2007'02.11.Sun
Xinhua Far East China Ratings Downgrades the Issuer Rating of BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. to CC
October 24, 2006
HONG KONG, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua Far
East China Ratings (Xinhua Far East) today downgraded the
issuer credit rating of BOE Technology Group Co Ltd
("BOE" or "the Company", SZ A 000725,
SZ B 200725) to CC from B. Its rating outlook remains
negative. The CC rating indicates the Company is very
likely to default in the foreseeable future.
As predicted by Xinhua Far East's downgrade in April,
BOE's vulnerable credit profile has been further weakened
by a harsh operating environment and high capital
expenditures. Sharply falling product prices have
overwhelmed the competitiveness of the Company's 5th
generation TFT-LCD production line and resulted in a
negative profit margin with heavy losses reported in the
first half of this year. Meanwhile, the Company's
tremendous capital expenditure requirements, together with
its negative operating cash flow, pushed its debt burden to
an extremely high level. Thus, Xinhua Far East considers
BOE's credit strength has been severely impaired and has
rendered it highly vulnerable to default on its financial
commitments.
In the first half of 2006, adverse market conditions
for the Company's major products have plummeted BOE's gross
margin and EBITDA margin sharply to negative 23.9% and
negative 14.9%, respectively. The considerable negative
EBITDA means that it could not even meet its variable costs
of production. Despite enhanced cost savings by local
sourcing and increased sales of its 5th generation TFT-LCD
products, improvements in operating efficiency could not
offset the impact of diving product prices, particularly in
2nd quarter of this year. As BOE expects to report a net
loss in the first three quarters of 2006 and the
competition in TFT-LCD sector is very intensive and
globalized, Xinhua Far East considers BOE's heavy losses
stemming from its core operations can hardly turn around in
the foreseeable future.
In addition to the Company's poor operating results,
the downgrade action has factored in the highly risky
nature of the TFT-LCD sector and BOE's limited resources
against operating and financial volatilities. In
particular, BOE faces heightened competition from its large
international peers which are flooding the market with 6th
and 7th generation products, and accordingly are dampening
the market demand and product prices of BOE's 5th
generation products. As the sector is highly capital
intensive and characterized by shortening product life
cycles, BOE has very limited flexibility in holding back
its capital expenditures. Xinhua Far East anticipates it
will be difficult for BOE to sustain its development in the
long run given its constraints in capital and technology,
operating experience and risk control relative to its
international peers.
The downgrade also reflects BOE's extremely weak
financial profile and very limited solvency and financial
flexibility. Following an aggressive financial policy, the
Company relies heavily on bank loans for expansion and
capital expenditures, the Company's debt level kept
climbing since 2002, and it has reached to such a seriously
high level with its gross debt to total capital ratio
increasing to 84.5% in mid 2006. On the other hand, BOE
continued to generate negative operating cash flow in the
first half of 2006. It also exhibited negative
EBITDA/interest coverage ratio, far less than adequate
liquidity ratio of 0.63 and limited cash reserves in hand,
compared with its mounting debt burden of RMB13,409 million
as of mid 2006. In addition, the Company's wholly owned
subsidiary in Korea, BOE Hydis, has entered into bankruptcy
after years of losses, although it is not consolidated in
BOE. These all indicate BOE's extremely vulnerable
creditworthiness.
Xinhua Far East noted BOE has completed funding of
RMB1,860 million in October through a private placement.
However, the funds are mainly for producing product
components for its 5th generation production line, its
direct contribution to BOE's financial flexibility is
limited.
Historically, Xinhua Far East has downgraded BOE
several times to reflect its worsening credit profile, as a
result of its aggressive acquisition for Korea companies and
its construction of 5th generation production line. Although
BOE has raised four rounds of equity financing since 1997,
with total amount of RMB5,117.9 million, adverse operating
conditions and huge funding requirements have overwhelmed
the growth of its capital base and hindered the Company
from materially reducing its financial and liquidity
pressure.
BOE is one of the largest display device manufacturers
in China. Its main products are TFT-LCD panels used for PC
monitors and TV sets. In 2005, BOE's turnover reached
RMB13.450 billion.
BOE is a constituent of the Xinhua/ FTSE China 200 and
B35 Indices. As of market close on October 23, 2006, its
total A-share market capitalization and investable
capitalization were RMB3, 078 million and RMB616 million
respectively. Its B-share market cap totaled USD186
million, of which all is investable.
For the rating report summary, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com/creditrating .
Note to Editors:
About Xinhua FTSE China 200 and B35 Indices
Xinhua FTSE China 200 Index is the large cap index in
the Xinhua FTSE China A Share Index Series and includes the
top 200 companies in China by market cap. It is designed as
a tradable index and is calculated in real-time every 15
seconds. Xinhua FTSE China B 35 Index is the large cap
tradable index in the FTSE Xinhua China B Index Series,
covering `B' shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen
stock exchanges. It provides international investors with
exposure to the mainland Chinese market. For daily data
and further information, see http://www.xinhuaftse.com .
About Xinhua Far East China Ratings
Xinhua Far East China Ratings (Xinhua Far East) is a
pioneering venture in China that aims to rank credit risks
among corporations in China. It is a strategic alliance
between Xinhua Finance (TSE Mothers: 9399), and Shanghai
Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd. Shanghai Far East became a
Xinhua Finance partner company in 2003 and the first China
member of The Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia
in December 2003.
Capitalizing on the synergy between Xinhua Finance and
Shanghai Far East, Xinhua Far East's rating methodology and
process blend unique local market knowledge with
international rating standards. Xinhua Far East is
committed to provide investors with independent, objective,
timely and forward-looking credit opinions on Chinese
companies. It aims to help investors differentiate the
credit risks among the corporations in China, thereby,
cultivating their awareness and promoting information
disclosures and transparency in China market. For more
information, see http://www.xfn.com/creditrating .
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's unchallenged leader
in financial information and media, and is listed on the
Mothers board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADRs: 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 .
About Shanghai Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd
Shanghai Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd. is the first
and leading professional credit rating company with
comprehensive business coverage in China. It is an
independent agency established by the Shanghai Academy of
Social Sciences with the mission to develop internationally
accepted standards for capital market in China. The company
is a pioneer in conducting bond-rating business in China.
For years, it has been authorized by the Shanghai branch of
the PBOC to undertake loan certificate credit rating.
Since establishment, it has rated over 1,000 corporate
long-term bonds and commercial papers, based on the
principles of objectivity, fairness and independence. The
company has also maintained over 50% market share in the
loan certificate-rating sector in Shanghai for three
consecutive years. With its strong local presence and
knowledge, it provides investors with unique and the most
insightful credit opinion. For more information, see
http://www.fareast-cr.com .
For more information, please contact:
Hong Kong
Joy Tsang
Corporate & Investor Communications Director
Xinhua Finance
Tel: +852-3196-3983 / +8621-6113-5999 /
+852-9486-4364
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
US
Ms. Ishviene Arora
Taylor Rafferty (IR/PR Contact in US)
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Email: ishviene.arora@taylor-rafferty.com
SOURCE Xinhua Far East China Ratings
PR
2007'02.11.Sun
Psoriasis: Skin Symptoms May Be Just the Tip of the Iceberg
October 24, 2006
-- International Psoriasis Council Issues a 'call to
action' Following a
Collaborative Consensus Meeting to Review
Implications for Clinical
Practice
NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- World
Psoriasis Day will have a more poignant focus this year as
the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) issues a 'call to
action' to medical experts to elevate psoriasis on the
public health agenda by undertaking a more thorough
therapeutic approach. Recommendations include the need to
review current guidelines to ensure a more holistic
approach to the management of psoriasis, taking into
account the many potential co-morbidities, to prevent this
significant health burden escalating. It is essential that
physicians are vigilant about monitoring patients for signs
of co-morbid conditions and are educated on all the
therapeutic options available.
These recommendations come following a collaborative
Consensus Meeting convened by the IPC held at the 15th
European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV)
Congress earlier this month. Multi-disciplinary medical
professionals from around the globe reviewed the
inflammatory nature of psoriasis and how it might be linked
to co-morbid conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular
disease (including hypertension, and myocardial
infarction), type II diabetes and liver disease.
Dr Bruce Strober, assistant professor in the department
of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine,
commented, "Mounting data suggest that psoriasis is a
component of an inflammatory state that nurtures
significant co-morbidities. It is likely that in some
patients both psoriasis and obesity are co-dependent
manifestations of an underlying dysfunctional
pathophysiologic state. It is important that the overall
management of psoriasis is significantly improved to ensure
that patients are diagnosed early, appropriately treated and
regularly monitored for signs of co-morbidity."
Among the data presented at the meeting was a
statistical study of over 10,000 patients in clinical
trials conducted over the past 5 years, showing that
psoriasis patients are more likely to have body mass index
(BMI) measurements in the overweight and obese ranges than
members of the general population. Building on this point,
Dr Gerald Krueger of the University of Utah presented a
study which indicated that psoriasis and obesity are
endpoints of a shared etiology in which one may promote the
other.
Important data indicating an increased risk of
cardiovascular disease was presented for the first time at
the meeting. A large study by Dr Joel Gelfand of the
University of Pennsylvania, recently published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, highlighted
that psoriasis may be an independent risk factor for heart
attack, particularly in young individuals with severe
disease. Patients in their 40s with severe psoriasis were
more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than
people without the skin disease. Dr Gelfand's findings also
shed light on potential health risks for overweight
psoriasis patients. These data are supported by a
case-control study presented at the meeting showing that
twice the number of psoriasis patients (60%) had coronary
artery calcification than non-psoriasis patients (30%).
Other studies presented at the meeting indicated that
patients suffer from their skin disease much more than
previously understood. One trial showed that almost half of
1,000 psoriasis patients tested were likely to be clinically
depressed, and another demonstrated an increased tendency to
use alcohol and tobacco among psoriasis patients.
The consensus group agreed there is overwhelmingly
sufficient data supporting the linkage of psoriasis to
increased co-morbid risk and to mandate future
investigations funded by both government and industry.
