives that guide hotel
associates on delivering the best service by brands.
"We are thrilled that we are recognized amongst
industry leaders as the best in service excellence. This
is the largest annual gathering in the China hotel industry
and we are very honored to win this. Our ultimate goal is
not only to offer our guests products and services that set
the benchmark for the industry, but also to create memorable
branded lifestyle experiences for our guests through
excellent guest service and initiatives to enhance guests'
experiences and drive loyalty to our hotels,"
commented Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels &
Resorts, Asia Pacific.
In addition to the CHIS Award, Starwood is also voted
China's Top 10 hotel chains in a recent TTG -- Euromonitor
International survey. Organized by TTG Asia Media with
Official Market Information Provider, Euromonitor
International, the results of China Top 10 is obtained
through a six-month long study of official data, local
trade press information, and interviews with players from
all areas of the industry. The rankings will provide top
performance benchmarks for new investors who are interested
in China's booming travel and tourism industry, and to help
them understand the China market better. Starwood Hotels
& Resorts has been ranked among the top 10 performing
travel and tourism organizations under the China Top 10
Hotel Chains category.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest
international upscale hotel groups in Greater China, has
been expanding aggressively in China for the last few
years. Just in the first quarter of the year, Starwood has
announced the signing of 13 new hotels in China and Taiwan.
These hotels constitute an addition of close to 7,000 rooms
to the Starwood portfolio in Greater China. This expansion
throughout Greater China follows on from the six new hotels
that opened in 2006 ( Sheraton Urumqi Hotel, Le Royal
Meridien Shanghai, Four Points by Sheraton Shanghai,
Pudong, Sheraton Ningbo Hotel, Sheraton Xiamen Hotel, The
Westin Beijing, Financial Street ). Starwood Hotels &
Resorts currently operates 34 hotels in Greater China, and
is expected to open 37 new hotels within the next 3 years.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of
the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with
approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and
145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator
and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following
internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury
Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by
Sheraton, W(R), Le M¨¦ridien(R) and the recently announced
ALOFTSM and ELEMENTSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns
Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier
developers and operators of high quality vacation interval
ownership resorts. For more information, please visit
http://www.starwoodhotels.com and
http://www.starwoodpressclub.com .
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of federal securities
regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance or events and involve risks and
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are
made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail
in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable
assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations
will be attained or that results and events will not
materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)
For more information, please contact:
Hwee Peng Yeo
Director, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6335-4837
Fax: +65-6335-4820
Email: hweepeng.yeo@starwoodhotels.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Achievo Enters Partnership with CA
April 25, 2007
Software and IT Outsourcing Company to Implement, Customize
and Maintain CA Products for China Clients; Announcement at
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2007
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Achievo(C) Corporation, the leading global software and
information technology outsourcing provider with a local
front-end and China back-end service model, today announced
it has signed a vendor service agreement with CA to provide
professional services to CA clients in China. Under the
terms of the agreement, Achievo will provide CA product
implementation, customization and maintenance. Recently,
Achievo announced it had added a team of CA-certified
engineers to its work force in Beijing.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200611291032.jpg
)
"Partners such as CA rely on Achievo to help them
provide clients with the implementation, customization, and
maintenance of solutions that meet their specifications and
requirements," said Dr. Robert P. Lee, Achievo's
chairman and CEO. "Our partners are keenly aware of
our management abilities and technical expertise, and know
from experience that our project managers and engineers can
deliver the level of service and support their clients
expect. We have earned our partners' trust, and have helped
them to grow their business."
"We have a history of working with CA to provide a
better process and delivery team for their clients
worldwide," said Fox Hu, general manager of the
Achievo Guangzhou division in China. "Achievo
successfully developed a global call center and help desk
system for Huawei, a CA customer. This customized
application was based on CA's Unicenter ServiceDesk. The
fact that CA was satisfied with Achievo's service and hired
us again is a testament to Achievo's ability to craft a
high-quality solution around a client's business
requirements using CA technologies."
Huawei Technologies is a leader in providing next
generation telecommunications networks. The company is
headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and serves 31 of the
world's top 50 operators, along with over one billion users
worldwide.
About CA
CA (NYSE: CA), one of the world's largest information
technology (IT) management software companies, unifies and
simplifies the management of enterprise-wide IT. Founded in
1976, CA is headquartered in Islandia, N.Y., and serves
customers in more than 140 countries. For more information,
please visit http://www.ca.com .
About Achievo
Achievo is a global offshore software and information
technology outsourcing provider with a local front-end and
China back-end service model. With expertise in diverse
technologies including Java/J2EE, .NET and embedded
platforms, the CMM- and ISO- certified company offers
improved efficiencies, scale, diversification, and a
combined talent pool to deliver cost-effective,
quality-centric, and scalable IT outsourcing services to
customers and partners worldwide. Customers include Accela,
Audi, BMO Bank of Montreal, CA, China Mobile,
DaimlerChrysler, Hitachi, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nomura,
Siemens, Toyota and Vidient. Headquartered in the Silicon
Valley, Achievo has offices in the United States, Canada,
Germany, Greater China and Japan. For information on the
company and its services, visit http://www.achievo.com .
For more information, please contact:
Jayme Curtis, Public Relations
Achievo Corporation
Tel: +1 408.892.8661
Email: jayme.curtis@achievo.com
2007'04.26.Thu
RFMD Expands Shanghai Facility to Include Research & Development
April 25, 2007
GREENSBORO, N.C. April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- RF
Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a global leader in the
design and manufacture of high-performance radio systems
and solutions for applications that drive mobile
communications, today announced the addition of a research
and development (R&D) center in the Company's Shanghai
facility. Located in Shanghai's Zhanjiang High-Tech Park,
the addition of this R&D center underscores the
Company's continued growth in the world's largest market
for handheld devices.
