2007'03.05.Mon
Xinhua FTSE Index promptly Adds Ping An of China to A Share Index Series
March 01, 2007
BEIJING, March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua FTSE
Index (XFI), the independent China index company, announced
today that it would add Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of
China, Ltd. (Ping An of China) (A Share, 601318) to its
index series, following the company's listing at the
Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company will join a number of
indexes, including Xinhua/FTSE China A50, Xinhua FTSE 200
and Xinhua FTSE Insurance Investment Index when China
markets open on Thursday 8 March 2007. Headquartered in
Shenzhen, Ping An of China is China's second largest
insurer and 19.9 percent owned by HSBC Holdings Plc.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200611140926.gif
)
The stock is added as a fast entry to the index (i.e.,
it does not need to wait until the regular quarterly
review) as XFI Ground Rules allow for sufficiently large
stocks to be added 5 trading days after listing. This rule
is in place to ensure that the index remains an up to date
and accurate reflection of the market it measures, and
allows investors to use the index as a tracking and
analysis tool with confidence and precision.
Ping An of China (A) will join the following indices
with total shares in issue of 4,786,409,636 and an
investability weighting of 20%:
Xinhua/FTSE China A50, Xinhua FTSE 200, Xinhua FTSE
200 Style, Xinhua
FTSE 400, Xinhua FTSE 600, Xinhua FTSE 600 Style
Index, Xinhua FTSE All-
Share and Xinhua FTSE Insurance Investment Index.
For balance detail, please refer to the tech notice
here:
http://www.ftse.com/xinhua/Indices/Domestic_Investors/Index_Changes.jsp
Commenting on the addition of Ping An of China to the
Xinhua FTSE Index Series, Norman Yen, Managing Director of
Xinhua FTSE said, "This fast entry represents our
capability, efficiency and continued commitment to keep
international and domestic investors abreast with the
increasingly dynamic market. It is a testament to our
consistent and transparent efforts to serve these investors
with the most valuable investment tools in the China
market."
More information about the Xinhua FTSE Index Series is
available at http://www.xinhuaftse.com .
Notes to Editors
About Xinhua FTSE Index
Established in late 2000, Xinhua FTSE Index (XFI), a
joint venture between Xinhua Finance Limited and FTSE, came
into being to facilitate the creation of real-time indices
for the Chinese market. The indices can be used as a basis
for the trading of derivatives, index-tracking funds,
Exchange Traded Funds and as performance benchmarks. The
combination of FTSE's expertise in international indexing
with Xinhua Finance's strong presence and capabilities in
China creates a level of expertise in the Chinese market
that is unprecedented. Providing the combined coverage for
the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, all of the FTSE/Xinhua
indices are designed according to internationally proven
index methodology to ensure products are transparent, clear
and consistent. For daily data and further information,
please visit http://www.ftsexinhua.com .
About FTSE Group
FTSE Group is a world-leader in the creation and
management of indexes. With offices in Beijing, London,
Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Madrid, Paris, New York, San
Francisco, Boston, Shanghai and Tokyo, FTSE Group services
clients in 77 countries worldwide. It calculates and
manages the FTSE Global Equity Index Series, which includes
world-recognized indexes ranging from the FTSE All-World
Index, the FTSE4Good series and the FTSEurofirst Index
series, as well as domestic indexes such as the prestigious
FTSE 100. The company has collaborative arrangements with
the Athens, AMEX, Cyprus, Euronext, Johannesburg London,
Madrid, NASDAQ Thailand and Taiwan exchanges, as well as
Nomura Securities, Hang Seng and Xinhua Finance of China.
FTSE also has a collaborative agreement with Dow Jones
Indexes to develop a single sector classification system
for global investors.
FTSE indexes are used extensively by investors
world-wide for investment analysis, performance
measurement, asset allocation, portfolio hedging and for
creating a wide range of index tracking funds. Independent
committees of senior fund managers, derivatives experts,
actuaries and other experienced practitioners review all
changes to the indexes to ensure that they are made
objectively and without bias. Real-time FTSE indexes are
calculated on systems managed by Reuters. Prices and FX
rates used are supplied by Reuters.
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 .
For more information, please contact:
China (Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong)
Catherine Song,
Xinhua FTSE Beijing office
Tel: +86-10-5864-5275
Email: catherine.song@xinhuafinance.com
Joy Tsang,
Xinhua Finance
Tel: +852-3196-3983 or +86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
New York
Lynne Sims,
FTSE Americas
Tel: +1-212-641-6168
Email: lynne.sims@ftse.com
London
Sandra Steel,
FTSE Group
Tel: +44-20-7866-1821
Email: media@ftse.com
SOURCE Xinhua FTSE Index
PR
2007'03.05.Mon
Subaye.com Provides Video Web Page Developing and Marketing Services for Corporate Video Users
March 01, 2007
HONG KONG, March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Telecom
Communications, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: TCOM), the Total Solutions Provider,
announced today
that its subsidiary, Subaye.com provides video web page
developing, host and
marketing for its corporate video users.
Subaye.com corporate video sharing channel, secured
more than 30,000
corporate video users for its services, which include
production, upload,
storage, sharing and publishing onto more than 30 main
video sharing portal
websites.
The $60 monthly fee for each corporate user of
Subaye.com Internet
Corporate Video services was charged from November 1, 2006.
Almost 90% of
users paid the monthly fee for continued service after the
30 day free of
charge period. The service provided is distribution through
its alliance
members (distributors) in China.
Under the distribution agreement, the alliance members
carry out marketing
and sales. Subaye Internet Corporate Video serves as a
commission base.
Alliance members assist corporate users in the studio,
including with DVD
recording, and deliver videos to Subaye video storage and
post to video
sharing websites, including YouTube.com. "Most of the
new distributors are the
business partners and agents of Baidu and Google. They will
bid search
keywords for promotion online with Baidu.com and other
search engines from
time to time. The potential users of the Internet Corporate
Video service are
the 20 million Small and Medium size Enterprises in
China," said Y.F. Su, Vice
President of TCOM.
About Telecom Communications, Inc.
Telecom Communications, Inc. (TCOM) is a Total
Solutions Provider that
offers Integrated Communications Network Solutions and
Internet Content
Service in universal voice, video, data web and mobile
communications for
interactive media applications, technology and content
leaders in interactive
multimedia communications. It develops, markets and sells a
universal media
software solution for enterprise-wide deployment of
integrated voice, video,
data web and mobile communications and media applications.
Telecom
Communications, Inc. does business in Asia via its wholly
owned subsidiaries,
Alpha Century Holdings Ltd., IC Star MMS, Ltd. (
http://www.skyestar.com ),
Guangzhou TCOM Computer Technology Limited (
http://www.mystaru.com ) and
majority owned subsidiary HRDQ Group, Inc. (
http://www.subaye.com ).
Safe Harbor
The statements made in this release constitute
"forward-looking"
statements, usually containing the words
"believe," "estimate,"
"project,"
"expect," or similar expressions. These
statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks
and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking
statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such
differences
include, but are not limited to, changing economic
conditions, interest rates
trends, continued acceptance of the Company's products in
the marketplace,
competitive factors and other risks detailed in the
Company's periodic report
Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By
making these forward-
looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to
update these
statements for revisions or changes after the date of this
release.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Sandy Tang
Telecom Communications, Inc.
Tel: +852-2782-0983
Email: pr@tcom8266.com
SOURCE Telecom Communications, Inc.