Professor Wolfram Sterry, a board member of IPC who chaired
the consensus meeting concluded, "Psoriasis is a
serious condition in its own right that is exacerbated by
its association with co-morbidities. It is essential that
physicians understand the severity of the disease and all
its manifestations and integrate therapy in a way that
provides a treatment that is as broad as possible to cover
all the ongoing pathogenetic events."
Asked about the outlook for the future, Dr Menter,
President of IPC is optimistic: "The hope is that now
that we understand better the systemic inflammatory nature
of psoriasis, we can work closely with our colleagues in
medicine and research to improve the general health of our
psoriasis patients by using the full spectrum of
medications, including the new biologic agents."
Drs. Sterry, Menter, and Strober are currently working
on a paper that will summarise the consensus of the IPC
meeting, investigate the relationship between psoriasis and
co-morbidities, discuss important areas for research on
these issues, and issue recommendations for clinical
management of psoriasis patients at risk of developing
co-morbid conditions. For now it is important that everyone
touched by psoriasis recognises the severity of the
condition and the profound lifelong impact it has on
health.
About IPC
The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) is a global
non-profit organization dedicated to advancing psoriasis
research and treatment by providing a forum for education,
collaboration, and innovation among physicians,
researchers, and other professionals interested in
psoriasis.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease that
may affect up to 100 million people worldwide with an
average age of onset between 20-35 years. Seventy-five
percent of all cases occur for the first time before the
age of 40 years. As an immune-mediated disease, psoriasis
usually requires long-term treatment for control. The
annual cost of psoriasis to our society is an estimated
US$3 billion dollars in the U.S. alone.
For more information, please contact:
Claire Jacques, Ketchum
Tel: +44-7611-3856
Mobile: +44-7811-336684
Email: claire.jacques@ketchum.com
Malia Tee-Lewin, International Psoriasis Council
Tel: +1-212-566-3477
Mobile: +1-646-234-1362
Email: Malia.tee@psoriasiscouncil.org
SOURCE International Psoriasis Council
2007'02.11.Sun
Cyprotex Adds MDR1-MDCK Permeability Screening Service to the Cloe(R) Screen Range of In Vitro ADMET Assays
October 24, 2006
MANCHESTER, England, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Cyprotex today announces the launch of a new screening
service to add to their range of permeability assays. The
Cloe(R) Screen MDR1-MDCK is a valuable tool for drug
discovery researchers for investigating drug efflux by the
transporter, P-glycoprotein. The addition of the MDR1-MDCK
permeability assay to the Cloe(R) Screen family of in vitro
assays further enhances Cyprotex's reputation as a market
leader in the provision of ADMET screening services.
As with the majority of Cyprotex' high quality ADME
screens, the MDR1-MDCK permeability assay uses mass
spectrometry as an end-point and employs Cyprotex'
state-of-the-art automation capabilities. The MDR1-MDCK
assay highlights early potential issues with drug
permeability and is a useful predictor of brain
permeability and, as such, is of particular relevance to
drug discovery groups producing compounds for the treatment
of central nervous system disorders. Unlike some other
permeability measurements the MDR1-MDCK assay avoids the
complexities of multiple transporters by focusing
specifically on P-glycoprotein, one of the most well
recognized efflux transporters in many tissues including
the brain and intestine.
Additional permeability measurements available at
Cyprotex include Caco-2 permeability, the parallel
artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA) and an in
silico model designed to predict human intestinal
absorption. Together with the existing assays the MDR1-MDCK
assay provides researchers with a comprehensive selection of
methods for assessing permeability.
Commenting on the launch of this new assay, Dr. Darwin
Cheney, Cyprotex' Chief Scientific Officer, said:
"Investigating the interactions of drugs with key
transporters is essential in our recognition of how drugs
are absorbed, distributed and eliminated by the body. By
developing cost effective in vitro screens to identify and
quantify these interactions, it enables potential issues to
be detected at an early stage of the drug discovery process,
so reducing the risk of late stage failure".
The Cloe(R) Screen range of in vitro assays are
recognised across the drug discovery industry as providing
high quality, highly reproducible data with an impressive
turnaround times to fit with early make-test cycles in drug
discovery. The services offered by Cyprotex are invaluable
in enabling partner companies to make informed decisions
when selecting potential drug candidates.
For further information regarding Cloe(R) Screen and
other Cyprotex services, visit http://www.cyprotex.com .
For more information, please contact:
Francesca Sadler, Marketing Manager,
Cyprotex PLC,
Tel: +44-1625-505-100
Email: f.sadler@cyprotex.com
SOURCE Cyprotex PLC
2007'02.11.Sun
Tele Atlas Continues Aggressive Expansion of Asia Pacific Operations with Appointment of Shinya Banno as Managing Director of Japan
October 24, 2006
TOKYO, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Tele Atlas (FSE:
TA6, EUNV: TA), a leading global provider of digital maps
and dynamic content for navigation and location based
solutions, announced today the appointment of Shinya Banno
as Managing Director of Tele Atlas Japan. In this role,
Banno will be responsible for all business operations in
Japan, including sales, customer support and marketing. He
reports to Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Mark
Steele.
"Tele Atlas has made significant investments to
expand its map coverage and operations in the Asia Pacific
region this year, and looked to secure a leader with
unparalleled navigation industry experience in our core
market, Japan," said Steele. "Banno's highly
successful track record in the navigation and automotive
markets in both North America and Japan made him the best
candidate to ensure our Japanese customers' successful
expansion across North American and European
markets."
Most recently, Banno served as Vice President of Sales
and Marketing for Japan for automotive systems and facility
management and control giant Johnson Controls Inc. In this
role, Banno was a member of the XLP/Extreme Learning
Process, an exclusive development program for senior
management. Before that, he was General Manager of Global
General Motors (GM) Sales at automotive parts leader Denso.
While with Denso, Banno was based at the company's Denso
International America operation in Michigan and was
instrumental in securing the navigation systems contract
with GM.
"This appointment gives me the opportunity to work
with Japan's top navigation system suppliers. I'm looking
forward to supporting their industry expansion goals with
Tele Atlas' high quality products, content and business
support," said Banno.
Banno holds a bachelor of business degree from Doshisha
University in Japan. He is based at Tele Atlas' Japanese
headquarters in central Tokyo.
About Tele Atlas
Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic
content that power the world's most essential navigation
and location-based services. The information is the
foundation for a wide range of personal and in-car
navigation systems, mobile and Internet map applications
that help GPS system users find the people, places,
products and services they need, wherever they are. Tele
Atlas also works with business partners that deliver
critical applications for emergency, business fleet and
infrastructure services. Founded in 1984, the company
employs approximately 2,300 full-time staff and contract
cartographers at offices in 20 countries around the world
and uses a sophisticated network of professional drivers,
mobile mapping vans and more than 50,000 data sources to
continually update its maps. Tele Atlas is listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TA6) and on Euronext Amsterdam
(TA). For more information, visit http://www.teleatlas.com
.
For more information, please contact:
Yasuko Kimura of Tele Atlas Japan
Tel: +81-0-3-5212-8181
Email: yasuko.kimura@teleatlas.com
SOURCE Tele Atlas
2007'02.11.Sun
Aplix Develops a Unique Virtualization Technology to Enhance Secure Execution of Native Code Applications
October 24, 2006
A New OS Independent User-Space Virtualization Technology - Allows Better Control Over the Access of Resources in A Multi-Tasking Environment, and Supporting the Security Needs of the Next Generation Information Appliances
TOKYO, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aplix Corporation
(TSE: 3727) today unveiled its newly developed
patent-pending user-space virtualization technology that
can dynamically generate virtual execution spaces for
native applications running on information appliances.
(Image 1.1: Dynamically generate virtual execution
space for any user applications. Please visit
http://www.aplixcorp.com/en/images/release/usvm-1.jpg to
view diagram.)
In recent years, computer viruses and spyware have
proliferated in the mobile space via the Internet, which
has prompted the industry to develop different security
mechanisms based on the platform it has targeted. Compared
the solutions available thus far, this new user-space
virtualization technology is unique in several aspects:
-- It automatically creates a virtual execution space
for any native
application, restricting the application from
directly accessing the
underlying operating system, thus providing a secure
environment for
the running application.
-- While it is as secure as the Java(TM) execution
environment, it is
lightweight with fast execution speed as it traps
only a limited
number of instructions.
-- It is OS independent as it does not rely on the
underlying
architecture of the operating system, thus can
support Linux,
Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, and many others.
-- Compared to the conventional OS, where means of
permission is limited
to statically preset file access with an associated
user-id, user-
space virtualization allows for a very flexible
configuration to
control the usage of any system services/resources
(e.g. communication
bandwidth, file usage, display access, etc) per
application, and can
be easily modified by downloading a description
file.
-- It operates in "user-mode" to enable
application-level deployment,
making security policies modifiable via OTA.
-- It does not need to call any security functions nor
be pre-processed
with the security systems already in place, thus
current applications
can be executed without any modification.
In today's mobile networks, Operators often enforce a
set of pre-defined rules for the access of system resources
on the network devices when distributing applications over
its network. In light of this, user-space virtualization
technology aims to bring a common security platform by
providing a reference implementation that is coherent
across different system platforms.
Architecture
(Image 1.2: Architecture Diagram. Please visit
http://www.aplixcorp.com/en/images/release/usvm-2.jpg to
view the diagram.)
The user-space virtualization technology is comprised
of a number of different functions, such as user-space
virtual machine, state machine and security manager. When
an application is executed, the user-space virtual machine
scans the binary code to detect any security-sensitive
code. If any dubious code is found, the user space virtual
machine generates the safe code. The generated safe code
calls to the security manager that to check whether the
code should be granted the access to the system resources.
The reference implementation and architecture of this
technology is applicable to any CPU architecture, and
compatible to Java runtime environment, BREW, Linux,
Symbian platform security, and others. Aplix plans to
license this technology as part of its platform solution
and also provide technology license for a broad range of
devices.
Aplix CTO Ryu Koriyama says, "In the next
generation of data device platforms, the question of how we
can ensure security is an extremely important issue. I
think the security technology we provide for the execution
of innovative applications may prove to be the basis of a
solution. Our user-space virtualization technology can be
installed in almost all data device platforms currently
available, creating value by enabling the construction of a
safe environment for application execution."