The new center will expand RFMD's product development
capacity to support original design manufacturers (ODMs),
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and local and
international handset manufacturers throughout the Far
East. Increasing RFMD's internal design capacity of
front-end solutions and transceivers will allow for
significantly improved design cycle times and reduced
manufacturing and shipping costs to customers.
"The opening of RFMD's new research and
development center greatly increases the value we provide
our existing customers and enables RFMD to further meet
customer demand in Greater China, said David Wang, RFMD
country manager of China & director of the Shanghai
research and development center. "With this new
center, RFMD's world-class R&D team is better equipped
to deliver innovative RF solutions that meet our customers
needs.
"RFMD's continued expansion into the Greater China
market demonstrates our focus on supporting the local
manufacturers in this territory, said Greg Thompson, RFMD
vice president of worldwide sales and applications
engineering. "This new location will expand our
research and development efforts, while strengthening
RFMD's operations across Greater China as a complete source
for design, manufacturing, supply chain, sales and field
applications engineering support.
With the addition of RFMD's new research and
development center, the Company's investment in the Greater
China market includes a sales and customer support center in
Shenzhen, China, a module assembly facility and test and
tape and reel facility in Beijing, China, a customer
support center in Shanghai, China and a sales and customer
support center in Taipei, Taiwan. RFMD employs more than
1000 people in the Greater China area
About RFMD:
RFMD (Nasdaq: RFMD) is a global leader in the design
and manufacture of high-performance radio systems and
solutions for applications that drive mobile
communications. RFMD's power amplifiers, transmit modules,
cellular transceivers and system-on-chip (SOC) solutions
enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity
and support advanced functionality in current- and
next-generation mobile handsets, cellular base stations,
wireless local area networks (WLANs) and global positioning
systems (GPS). Recognized for its diverse portfolio of
state-of-the-art semiconductor technologies and vast RF
systems expertise, RFMD is a preferred supplier enabling
the world's leading mobile device manufacturers to deliver
advanced wireless capabilities that satisfy current and
future market demands.
Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001-
and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide
engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is
traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol
RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's web site at
http://www.rfmd.com .
This press release includes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives,
representations and contentions and are not historical
facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as
"may," "will," "should,"
"could," "expect," "plan,"
"anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "predict,"
"potential," "continue" and similar
words, although some forward-looking statements are
expressed differently. You should be aware that the
forward-looking statements included herein represent
management's current judgment and expectations, but our
actual results, events and performance could differ
materially from those expressed or implied by
forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any
of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce
the results of any revisions to these forward-looking
statements, other than as is required under the federal
securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to
numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in
quarterly operating results, the rate of growth and
development of wireless markets, risks associated with the
operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular
beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and test and tape
and reel facilities, our ability to attract and retain
skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in
production yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve
gross margins by implementing innovative technologies, our
ability to bring new products to market, our ability to
adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response
to changes in demand for our products, dependence on a
limited number of customers, and dependence on third
parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are
described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and
developments to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking
statements.
RF MICRO DEVICES and RFMD are trademarks of RFMD,
LLC. All other trade names, trademarks and registered
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
RF Micro Devices, Inc.
Brian K. Cockman, Public Relations
Tel: +1-336-678-8945
Doug Delieto, VP, Investor Relations
Tel: +1-336-678-7968
2007'04.26.Thu
Erdene Announces Start of Resource Delineation Drilling on the Zuun Mod Molybdenum Project
April 25, 2007
Minarco Provides Project Recommendations
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Erdene Gold Inc. (TSX: ERD) today announced that it is
commencing its 2007 drilling program at its wholly owned
Zuun Mod molybdenum project in Mongolia based on advice
from Minarco Asia Pacific Pty Limited
("Minarco"), who have recommended a two-stage
delineation drilling program. The company has signed
contracts with drilling, surveying and logistical companies
with two drill rigs now being mobilized to the project site
to begin drilling in early May.
"With the current infrastructure build-up in the
south Gobi region as a result of the pending development of
world-class ore bodies, a booming Chinese steel industry and
the resultant strong growth in molybdenum consumption, we
believe the Zuun Mod molybdenum project is well positioned
for future development," said Peter Akerley, President
and CEO. "We have carried out an extensive exploration
program at Zuun Mod and we are very excited to now advance
the project more aggressively to further define the
resources in the main target zones while testing additional
anomalies within this very large area of molybdenum
mineralization."
Minarco Review and Recommendations
As announced on February 22, 2007, Erdene appointed
Minarco to evaluate strategic options and advise on project
planning and design for the Zuun Mod molybdenum project.
Minarco is a prominent mining and energy industry advisor
in the Asia Pacific region and has recently been involved
in assisting China Molybdenum with the technical aspects of
its Initial Public Offering. As well, Minarco has worked on
various projects with many of China's major coal and steel
producers.
Minarco's review, based on the drill results and other
data, indicates the Zuun Mod molybdenum project has the
potential to host reserves in the two most advanced zones
(Racetrack and Stockwork zones), and their extensions, of
similar tonnage to other major molybdenum projects being
currently developed else where in the world with average
grades equal to or greater than 0.05% Mo. In addition,
Minarco suggests that there is the potential for a large
portion (approximately 40%) of the resource to be equal to
or greater than 0.07% Mo. Proximity to surface varies in
each target area ranging from surface in the less explored
Intersection zone and starting from 50 to 96 metres of
surface continuing to a maximum tested depth of 435 metres
in the Racetrack and Stockwork zones where most of the work
to date has been concentrated. In addition, Minarco
believes there is reasonable potential to identify
additional targets within the identified 7.5 kilometre long
by 600 metre wide molybdenum-in-rock surface geochemical
anomaly.