2007'03.05.Mon
PacificNet's Subsidiary Delivers 100 Electronic Gaming Machines to a Leading Operator in Europe
March 01, 2007
BEIJING, March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- PacificNet,
Inc. (Nasdaq: PACT), a
leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM),
mobile internet,
e-commerce and gaming technology in China, announced today
that it's Take1
Technologies ("Take1") subsidiary has delivered
100 electronic gaming machines
to a leading gaming operator in Europe. Since the
introduction of its new line
of electronic gaming machines (EGM), Take1 Electronic Slot
Machines, Amusement
with Prizes (AWP) Machines, Video Lottery Terminal (VLT)
Machines and
Electronic Bingo Machines, Take1 has received positive
reviews by the slot,
AWP, video lottery and bingo operators. Terms of the
agreement were not
disclosed.
PacificNet's Take1 subsidiary has been in the business
of designing and
manufacturing electronic multimedia entertainment kiosks,
coin-op kiosks and
machines, electronic gaming machines (EGM), bingo and slot
machines, AWP
(Amusement With Prizes) games, server-based downloadable
game systems, and
Video Lottery Terminals (VLT) such as Keno and Bingo
machines, including
hardware, software, client-server systems and cabinets.
PacificNet's Take1
subsidiary is based in Hong Kong with offices and a
hardware manufacturing
facility located in Shenzhen, China. Software for the Take1
bingo machines is
co-developed by PacificNet's software outsourcing unit,
Pacific Solutions
Technology, a CMM Level 3 certified software development
center with over 200
software programmers located in Shenzhen, China. Recent
regulatory changes in
Europe and Asia have opened the door to more widespread
electronic slot
operators and PacificNet's Take1 subsidiary has had success
in entering the
European and Asian market as a provider of electronic slot
machines.
"The selection of our electronic gaming machines
by leading gaming
operators in Macau, Asia and Europe signifies PacificNet's
strong entrance
into the global gaming market as a leading supplier of
gaming products and
technologies," said Tony Tong, Chairman and CEO of
PacificNet. "With our new
focus on the rapidly growing gaming market, we will
continue to pursue
becoming a leading provider of electronic gaming machines,
electronic multi-
player table games, slot machines, VLT and bingo machines
to the gaming
operators and gaming industry. We believe that we have the
right gaming
products, software and hardware expertise, research and
development center
with CMM Level 3 certification, local service staff, the
right channels and
partnerships, and the experience that is necessary to
succeed in this market.
We believe that PacificNet is poised to take advantage of
the anticipated
upcoming replacement cycle for electronic gaming machines
and the current
Asian and global gaming expansion."
PacificNet will be presenting its latest Multiplayer
Electronic Gaming
Machines (EGM), Slot Machines and other gaming technology
products at the 6th
International Gaming & Entertainment Expo (Gaming 2007)
in Macau, China, March
14-16 (www.gaming-exhibition.com), at the Macau Tower
Convention &
Entertainment Centre. In addition, PacificNet will be
presenting and
exhibiting its latest Multiplayer Electronic Gaming
Machines (EGM), Slot
Machines and other gaming technology products at the GEM
Gaming &
Entertainment Plus Leisure Expo 2007 in Manila,
Philippines, March 21-23
(www.AsianGemPhil.com), at the World Trade Center, Booth
P52, March 21-23,
2007. The Expo is sponsored by the Asian Gem & Tourism
Foundation, Inc. and is
presented by the PAGCOR Casino Filipino. In addition to its
exhibition booth,
PacificNet Games is scheduled to present its Macau success
story of its high-
return electronic multi-player gaming machines at the
"Gaming & Investment
Conference" at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila on
March 21.
About PacificNet
PacificNet, Inc. (http://www.PacificNet.com) is a
leading provider of
Customer Relationship Management (CRM), mobile internet,
e-commerce and gaming
technology in China. PacificNet's clients include the
leading telecom
companies, banks, insurance, travel, marketing and business
services companies
and telecom consumers in Greater China. PacificNet's
corporate clients include
China Telecom, China Mobile, Unicom, PCCW, Hutchison
Telecom, Bell24,
Motorola, Nokia, SONY, TCL, Huawei, American Express,
Citibank, HSBC, Bank of
China, Bank of East Asia, DBS, TNT, Hong Kong Government,
and leading hotel-
casinos in Macau and Asia. PacificNet employs over 1,400
staff in its various
subsidiaries throughout China with offices in Hong Kong,
Beijing, Shenzhen,
Guangzhou, Macau, and branch offices in 28 provinces in
China and has
headquarters in Beijing and Hong Kong.
Take1 Technologies (http://www.take1technologies.com),
a member of
PacificNet group, is in the business of designing and
manufacturing electronic
multimedia entertainment kiosks, coin-op kiosks and
machines, electronic
gaming machines (EGM), bingo and slot machines, AWP
(Amusements With Prizes)
games, server-based downloadable games systems, and Video
Lottery Terminals
(VLT) such as Keno and Bingo machines, including hardware,
software, client-
server systems and cabinets. Take1 is a leading designer,
developer and
manufacturer of multimedia entertainment and communication
kiosk products
including photo and video entertainment kiosks, digital
camera photo
development stations, multimedia messaging services (MMS)
and mobile content
download stations for mobile phones, and other
coin-operated peripherals and
consumables. Take1 Technologies is based in Hong Kong and
markets and
distributes its products around the world including the
USA, Canada, Mexico,
Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.
PacificNet Games Limited (PacGames), is a leading
provider of Asian multi-
player electronic gaming machines, gaming technology
solutions, gaming related
maintenance, IT and distribution services for the leading
hotel, casino and
slot hall operators based in Macau, China and other Asian
gaming markets.
PacGames products include multi-player electronic gaming
machines such as
Baccarat, Fish-Prawn-Crab, Sib-Bo Cussec, Roulette, and
other multi-player
electronic gaming machines, as well as other traditional
slot machines.
PacificNet's software R&D and outsourcing unit,
Pacific Solutions
Technology, is a CMM Level 3 certified software development
center with over
200 software programmers located in Shenzhen, China, and
specializes in the
development of high-end client-server application software,
internet e-
commerce software, online and casino gaming systems and
slot machines, banking
and telecom applications using Microsoft Visual C++, Java,
and other rapid
application development tools.
Safe Harbor Statement
This Company's announcement contains forward-looking
statements.
Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about our
beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
Potential risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, PacificNet's
possible future
losses, uncertain regulatory landscape in China, and
fluctuations in quarterly
operating results. Further information regarding these and
other risks is
included in PacificNet's Form 10KSB and other filings with
the SEC.
For more information, please contact:
PacificNet USA office: Jacob Lakhany, Tel:
+1-605-229-6678
PacificNet Beijing office: Ada Yu, Tel: +86 (10)
59225000
23rd Floor, Tower A, TimeCourt, No.6 Shuguang Xili,
Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China 100028
PacificNet Take1 Shenzhen Office: Room 4203,
JinZhongHuan Business Center, Futian District,
Shenzhen, China. Postal
Code: 518040
SOURCE PacificNet, Inc.
2007'03.05.Mon
Semiconductor Industry Leaders Team to Deliver Worldwide Training Series and Events
March 01, 2007
Avnet, Xilinx, Analog Devices, National Semiconductor and
Texas Instruments Unveil Plans for Worldwide X-Fest
Technical Seminars
PHOENIX and SAN JOSE, Calif., Mar. 1
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Avnet Electronics Marketing (NYSE:
AVT) and Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq: XLNX) today announced X-Fest
-- a series of technical seminars offering practical, how-to
training for FPGA, DSP, and embedded systems designers.
Analog Devices, National Semiconductor and Texas
Instruments are among the list of gold sponsors
participating in the worldwide technical seminar series.
The series kicks off its 90-city global tour in Beijing
April 3, 2007 and continues through July 13 in locations
throughout Europe, Asia, Japan and North America. For
complete program and registration information, visit
http://em.avnet.com/xfest07 .