About Aplix Corporation
Aplix Corporation is the global leader in deploying
Java technology in mobile phones. Aplix was first
established in 1986 and has been a Sun Java licensee since
1996. Aplix was publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange (Mothers) in 2003. On August 24, 2004 Aplix and
the Taiwan based company iaSolution finalized the
integration of the corporations.
Headquarters: Tokyo
Other offices: San Francisco, Munich, Taipei, Shanghai,
Beijing, and Seongnam and Seoul
For more information, please visit:
http://www.aplixcorp.com/ and http://www.iasolution.net/ .
-- Java and all other Java-based marks are trademarks
or registered
trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United
States and
other countries.
-- All other product or service names are the property
of their
respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Maggie Zhang
Aplix Corporation
Tel: +86-10-5869-5837
Email: maggie@aplixcorp.com
Web: http://www.aplixcorp.com
SOURCE Aplix Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
German Testing and Certification Institution Provides Support for Chinese Manufacturers of Fire Protection Products
October 24, 2006
COLOGNE, Germany, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- VdS
Schadenverhutung, the globally renowned German testing and
certification institution, is presenting its services at
CHINA FIRE 2006 in Beijing. This is an opportunity for
Chinese manufacturers of high-quality fire protection
products to find out about the VdS certification system at
first hand.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for both
commercial and private users to distinguish between
high-quality and inferior-quality products. The VdS seal of
quality provides both guidance and confidence. The benefits
for manufacturers of VdS-approved products are twofold:
firstly, they gain a clear competitive edge in the
marketplace, and secondly, the VdS approval automatically
includes CE certification, which is mandatory for all
products marketed in Europe.
The VdS laboratories in Cologne, Germany, are equipped
with the latest equipment for the type and system testing
of fire protection products. Products are tested not only
for functionality and reliability but also for their
susceptibility to climatic and electromagnetic influences.
The VdS experts will be on hand at CHINA FIRE 2006 in
Beijing (October 26-29, 2006) to answer questions
concerning certification, including CE Marking, at the
joint German stand (Stand 801 in Hall B).
For more information, please contact:
VdS Schadenverhutung GmbH
Amsterdamer Str. 174
50735 Koln
Germany
Tel: +49-0221-776-6482
Email: presse@vds.de
Web: http://www.vds.de
SOURCE VdS Schadenverhutung GmbH
2007'02.11.Sun
MEDIA ADVISORY: The City of Las Vegas to Announce Plans for the World Jewelry Center, a One Million-Square-Foot Mixed-Use Facility
October 24, 2006
DATE: Wednesday, October 25
WHAT: The City of Las Vegas, in conjunction with the
prominent Probity
International Corporation, will unveil one of
largest jewelry
projects in the world, a one million-square
foot, several hundred
million dollar mixed-use project.
The World Jewelry Center (WJC) is slated to
revolutionize the
jewelry industry as well as change the
economic perspective of
downtown Las Vegas. The entire concept of the
World Jewelry
Center is progressive and will match the other
pioneering,
international business projects coming to the
City of Las Vegas.
The World Jewelry Center will forever change
the Las Vegas
skyline and become an important landmark for
the city.
WHO: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman; Bill
Boyajian, former President
of the Gemological Institute of America and
Managing Director of
the World Jewelry Center; and developer Robert
Zarnegin; will be
on hand for interviews.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 25
3:45 p.m. -- Press conference with the City of
Las Vegas Mayor
Oscar B. Goodman, Bill Boyajian, Managing
Director of WJC, Robert
Zarnegin, developer of WJC and key jewelry
industry officials.
4 - 6 p.m. -- VIP exclusive event for jewelry
industry leaders
and key Las Vegans
WHERE: Union Park
1000 S. Grand Central Pkwy, across from the
World Market Center
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
To attend, all working media should call Preferred
Public Relations & Marketing at (702) 254-5704.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061023/LAM044LOGO )
For more information, please contact:
Bridget Waldman/Robert Martinez
Preferred Public Relations & Marketing
Tel: +1-702-254-5704
Email: Bridget@preferredpublicrelations.com
SOURCE Probity International Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Syncrosoft Licenses MCFACT(TM) Technology to Microsoft
October 24, 2006
HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Today,
SYNCROSOFT, a provider of innovative DRM, Software and IP
Protection Solutions, announced it has signed a technology
licensing agreement with Microsoft Corp. that enables them
to integrate Syncrosoft's MCFACT(TM) Technology into future
products.
Syncrosoft's MCFACT Technology, which is the core of
Syncrosoft's IP and Software Protection Products, is used
to transform program code and data into finite automata.
The security of MCFACT is based on the known problem of
decomposing large finite automata. The MCFACT transformed
program code is able to process encrypted data without the
need to decrypt the data. That's the reason why MCFACT
protected data, processed in secured hardware or insecure
environments, is robust against software and hardware based
attacks. Syncrosoft's MCFACT Technology is applicable for
the protection of valuable algorithms, security
applications and sensitive data which should never be
exposed during processing or execution.
"Microsoft continues to innovate and license
technology that helps us achieve critical milestones and
drive opportunities for partners," said Amir
Majidimehr, Corporate Vice President, Consumer Media
Technology Group at Microsoft. "Syncrosoft's MCFACT
technology can provide additional robustness to further
improve the flow of content to Windows-based PCs and
connected devices."
"This agreement with Microsoft represents a
landmark for SYNCROSOFT, as it acknowledges our MCFACT
technology to be particularly suitable for the protection
of some of the most valuable intellectual properties in the
technology industry." commented Wulf Harder and Bernd
Peeters, the founders of Syncrosoft. Thorsten Held,
Managing Director of Syncrosoft, added: "Microsoft is
committed to a long-term strategy of protecting IP through
innovative technologies and we are fully disposed to
support Microsoft in this area."
About Syncrosoft
Syncrosoft develops and markets superior crypto and
security solutions used for IP- and software
copy-protection. Syncrosoft supplies its technologies and
solutions to customers in the software and digital content
industry in Europe, USA and Japan. More information can be
found at http://www.syncrosoft.com .
The names of actual companies and products mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Thorsten Held,
Syncrosoft
Tel: +49-4131-872060
Email: contact@syncrosoft.com
SOURCE Syncrosoft Hard- und Software GmbH
2007'02.11.Sun
Tuesday, October 24 -- A Unique Event in Paris to Celebrate Renault's Second Double Formula 1 Title
October 24, 2006
PARIS, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Renault F1
Team is organizing an outstanding event in France to
celebrate its two new titles of FIA Formula 1 World
Champion and Drivers and Constructors: the Champs de Mars,
at the foot of the Eiffel Tower will be the site of a human
fresco staged by 500 people on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:00
p.m. (Paris time).
The event will be filmed and relayed around the world.
This first event, open to the public, will be
rebroadcast the following day, Wednesday, October 25 at
10:00 a.m., live from the square of the Esplanade de La
Defense -- Paris, France.
All the pictures from the event will be available at:
http://www.renaultf1.com/championdumonde/france/press from
8:00 p.m. on (CET), Tuesday, October 24.
-- event picture gallery (copyright free, high
definition)
-- 2 DVD quality films (MPEG-2 Multiplex format), for
downloading and copyright free
For more information, please contact:
Valerie Duthey
Tel: +33-1-41-34-21-10
Email: webmaitre-rf1@renaultf1.com
SOURCE Renault F1 Team
2007'02.11.Sun
Sidley Austin Advises Merrill Lynch on $279 Million LBO of PT Berau Coal
October 24, 2006
SINGAPORE, Oct. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Sidley Austin
LLP announced that the firm represented Merrill Lynch
(Singapore) Private Limited, as financial advisor, arranger
and placement agent in the US$279 million leveraged buyout
of PT Berau Coal, Indonesia's fourth largest coal mining
company. The deal is representative of the recent increase
in leveraged buyout activity in Asia.
The deal, in which Merrill Lynch's client was an
existing Berau Coal shareholder, involved a buyout of other
shareholders and was a complex, contested acquisition. The
Sidley team structured a set of settlement agreements and
financing and acquisition documents involving more than 10
companies incorporated in five different jurisdictions.
The deal was financed with two tranches of secured
structured debt. The subordinated tranche, denominated as
Collateralised Equity Leveraged Loan Securities, is
entitled to participate in gains from a future sale of the
company.
The team was led by Edward D. Eddy of Sidley's
Singapore office. Other Sidley partners involved in the
transaction included: Jim Robertson and Robert Kadlec (Los
Angeles); Sarah Smith and Dennis Dillon (London); and
Prabhat Mehta (New York).
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world's largest
full-service law firms, with more than 1,600 lawyers
practicing in 15 U.S. and international cities including
Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London,
Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. In 2005, BTI, a
Boston-based consulting and research firm, 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 five years
in a row. In 2006, Sidley was named to Legal Business'
Global Elite, their designation for "the 15 finest law
firms in the world."
For more information, please contact:
Janet Zagorin of Sidley Austin LLP
Tel: +1-212-839-8797
Email: jzagorin@sidley.com
Jennifer Grant of Rubenstein Associates
Tel: +1-212-843-8060
Email: jgrant@rubenstein.com
SOURCE Sidley Austin LLP
2007'02.11.Sun
/C O R R E C T I O N -- Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited/
October 23, 2006
For the news release, "Repeated Success of
Kenfair's Mega Show Part 1", issued earlier today by
Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited over Xinhua PR
Newswire, we are advised by the company that in the fourth
paragraph, the officiating guests should include Mr.
Wolfram Diener, Vice President of Convention and
Exhibition, Venetian Macao Limited. The correct second
sentence of the fourth paragraph should read "Ms. Echo
Chan, Acting President of Macao Trade and Investment
Promotion Institute, Mr. Wolfram Diener, Vice President of
Convention and Exhibition, Venetian Macao Limited and Mr.
Jing Zhongyun, President of Macao Convention and Exhibition
Association, are invited to be the officiating guests for
the event." instead of "Ms. Echo Chan, Acting
President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion and Mr.