Minarco has recommended a two-phase program:
Phase I
Phase I drilling will include a 200 metre spaced grid
drilling program on the Stockwork and Racetrack Zones.
This drilling is expected to provide sufficient detail for
the definition of the extent of mineralization already
identified in these areas. This phase will also include
further work intended to identify and test additional
targets within the 7.5 kilometre long molybdenum-in-rock
surface geochemical anomaly. It is anticipated that a
minimum of 15 holes will be drilled at an average depth of
250 metres in Phase I. This program will provide greater
certainty for focusing the Phase II 100 metre spaced grid
drilling program which will be the basis for generating an
anticipated resource estimate for the Zuun Mod molybdenum
project during 2007.
Phase II
The objective of Phase II is to define a resource
estimate based on 100 metre spaced drill holes to a depth
of approximately 250 metres. The goal is to identify a
minimum 250 million tonnes with an average grade greater
than or equal to 0.05% Mo. Targets would be determined
based on Phase I results with a focus on infilling areas
with higher grade, nearest surface mineralization while
defining the boundary to the resource areas.
Project Contracts
Two diamond core drill rigs have been mobilized and are
expected to begin drilling by the first week of May 2007.
Erdene has signed a contract with Falcon Drilling Mongolia
LLC for a minimum 3,500 metres drill project in Phase I.
Surveying contractor Monmet Engineering Co., Ltd has been
retained to establish a grid at 100 metre spacing over the
southern portion of the Zuun Mod target area. This grid
will be used for drill hole placement as well as a detailed
geophysical survey (magnetics) to be completed in the
immediate area of the two main zones. The field-camp set
up is now being completed.
Zuun Mod Summary
(The reader is referred to the Zuun Mod plan map and
drill results that have been posted on the Erdene home page
at http://www.erdene.com )
The Zuun Mod molybdenum project is located in
southwestern Mongolia, approximately 160 kilometres north
of the Chinese Mongolia border and approximately 200
kilometres from the Nariin Sukhait Coal Mine, Mongolia's
largest exporter of coal to China. Rail has been
constructed from the Chinese industrial city of Jiayuguan,
Gansu Province, to the Mongolian border near the Nariin
Sukhait Coal Mine. More than $4 million has been spent on
exploration at Zuun Mod since discovery including 30
diamond drill holes totaling 9,313 meters.
Molybdenum exploration at Zuun Mod is focused on the
southern half of the porphyry complex where a semi-circular
shaped continuous molybdenum-in-rock surface geochemical
anomaly has been traced over 7.5 kilometres over a width of
approximately 600 metres. Sixteen of the 30 holes drilled
throughout the Zuun Mod porphyry complex have been
completed within this anomalous zone. Drill hole spacing
ranges from approximately 100 metres to 2.5 kilometres
within this zone with all but one of the holes intersecting
thick sequences of altered and quartz stock-worked
lithologies with highly anomalous to potentially economic
molybdenum mineralization. To date, exploration within
this area has focused on two main zones, the Racetrack and
Stockwork Zones.
Racetrack Zone
The core mineralized area within the Racetrack zone has
been intersected in four holes spaced over a distance of 330
metres. The molybdenum mineralization comes within 54
metres of surface and has an average grade of 0.06% Mo over
an average 123 metre thickness. A slightly lower average
grade of 0.05% Mo continues throughout each of the holes to
depth, averaging 295 metres. This zone has been tested to a
maximum of 416 metres and all holes ended in significant
molybdenum mineralization. The southern most hole in the
Racetrack zone (ZMD-13) returned a 20 metre section at 72
metres depth averaging 0.11% Mo within a 194 metre zone
from 56 metres to 250 metres of 0.06% Mo. The area from
this hole to hole KKMD-09, 1.6 kilometres to the southwest
remains untested. Hole KKMD-09 is located on the western
edge of the Stockwork zone and returned 56 metres of 0.04%
Mo starting at 70 metre depth.
Stockwork Zone
The Stockwork zone, located 1.6 kilometres southwest of
the Racetrack zone, includes several holes that have
intersected highly anomalous to potentially economic
molybdenum mineralization. KKMD-03 returned 280 metres of
0.06% Mo from 46 metres to the bottom of the hole
terminating in a 53 metre zone averaging 0.09% Mo. This
higher grade zone included a 20 metre section that averaged
0.15% Mo. In addition to the molybdenum mineralization,
hole KKMD-03 returned an average grade of 0.3g/t rhenium
("Re") from 98 metres to 228 metres, a 130 metre
interval. KKMD-03 was the only hole to date analyzed for
rhenium which is a valuable heavy metal by-product of some
molybdenum ores used in the manufacture of microchip
processors.
Two holes have been drilled immediately north (100 to
150 metres) of KKMD-03 that intersected highly anomalous
molybdenum mineralization throughout, locally returning
0.1% to 0.4% Mo over 2 metres. Holes ZMD-14 and KKMD-09
were drilled 150 metres and 550 metres west of KKMD-03,
respectively. Hole ZMD-14 retuned a 62-metre intersection
of 0.05% Mo and KKMD-09 returned 56 metres of 0.04% Mo
starting at 70 metres depth. The Stockwork zone remains
open to the west and southwest.
Other Target Areas
The Intersection zone is located to the northeast of
the Racetrack zone and covers an area approximately 1.5
kilometres by 1.3 kilometres in which three widely spaced
drill holes have been completed to date. Strongly
anomalous results have been returned from each of the three
holes including a 10 metre intersection from surface of
0.05% Mo, 32 metres of 0.07% Mo and 2 metre intervals up to
0.27% Mo.