The one-day seminars will offer several 90-minute
training courses for attendees to choose from, designed to
provide specialized training on design solutions for FPGA
circuitry and the components surrounding FPGAs. Attendees
will also have access to partner demonstration exhibits
(varying by region) sponsored by Analog Devices, Intel
Flash Memory Group, Lauterbach, LynuxWorks, Murata,
National Semiconductor, Synplicity, Texas Instruments and
The MathWorks, which offer a unique opportunity to explore
some of the latest design solutions.
"Joining forces with Xilinx and our valued
partners has allowed us to build an event where an entire
ecosystem of providers will showcase the latest design
solutions that integrate with Xilinx FPGAs," said Tim
Barber, vice president of global Xilinx marketing for Avnet
Electronics Marketing. "In an intense, single-day
format, design engineers can connect with multiple
suppliers to explore the latest breakthroughs in the FPGA
design space."
Attendees will leave X-Fest armed with the tools and
practical knowledge necessary to tackle new and existing
design challenges for embedded processing, DSP, power
supplies, memory interfaces and analog front ends.
"X-Fest will deliver a deep dive into the key
technology domains where Xilinx FPGAs deliver unique, high
impact capabilities, such as embedded processing, digital
signal processing, serial connectivity, and logic
design," said Omid Tahernia, vice president and
general manager of the Processing Solutions Group at
Xilinx. "The use of multiple learning tracks
comprised of very technical 90-minute solution modules will
allow designers to explore and assess how these breakthrough
solutions can be applied to their own design
innovations."
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of
Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500
company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic
original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic
manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 70 countries,
distributing electronic components from leading
manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and
supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at
http://www.em.avnet.com .
About Avnet
With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70
countries worldwide, Avnet (NYSE: AVT) markets, distributes
and adds value to the products of the world's leading
electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer
manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers.
Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service
capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics
solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer
system integration and engineering design assistance. For
the fiscal year ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue
of $14.25 billion. Visit http://www.avnet.com/ .
About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. is the worldwide leader of programmable
logic solutions. For more information, visit
http://www.xilinx.com .
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Snowden
Xilinx North America
Tel: +1-408-879-6146
Email: tamara.snowden@xilinx.com
Jody Janusch LaRoque
Avnet Electronics Marketing Public Relations
Tel: +1-406-624-6171
Email: jody.janusch@avnet.com
Jaime Chan
Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia
Tel: +852-2410-2735
Email: jaime.chan@avnet.com
SOURCE Avnet
2007'03.05.Mon
Supermicro Defines UIO Architecture
March 01, 2007
Universal I/O (UIO) Innovation Optimizes Server Storage
& Networking Flexibility
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Supermicro Computer, Inc., a leader in
application-optimized, high performance server solutions,
today announced a new family of products that delivers
unprecedented server I/O flexibility. Supermicro Universal
I/OTM (UIO) architecture, with its higher density and
versatile configuration options, optimizes each specific
server application.
Selecting an I/O option is as simple as attaching the
desired Supermicro UIO card flush to the serverboard. To
change the I/O interface, simply remove the UIO card and
install a different one. Additional expansion cards may be
installed in the high-performance PCI slots. Each
Supermicro UIO server supports many I/O options, including
SAS/SATA RAID, 4-port Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gb Ethernet and
InfiniBand, to provide the ultimate in storage and
networking customization.
"When installed, a Supermicro UIO card becomes
part of the serverboard, and the system still retains all
of its PCI-Express and PCI-X slots for expansion
cards," asserts Charles Liang, CEO and president of
Supermicro. "Besides enabling customizable
configurations and optimization for a wide range of
application requirements, Supermicro UIO servers also
provide cost advantages and investment protection."
Future upgrades can be achieved by replacing the UIO
card and/or expansion cards instead of replacing entire
systems. Even without any UIO module or expansion cards, a
UIO system functions as an extremely cost-effective server.
With a UIO card installed, a single UIO server can support
SAS, 10Gb Ethernet or even InfiniBand. This versatility
minimizes the number of different server models that
resellers need to keep in inventory.
New UIO SuperServers support quad-core processors and
feature earth-friendly, high-efficiency power supplies to
maximize performance-per-watt savings and reduce total cost
of ownership (TCO). Today, Supermicro is officially
launching the following UIO servers:
-A+ Server 1011M-UR: UP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & redundant
power
-A+ Server 1021M-UR+: DP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & 16 DIMM slots
-SuperServer 6015G-UR: DP 1U with a PCI-Express x16
& 4 hot-swap drive
bays
-SuperServer 6015B-UR: DP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & redundant
power
-SuperServer 6015B-U: DP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & 560-watt power
-SuperServer 6015B-NTR: DP 1U with 3 add-on cards and
redundant power
-SuperServer 6015B-NT: DP 1U with 3 add-on cards, 4
hot-swap drive bays
-SuperServer 6015B-Ni: DP 1U with 3 add-on cards, 3
fixed drive bays
-SuperServer 5015M-UR: UP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & redundant
power
-SuperServer 5015M-U: UP 1U with 4 hot-swap drive
bays & 560-watt power
-SuperServer 5015M-NTR: UP 1U with 3 add-on cards and
redundant power
-SuperServer 5015M-NT: UP 1U with 3 add-on cards, 4
hot-swap drive bays
-SuperServer 5015M-Ni: UP 1U with 3 add-on cards, 3
fixed drive bays
-SuperServer 5025M-UR: UP 2U supports UIO & 3
full-size PCI-Express x8
cards
-SuperServer 6025B-UR: DP 2U supports UIO & 6
add-on cards (3 full-size)
-SuperServer 7045B-UR: DP 4U convertible Tower with 8
hot-swap drive
bays
For detailed information on Supermicro's complete range
of application-optimized Server Building Block Solutions(R),
please visit http://www.supermicro.com .
About Supermicro Computer, Inc.
Established in 1993, Supermicro emphasizes superior
product design and uncompromising quality control to
produce industry-leading serverboards, chassis and server
systems. These mission-critical Server Building Block
solutions provide benefits across many environments,
including data center deployment, high-performance
computing, high-end workstations, storage networks and
standalone server installations. For more information on
Supermicro's complete line of advanced motherboards,
SuperServers, and optimized chassis, visit
http://www.Supermicro.com , email Marketing@Supermicro.com
or call the San Jose, CA headquarters at
+1-408-503-8000.
For more information, please contact:
Tony Keller
SS | PR
Tel: +1-719-634-8279
EMail: tony@sspr.com
SOURCE Supermicro Computer, Inc.
2007'03.05.Mon
Platts Adds Turkish Plastics to its Global Suite of Price Benchmarks
March 01, 2007
LONDON, March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Platts, the
world's leading energy and commodity information provider,
today began publishing weekly price assessments for the
increasingly active Turkish market. Polymers are
petrochemicals used to produce plastics.
"Turkey has emerged as a key spot market benchmark
for polymers, which are used in the manufacture of plastic
products for the packaging, automotive, electronics, and
construction industries," said David Hanna, Platts
Global Director of Petrochemicals. "We are pleased to
bring greater transparency to this important market with
our new assessments. The new assessments are based on a
rigorous and clearly defined methodology that has been a
hallmark of Platts."
The new assessments will be on a CFR Istanbul basis for
the following polymers: low density polyethylene (LDPE),
linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density
polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene homopolymer (PP),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS).
"According to several studies, Turkey consumes
over 3 million metric tonnes of polymers annually, making
it one of the largest buyers in the Europe-Mideast
area," explains Shahrin Ismaiyatim, Platts Managing
Editor of European Petrochemicals. "Around 26% of this
consumption is for PP, followed by PE, PVC, and PS. With a
population of over 70 million people, and only one major
polymer producer, Petkim, Turkey relies on imported resins
to meet most of its domestic demand."