Jing Zhongyun, President of Macao Convention and Exhibition
Association, are invited to be the officiating guests for
the event." as incorrectly transmitted by Xinhua PR
Newswire.
SOURCE Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
Repeated Success of Kenfair's Mega Show Part 1
October 23, 2006
HONG KONG, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Presented by
Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited, ("Kenfair
International" or with its subsidiaries the
"Group", SEHK Code: 223) the 15th Hong Kong
International Toys & Gifts Show and the 14th Asian
Gifts Premium & Household Products Show (collectively
known as "Mega Show Part 1") has come to its last
day.
Acclaimed as an premier trading platform, "Mega
Show Part 1" possessed the largest congregation of
exhibitors of its kind in Asia, showcasting the widest
range of toys, gifts, premium and houseware, and with its
convenient and world-standard venue, Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre, the traffic of this mega event are
very satisfactory and it has once again successfully
attracted huge number of buyers worldwide.
This year, not only the flagship event, but also
Kenfair International has come to its 15th Anniversary, a
special event -- "Macao's Night" which include a
cocktail and dinner reception was held on 22 October 2006
at Macao Tower Convention and Entertainment Center, to
celebrate this memorable occasion.
Around 1,000 guests including international buyers and
exhibitors, representatives of various trade associations
and media joined the event to share this remarkable moment
and to witness another milestone of the Group. Ms. Echo
Chan, Acting President of Macao Trade and Investment
Promotion, Venetian Macao Limited and Mr. Jing Zhongyun,
President of Macao Convention and Exhibition Association,
are invited to be the officiating guests for the event.
Mr. Herbert Ip, Chairman of Kenfair International,
announced that the first edition of "Mega Macao"
is scheduled to launch in October 2007 at Venetian
Convention and Exhibition Center soon to be opened, to
capture the prime-time sourcing needs of buyers.
Exhibitors and buyers have a better understanding of
the city through their participation of "Macao's
Night", and they have great interest in participating
the upcoming "Mega Macao".
About Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited
Established in 1991, Kenfair International is a leading
trade fair organizer in Hong Kong. Its flagship trade
exhibitions are "Mega Show" series, Hong Kong
Spring Fair, Hong Kong International Furniture Fair and
Asia Expo in London, Las Vegas and Poland.
For more information, please contact:
Liz Liu/ Ezena Tang
Tel: +852-2311-8216
Fax: +852-2311-6629
Email: liz.liu@kenfair.com / ezena.tang@kenfair.com
Web: http://www.kenfair.com
SOURCE Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
WorldWater & Power Achieves Record Revenue for Quarter and Gives Guidance for Fourth Quarter
October 23, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
WorldWater & Power Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: WWAT.OB),
developer and marketer of proprietary high-horsepower solar
systems, announced early this month preliminary results for
the third quarter ended September 30, 2006 and provided
guidance for the remainder of 2006 and for 2007. Revenue
for the third quarter, a record, will be in the range of
$5.8 - $6.1 million, and gross margins will also be at
record highs. In addition, the company announced that it
is making substantial progress toward completion in the
fourth quarter of its largest instalment to date, the $7.8
million Farm ACW avocado ranch in California. WorldWater
& Power expects that revenue in the fourth quarter will
be between $8.5 and $9.2 million, with additional
improvement in gross profits.
"We are very pleased to announce that, as
expected, we will post our best quarter in the company's
history when we report full financial results in
mid-November," said Quentin T. Kelly, Chairman of
WorldWater & Power Corp. "We are on course for
continued improvement during the fourth quarter and have
basis to project significantly stronger growth in 2007. We
also expect to close the Entech acquisition by the end of
2006 and are currently submitting joint bids on projects as
large as 50 Megawatts in size. In addition, geopolitical
events continue to provide tremendous growth opportunities
for the solar industry."
About WorldWater & Power Corp
WorldWater & Power Corporation is a full-service,
international solar electric engineering and water
management company with unique, high-powered and patented
solar technology that provides solutions to a broad
spectrum of the world's electricity and water supply
problems. For more information about WorldWater &
Power Corp., visit the website at http://www.worldwater.com
.
Forward Looking Statement:
Except for historical information contained herein,
this document contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual
results or outcomes to be materially different from those
anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the Company
operates in industries where securities values may be
volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other
factors beyond the Company's control. Other important
factors that the Company believes might cause such
differences are discussed in the risk factors detailed in
the Company's 10-KSB and its quarterly reports on Form
10-QSB both as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which include the Company's cash flow
difficulties, dependence on significant customers, and
rapid development of technology, among other risks. In
assessing forward-looking statements contained herein,
readers are urged to carefully read all cautionary
statements contained in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information, please contact:
WorldWater & Power Contact:
Jessie Sullivan
WorldWater & Power
Tel: +1-609-818-0700 x20
Email: JSullivan@worldwater.com
Press Contact:
Mike Breslin
Mike Breslin Productions LLC
Tel: +1-201-652-1287
Email: mbrez@aol.com
Investor Contact:
Jody Burfening / Chris Witty
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.E
Tel: +1-212-838-3777
Email: cwitty@lhai.com
SOURCE WorldWater & Power Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Accelerated Console-Quality Game Development for Mobile Phones with New Platform from Texas Instruments and Ideaworks3D
October 23, 2006
Integrated Game Development Platform Based on TI's OMAP(TM) Processor with Ideaworks3D's Airplay(TM) will Bring Gamers New Capabilities
LONDON, UK AND DALLAS, TEXAS, Oct. 23
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- A new gaming development platform
from Ideaworks3D Ltd, and Texas Instruments Incorporated
(TI) (NYSE: TXN) brings console-quality 3D games to mobile
handsets. With the new gaming platform based on
Ideaworks3D's Airplay(TM) and TI's OMAP2430 processor,
developers will be able to create games targeting a broad
range of mobile handsets. The OMAP Gaming Platform allows
developers and publishers to create a portfolio of mobile
games tied to new handset releases with significantly
reduced time and monetary investments.
The combined solution from TI and Ideaworks3D changes
the current mobile gaming development process by allowing
developers to create one game which runs on leading open
operating systems, including Symbian OS(TM), Linux(R) and
Windows Mobile(R). As part of this effort, Ideaworks3D will
optimize and integrate its industry leading Airplay game
software development kit (SDK) for TI's OMAP2430 processor
which benefits TI's extensive OMAP(TM) ecosystem of leading
game publishers and developers, serving handset
manufacturers and mobile operators worldwide.
"The case for next generation mobile games rests
on the ability of our industry to provide integrated tools
and platforms that help developers diffuse their content
across the widest range of mobile phones, without
sacrificing game performance along the way," said Alex
Caccia, CEO, Ideaworks3D. "By joining forces, TI and
Ideaworks3D can now offer a fully integrated software and
hardware environment that provides the optimal launch pad
for tomorrow's killer mobile games."
TI's OMAP2430 processor integrates advanced 3D graphics
hardware acceleration enabling mobile game developers to
extract new levels of performance and enhance the game-play
experience. The new OMAP Gaming Platform with Ideaworks3D
allows developers to take full advantage of the powerful 3D
graphics capabilities of the OMAP architectures for popular
mobile operating systems.
"Mobile games are starting to emerge as a killer
app with some analysts reporting as much as 66 percent
revenue growth for the mobile gaming industry quarter over
quarter," said Richard Kerslake, worldwide general
manager for TI's 3G and OMAP processors business unit.
"The OMAP Gaming Platform with Ideaworks3D
demonstrates TI's commitment to provide developers with
powerful tools for creating content that unleashes the
capabilities of the OMAP entertainment architecture,
including cool games for consumers who want gaming on the
go."
TI's Mobile Gaming Development Platform
TI's OMAP2430 processor-based mobile gaming platform is
a complete hardware and software package that will enable
developers to optimize performance-, timing- and
memory-related design factors early in the game development
process. Using TI's mobile gaming platform, developers will
be able to create the majority of a game before new
handsets are available on the market, enabling prompt
availability of games on new mobile phones as they enter
the market.
TI's mobile gaming website provides additional
resources for developers, handset manufacturers and
operators. The site contains information on all of TI's
mobile gaming developments and includes downloadable SDK
and tools, and market and standards information. Visit
http://www.ti.com/omapgaming to learn more about how TI is
changing the mobile gaming market.
Airplay: 3rd Generation Game Tools and Middleware
Ideaworks3D's Airplay is an end-to-end software and
service solution that enables mobile developers and
publishers to create, connect, and deploy high performance
native mobile games across multiple platforms and operating
systems. Airplay, developed for over six years by
Ideaworks3D Labs, is the industry's leading 3rd generation,
commercially battle-tested game SDK, powering more 3D and
connected mobile games than any other middleware solution
in the market.
Designed to speed deployment across multiple software
environments and hardware architectures, Airplay SDK
incorporates Airplay System(TM), a cross-platform
portability technology and run-time execution environment
that delivers binary compatible game code across
ARM(R)-based mobile devices. The resulting game can be
deployed over-the-air to multiple operating systems and
run-time environments without further porting or any
requirement for additional embedded software or resident
game engines on the mobile device.
Availability
The OMAP Gaming Platform, featuring the Ideaworks3D
Airplay 3.0 SDK, is expected to be available in Q1 2007.
About Ideaworks3D
Ideaworks3D is a privately held technology and game
development company headquartered in London. Founded in
1998 with a strong Oxford and Cambridge computer science
and electronic engineering pedigree, the company has an
unparalleled track record of creative innovation and
technical leadership in the field of high performance
mobile gaming. Ideaworks3D's Studio is the recipient of
multiple industry accolades including two consecutive BAFTA
Games Awards in 2005 and 2004 for best handheld and mobile
games. More information can be found at
http://www.ideaworks3d.com .