All of the mineralized zones described above lie within
the eastern half of a 7.5 kilometre long semi-circular
shaped molybdenum-in-rock surface geochemical anomaly
located in the southern half of the Zuun Mod property. The
western half of this anomaly has only been tested by two
drill holes in the extreme northwestern portion, one of
which returned anomalous molybdenum throughout. This
geochemical anomaly remains untested over a 2.3 kilometre
area extending from hole KKMD-09 located in the Stockwork
zone, to the northwest, an area that is partially covered
by younger sediments.
Molybdenum
Global molybdenum consumption has increased
approximately 80% in the past 15 years and global
molybdenum consumption continues to grow at approximately
4.5% annually. A number of factors support continued
growth in consumption at a similar level over the longer
term. These factors include continued strong growth in
China's demand, strong global growth in nearly all steel
end-use sectors, in particular, oil and gas pipelines,
stainless steel, aircraft and construction markets, and
continued strong demand in both metallurgical and chemical
segments. Molybdenum oxide is currently trading at
approximately US$30 per pound.
About Erdene Gold Inc.
Erdene is a diversified mineral company with
exploration properties focused on high-growth commodities
and near-production assets. The company has a strong
portfolio of exploration properties in Mongolia focused on
base metals (copper and molybdenum), precious metals (gold
and palladium) and energy (coal and uranium). Erdene has
strategic alliances with Xstrata Coal to develop its coal
properties in Mongolia. Xstrata Coal is a significant
Erdene shareholder with a 4% ownership of the company's
common shares and has representation on its board of
directors. In addition, Erdene has near-term cash flow
opportunities in its North American assets, which includes
its 25% interest in the Donkin Coal Alliance in Nova Scotia
with Xstrata Coal Donkin Limited and agreements with J.M.
Huber Corporation and Rinker Materials as operators and
developers in the southeast U.S. for its kaolin clay and
aggregate projects respectively. Erdene has a current cash
and equivalent position of approximately $14.8 million with
64,311,127 common shares issued and outstanding and a fully
diluted share position of 73,230,852.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein
may constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
statements may include estimates, plans, expectations,
opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other
statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene
believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to have been
correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be
affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond
its control, and that future events and results may vary
substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in forward-looking statements include market prices,
exploitation and exploration results, continued
availability of capital and financing and general economic,
market or business conditions. The forward-looking
statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by
this cautionary statement. The information contained herein
is stated as of the current date and subject to change after
that date.
For additional information visit Erdene's website at
http://www.erdene.com or contact the company via email at
info@erdene.com
For more information, please contact:
Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or
Ken W. MacDonald, Vice-President North America and
CFO
Tel: +1-902-423-6419
2007'04.26.Thu
Echelon Technology Selected for China's Growing Streetlight Market
April 25, 2007
LonWorks Platform Key to Long Term Strategy for China's
Enhanced Public Transportation Lighting Infrastructure
SAN JOSE, Calif. April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Echelon Corporation (Nasdaq: ELON), a leading provider of
networking technology that is used to manage and reduce
energy consumption, announced today that several major
highways and bridges in the Yangtze River Delta, one of the
fastest growing regions in China, have chosen Echelon's
LonWorks technology to better manage highway and bridge
lighting systems for increased security, beautification,
and reduced energy consumption. The lighting control system
will be installed and managed by Echelon's Authorized
Network Integrator Nanjing Lianhong Automation Co, Ltd.
"China's high growth transportation infrastructure
sector has put an urgent stamp on finding the most
innovative solutions for managing the country's power
quality, security and energy management processes, said
Baocai Wu, Nanjing Lianhong's CEO. "Echelon's
ultra-reliable LonWorks technology and products provide the
ideal infrastructure required for long-term projects like
street and bridge lighting. The open technology ensures
that products from multiple manufacturers can be added to
the system, now or in the future. The ability to add new
functionality, modify energy savings applications, and
conduct remote management were the key attributes that led
to the selection of the LonWorks platform as the basis of
the overall solution.
Project integrator Nanjing Lianhong needed to create an
open, flexible and reliable lighting control system to
reduce energy consumption and increase security. Using
Echelon's i.LON Internet servers and LonWorks open
standards networking protocol over a single fiber optic
network, Nanjing Lianhong is able to offer a system that
can remotely control and monitor substations, dehumidify
equipment, and serve as the public highway and bridge
lighting system.
One of the world's first open IP-based highway and
bridge implementations, more than 1,500 of China's highway
and bridge lights will be embedded with Echelon's LonWorks
networking protocol enabled FT smart transceivers.
Echelon's i.LON Internet server extends the local area
networks over the Internet and IP networks allowing all of
the sites to be remotely monitored using PCs and requiring
virtually no need for manpower. The system allows for
improved energy management and conservation, increased
security, and more efficient maintenance and operations.
Furthermore the networked lighting system will be leveraged
to beautify highways and bridges, turning the latter into
more notable landmarks.
"This win extends Echelon's lighting control
solutions to one of the world's most important markets, and
demonstrates the need for open, standards-based control
networks in both near and long-term projects, said Ken
Oshman, Echelon's chairman and CEO. "Energy management
is a great benefit of networked public lighting systems, and
China's new highway and bridge lighting control system
exemplifies the benefits of LonWorks networks
ultra-reliable control networks, open supplier markets now
and into the future, and extreme flexibility in function.
The following locations will use LonWorks based
solutions for lighting systems:
-- Shanghai and Nanjing highway, covering 288 km, a
key
corridor linking the cities of Shanghai and Nanjing;
-- Shanghai, Zhejian, Anhui and Jiangsu Expressway, a
key
highway linking four provinces;
-- Jiangsu SuTong Yangzi River Bridge, one of the
longest
suspension bridges in China; and
-- Hangzhou Qiantang River No. 4 Bridge.
About Nanjing Lianhong Automation, Co. Ltd
Nanjing Lianhong Automation is a leading LonWorks
system integrator specializing in the public infrastructure
sector and offers innovative automation solutions for better
energy management and reduced maintenance operations. More
information about Nanjing Lianhong Automation can be found
at http://www.nla.com.cn/english/ .