The new assessments will be published every Wednesday
in the Platts Polymerscan and in Platts' real-time
petrochemical price and news service, Platts Petrochemical
Alert (PCA). The assessments complement Platts'
comprehensive coverage of the polymers markets in Western
and Eastern Europe; North, Southeast and West Asia; and the
U.S. and Latin America. The price assessments are available
by subscription only. For more information about Turkish
polymer and other Platts price assessments, visit
www.platts.com.
About Platts:
Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:
MHP), is a leading global provider of energy and
commodities information. With nearly a century of business
experience, Platts serves customers across more than 150
countries. From 14 offices worldwide, Platts serves the
oil, natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, coal,
petrochemical and metals markets. Platts' real time news,
pricing, analytical services, and conferences help markets
operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk
managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts
to help them make better trading and investment decisions.
Additional information is available at
http://www.platts.com.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies:
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP)
is a leading global information services provider meeting
worldwide needs in the financial services, education and
business information markets through leading brands such as
Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek
and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more
than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3
billion. Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com .
For your information, please contact:
U.S.:
Kathleen Tanzy
Tel: +1-212-904-2860
Europe:
Shiona Ramage
Tel: +44-207-1766153
Asia:
Casey Yew
Tel: +65-6530-6552
SOURCE Platts
2007'03.05.Mon
March Plasma Systems Dramatically Improves Throughput of Industry Leading PCB Plasma Treatment System
March 01, 2007
CONCORD, Calif., March 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- March
Plasma Systems announced today the release of improved PCB
panel pre-etch conditioning technology. With this new
technology the company's industry proven PCB series
products can dramatically increase the throughput in
applications such as desmear and etchback. Productivity
improvements of more than 30% can be achieved with this new
system enhancement. The new product feature will be
implemented on all new PCB series shipments, and is also
available for retrofit on existing systems.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070228/SFW073LOGO)
The typical three plasma process steps required for
high uniformity treatment in desmear and etchback
applications include a pre-etch segment, a desmear or
etchback segment, and a residual reactant removal segment.
The PCB panel pre-etch segment is required to ensure
controlled etch across each panel within an individual
processing cell as well as from processing cell to
processing cell. This PCB panel conditioning directly
results in a more uniform plasma treatment. Minimizing the
time required for each segment results in improved
throughput of the PCB system. The new pre-etch
conditioning technology reduces this segment's time by more
than 65%, directly resulting in improved PCB system
throughput.
"March has always been a technology-driven company
and this latest innovation adds to our list of continuous
improvement to our PCB product platform," said James
Getty, Director of Applications Engineering at March Plasma
Systems. "Our technology gives us a competitive edge in
the marketplace with our advanced plasma processing
equipment. We are confident that this new technology
addition will find rapid acceptance with our
customers."
About March Plasma Systems:
March Plasma Systems is the global leader in plasma
processing technology for the life science, semiconductor,
and PCB industries. March has offices and applications
laboratories worldwide, including California, Florida,
Europe, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. With
over 20 years of continuous innovation, March designs and
manufactures a complete line of award-winning and patented
plasma processing systems. An expert staff of scientists
and engineers is available to assist in the development of
plasma processes that improve both product reliability and
increase production yields. http://www.marchplasma.com
March Plasma Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Nordson Corporation, (Nasdaq: NDSN) the world's leading
producer of precision dispensing equipment.
For more information, please contact:
March Plasma Systems, Inc. (International
Headquarters)
James D. Getty
Tel: +1-925-827-1240
Stephen Sowinski
Communications
Tel: +1-925-246-1673
SOURCE March Plasma Systems
2007'03.05.Mon
EFMD's EQUIS Accreditation Celebrates 10 years, 100 Plus Business Schools, 30 Countries and 1 Goal -- Raising the Level of International Business Education
February 28, 2007
EQUIS Has Now Accredited 105 Business Schools
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On
Tuesday, 27th February, 8 schools were awarded EQUIS
accreditation, which takes the number of accredited schools
to 105 across 30 countries --
-- Amsterdam Business School, University of Amsterdam,
Netherlands
-- CERAM Sophia Antipolis, France
-- Faculty of Business, City University of Hong Kong,
China
-- Faculty of Business, Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, China
-- Faculty of Business, University of Victoria, Canada
-- ICN -- Business School, France
-- Korea University Business School, Korea
-- Vienna University of Economics & Business
Administration, Austria
Prof. Eric Cornuel, CEO of EFMD said, "From its
inception, EQUIS has targeted top-quality international
business schools and we are delighted to welcome 8 more
leading schools into the EQUIS community. EQUIS started as
a European initiative for the benchmarking and
accreditation of business schools but it is now the leading
global accreditation system. A distinctive feature of EQUIS
is closely related to its European origin: appreciation for
diversity and in one decade EQUIS has had an enormously
positive impact on the quality of management education
worldwide."
EQUIS was created in 1997 by a mandate of EFMD's member
business schools including Bocconi, HEC Paris, IESE, IMD,
INSEAD, ESADE, London Business School, and Rotterdam School
of Management. It was inspired by the need to develop an
INTERNATIONAL accreditation system for those business
schools, wherever they were in the world that were trying
to make an impact beyond their domestic frontiers.
In designing EQUIS, EFMD responded to the needs faced
by international business schools that AACSB, AMBA or any
other national accreditation scheme were not satisfying or
likely to satisfy in the foreseeable future. This remains a
key objective of EQUIS: to provide differential value over
other accreditation systems to a highly select number of
world business schools that strive for excellence.
Business schools that are accredited by EQUIS must
demonstrate not only high quality in all dimensions of
their activities, but a high degree of
internationalization. EQUIS also believes that business
schools should be as closely connected to the real world of
business as schools of medicine are to working hospitals.
There must be a balance between high academic quality and
the professional relevance provided by close interaction
with the corporate world.
Prof. Julio Urgel, the Director of EQUIS said,
"Today is a special milestone for EQUIS reaching over
100 accredited schools. The 100th school to be accredited
was actually the City University of Hong Kong and for the
first time we also welcome a school from Korea (Korea
University Business School) into the EQUIS community. We
embrace the diversity all the new schools bring to the
network and believe this is what makes EQUIS the most
sophisticated and innovative improvement and benchmarking
tool available for management education."
More information is available at
http://www.efmd.org/equis .
About EFMD
EFMD advances excellence in management development in
Europe and worldwide by building links between leading
business schools and companies, creating and disseminating
knowledge on best practices and changing trends and
providing access to benchmarking tools and accreditations
(EQUIS, EPAS, CEL, CLIP). With more than 600 member
organizations from academia, business, public service and
consultancy in 70 countries, EFMD provides a unique forum
for information, research, networking and debate on
innovation and best practice in management development.
For more information, please contact:
Matthew Wood,
Communications Director
EFMD Aisbl,
Tel: +32-2-626-9542
Email: matthew.wood@efmd.org
SOURCE EFMD Aisbl
2007'03.05.Mon
Three HK Companies Deleted from FTSE Large Cap Index
February 28, 2007
HONG KONG, Feb. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- FTSE Group
("FTSE"), the global index provider, today
confirms the annual review results of its Asian benchmark,
the FTSE Asia Pacific ex Japan Index. The FTSE Asia
Pacific Regional Committee, made up of independent market
practitioners, has reviewed the index series and approved
the addition of 23 companies to the Large Cap index,
including four IPO stocks -- Nine Dragons Paper Industries
(Hong Kong), Shimao Property Holdings (Hong Kong), Tech
Mahindra Limited (India) and Inotera Memories (Taiwan).
The Committee also approved a number of deletions from
the series, including Jardine Matheson, Jardine Strategic
and Swire Pacific "B" from the FTSE Large Cap
Index. These companies have been removed from the index, as
they have not met FTSE's liquidity rule. FTSE's liquidity
rule requires that companies must trade at least 0.04% of
its free-float adjusted shares in issue based on its median
daily trade per month in 8 out of 12 months. This rule
ensures that companies must trade for more than half the
trading days in a month, and so removes stocks which are
difficult to trade.