Texas Instruments - Making Wireless TI is the leading
manufacturer of wireless semiconductors, delivering the
heart of today's wireless technology and building solutions
for tomorrow. TI provides a breadth of silicon and software
and over 15 years of wireless systems expertise that spans
handsets and base stations for all communications
standards, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, A-GPS, mobile TV and
Ultra Wideband. TI offers custom to turn-key solutions,
including complete chipsets and reference designs, OMAP
application processors, as well as core digital signal
processor and analog technologies built on advanced
semiconductor processes. Please visit
http://www.ti.com/wirelesspressroom for additional
information.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP
and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world
signal processing requirements. In addition to
Semiconductor, the company includes the Educational &
Productivity Solutions business. TI is headquartered in
Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales
operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located
on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ti.com .
Trademarks
OMAP is a trademark of Texas Instruments. Airplay,
Airplay System and Segundo3D are trademarks of Ideaworks3D
Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Alex Wood (Ideaworks3D)
Tel: +44-20-7853-2255
Email: Alex.wood@porternovelli.co.uk
Marisa Speziale (TI US)
Tel: +1-214-480-1795
Email: m-speziale@ti.com
Daniela Koeppe (TI Europe)
Tel: +33-49-322-2947
Email: koe@ti.com
SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated
2007'02.11.Sun
IHG and ANA Announce Joint Venture to Create Japan's Leading Hotel Group
October 23, 2006
TOKYO, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- InterContinental
Hotels Group (IHG) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) today
announced the signing of a hotel operating joint venture to
create the leading hotel operating company in Japan, the
world's second largest hotel market.
The joint venture -- to be named IHG ANA Hotels Group
Japan -- will officially commence on 1 December 2006. IHG
was selected as ANA's partner after a highly competitive
process. The strength of IHG's family of brands, robust
growth pipeline, international outlook and established
operating systems made it the preferred partner for ANA,
while ANA's reputation for high quality standards and
service made it an attractive partner for IHG. Both
companies share corporate values and strategic objectives,
including a focus on China, which will help create a strong
platform for a successful long-term partnership.
ANA will sign new management contracts with IHG ANA
Hotels Group Japan for its 13 owned and leased hotels
(4,943 rooms). These hotels will over time re-brand to one
of the three co-brands created for Japan --
ANA-InterContinental, ANA-Crowne Plaza and ANA-Holiday Inn.
The flagship ANA Hotel Tokyo will be the first to be
co-branded in April 2007 as the ANA-InterContinental Tokyo.
The remaining 12 hotels will be co-branded over the
following 18 months. These include four
ANA-InterContinental hotels and seven ANA-Crowne Plaza
hotels, with the remaining two proposed as one ANA-Crowne
Plaza and one ANA-Holiday Inn.
In addition, the joint venture will continue to operate
ANA Hotels & Resorts' other 18 hotels (4,127 rooms)
under management contracts, franchise agreements and
marketing referral agreements for third party owners, who
will also be offered the opportunity to enjoy the benefits
of co-branding. IHG currently operates 11 hotels in Japan
(3,100 rooms), which, combined with IHG ANA Hotels Group
Japan's 31 hotels, gives a combined estate of 42 hotels
with more than 12,000 rooms.
ANA Hotels & Resorts' 500,000 ANA Hotel Members
will be given the opportunity to become members of IHG's
Priority Club Rewards, which is the world's largest hotel
loyalty programme with more than 28 million members
worldwide. In addition, ANA will sign up as Priority Club
Rewards' global airline partner. With effect from 1
November, ANA Mileage Club members will be able to start
earning air miles when staying at IHG hotels worldwide.
IHG CEO Andrew Cosslett said: "This deal marks
another significant step for IHG as we continue to develop
our brands throughout Asia. We are delighted to be in
partnership with ANA, which has a reputation for high
standards and quality of service. This joint venture will
turn IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan into the country's leading
hotel operator. It is consistent with our strategy of
expanding our presence in key markets and makes IHG the
first international hotel company with a large scale,
multi-brand presence in Japan. We believe that all three
co-brands -- ANA-InterContinental, ANA-Crowne Plaza and
ANA-Holiday Inn -- will benefit significantly from the
arrangement and collectively have great potential to become
the first choice in Japan for our guests, our owners and our
people."
ANA President and CEO Mineo Yamamoto said: "This
is a great day for ANA Hotels and Resorts. Our joint
venture with InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the
world's most well-known and prestigious hotel companies,
will bring our hotel guests the benefits of enhanced hotel
operations under powerful co-brands and will enable our
employees to take advantage of truly global training and
personal development programs."
"In addition, our hotel owners will enjoy the
benefits of industry-leading hotel operating systems and
our shareholders will benefit from the value that comes
from working with a global partner. This is a superb
platform from which to strengthen our hotel business, grow
the co-brands and develop our people, in order to benefit
our guests, our shareholders, our employees and our
business partners in Japan. ANA and IHG look forward to
building a successful long term partnership and exploring
opportunities for other strategic alliances."
About InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom
(LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)) is the world's largest hotel
group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or
franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,650 hotels
and 540,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and
territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of
well recognised and respected hotel brands including
InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R)
Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts,
Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood
Suites(R) and Hotel Indigo(R), and also manages the world's
largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club(R) Rewards,
with over 28 million members worldwide.
InterContinental Hotels Group's portfolio in Asia
Pacific includes 167 hotels and over 49,500 guest rooms
under the InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne
Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and
Resorts, and Express by Holiday Inn(R) brands.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all
its hotel brands at http://www.ichotelsgroup.com and
information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at
http://www.priorityclub.com .
For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press
Office at http://www.ihgplc.com/media .
About ANA
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the seventh largest airline
in the world and Japan's largest domestic carrier. It is
listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with a market
capitalisation of US$8.1bn (JPY932bn) as of 29 Sep 2006.
Carrying almost 50 million passengers every year to 50
destinations in Japan and 23 cities throughout Asia, Europe
and the United States, ANA is recognized for outstanding
passenger service both on the ground and in the air. In the
greatest Japanese tradition of mixing hospitality with high
technology, personalised a la carte service complements
state-of-the-art entertainment systems and the latest in
cabin design. ANA has been in the airline business for over
50 years, and combined with ANA Group companies, its
activities extend across a host of complete travel and
aviation-related services.
As a member of Star Alliance, the world's foremost
airline alliance, ANA passengers enjoy access to a network
of over 841 airport destinations in 147 countries, and
reciprocal benefits such as mileage accrual and reception
and lounge access.
For more information, please contact:
Charles Yap
IHG Public Relations
Tel: +65-9829-0310
Email: charles.yap@ichotelsgroup.com
ANA Public Relations
Public Relations Department
Tel: +81-3-6735-1106
Email: r.henderson@ana.co.jp
Minoru Koshida
Hill & Knowlton Japan
Tel: +81-3-5768-8400
Email: info@hillandknowlton.co.jp
SOURCE InterContinental Hotels Group
2007'02.11.Sun
System General ATX Power Solution Reference Design Wins US 80 PLUS Certification
October 23, 2006
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- System
General Corporation -- the leader in Desktop PC power
supply controller ICs -- today announced that its forward
ATX reference design has passed US 80 PLUS certification
for energy efficiency. This reference design of 300W power
solution adopts System General's innovative IC products,
including PFC/PWM combo control chip, flyback PWM control
chip, and supervisor IC. With extremely simple circuit
structure and low BOM cost, this solution achieves a power
factor of over 0.98, average power conversion efficiency of
82.51 percent, and standby energy consumption lower than 1W.
It ideally meets the 80 PLUS and International Low Standby
Power Consumption standard.
To speed up the development of energy saving
technology, the USA and European Union have established
regulations and standards sequentially for the requirements
of power efficiency. The 80 PLUS Project is administered by
the U.S.'s Ecos Consulting to encourage manufacturers of
high-output desktop and server power supplies to achieve a
minimum of 80 percent efficiency at 20 percent, 50 percent
and 100 percent loading points for improved energy
utilization by incorporating the system's internal power.
"It's the future trend to produce a power system
meeting international energy saving regulations. However,
it's hard for power supply manufacturers to fulfill the
requirements of high-quality and low-cost operation
simultaneously," said Tom Yang, the CEO of System
General. "Through the integration of multiple
innovative patent technologies, SG successfully developed
the power solution that passed the rigorous 80 PLUS
testing. We provide full technical support and optimal
pricing to help customers develop new products with
advanced marketing competitiveness."
System General is one of the rare IC design companies
that can provide complete forward power solutions in the
industry. The forward ATX power reference design solution
uses SG's self-developed & patented Switched Charge
Multiplier-Divider (US6,812,769), Power Supply having
Multi-Vector Error Amplifier for Power Factor Correction
(US6,900,623), and PWM controller having modulator for
saving power and reducing acoustic noise (US6,781,356), to
enhance its total performance dramatically and make it more
competitive. This solution also features an advantage of
high integration that includes single chip integrating PFC
& FWM and multiple built-in protection functions.
Amazingly, customers only need to trade an extra cost of
USD$3.0 from the original design and introduce their 80
PLUS verified models quickly, making it the ideal solution
featuring the optimal price-to-performance ratio available
in today's market. In the future, SG will release more
revolutionary power solutions continuously, with excellent
R&D capability.
Introduction of SG Power ICs in this Solution:
-- SG6931/2 -- The highly-integrated PFC/PWM combo-IC
for forward
topology of a power supply/adaptor is designed to
provide current
transfer operations in Continuous Conduction Mode
(CCM) for high
output power systems rated above 150W. Its main
features include:
built-in green-mode function, highly integrated
Over Temperature
Protection (OTP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP),
Under Voltage
Protection (UVP), Over Power Protection (OPP),
Short Circuit
Protection (SCP) and Brown-Out protection. Its
patent amplifier
technology also improves output dynamic response.
In addition,
SG6931/2 allow maximum PWM cycle adjustment.
-- SG6858 -- The low-watt fly-back PWM IC, its patent
Green Mode
technology, which realizes super-low standby power
and built-in
synchronized slope compensation, greatly improves
system stability.
In addition, it also features constant power output
limits,
programmable PWM frequency, Cycle-by-cycle Current
limiting, and many
other features.
-- SG6516 -- The highly-integrated supervisor IC has
overall
supervising and protecting functions that can
provide complete
protection for power systems. The SG6516 provides
two 12V Over
Voltage Protection (OVP), Under Voltage Protection
(UVP), and Over
Current Protection (OCP) functions. Furthermore,
it also features
highly precise VRI & VPGI, built-in 20mS OCP
timing delay
protection, 300mS power good signal protection, and
PSON
controlling switch signals.