About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation (Nasdaq: ELON) is networking
company that provides products and systems that can monitor
and save energy, lower costs, improve productivity and
enhance service, quality, safety and convenience by
networking together everyday devices in utility, buildings,
industrial, transportation and home control systems. Tens of
millions of smart devices based on Echelon’s LonWorks
products and Networked Energy Services (NES) systems are in
use around the world today bringing benefits to consumers
and industry. More information about Echelon can be found
at http://www.echelon.com .
Echelon, LonWorks, i.LON, and the Echelon logo are
registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in
the United States and other countries. Other product or
service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their
respective owners.
This press release may contain statements relating to
future plans, events or performance. Such statements may
involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated
with uncertainties pertaining to the timing and level of
customer orders and demand for Echelon products and
services in outdoor lighting and other applications in
China and elsewhere; risks that these products do not
perform as designed, and that liability may accrue as a
result of the use of Echelon products and services in
outdoor or other lighting applications; risks associated
with the any changes that may occur in the directives
regarding outdoor lighting, safety or other policies, and
acceptance by local or regional government agencies of
LonWorks based solutions; risks relating to the growth of
the LonWorks industry; and other risks identified in
Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and
performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon
undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of
any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may
be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events.
For more information, please contact:
Julia O'Shaughnessy
Echelon Corporation
Tel: +1-408-938-5357
Email: julia@echelon.com
Allyson Stinchfield
Atomic Public Relations
Tel: +1-415-402-0230
Email: allyson@atomicpr.com
2007'04.26.Thu
North American Automakers Pledge Joint Effort on AIAG Workplace Standards Training for Automotive Suppliers in China
April 25, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Ford
Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler Group
have announced that they will provide free working
conditions training for all of their current suppliers in
China. Developed by the Automotive Industry Action Group
(AIAG), the training is designed to educate the suppliers
on prevailing Chinese labor laws and to reinforce OEM
commitment to healthy and safe working conditions for all
employees in their global automotive supply chains. The
training, which has gained support from the China
Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), will begin
in mid-2007.
"The single most important resource at any of our
member companies is people," said J. Scot Sharland,
AIAG's executive director. "Given the tremendous
growth of North American investment in the developing
Chinese automotive supply chain, it is imperative that
these companies are cognizant of local labor laws and
fundamentally understand that Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler
expect 100 percent compliance."
"To succeed in the automotive business in the
People's Republic of China, companies must understand our
local labor laws and abide by them," said a leader of
CAAM. "We are pleased that the Detroit automakers are
pledging this level of sponsorship for our developing
automotive supply base. The membership of CAAM supports
Chinese labor law education for the supply chain."
Launched in October 2005, AIAG's global working
conditions initiative is a collaborative industry-wide
project focused on promoting decent working conditions for
the millions of workers around the world involved in the
production of automobiles. AIAG is also coordinating
initial training sessions in Mexico starting in mid-2007
with the Business of Social Responsibility (BSR), a
nonprofit business association that has been awarded a
$165,000 grant from the U.S. State Department to help
support and advance the project and other third-party
providers.
About AIAG
Founded in 1982, AIAG is a globally recognized
organization where OEMs and suppliers unite to address and
resolve issues affecting the worldwide automotive supply
chain. AIAG's goals are to reduce cost and complexity
through collaboration; improve product quality, health,
safety and the environment; and optimize speed to market
throughout the supply chain. Headquartered in the metro
Detroit area, its more than 1,500 member companies include
North American, European and Asia-Pacific OEMs and
suppliers to the automotive industry. Additional
information is available on the Internet at
http://www.aiag.org .
About CAAM
CAAM is a nationwide automotive industry association of
Chinese automotive vehicle, motorcycle, auto parts and auto
related enterprises and groups, which is legally
established in accordance with the principles of equality
and volunteerism. Its business areas include the study of
economics, innovation and technology within the automotive
industry, suggestions to the government on development
plans and policies, trends of the domestic and
international automotive market, industry statistics under
the authorization of the government, sponsorships of
activities to promote communication between international
automotive industry organizations and organization of
exhibition conferences to help member enterprises engage
the domestic and international market under government
authorization. More information is available on the
Internet at http://www.caam.org.cn .
For more information, please contact:
Leslie Santos-Cotham
Automotive Industry Action Group
Tel: +1-248-358-9794
Email: lsantos-cotham@aiag.org
2007'04.26.Thu
MEDIA ADVISORY: European Premieres of Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 3
April 25, 2007
Spider-Man (TM) 3 Opens Worldwide Starting May 1st
WHAT: Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man(TM) 3 reunites
the cast and
filmmakers from the first two blockbuster
adventures for a web of
excitement that will transport worldwide
audiences to thrilling
new heights.
In Spider-Man(TM) 3, based on the legendary
Marvel Comics series,
Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a
balance between his
devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero.
But there is a
storm brewing on the horizon.