Full results of the review, which includes changes to
large, mid and small cap stocks are available at:
http://www.ftse.com/tech_notices/2007/Q1/13550_20070227_GEIS_AP_Review_2007.jsp
(Due to the length of the link, please copy and paste into
your browser.)
All changes will be applied at close of business on
Friday, March 16, 2007.
Details of FTSE's liquidity rule can be found at:
http://www.ftse.com/Indices/FTSE_Global_Equity_Index_Series/Downloads/FTSE_Enhanced_Liquidity_Rule_0207.pdf
(Due to the length of the link, please copy and paste into
your browser.)
About FTSE Group
FTSE Group is a world-leader in the creation and
management of indexes. With offices in Beijing, London,
Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Madrid, Paris, New York, San
Francisco, Boston, Shanghai and Tokyo, FTSE Group services
clients in 77 countries worldwide. It calculates and
manages the FTSE Global Equity Index Series, which includes
world-recognized indexes ranging from the FTSE All-World
Index, the FTSE4Good series and the FTSEurofirst Index
series, as well as domestic indexes such as the prestigious
FTSE 100. The company has collaborative arrangements with
the Athens, AMEX, Cyprus, Euronext, Johannesburg London,
Madrid, NASDAQ and Taiwan exchanges, as well as Nomura
Securities, Hang Seng and Xinhua Finance of China. FTSE
also has a collaborative agreement with Dow Jones Indexes
to develop a single sector classification system for global
investors.
FTSE indexes are used extensively by investors
world-wide for investment analysis, performance
measurement, asset allocation, portfolio hedging and for
creating a wide range of index tracking funds. Independent
committees of senior fund managers, derivatives experts,
actuaries and other experienced practitioners review all
changes to the indexes to ensure that they are made
objectively and without bias. Real-time FTSE indexes are
calculated on systems managed by Reuters. Prices and FX
rates used are supplied by Reuters.
Journalists requiring more information should contact:
Fiona McFadzean, +852 2230 5801 or email media@ftse.com
If you are not a member of the press, please contact
your local Client Services team at
http://www.ftse.com/Contact_Us/index.jsp
/Note to Editors: If you are not a member of the press,
please contact your local Client Services team at
http://www.ftse.com/Contact_Us/index.jsp /
For more information, please contact:
Fiona McFadzean
FTSE Group
Tel: +852-2230-5801
Email: media@ftse.com
SOURCE FTSE Group
2007'03.05.Mon
Wachovia Securities Names Yu-Ming Wang as Head of Fixed Income Asia
February 28, 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Wachovia Corp. announced today that Yu-Ming Wang has been
named head of Fixed Income Asia. In this newly created
role, Wang will execute the firm's corporate business
strategy and manage all fixed income origination,
distribution, and trading as the Fixed Income Division's
senior leader in Asia. He will be based in Hong Kong.
Wang will report to Curtis Arledge, head of Fixed
Income in this new role. Wang is currently a managing
director and head of Structured Credit Products for
Wachovia Securities. In addition to his new role, Wang will
maintain his current responsibilities, reporting to Tom
Wickwire, head of Structured Products.
"Given the initial success we have had in Asia
over the past few years and the tremendous opportunities in
the region, we have decided to consolidate the leadership of
Fixed Income Asia activities under a single business
leader," Arledge said. "Yu-Ming has pioneered a
number of innovative products and has a deep knowledge of
our company, customers and the opportunities for growth in
this important region."
"Our expansion in the region will continue to
leverage our strengths in market-leading products like real
estate structured finance, CMBS, CDOs, structured rates and
derivatives," said Wickwire. "Yu-Ming is the
right leader to propel the growth of our platform in
Asia."
Wang joined Wachovia Securities in 2000 as head of
Structured Credit Products and is responsible for all
aspects of Wachovia's cash flow and synthetic CDO
businesses. These platforms include origination,
structuring, marketing and trading of CRE CDOs, corporate
CDOs, repacks, synthetics and middle market CLOs. Before
joining Wachovia, Wang co-founded Structured Credit
Partners, LLC, an industry pioneer in the management of
commercial real estate (CRE) CDOs, which became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Wachovia Corporation in August 2001.
Prior to Structured Credit Partners, Wang was a
portfolio manager at CGA Investment Management, a portfolio
manager at General Reinsurance and a fixed-income trader at
FGIC Capital Market Services. He holds a bachelor's degree
from MIT and an MBA from New York University.
About Wachovia's Corporate and Investment Banking Group
Wachovia's Corporate and Investment Banking group
offers a full suite of products and services to public and
private companies, institutional investors, financial
institutions and the financial sponsor community.
Investment banking and the global markets businesses (fixed
income and equities) operate under the Wachovia Securities
brand and have become a global force in the capital markets
arena by providing comprehensive advisory, capital raising,
structuring and execution services. Wachovia's Corporate
and Investment Bank also includes the third-largest
Treasury Services business in the U.S., as well as leading
asset-based lending and global correspondent banking
services. The firm is built on a cohesive culture that
encourages creative ideas, capital solutions and
experienced advice to all clients.
Wachovia Securities is the trade name for the
corporate, investment banking, capital markets, and
institutional securities businesses of Wachovia Corporation
and its subsidiaries. These businesses are conducted through
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, member NASD, NYSE and SIPC,
and other bank and non-bank broker-dealer subsidiaries of
Wachovia Corporation, including Wachovia Bank, National
Association. Wachovia Securities is also the trade name for
the retail brokerage businesses of WCM's affiliates,
Wachovia Securities, LLC, Wachovia Securities Financial
Networks, LLC, Wexford Clearing, LLC, and First Clearing,
LLC.
About Wachovia
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) is one of the U.S.'s
largest diversified financial services companies, providing
a broad range of retail banking and brokerage, asset and
wealth management, and corporate and investment banking
products and services. Wachovia has retail and commercial
banking operations in 21 U.S. states with 3,375 retail
banking offices from Connecticut to Florida and west to
Texas and California. In addition, two core businesses
operate under the Wachovia Securities brand name: retail
brokerage with 750 offices in 47 states and service
affiliate offices in Latin America, and corporate and
investment banking in selected industries nationwide. Other
nationwide businesses include mortgage lending in all 50
states and auto finance covering 46 states. Globally,
Wachovia serves clients through more than 40 international
offices. Online banking is available at wachovia.com;
online brokerage products and services at wachoviasec.com,
and investment products and services at
evergreeninvestments.com. At Dec. 31, 2006, Wachovia had
assets of $707 billion and market capitalization of $108
billion.
For more information, please contact:
Elise Wilkinson
Wachovia Corporation
Tel: +1-704-374-6512
SOURCE Wachovia Corporation
2007'03.05.Mon
Panama International Merchandise Mart S.A. Creates Latin America's First Merchandise Mart
February 28, 2007
COLON CITY, Panama, Feb. 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Yet
unseen in Latin America, the Panama International
Merchandise Mart (PIMM) is under development near the Colon
Free Zone as the region's first Wholesale Merchandise Mart.
The Mart offers a unique wholesale concept because most
Latin American and Caribbean buyers cannot enter the United
States due to visa restrictions. Thanks to the Panama
International Merchandise Mart, Latin American buyers will
be able to visit our mart and place orders, announced
company founder Reynald Henry Katz.
( Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070226/MXM001 )
Panama International Merchandise Mart S.A. will be
built on 92 acres. The project's first phase will cost $50
million, and the entire project will reach $1 billion by
2015.