System General can provide customers complete technical
documents of this ATX power solution reference design, which
includes demo-board, reference circuit, BOM list, Gerber
file, etc., and real-time professional technical service.
For more related information, please visit the product /
desktop power solution at the System General web site (
http://www.sg.com.tw/ATX-POWER ).
About System General
System General was founded in 1983. Initially, the
company primarily offered power system design services. In
1985, it began R&D, manufacturing, and marketing of IC
programming and testing instruments. After endeavors of
more than a decade, SG has earned a reputation for high
quality goods and has received recognition from customers
in Taiwan and abroad. In 1999, SG established its
semiconductor branch, and began officially offering IC
design services. Its principal products are power
management ICs, which were introduced to the market in
2002. Most Taiwan IC design firms concentrate on the DC-DC
field, while SG is the only IC design firm in Taiwan
possessing comprehensive AC-DC power management chip
production lines with products used on the power management
systems of various kinds of computers, peripherals, wireless
communications equipment, and home appliances.
SG is headquartered in Taiwan with subsidiaries in the
US and China and an office in Korea, and has established
several marketing channels in Europe, America, and the Asia
Pacific region, actively paving the way for globalization.
The two SG business groups currently offer the
following products:
1. Power control and management IC: ATX SMPS control
IC; energy-saving PWM
control IC; scanner analog front end control IC
2. IC programming and testing instrument: fully
automatic IC programming
and testing system; universal/special component IC
burner; mass
produced/R&D IC burner
SG Web site: http://www.sg.com.tw/
For more information, please contact:¡G
Ru-Ying Cheng
Tel:¡G +886-2-2917-3005 x539
Fax:¡G +886-2-2911-1283
Email: claire.cheng@sg.com.tw
Web: http:// www.sg.com.tw
SOURCE System General Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Corning Cable Systems Supplies Cabling Solution to BMW China
October 23, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Corning
Cable Systems, part of Corning Incorporated's (NYSE: GLW)
Telecommunications segment, announced today that BMW has
chosen Corning's tip-to-tip optical and copper solution for
its China headquarters office network infrastructure.
The BMW China headquarters office occupies seven floors
in the Beijing Jiachen Square Building. The project requires
more than 4,000 optical and CAT6 shielded copper ports.
Corning Cable Systems LANscape(R) Solution with
high-performance Infinicor(R) OM3 laser-optimized multimode
fiber will be deployed for backbone connectivity. The
products include patch panels, optical cable and UniCam(R)
Quick-Mount Connectors. For horizontal connection, Corning
will supply its CAT6 shielded copper low-smoke,
zero-halogen cable with signal transmission based on 450
MHz technology. The combination of the OM3 optical backbone
solution and CAT6 copper horizontal solution will provide
BMW a highly reliable, safe and cost-effective network
infrastructure.
T-Systems, a member of the Corning Cable Systems
LANscape Solutions Extended WarrantySM Program, will be the
general contractor for the cabling installation. T-Systems
has been in the local area network and data center
infrastructure business for over 20 years and possesses
extensive expertise in network design, deployment and
services.
The success of this project is a milestone as a result
of the close cooperation between Corning Cable Systems and
T-Systems. Both companies believe that complementary
relationship will lead to more business opportunities in
the future.
Corning Cable Systems is an industry-leading
manufacturer of fiber optic and copper communications
network infrastructure solutions. For additional
information on Corning Cable Systems products or services,
please contact a customer service representative at
86-21-64952266, or visit the Web site at
http://www.corning.com/cablesystems .
T-Systems is Deutsche Telekom's business customer
brand. T-Systems offers one-stop information and
communications technology (ICT) solutions. That means you
have one point of contact for all your needs -- for your
corporate networks, IT solutions or for end-to-end business
process outsourcing (BPO). T-Systems Business Services unit
currently supports around 160,000 medium-sized and large
customers over 20 countries.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated ( http://www.corning.com ) is a
diversified technology company that concentrates its
efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning
combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic
materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties
of light, with strong process and manufacturing
capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize
significant innovative products for the telecommunications,
flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life
sciences industries.
For more information, please contact:
Lydia Lu
Corning China
Tel: +86-21-5467-4666 x1900
Email: lulr@corning.copm
Rebecca Lu
Corning Calbe Systems
Tel: +86-21-6495-2266 x132
Email: rebecca.lu@corning.com
SOURCE Corning Incorporated
2007'02.11.Sun
Elster Group Launches Worldwide Energy Saving Solution
October 23, 2006
LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Elster
Group, the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of
metering and utilization solutions to the gas, electricity
and water industries, has today launched a smart metering
solution that will help address the issues of climate
change and energy costs.
A new business unit, Elster Integrated Solutions (EIS)
based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, will drive global
programs to help utilities worldwide adopt the very latest
smart metering systems. Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and
Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) are designed
specifically for gas, electricity and water utility
customers. These smart meters can help with some of the
most pressing current environmental issues.
"As a world leader in metering Elster delivers
advanced metering solutions to gas, electricity and water
utilities that enable meters to be read remotely over smart
wireless and fixed networks," said Elster Group CEO,
Thomas Ganswindt. "These meters enable providers to
check on an end-user's usage more frequently, in turn
facilitating more frequent tariff changes including
demand-responsive tariffs which enable prices to follow
demand. Smart meters can send warnings to the consumer to
turn on or turn off appliances. The end result is energy
and resource savings. Highly accurate and fair billing will
show the real use of energy and scarce resources by
consumers."
Research (see Berg Insight M2M Research Series 2006)
shows that shortening the link between consumption and
billing makes residential and industrial consumers more
price-responsive and therefore more economical with their
energy usage. The Berg Insight research also shows that
there is a huge market for this type of technology. Some
European countries are already using smart meters,
especially in Italy and in some Scandinavian countries.
"Metering is a fundamental business enabler for
utility companies. In Europe alone there are approximately
244 million electricity meters and 101 million gas
meters," continues Ganswindt. "The liberalization
of energy markets requires that the utility meters of
tomorrow be connected to data communication networks.
Elster's investment in technology and people will help
reduce operating costs, drive additional revenue streams
for our customers and further improve the quality of energy
usage for consumers. When installed, Elster smart meters
will also help improve our environment."
President of Elster Integrated Solutions is industry
veteran Sharon Allan. Allan joined Elster in 1997 from IBM
and most recently was chief knowledge officer of Elster
Electricity. In 2002, she was named one of the `50 Key
Women in Energy' for her global leadership in the area of
innovation and creativity within the industry.
"We deliver and integrate metering automation
solutions for our customers so that they can better manage
their business in the area of gas, electricity, and water
usage as well as facilitate new end-customer
programs," said Allan. "Whether it is AMR or AMI,
we enable business and customer management from the metering
information. Core to our solution is the use of intelligent
mobile and fixed network communications."
With a turnover in 2005 of over Euro 1.3 billion, the
Elster Group is the largest metering company in the world.
A trailblazer in terms of quality and innovation, the Group
continues to invest in the latest metering and
communications technology.
Mark Munday, president and CEO of Elster Electricity,
has been appointed executive vice president of the combined
Elster electricity and water businesses in North America.
Mark has over 26 years of experience in the industry, and
for the last 6 years has headed the Elster Electricity
business unit in Raleigh.
"The launch of Elster Integrated Solutions will
help drive our North American business forward, providing
our customers with the information they need to shape
strategic decisions about efficient energy use," said
Munday. "Our expertise and heritage in the metering
market are combined in the EIS business to accelerate the
delivery of actionable intelligence to the 62,000 utilities
that we work with across the region."
Thomas Ganswindt concludes, "As well as the clear
opportunity that Elster Integrated Solutions delivers in
North America, it is a strategic first step for our global
offering."
About Elster Group
Elster Group (formerly Ruhrgas Industries), is the
world's leading manufacturer and supplier of highly
accurate, high quality, integrated metering and utilization
solutions to the gas, electricity and water industries. In
addition, through its subsidiary Ipsen International, it is
the leading global manufacturer of high level
thermo-chemical treatment equipment.
The group has over 9,000 staff and operations in 37
countries, focused in North and South America, Europe and
Asia. Elster's high quality products and systems reflect
the wealth of knowledge and experience gained from over 170
years of dedication measuring precious resources and energy.
The Elster Group is headquartered in Luxembourg.
For more information, please contact:
Nick Chaloner,
Elster Group
Tel: +44-7920-597-497
Email: nick.chaloner@elster.com
SOURCE Elster Group
2007'02.11.Sun
TAXUS(TM) Performance Superior to Cypher(TM) In Diabetic Patients In Head-to-Head Study
October 23, 2006
NATICK, Mass., Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Boston
Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced one-year
results from its TC-WYRE (TAXUS(TM) Express(2)(TM) Stent vs.
Cypher Stent: What's Your Real-World Experience?) study,
which showed the TAXUS Express(2) paclitaxel-eluting
coronary stent to be superior to the Cypher(TM)
sirolimus-eluting coronary stent in diabetic patients in a
head-to-head study. This study of 1,558 patients was
designed to retrospectively compare one-year clinical
outcomes in real-world practice among consecutive,
unselected patients in 19 centers across the U.S. The
results were presented at the Cardiac Research Foundation's
eighteenth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics
scientific symposium in Washington, D.C.
The study's primary endpoint was target vessel
revascularization (TVR or re-intervention) at one year.
The two stents demonstrated comparable TVR rates of 3.2
percent for the TAXUS stent and 4.4 percent (p=0.23) for
the Cypher stent. This trend towards lower TVR in the
TAXUS stent group was statistically significant in the
complex diabetic patient population (2.8 percent for the
TAXUS stent compared to 8.5 percent for the Cypher stent,
p=0.004).
"These low re-intervention rates are consistent
with those we've seen in the S.T.E.N.T registry in the
Unites States," said Dr. William O'Neill, University
of Miami, and national principal investigator in the
TC-WYRE study. "The data are particularly compelling
because they represent the patients physicians treat every
day in a real-world setting. These patients often present
with multiple complexities physicians may not see in a
randomized controlled trial setting -- complexities such as
diabetes, small vessels, tortuous anatomy and more."