WHERE: Le Grand Rex - Paris, France
Rigoletto Theater - Stockholm, Sweden
Pushkinsky Cinema Hall - Moscow, Russia
Palacio de la Musica - Madrid, Spain
Cinestar Berlin - Berlin, Germany
Piazza della Republica - Rome, Italy
Odeon Leicester Square - London, United
Kingdom
SATELLITE INFORMATION
EUROPE
1st Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0100-0130 GMT
2nd Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0900-0930 GMT
3rd Feed:
Date: 30th April 2007
Time: 0400-0430 GMT
Satellite: Eutelsat W1 TXP B4 CH-1
Downlink Frequency: 11079.5 V
FEC: 3/4
Symbol: 5.632
Color: PAL
Uplink: Arqiva Winchester - UKI-WIN3 +44 (0) 1962
823000
Available at BT Tower from Pacific Television Center's
ABQH3
UK broadcasters call for complementary refeeds via
Tower. +44.207.702.1427
ASIA / PACIFIC
1st Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0100-0130 GMT
Satellite: IS-2/08C CH 4 Orb Loc: 169' E;
(formally PAS2)
D/L: 3901Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 3/4;
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 30.80;
Virtual Channel: 4; Network Id: 1;
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
2nd Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0300-0330 GMT
3rd Feed:
Date: 29th April 2007
Time: 1900-1930 GMT
Satellite: IS-2/08C CH 7 Orb Loc: 169' E;
(formally PAS2)
D/L: 3901Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 3/4;
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 30.80;
Virtual Channel: 7; Network Id: 1
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
AUSTRALIA
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0100-0130 GMT
Available at Sydney TOC ex GC Sydney. Call
+612.8258.7966 for access.
Australian broadcasters requiring a refeed should call
Pacific Television Center +1.310.287.3800
LATIN AMERICA
1st Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 0100-0130 GMT
2nd Feed:
Date: 28th April 2007
Time: 1300-1330 GMT
3rd Feed:
Date: 30th April 2007
Time: 0700-0730 GMT
Satellite: IS-9/10C CH7 Orb Loc: 58'W (formally PAS
9)
D/L: 3880Mhz Horizontal;
FEC: 7/8;
Symbol Rate (Ms/s): 27.69;
Virtual Channel: 7; Network Id: 5002;
Color: NTSC
Uplink: PAS NAPA +707.253.9466
For more information regarding the feeds or to request
a hardcopy, contact:
Black Diamond Media, Inc.
Tel: +1-310-451-5500
Email: dubs@blackdiamondmedia.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Aleris International, Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Assets of EKCO Products
April 25, 2007
BEACHWOOD, Ohio, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aleris
International, Inc. announced today that it has entered into
a definitive agreement with Charter Oak Capital Partners to
acquire the assets of EKCO Products, a light gauge sheet
and heavy gauge foil producer headquartered in Clayton, New
Jersey. Closing is expected to occur in the second quarter
and is subject to customary closing conditions.
Steve Demetriou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, "We believe the acquisition of EKCO Products
will be an excellent strategic fit with Aleris's existing
rolled products operations and will provide outstanding
opportunities to access new customers and end-uses for our
products."
John Wasz, Executive Vice President and President
Aleris Rolled Products - North America, added, "We
look forward to adding the EKCO Products management team,
who have extensive knowledge of the light gauge aluminum
segment as well as their dedicated workforce who have a
proven ability to deliver high quality products to
demanding customers."
Aleris International, Inc. is a global leader in
aluminum rolled products and extrusions, aluminum recycling
and specification alloy production. The Company is also a
recycler of zinc and a leading U.S. manufacturer of zinc
metal and value-added zinc products that include zinc oxide
and zinc dust. Headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb
of Cleveland, the Company operates 49 production facilities
in North America, Europe, South America and Asia, and
employs approximately 8,500 employees. For more
information about Aleris, please visit our Web site at
www.aleris.com.
SAFE HARBOR REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements made in this news release
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
include statements that contain words such as
"believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "intend,"
"estimate," "should" and similar
expressions intended to connote future events and
circumstances, and include statements regarding future
actual and adjusted earnings and earnings per share; future
improvements in margins, processing volumes and pricing;
overall 2007 operating performance; anticipated higher
adjusted effective tax rates; expected cost savings;
success in integrating Aleris's recent acquisitions,
including the acquisition of the downstream aluminum
businesses of Corus Group plc; its future growth; an
anticipated favorable economic environment in 2007; future
benefits from acquisitions and new products; expected
benefits from changes in the industry landscape and
anticipated synergies resulting from the merger with
Commonwealth, the acquisition of the downstream aluminum
businesses of Corus Group plc and other acquisitions.
Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results
could differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
would include, without limitation, Aleris's levels of
indebtedness and debt service obligations; its ability to
effectively integrate the business and operations of its
acquisitions; further slowdowns in automotive production in
the U.S. and Europe; the financial condition of Aleris's
customers and future bankruptcies and defaults by major
customers; the availability at favorable cost of aluminum
scrap and other metal supplies that Aleris processes; the
ability of Aleris to enter into effective metals, natural
gas and other commodity derivatives; continued increases in
natural gas and other fuel costs of Aleris; a weakening in
industrial demand resulting from a decline in U.S. or world
economic conditions, including any decline caused by
terrorist activities or other unanticipated events; future
utilized capacity of Aleris's various facilities; a
continuation of building and construction customers and
distribution customers reducing their inventory levels and
reducing the volume of Aleris's shipments; restrictions on
and future levels and timing of capital expenditures;
retention of Aleris's major customers; the timing and
amounts of collections; currency exchange fluctuations;
future write-downs or impairment charges which may be
required because of the occurrence of some of the
uncertainties listed above; and other risks listed in
Aleris's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), including but not limited
to Aleris's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2006, particularly the section entitled
"Risk Factors" contained therein.
( Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050504/CLW056LOGO )
For more information, please contact:
Michael D. Friday
Aleris International, Inc.,
Tel: +1-216-910-3503
2007'04.26.Thu
Otis Selected for Philippines' Tallest Residential Towers
April 25, 2007
FARMINGTON, Conn., April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Otis
Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:
UTX), won a nearly $4 million contract to supply and install
elevators at The St. Francis Shangri-La Place, expected to
be the tallest residential towers in the Philippines.
"We are honored that The Shang Grand Tower
Corporation, a member of the prestigious Kuok Group, has
selected Otis to provide elevators for this exclusive
residential project in the heart of Manila's metropolitan
area," said Sebi Joseph, President and general manager
of Otis Philippines.