The PIMM will complement the Colon Free Zone logistic
operation because merchandise sold there will be shipped
either from the Colon Free Zone or from manufacturer's
plants to their final destination. Trade at the Colon Free
Zone reached $14.8 billion in 2006, a 17.7 % increase
compared to the prior year. With plenty of warehouse space
available but with show room space availability being at its
maximum capacity and some 2,500 companies waiting to operate
at the Colon Free Zone, PIMM is poised to fill the gap and
become the best alternative for Latin American buyers. PIMM
is a project of national economic interest, said Katz.
It is estimated that each showroom's yearly trade will
reach $2 million, and with 672 showrooms, the Mart should
generate $1.3 billion by 2009 and $6 billion by 2010.
The concept is simple: Offer manufacturers from around
the world the ability to buy and operate their own
permanent showroom at the PIMM near the Colon Free Zone, a
wholesale mall environment that will allow them to reach
450 million Latin American and Caribbean consumers.
With a stable government, the U.S. dollar as legal
tender, inflation at just 2.3 %, and no tax on profit
because of its offshore status, Panama is today the best
place to invest in Latin America. It is considered the hub
of Latin America and the Caribbean, said Katz.
Showroom sales will range from between $1,600.00 and
$2,000.00 per square meter; construction costs are
approximately $500.00 or less. Profitability is tremendous
and investor returns should be generous, said Katz.
When complete, the Mart will feature 3,000 showrooms, a
convention center, an exposition center, hotels, office
parks, housing developments, and banks. An estimated
25,000 people are expected to visit the Mart daily through
2010, and there is still room for expansion on the 92 acres
of land -- The sky is the limit, said Katz. (
HTTP://WWW.PANAMAMERCHANDISEMART.COM )
PIMM expects its stock to be trading soon on the Panama
Stock Exchange. Actually a private placement is taking
place, and, at its initial public offering, the stock
should be traded at above $2.00 per share. Twenty-five
percent of the company will be sold on a fully diluted
basis of $200 million pre-money valuation.
For more information, please contact:
Reynald Henry Katz,
Panama International Merchandise Mart
Tel: +011-507-6679-3600
Email: Info@Panamamerchandisemart.com
SOURCE Panama International Merchandise Mart, S.A.
2007'03.05.Mon
CEOs Receive Nearly 60 Percent of the Blame When Company Reputation Is Damaged
February 28, 2007
Triggers of Reputation Failure Identified
Executives Underestimate Impact of Leadership Departures
NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Global
business executives assign nearly 60 percent of the blame
to CEOs when companies lose reputation after a crisis
strikes, according to a new Safeguarding Reputation(TM)
survey by global public relations firm Weber Shandwick with
KRC Research. This finding did not significantly differ
among regions.
CEO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPUTATION LOSS
Total North
Global America
Europe Asia
Average percent of
blame attributed to
CEO after crisis
strikes 58% 60%
57% 57%
Source: Weber Shandwick Safeguarding Reputation(TM)
survey conducted with KRC Research.
Note: Results for Brazilian executives are included in
the total.
Weber Shandwick's survey also identified the key
triggers of reputation failure that if caught early could
reduce the chances and extent of CEO blame. A majority of
executives surveyed cite major triggers of reputation
failure as financial irregularity (72 percent), unethical
behavior (68 percent) and executive misconduct (64
percent). Other frequently mentioned strikes against
reputation revealed by the survey are security breaches (62
percent), environmental violations (60 percent), and health
and safety product recalls (60 percent). Despite
widespread media coverage, and in some cases severe
consequences for any wrongdoing, key triggers continue
unabated -- alleged stock-option backdating, corrupt
governance, consumer information security, pipeline leaks
and salmonella or e-coli scares, among others.
"Interestingly, many of the reasons causing
companies to suffer reputation loss are self-inflicted.
Financial irregularities, unethical behavior and executive
misconduct are all issues that could be prevented if
companies had better controls in place," said Weber
Shandwick's Chief Reputation Strategist Dr. Leslie
Gaines-Ross. "As more reputations deteriorate
worldwide, companies need better reputation radar systems
to identify and track approaching reputation threats -- 33
percent of the Global Fortune 500 experienced reputation
deterioration in their 'most admired' status in
2005."
Also noteworthy is that today, global business
executives underestimate the severity of a number of
significant reputation threats. Approximately one-third of
survey respondents place CEO compensation, online attacks or
rumors and top executive departures low on the list of
triggers that tarnish reputations. Companies continue to
overlook how damaging threats from online activists and
pressure groups can be if they are not prepared to respond
quickly and decisively. The survey also underscores how
executives around the world might be underestimating the
negative impact of executive turnover.
Factors That Can Significantly Damage Reputation
% Always/Usually
Total North
Global America
Europe Asia
Financial irregularities 72% 74%
70% 71%
Unethical behavior 68 66
69 61
Executive misconduct 64 59
65 56
Security breaches such as
loss of confidential
information 62 60
60 60
Environmental violations 60 60
59 55
Product recall based on
health and safety issues 60 47
64 58
Regulatory non-compliance 59 49
62 53
Factory breakdowns or
explosions resulting in
injuries 59 56
57 61
Labor strikes or unrest 40 31
42 39
Ongoing protests by
special interest groups
or NGOs* 38 29
41 34
Risky supply chain partners 38 30
40 33
Support of unpopular
public policy position 38 31
39 34
Public controversies over
high CEO compensation 36 29
36 40
Online attacks or rumors 25 16
28 27
Top executive departures 17 9
19 12
Source: Weber Shandwick Safeguarding Reputation(TM)
survey conducted with KRC Research.
Note: Results for Brazilian executives are included in
the total.
* Non-governmental organizations
Regional Differences
Overall, European executives appear more sensitive to
reputation threats than their North American and Asian
executive peers (most frequently respond "always or
usually" to factors that can significantly damage
corporate reputation).
Regardless of region, executives consider financial
wrongdoing and unethical behavior the most significant
threats to reputation. Compared to their counterparts in
other regions, however, North American executives are more
sensitive to environmental issues, Europeans to health and
safety product recalls and regulatory non-compliance, and
Asians to factory breakdowns or explosions.
Regional Top Five Factors That Can Significantly Damage
Reputation
% Always/Usually
North America Europe
Asia
Financial Financial
Financial
irregularities irregularities
irregularities
Unethical behavior Unethical behavior
Unethical behavior
Security breaches Executive misconduct
Factory breakdowns or
explosions resulting
in
injuries
Environmental violations Health and safety
Security breaches
issue product recalls
Executive misconduct Regulatory
Health and safety
non-compliance
issue product
recalls
Source: Weber Shandwick Safeguarding Reputation(TM)
survey conducted with KRC Research.
"Companies need to put safeguards in place to
protect their reputations," added Weber Shandwick
President Andy Polansky. "Our groundbreaking research
on how companies can safeguard and repair their reputation
is the foundation for Weber Shandwick's ongoing reputation
management services for clients around the world. We can
help guide companies looking to identify the early warning
signs of reputation failure and take the right steps to
reputation recovery."
Safeguarding Reputation(TM)
Safeguarding Reputation was conducted by Weber
Shandwick in partnership with KRC Research among 950 global
business executives in 11 countries spanning North America,
Europe and Asia. Brazil was the only Latin American country
participating in the survey. All interviews were conducted
by telephone between July 20 and August 8, 2006. The
sampling error for the total sample is +/- 3.2 percentage
points.
About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is one of the world's leading global
public relations firms with offices in major media,
business and government capitals around the world. The
firm specializes in strategic marketing communications,
media relations, public affairs, reputation and issues
management, and offers corporate communications counseling
services. Weber Shandwick also provides specialized
integrated services including Web relations, advocacy
advertising, market research and visual communications. In
2006, Weber Shandwick was named Large PR Firm of the Year
(PR News U.S.), European Consultancy of the Year (The
Holmes Report) and Network of the Year (Asia Pacific PR
Awards). The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award
for outstanding achievement in public relations. To learn
more, please visit http://www.webershandwick.com.