The TC-WYRE study also demonstrated excellent safety
outcomes consistent with previous U.S. studies. The major
adverse cardiac event rates were comparable for the TAXUS
stent at 7.2 percent and the Cypher stent at 7.3 percent.
In addition, the two groups demonstrated low and comparable
overall stent thrombosis rates of 0.9 percent for TAXUS and
0.8 percent for Cypher, with an identical late-stent
thrombosis rate of 0.1 percent reported for both stents.
"While some smaller, single-center studies have
suggested significant differences between the Cypher stent
and the TAXUS stent, these differences have not been borne
out by the broader body of clinical data and have been
inconsistent with what physicians tell us about their daily
practice experience," said Paul LaViolette, Chief
Operating Officer of Boston Scientific. "TC-WYRE was
designed to capture the real experience physicians are
having with the two stents and it corroborates the positive
findings on the TAXUS stent from significant studies such as
the S.T.E.N.T registry and from the REALITY trial -- the two
largest studies of their kind to evaluate TAXUS and Cypher
stents head-to-head."
Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer,
manufacturer and marketer of medical devises whose products
are used in a broad range of interventional medical
specialties. For more information, please visit:
http://www.boston.scientific.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements.
Boston Scientific wishes to caution the reader of this
press release that actual results may differ from those
discussed in the forward-looking statements and may be
adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated
with new product development and commercialization, clinical
trials, intellectual property, regulatory approvals,
competitive offerings, Boston Scientific's over all
business strategy, and other factors described in Boston
Scientific's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
For more information, please contact:
Geraldine Varoqui,
Boston Scientific PR Manager International
Tel: +49-2102-489-461
Email: varoquig@bsci.com
Tracy Paul,
BSC press office
Tel: +44-20-7413-3101
Email: tpaul@medicalknowledgegroup.com
SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
aloft -- A Vision of W Hotels: A New Destination Sensation in the Travel Industry
October 23, 2006
Innovative Design, Style and Technology to Reinvent the Current Business Segment
aloft; Adverb: in or Into a High Place; High or Higher Up
aloft; Adverb: in or Into a High Place; High or Higher Up
SINGAPORE, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- aloha!
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT)
and its successful W Hotels division have done it again.
Carrying the DNA of W Hotels, aloft hotels formally
launched in Asia Pacific today at the Hotel Investment
Conference (HICAP) in Hong Kong. Developers and members of
the media can see the brand come to life for the first time
at the custom-designed aloft experience room, set at the
conference venue. The aloft room offers a firsthand look at
the unique and stylish spirit of the brand and experience
its refreshing look and feel.
As a Vision of W Hotels, aloft is conceived by the same
team that created W Hotels, widely regarded as one of the
most successful new brands in decades. In the same way W
Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upper
upscale hotel arena, aloft will raise the bar in the
midscale category, offering urban-inspired, loft-like guest
rooms, enhanced technology services, landscaped outdoor
spaces for socializing day and night and an energetic
lounge scene. Design visionary David Rockwell and the
Rockwell Group, whose award-winning projects include the
Kodak Theater, Nobu and the W Union Square, are
collaborating on the brand's design.
"We are building on our success and lessons
learned from W and reinventing the category," said
Steven J. Heyer, Starwood's Chief Executive Officer.
"aloft will offer travelers a radical departure and a
welcome, refreshing alternative to what's currently out
there. We intend to deliver great style, design and
functionality, all at an affordable room rate, with a high
comfort quotient."
"Our customers are more sophisticated and they
expect more than just a place to sleep. With aloft, we're
shaking things up and offering something fresh, inspiring
and ultimately more fun," said Ross Klein, President
of W Hotels Worldwide. "We see aloft as an oasis at
the end of the road, a place that's comfortable, easy and
effortless."
aloft will revamp the same-old, same-old, polyester and
concrete experience by bringing stylish accommodations and a
social atmosphere to business and leisure travelers. The
aloft concept features loft-like guest rooms with generous
nine-foot ceilings, oversized windows, a well designed
workspace and bathrooms with spacious walk-in showers and
amenities created by bliss(R) spa. In addition to the
guest room's centerpiece -- a signature, ultra-comfortable
bed for which Starwood's brands are well known -- guests
can get connected with plug & play, aloft's signature
one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic
gadgets such as blackberries, mp3 players and laptops --
all linked to a 32" flat panel television for optimal
sound and viewing.
aloft's public spaces are designed to draw guests from
their rooms with a variety social offerings. With relax; an
open lounge space ideal for a drink with friends and the
backyard; an open-air area out back, guests can socialize
and gather for light meals during the day or night. aloft
will also satisfy guest's needs 24-hrs-a-day with re:fuel
by aloft, a one-stop area offering sweet, savory and
healthy food and beverage options to grab and go. Guests
can work out or de-stress at the recharge fitness center or
splash, the indoor or outdoor pool. Each aloft hotel will
also feature flexible meeting and function space and offer
100% wireless Internet access throughout the property.
"Our mission with aloft is to bring style,
convenience and a social environment to an otherwise tired,
lonely experience, all at a great price," said Miguel
Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia
Pacific. "We have worked closely with key developers
and guests across Asia Pacific to refine our prototype and
signature features to create an efficient and profitable
product which guests will love. We are excited to be
introducing aloft to Asia Pacific and are already in
advanced negotiations with numerous partners across the
region."
Starwood hinted that construction is likely to commence
within this year in several locations, including Bangalore,
Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore. Results from surveys
indicate a preference for hot food options and a full
service restaurant in Asia Pacific. As a result, the North
America prototype has been adapted for various Asian markets
to incorporate a full service restaurant that will be leased
to qualified third party operators, and re:fuel by aloft
will offer enhanced food offerings including a range of hot
food options.
Starwood anticipates the first aloft hotels to open in
2008, with 500 properties worldwide expected by 2012. The
company has received overwhelming interest from the hotel
development community since announcing the new brand mid
last year. 10 aloft hotels are already under development in
North America and Starwood is processing applications from
various projects as well.
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. 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 .
For more information, please contact:
Hwee Peng Yeo
Corporate Communications Manager
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6335-4837
Email: hweepeng.yeo@starwoodhotels.com
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Unveils Its Newest Brand
October 23, 2006
ELEMENT Hotels, Created by Westin Hotels, To Transform the Extended Stay Experience
SINGAPORE, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today
unveiled its newest hotel brand: ELEMENT, created by the
team behind Westin Hotels & Resorts. Incorporating
smart design, modern style and a social environment,
ELEMENT is targeted to travelers staying for an extended
period of time, and promises to help guests live their best
lives on the road. In September, Starwood unveiled the
brand to North American developers and this week will
introduce the new brand to the Asia Pacific market at the
Hotel Investment Conference (HICAP) in Hong Kong during the
second leg of a global road show. The brand is currently
developing a custom prototype for Asia Pacific that will
appeal to travelers visiting the diverse region.
"With Westin, we recreated the upper-upscale
segment in the hotel industry. Strategically, ELEMENT fits
into this mold-it is about creating a new category from the
ground up," said Starwood's Chief Executive Officer
Steven J. Heyer. "We know that Starwood's guests are
hungry for a new kind of extended-stay experience, and
ELEMENT fills this white space in our portfolio perfectly.
The name ELEMENT really gets at what we are aspiring to-a
new approach that will offer guests a brand experience, not
just a hotel."
"With the globalization of industry, international
markets have a growing need for extended stay hotels, and
Starwood has identified the Asia Pacific region, including
China, India and Australia as ideal markets for our new
ELEMENT hotels," commented Miguel Ko, President of
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific."
ELEMENT will feature several signature flourishes that
evoke nature. A dramatic multi-story window-wall will
flood ELEMENT's lobbies with natural light. Public spaces
in the hotels will also include a tranquil water feature
and design touches inspired by nature. ELEMENT will also
incorporate an outdoor haven, with a courtyard and patio
where guests are invited to socialize and relax by an
outdoor fire pit and barbeque. During their stays, guests
will discover smart design features that will make their
stays easier, from modular furniture designed to encourage
multi-tasking and productivity, to swiveling flat-screen
televisions.
"The name ELEMENT really evokes the spirit of the
brand," said Sue Brush, Senior Vice President of
Westin Hotels & Resorts. "This brand is about
smart design, features inspired by nature, and creating
space where guests can be `in their element.'"
To bring the ELEMENT brand philosophy of "a space
to live your life" to fruition, Starwood eschewed
traditional hotel design shops and partnered with leading
residential architect, Costas Kondylis, and interior design
firm AvroKO, considered innovators in smart space living.
The result includes large kitchens with stainless steel
appliances, custom-designed closets, in-room offices and
gourmet pantries.
ELEMENT is inspired by the Westin hotel brand. Guests
will sleep in the famed Heavenly Bed(R) and experience the
large, state-of-the art fitness facilities for which the
brand is well known. Other touches will remind guests of
Westin, from the signature scent in ELEMENT lobbies to the
renewing touches spread throughout the hotel.
"The large market for the concept and the brand's
efficient design, coupled with the strength of Starwood's
marketing platform and Westin's history of innovation, have
generated significant attention from the development
community," said Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein,
Jr., President of Starwood's Global Development Group.
When complete, the ELEMENT prototype will be a
fully-documented turn-key solution for owners and
developers. Design development plans, pre-determined
design packages and specified and sourced furniture,
fixtures and equipment all add up to an industry leading
development toolkit. From ground breaking to grand
opening, the ELEMENT development process is supported by
architecture, design, operations and marketing
professionals experienced in helping developers succeed.
The ELEMENT growth strategy targets locations in proven
markets -- urban centers, corporate business parks,
airports, resorts and lifestyle centers. The brand will be
introduced in major destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa,
the Middle East, South America, and North America, and
Starwood anticipates 500 hotels worldwide. Travelers will
soon be able to find the space to live their life ...
wherever there travels take them.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 127 hotels and
resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 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
ELEMENT 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 .