The Kuok Group is renowned for its expertise in
property development, most notably its award-winning
Shangri-La chain of hotels and resorts, in addition to
other highly acclaimed residential, commercial and
industrial developments throughout Asia. The group's
latest residential development is The St. Francis
Shangri-La Place, which consists of two 60-floor luxury
high-rise residential towers in the Ortigas business
district of Mandaluyong City.
Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest
manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products
including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With
headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs
61,000 people, offers products and services in more than
200 countries and territories and maintains 1.5 million
elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified
company providing high technology products and services to
the building and aerospace industries.
For more information, please contact:
Tizz Weber, Director, Communications
Otis Elevator Company
Tel: +1-860-676-6127
Email: Tizz.Weber@Otis.com
2007'04.26.Thu
Sidley Austin LLP to Open Office in Australia
April 24, 2007
CHICAGO, NEW YORK and SYDNEY, Australia, April 24
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Sidley Austin LLP announced that it
will open an office in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
on May 1, 2007. At that time Bob Meyers, currently the
managing partner of the Sydney office of Pillsbury Winthrop
Shaw Pittman, will join the firm as partner, resident in
Sydney. With existing offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing,
Shanghai and Singapore, the Sydney office will be the sixth
Sidley office in the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Meyers is one of the leading US legal advisers to
Australian companies and Australian and international
investment banks on US and international capital raisings
and stock exchange listings, cross-border mergers and
acquisitions, structured finance and M&A transactions.
Tom Cole, Chair of the firm's Executive Committee,
noted "Our decision to open an office in Sydney and
the recruitment of Mr. Meyers demonstrate our commitment to
serving our clients throughout the world."
Tom Albrecht, a member of the firm's Executive and
Management Committees with responsibility for International
operations, noted, "For over twenty years, our firm has
represented investment banks and financial institutions
based in the Australian and New Zealand markets on US and
European capital markets, structured finance and related
transactions. Given the increased sophistication and
number of transactions that have been originated in the
Australian market, we believe that it is now time for us to
establish a local presence, and we are very fortunate to
have a lawyer with Bob's skills and reputation join us. The
US-qualified lawyers to be based in our Sydney office will
also provide additional depth and breadth to our existing
international legal practices based in the other Sidley
offices in the Asia Pacific time zone."
Mr. Meyers expressed his delight at joining Sidley,
commenting, "Sidley's longstanding experience in the
Australian and New Zealand markets, its strength in the
Asia Pacific region, its world class corporate, capital
markets and litigation practices and its reputation as one
of the world's leading international law firms is the
perfect platform for my practice and my clients."
Mr. Meyers will join Sidley's global corporate finance
and capital markets practice, which numbers several hundred
lawyers practicing in 11 offices around the world. Sidley
has long maintained one of the world's leading capital
markets' practices. For the third consecutive year, Sidley
was ranked top issuer counsel for U.S. debt, equity and
equity-related deals by Thomson Financial in its 2006 U.S.
law firm league tables. The firm advised on 548 deals
worth US$374.1 billion in deal value representing a market
share of 10.7 percent. Sidley also ranked number three as
underwriter's counsel in the same category with US$257.3
billion in deal value from 429 offerings representing a
market share of 7.2 percent. In the 2007 American Lawyer
Corporate Scorecard, Sidley ranked third (tied) for top law
firm transactional practice in the United States.
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world's largest
full-service law firms, with more than 1,700 lawyers
practicing in 15 U.S. and international cities including
Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London,
Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Sydney will be Sidley's
sixteenth office. In 2006, Sidley was named to Legal
Business' Global Elite, their designation for "the 15
finest law firms in the world." Sidley was again
named the number one law firm for overall client service by
BTI, a Boston-based consulting and research firm, in 2007.