Weber Shandwick is a unit of The Interpublic Group
(NYSE: IPG), which is one of the world's leading
organizations of advertising agencies and marketing
services companies.
About KRC Research
KRC Research is a full service market and attitudinal
research firm. Research partner to Weber Shandwick and
other Interpublic Group agencies, KRC specializes in
strategic communications research, including research to
support product communications, corporate communications,
public affairs, and social marketing. KRC provides a full
range of primary research services, including surveys,
focus groups, and executive interviewing. Find out more at
http://www.krcresearch.com.
About reputationRx
(http://www.webershandwick.com/reputationrx)
Weber Shandwick's new reputationRx Web site provides
professionals interested in leadership issues with the
latest news, research findings, insights, best practices
and commentary on how to build and safeguard CEO and
corporate reputation. It covers a full range of topics
such as reputation care and recovery, CEO turnover,
corporate responsibility, and strategies for communicating
CEO and corporate reputation. The site is also continually
updated to include the most recent newsmakers and
fast-breaking trends that are transforming the business and
reputation landscapes.
Contact
Laura Bachrach
Weber Shandwick
212-445-8467
lbachrach@webershandwick.com
SOURCE Weber Shandwick
2007'03.05.Mon
New Daily Newspaper Launches in Indonesia with WoodWing's Smart Connection Enterprise
February 27, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
One of the largest publishers in Southeast Asia has
selected WoodWing Software's industry-leading Smart
Connection Enterprise solution for its new daily newspaper,
as well as its existing weekly and monthly magazines.
Kontan, part of the Kompas Gramedia Group, has been the
leading Indonesian-language monthly and weekly financial
magazine for years. On February 26, 2007, a new daily
newspaper was launched, also called Kontan, using Smart
Connection Enterprise as its editorial system. The new
newspaper contains business, investments and lifestyle news
targeting the upwardly mobile financial executive. The
circulation will be between 70,000 and 100,000 copies per
day.
The Kompas Gramedia Group, Indonesia's leading
publishing group, publishes other popular titles, such as
Kompas, Warta Kota, Bola, and around 100 national and
regional newspaper and magazine titles.
"We are very pleased that Kontan has chosen
WoodWing's Smart Connection Enterprise after having done
extensive research into the best solution for both their
existing magazines as well as their newly launched daily
newspaper," said Remco Koster, Managing Director of
WoodWing Asia Pacific. "Kontan is also the first
customer in the Asia Pacific region that uses our recently
launched Smart Hyphen and Smart Speller for the Indonesian
language, guaranteeing accurate hyphenation and
justification as well as greatly reducing spelling
errors."
Officials at Kontan said the decision to install Smart
Connection Enterprise was an easy one.
"It was clear to us that Smart Connection
Enterprise is the solution for the future because of its
complete functionality, open architecture, and usage of the
latest technologies, such as Adobe InDesign Server, enabling
us to subedit and copyfit via the Web," said Yopie
Hidayat, Managing Director and Managing Editor of Kontan.
"We were equally impressed by the amazing speed of
implementation, which made it possible to get our new daily
newspaper off the ground so quickly, while at the same time
moving the existing magazines to the new system as
well."
Serious Technology, the WoodWing partner for Indonesia,
Malaysia, and the Philippines, is handling the entire
project management, including training and installation.
Serioustec's professionals trained the Kontan staff on the
use of InDesign and InCopy, as well as Smart Connection
Enterprise.
"I am very impressed and pleased with John Fong
and the other Serioustec project members who have done an
excellent job with this project," Koster said.
"They set up the magazines in a very short time, while
setting up and testing the brand new newspaper and its
complex workflow processes at the same time. Everything
took only two months from start to finish - several
magazines and the brand new newspaper - and everything is
running very smoothly."
"Smart Connection Enterprise offers a host of
benefits to any newspaper and magazine operation, and that
will certainly be the case with Kontan," Koster added.
"Their newspaper workflow will be highly efficient
right from the start, which will help make the new
newspaper a success. At the same time, the workflows of
the existing magazines have been streamlined for efficiency
and improved design quality."
About WoodWing
WoodWing Software specializes in software solutions for
the publishing industry. WoodWing excels in innovative and
flexible editorial solutions that help efficiently produce
print and online publications. The company's flagship
product, Smart Connection Enterprise, differs from
traditional editorial solutions because it has been
engineered from the ground up, utilizing the latest
technologies offered by the Internet age. Newspaper
experience that goes back more than 20 years, combined with
the latest technologies, has led to a powerful editorial
system with a core based on XML and open technology.
WoodWing has offices in The Netherlands, Malaysia and the
United States. Customers are served through select
partners, and in the U.S. through WoodWing USA.
For more information, please contact:
Remco Koster
WoodWing Asia Pacific
Email: remco.koster@woodwing.com
SOURCE WoodWing Software
2007'03.05.Mon
Achievo Secures $24 Million in Series B Funding
February 27, 2007
San Ramon, Calif., Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Achievo(R) Corporation, the leading global software and
information technology outsourcing provider with a local
front-end and China back-end service model, today announced
it has successfully raised $24 million in a Series B
financing with institutional and private investors.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200611291032.jpg
)
"We are on an aggressive track to establish
Achievo as one of the largest and best software and IT
outsourcing companies in the world," said Dr. Robert
P. Lee, Achievo's chairman and CEO. "In five years we
have grown the company organically and through mergers and
acquisitions to deliver world class services and support to
clients in many industries including financial services,
automotive, telecom and technology. Today, Achievo is a
global company with offices and delivery capabilities in 14
cities throughout the world," added Dr. Lee.
"Clients have enthusiastically embraced the Achievo
local front-end, China back-end model we pioneered, and
that's evident in the percentage of our clients' repeat
business."
Last week, Achievo was recognized by the International
Association of Outsourcing Providers as one of the top
global outsourcing companies in 2007. In addition, Achievo
received an overall ranking of No. 2 earlier this month on
the annual Top Ten Offshore Outsourcing Vendors (China)
list as compiled by Brown-Wilson Group.
"From inception, Achievo has generated significant
working capital to fund its growth," said Julio Leung,
Achievo's chief financial officer. "As a result, our
capital needs have been modest which, has been well
received by our shareholders. The Series B round of $24
million is more than adequate to cover current obligations
and future operating needs. If we decide to pursue
additional funding in the future, it will be related to
major acquisitions and strategic corporate development
initiatives."
About Achievo
Achievo is a global offshore software and information
technology outsourcing provider with a local front-end and
China back-end service model. With expertise in diverse
technologies including Java/J2EE, .NET and embedded
platforms, the CMM- and ISO- certified company offers
improved efficiencies, scale, diversification, and a
combined talent pool to deliver cost-effective,
quality-centric, and scalable IT outsourcing services to
customers and partners worldwide. Customers include
Accela, Audi, BMO Bank of Montreal, Computer Associates,
China Mobile, DaimlerChrysler, Hitachi, Honda, Mitsubishi,
NETGEAR, Nomura, Siemens, Toyota and Vidient.
Headquartered in the Silicon Valley, Achievo has offices in
the United States, Canada, Germany, Greater China and Japan.
For information on the company and its services, visit
http://www.achievo.com .
(C) 2007 Achievo Corporation. All rights reserved.
Achievo is a registered trademark of Achievo Corporation in
the United States and in other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Jayme Curtis
Public Relations
Achievo Corporation
Tel: +1-408-892-8661
Email: jayme.curtis@achievo.com
SOURCE Achievo Corporation
2007'03.05.Mon
How Jacky Cheung Spent Chinese New Year
February 27, 2007
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Famed Chinese
singing star Jacky Cheung celebrated Chinese New Year at
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, United States, with two
sold-out performances in the resort's 4,100-seat Colosseum
theatre, where Celine Dion and Elton John often perform.