** Please contact Starwood's new, toll-free media
hotline at (866) 4-STAR-PR
(866-478-2777) for photography or additional
information.**
(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
Corporate Communications Manager
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6335-4837
Email: hweepeng.yeo@starwoodhotels.com
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
Orbit E-Commerce and PureNet.TV Partner With United Wireless Ltd. in China
October 23, 2006
TORONTO, Oct. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Orbit
E-Commerce Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: OECI), in conjunction
with its major shareholder, PureNet.TV Canada Inc., today
announced the signing of an agreement with United Wireless
Ltd. to form a Joint Venture for the purpose of delivering
Internet Protocol Television ("IPTV") products
and services to United Wireless' 15 million subscribers in
major cities across the Peoples Republic of China
("PRC").
Under the agreement, United Wireless will provide
government licenses and permits to deliver IPTV services in
the largest cities in China. The Joint Venture Company will
have immediate access to approximately 15 million
subscribers through its 3,000 corporate and institutional
clients in China.
To put this agreement in perspective, there are
currently more than 123 million Internet users, over 10% of
the population of China, including 77 million DSL broadband
subscribers (projected to reach 140 million by 2010). Mr.
Ping Cheng, CEO of United Wireless states, "The
partnership with PureNet and OECI will enable United
Wireless and its partners to quickly establish itself as
the leading provider of digital television products and
services in the world's largest and fastest growing market
through its 15 branch offices in China."
In commenting on the signing of the Agreement with
United Wireless, Douglas C. Lloyd, President and CEO of
OECI and PureNet said today that, "We are pleased to
partner with United Wireless to establish a digital IPTV
business, especially in a country where there are no
digital cable television or satellite services available.
This is an excellent opportunity for OECI and PureNet to
deliver on a digital IPTV system that the companies have
spent the past few years researching and developing. We
take great pride in having established a close relationship
with one of the most important media organizations in China.
The companies are excited about the attitude of our
partners and their state sponsors, who have determined that
digital IPTV is the most effective means of distributing
video content and are now making every effort to expedite
the deployment of our technology within the next sixty days
in China."
About United Wireless Ltd.
United Wireless, a Zhejiang Company affiliate,
http://www.hzsun.com , is a registered company with the
Administration for Industry and Commerce of Shenzhen
Municipality. Zhejiang is a twenty-year-old ISO9001
certified manufacturer of award winning high tech products
and is recognized by the Ministry of Information Industry
software enterprises and by the Science and Technology
Department of Zhejiang Province for outstanding products.
The company also received a triple AAA credit rating award
from the People's Bank of China. Growing rapidly, United
Wireless, with over 300 employees, now serves more than
3,000 corporate and institutional clients and over 15
million individual subscribers through its 15 branches and
representative offices across the PRC. United Wireless is
one of the implementation units of the China Torch Program
and is a software enterprise recognised by the Ministry of
Information Industry of the PRC. Recently, the Company
entered into a two year co-operation agreement with the
Shanghai Municipal Education Commission to carry out
intelligence technology reform in the main elementary,
junior and senior high schools of the Shanghai
Municipality. More information is available at the
company's web site: http://www.unitedwireless.com.cn .
About Orbit E-Commerce Inc.
Orbit E-Commerce Inc. was established for the purpose
of capitalizing on management's vision and expertise in the
field of Internet-based communications systems, products,
and services. OECI recently announced the acquisition of
the IPTV business of PureNet.TV which will allow OECI to
extend its communications vision and expertise into the
market for IPTV video/internet services which is poised to
experience rapid growth. More information about OECI is
available at the company's web site:
http://www.orbitecommerce.com .
About PureNet.TV Canada Inc.
PureNet.TV is a private company, incorporated in the
Province of Ontario, Canada, formed to research and develop
highly competitive IPTV technology and services and
establish relationships with video content providers and
equipment suppliers. More information about PureNet.TV is
available at the company's web site: http://www.purenet.tv
.
Contact Information: Contact Mr. John Neufeld,
(jneufeld@purenet.tv), 905-751-1499 for information
regarding this press release.
SAFE HARBOR
This document contains forward-looking statements as
defined by the federal securities laws which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements may discuss our future
expectations, contain projections of our future results of
operations or of our financial position, or state other
forward-looking information. However, there may be events
in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or
control. Forward-looking statements are only predictions
that relate to future events or our future performance and
are subject to substantial known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may
cause actual results, outcomes, levels of activity,
performance, developments, or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, outcomes, levels of
activity, performance, developments, or achievements
expressed, anticipated, or implied by these forward-looking
statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee future
results, outcomes, levels of activity, performance,
developments, or achievements, and there can be no
assurance that our expectations, intentions, anticipations,
beliefs, or projections will result or be achieved or
accomplished. In summary, you should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements.
This release was issued through EmailWire.com. For
more information, visit http://www.emailwire.com .
For more information, please contact:
John Neufeld
Orbit E-Commerce Inc.
Tel: +1-905-751-1499
Email: jneufeld@purenet.tv
SOURCE Orbit E-Commerce Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
AKQA to Open Shanghai Office
October 20, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- AKQA, a
leading interactive agency, announced today that it will
expand its operations in Asia and open a Shanghai office.
Mr. Ho Chee Yue, who joined AKQA five years ago in
Singapore, will help launch the new office and manage
client relationships in the Asia Pacific region for AKQA.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061020/DCF006 )
"Our global clients are looking for greater
coverage in Asia and China in particular," said Mr.
Tom Bedecarre, Chief Executive Officer of AKQA. "With
the rapid approach of the high-profile 2008 Olympic Games
in Beijing, AKQA will be on the ground for our clients,
many of whom are Olympic sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and
Visa," Bedecarre added.
AKQA has started recruiting across Asia Pacific for the
best creative and technical staff for AKQA Shanghai. Mr. Ho
and his initial employees will open the office in November
2006. AKQA Shanghai's first project will be to support the
implementation of Coca-Cola's global Olympics initiatives
in China.
"I have been delighted with the warm welcome that
AKQA has received in China and I am very excited that we
are opening an office in Shanghai, one of the world's most
creative and dynamic cities," said Mr. Ajaz Ahmed,
Chairman of AKQA. "We look forward to delivering
innovative work for our clients in China."
Earlier this year, the China Advertising Association
appointed Ajaz Ahmed as an International Advisor for China
Advertising.
In accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of
China, AKQA has established a wholly foreign owned
enterprise (WFOE) to operate in Shanghai. AKQA has leased
office space in China's tallest building, the famous Jin
Mao Building. AKQA hopes to contribute to the growth of
the Shanghai economy by providing high quality services to
meet the needs of both international and domestic clients.
About AKQA:
A recognized pioneer and innovator, AKQA provides
ideas, insights, customer relationship marketing and
e-commerce solutions to the world's leading brands,
including Nike, Xbox, Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker and
Unilever. An independent agency with more than 475
employees, AKQA has offices in San Francisco, New York,
Washington, D.C., London and Singapore. In the past year,
AKQA was named "Interactive Agency of the Year"
in both the U.S. and the U.K. More information can be found
at http://www.akqa.com .
For more information, please contact:
PR Contact:
Molly Parsley,
Marketing & PR Manager
Tel: +44-20-7780-4769
Email: molly.parsley@akqa.com
Shanghai Contact:
Ho Chee Yue,
Regional Director Asia
Tel: +86-159-2198-9572
Email: chee.yue@akqa.com
SOURCE AKQA
2007'02.11.Sun
WorldWater & Power Exhibits at Solar Power 2006 Conference and Expo
October 20, 2006
SHANGHAI£¬ China, Oct. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
WorldWater & Power Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: WWAT.OB),
developer and marketer of proprietary high-horsepower solar
systems, recently announced that senior executives from the
company's New Jersey headquarters and California offices
attended Solar Power 2006 to display its solar technology
and feature recently completed projects. The event was
held at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose,
California, October 16-20.
"The Solar Power Conference and Expo is the
largest business-to-business solar event in the United
States and I always look forward to it. Our top executives
view it as a prime opportunity to share information with
industry colleagues and forge partnerships that help
forward the deployment of our unique contribution to the
industry, the ability to drive electric motors up to 600
horsepower on solar power alone," said Quentin T.
Kelly, Chairman of WorldWater & Power Corp.
Organized by the Solar Electric Power Association
(SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA),
Solar Power 2006 has been growing rapidly each year. More
than 4,000 people are expected to attend this year's event
and more than 160 companies will exhibit.
About WorldWater & Power Corp
WorldWater & Power Corporation is a full-service,
international solar electric engineering and water
management company with unique, high-powered and patented
solar technology that provides solutions to a broad
spectrum of the world's electricity and water supply
problems. For more information about WorldWater &
Power Corp., visit http://www.worldwater.com .
For more information, please contact:
Jessie Sullivan
Tel: +1-609-818-0700 x20
Email: JSullivan@worldwater.com
Mike Breslin
Mike Breslin Productions LLC
Tel: +1-201-652-1287
Email: mbrez@aol.com
Investor Contact:
Jody Burfening / Chris Witty
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
Tel: +1-212-838-3777
Email: cwitty@lhai.com
SOURCE WorldWater & Power Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Valeo Announces a Project to Sell Its Electrical Motors & Actuators Activity
October 20, 2006
PARIS, Oct. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Valeo today
announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
for the sale of its Electrical Motors & Actuators
activity to the Japanese group Nidec.
The parties expect to be in a position to sign the
definitive agreements regarding this project once the
employee representative consultation process has been
completed.
Valeo's Electrical Motors and Actuators activity
generated sales of 253 million euros in 2005. It employs
1,800 people in five plants (Germany, Spain, China, Poland,
Mexico) and four R&D centers (Germany, North America,
China).
Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused
on the design, production and sale of components,
integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo
ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers and
employs 73,800 people in 133 plants, 71 R&D centers and
9 distribution centers in 29 countries.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandre Telinge,
Group Media Relations & PR Manager
Tel: +33-1-40-55-20-74
Matthieu de Crevoisier,
Group Media Relations Coordinator
Tel: +33-1-40-55-37-68
SOURCE Valeo Management Services
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