BTI has also named Sidley to their Client Service Hall of
Fame as one of only two law firms to rank in the Client
Service Top 10 for six years in a row.
For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this
press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and
the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787
Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, +1-212-839-5300 and
Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603,
+1-312-853-7000. Prior results described herein do not
guarantee a similar outcome.
For more information, please contact:
Tom Albrecht
Partner
Tel: +1-312-853-7213
Email: talbrecht@sidley.com
Craig E. Chapman
Partner
Tel: +44-207-360-3640
Email: cchapman@sidley.com
Janet Zagorin
Director of Practice Development
Tel: +1-212-839-8797 (office),
+1-917-903-6555 (cell)
Email: jzagorin@sidley.com
2007'04.26.Thu
日立金属、鉄鋼圧延用ロールの価格を１５％以上値上げ
鉄鋼圧延用ロールの価格改定について
日立金属株式会社（本社：東京都港区、社長：持田農夫男、以下日立金属）は、国内向け鉄鋼圧延用鋳鉄ロール、鋳鋼ロールについて原材料価格の高騰分と値戻し分の価格改定を実施することといたしました。
記
１．概要
鉄鋼製品を圧延する工程において必要不可欠なロールは、鋼材の品質や生産性を左右する重要部材であり、高い精度や耐久性が求められる製品です。日立金属は、ロールのトップメーカーとして、高性能ロールの開発や原価低減を進めるとともに、高品質なロールの安定供給に努めてまいりました。
しかし、原材料であるレアメタルの価格などが高騰するなかで、アジアをはじめとする世界的な競争の激化も予想されるなど、ロール事業を取り巻く環境は厳しい状況になっていくと考えられます。その中でも持続して性能・品質の向上や安定供給を図り、お客様のニーズを満たして事業を強化していくためには、価格改定をせざるを得ない状況となっております。
そこで、原材料の高騰分に加え、長年に渡りお客様からの価格協力要請にお応えしていた部分についての価格改定を実施することといたしました。
なお、昨年６月に発表したハイスロール、耐摩耗性改善型ニッケルグレンロールを対象としたモリブデン、バナジウム、タングステン等の原材料価格スライド制の導入も引き続き推進してまいります。
２．改定内容
（１）対象製品：鉄鋼圧延用 鋳鉄ロール、鋳鋼ロール
（２）改定時期：２００６年度下期または２００７年度上期 受注分より
（３）改定率 ：１５％以上
以上
＜ お客様からのお問い合わせ ＞
日立金属株式会社 ロールカンパニー
ＴＥＬ０３－５７６５－３０７５
（ご参考）
ロールとは、円柱あるいは円筒状の形状のもので、機械にセットして回転できるように軸部を備えたものです。ロール２本あるいはそれ以上の個数をセットして使用します。その間隙に各種の圧延材を通過させ、形状の成形、表面の状態を制御するものです。
2007'04.26.Thu
アロシステム、インテル製ＣＰＵなど搭載のデスクトップＰＣ「ＬｅｓａｎｃｅＤＴ シリーズ」を発売
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ搭載パソコンが５９，９８０円から新発売！
さらに最新ビデオカードＧｅＦｏｒｃｅ８６００ＧＴＳ搭載ハイエンドモデルまで
豊富なラインナップで新登場！！
全国で、パソコン工房・ＴＷＯＴＯＰ・Ｆａｉｔｈを展開するアロシステム株式会社（社長：大野三規、本社：大阪市浪速区）では、アロシステムブランドのデスクトップパソコン『ＬｅｓａｎｃｅＤＴ シリーズ』の性能とコストパフォーマンスを更にアップして２００７年４月２６日より販売開始いたします。
ローエンドモデルではＷｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ）Ｈｏｍｅ ＰｒｅｍｉｕｍにデュアルコアＣＰＵ ＰｅｎｔｉｕｍＤプロセッサ９２５を搭載したＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰ９２５ＲＡＭが５９，９８０円の低価格で登場！
新たにラインアップに加わったインテル社製デュアルコアＣＰＵ、Ｃｏｒｅ（ＴＭ）２ＤｕｏプロセッサーＥ６３２０（１．８６ＧＨｚ、ＦＳＢ １，０６６ＭＨｚ、２次キャッシュ４ＭＢ）搭載モデルＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰＥ６３２０ＲＡＭも用意。
さらにＤｉｒｅｃｔＸ１０対応ＧＰＵのＧｅＦｏｒｃｅ８６００ＧＴＳとＷｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ）の最上位モデルのＷｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ）Ｕｌｔｉｍａｔｅを標準搭載したＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＵＥ６７００ＲＡＭ／ＧＦ８６ＧＴＳも発売予定（５月上旬予定）。
４９，９８０円のエントリーモデルでは、Ｐｅｎｔｉｕｍ４プロセッサにＷｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ）Ｈｏｍｅ Ｂａｓｉｃを搭載した廉価モデルＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＢ６３１ＲＡＭも発売いたします。
また、全機種ＢＴＯに対応しており、メモリのアップグレードをはじめ、同時発売のｔｈｅ ２００７ Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｓｙｓｔｅｍも選択可能になっております。
【製品名】
＜Ｉｎｔｅｌ社製ＣＰＵ搭載デスクトップモデル＞
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＵＥ６７００ＲＡＭ／ＧＦ８６ＧＴＳ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｕｌｔｉｍａｔｅ 正規版プリインストール１５９，９８０円（税込）（５月上旬発売予定）
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰＥ６６００ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 正規版プリインストール９９，９８０円（税込）
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰＥ６３２０ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 正規版プリインストール７９，９８０円（税込）
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰ９２５ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 正規版プリインストール５９，９８０円（税込）
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＢ６３１ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｂａｓｉｃ 正規版プリインストール４９，９８０ 円（税込）
＜ＡＭＤ 社製ＣＰＵ 搭載デスクトップモデル＞
■ＬｅｓａｎｃｅＤＴ ＶＨＰ５６００Ｘ２ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 正規版プリインストール８９，９８０円（税込）
■ＬｅｓａｎｓｅＤＴ ＶＨＰ３８００Ｘ２ＲＡＭ
Ｗｉｎｄｏｗｓ Ｖｉｓｔａ（ＴＭ） Ｈｏｍｅ Ｐｒｅｍｉｕｍ 正規版プリインストール６４，９８０円（税込）
発売開始日４月２６日（一部機種を除く）
【特長】
■様々なニーズに応える、多様なラインナップモデルを用意
■ＢＴＯによりメモリやｔｈｅ ２００７ Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｓｙｓｔｅｍが追加可能
■全機種１年間に加えて２年間の延長保障の設定可能（有償）
■販売は全国のパソコン工房・ＴＷＯＴＯＰ・Ｆａｉｔｈの各店および各インターネット通販となっています。
■ＰＣリサイクル対応
■ＢＴＯ対応可能ｔｈｅ ２００７ Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｓｙｓｔｅｍ
・Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ（Ｒ） Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｐｅｒｓｏｎａｌ ２００７
・Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ（Ｒ） Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｐｅｒｓｏｎａｌ ２００７ ｗｉｔｈ Ｐｏｗｅｒｐｏｉｎｔ（Ｒ）
・Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ（Ｒ） Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ Ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌ ２００７
※以下、製品の仕様については添付資料をご参照下さい。
【会社概要】
社名 アロシステム株式会社
運営ショップ名
パソコン工房ＵＲＬ ： http://www.pc-koubou.jp/
ＴＷＯＴＯＰ ＵＲＬ ： http://www.twotop.co.jp/entrance/default.asp
Ｆａｉｔｈ ＵＲＬ ： http://www.faith-go.co.jp/index.asp
資本金 ７５０，３１５，０３３円
代表者 代表取締役大野三規
事業内容
オリジナルパソコン、パソコンパーツ、ソフトウェア、パソコン周辺機器、デジタル家電の販売
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