Shown (in photo) with Caesars Palace President Gary
Selesner and a regally costumed Caesar and Cleopatra,
Cheung joined with his family to host his band for a
festive Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, on the night before
his first show.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070226/NYM061 )
One of Asia's most enduring entertainers, Jacky Cheung
performed in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and moved
the crowd with classics, as well as new songs written in
2006 and excerpts from his ground-breaking musical,
"Snow * Wolf * Lake" and the 2005 film
"Perhaps Love."
Cheung stays in shape for his energetic performances.
He spent some time enjoying the new Caesars Palace spa,
which has lavish Roman baths with a circular rain shower
that comes from the ceiling. The family enjoyed shopping in
The Forum Shops at Caesars and dining in the resort's
Bradley Ogden restaurant, which won the country's 2004 Best
New Restaurant award. Topping off their dining adventures
was the Chinese New Year-themed feast in the Caesars Palace
Empress Court restaurant, which was inspired by Hong Kong
fine dining as a special amenity for international guests
and all people who enjoy exquisite Asian cuisine.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Additional high-resolution photos are available online
at media.harrahs.com.
For more information, please contact:
Caesars Palace
English:
Deborah Munch
Email: munchd@harrahs.com
Chinese:
Julia Yu
Email: juliayu@harrahs.com
SOURCE Caesars Palace
2007'03.05.Mon
Vivendi Universal Ordinary Shareholders, ADR Holders and ADS Holders May Be Entitled To Payment From An SEC Settlement Fund
February 27, 2007
NEW YORK, Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The following
statement is being issued by Greenberg Traurig, LLP
regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission v. Vivendi
Universal, S.A.
A settlement has been reached in an enforcement action
brought by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission against Vivendi Universal, S.A.
("Vivendi") and others. If you purchased Vivendi
Ordinary Shares, American Depository Receipts or American
Depository Shares (the "Securities") during the
period from December 1, 2000 through July 2, 2002, you may
qualify to receive payment from the Settlement fund of
approximately $51,000,000. You will be required to submit
a proof of claim to qualify for payment.
The United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York has authorized this notice.
Who is included?
You are a Potentially Eligible Claimant and could get
benefits if you purchased Vivendi Securities during the
period from December 1, 2000 through July 2, 2002. You are
a Potentially Eligible Claimant only if you bought shares
of Vivendi stock individually, not simply through a mutual
fund. Certain of Vivendi's officers, directors and
employees as well as their immediate family members are not
eligible to receive payment.
Contact your broker to see if you purchased Vivendi
Securities during the required time period. If you are not
sure you are included, you can get more information,
including a detailed notice, at
http://www.VivendiSecSettlement.com or by calling one of
the phone numbers listed below.
What is this about?
The SEC enforcement action claimed that Vivendi, its
former Chief Executive Officer and its former Chief
Financial Officer engaged in conduct that violated various
securities laws.
What does the Settlement provide?
Under the terms of the Settlement, a fund of
approximately $51,000,000 has been established from which
payments will be made to eligible claimants who submit a
valid proof of claim.
Your recovery from the fund, if any, will depend on the
number of valid claim forms that eligible claimants send in,
how many shares of Vivendi Securities you bought, and when
you bought and sold them. All of the $51,000,000 plus
accrued interest, less professional fees and taxes, will be
paid out.
How do you ask for a payment?
A detailed notice and claim form package contains
everything you need. Just call the number or visit the
website below to get one. To qualify for a payment, you
must send in a claim form. Claim forms must be postmarked
by June 12, 2007.
Phone Numbers:
Toll-free from the US/Canada: 800-295-3152
Toll-free from select European countries: 800-747-37473
(FR, DE, UK, BE, IT, NL, PT, ES, SZ)
Toll-call from all other countries: + 1-941-906-4612 (a
US phone number)
Website: http://www.VivendiSecSettlement.com
For more information, please contact:
Jeffrey Sklaroff
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Tel: +1-212-801-9227
SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP
2007'03.05.Mon
Quadrem 2006 Revenues Up 18%, Throughput Reaches $13.6 Billion
February 27, 2007
Analysts Predict Rising Demand for Supplier Networks;
Customers Automating 100% of Spend
SINGAPORE, Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Quadrem
International (http://www.quadrem.com ) announced its 2006
revenues were up 18% year-over-year, bringing the company's
profits to new highs. The value of transactions flowing
through the procurement platform in calendar year 2006
reached more than two million purchase orders worth USD
$13.6 billion in goods and services.
Quadrem's momentum exemplifies what industry analysts
predict will be a bullish market for supplier networks.
Gartner's Debbie Wilson stated in Gartner Predicts 2007,
"The supplier network management marketplace will
blossom" and current leaders will experience
significant growth between 2007 and 2009. Similarly, in
Forrester's December 2006 Teleconference The Spend
Management Market, Andrew Bartels identified supplier
networks as one of the fastest-growing technology
categories and named Quadrem a leading supplier network.
Several customers are on track to use Quadrem's
procurement platform to automate purchasing for 100% of
their goods and services -- billions in spend per customer
-- within the next 18 months. In addition, Quadrem's
e-sourcing platform continues to expand rapidly. Quadrem
facilitates more than 20,000 RFx events per month across an
ever-growing global network of buyers and suppliers.
Currently Quadrem has approximately 47,000 suppliers
connected to over 700 purchasing locations around the
world.
"New customer wins in Oil and Gas, the BPO space,
and Mining and Metals have yielded our strong performance
in 2006 and positioned us for growth in 2007," said
Quadrem CEO Charles Jackson. "We are the only provider
delivering a consistent level of service world-wide,
including in developing world environments. Global supplier
enablement continues to be a differentiator as we sell to
international organizations looking to conduct business
electronically with all of their suppliers."
Recently Inc. Magazine and Red Herring highlighted
Quadrem's unique ability to connect rural suppliers in
South Africa to a buying community of Global 1000
Companies. In 2007, Quadrem is expanding its presence in
other areas of Africa including Ghana, Zambia, Namibia and
the Democratic Republic of Congo.
For more information, please contact:
Katherine Kirkpatrick
Quadrem International
Tel: +1-972-543-8044
Email: kkirkpatrick@quadrem.com
Choon Boon Heng
Quadrem International
Tel: +65-6725-6465
Email: cheng@quadrem.com
SOURCE Quadrem International
2007'03.05.Mon
Zatsit! Launches Free Informational Advertising and Collaborative Networking Site
February 27, 2007
MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Zatsit!
announces the only interactive website directory designed
for marketers who cannot afford standard marketing or
advertising channels. Serving as a one-stop shop for
viewing the latest and greatest products, ideas, and
services in a multitude of categories, Zatsit! (That's It!)
provides a cost-free platform for visionaries, artists,
entrepreneurs and philanthropists to get high visibility
for their creative, yet uniquely intuitive products, ideas,
and services.
Any registered user of http://www.zatsit.com can post
information on their products and services with links to
their website (as long as they meet the terms and
conditions outlined on the site) at no charge to them.
Similar to the Yellow Pages and other online directories,
all links are segmented into 26 industry categories to be
easily accessed by consumers. Categories include:
-- Books, Poetry & Literature
-- Business (General)
-- Internet & Programming
-- Science & Engineering
-- Startup (Funding Requests)
-- Startup (Partner Requests)
-- Telecom
Banner ads can be purchased for a one-time fee of $US50
through Z Ads. The Featured Z Ads will be auctioned to the
highest bidder to be posted for an extended period of time.
Another unique component of Zatsit! is the Z Blog that will
enable business owners and consumers to comment, survey,
sample music, and have an interactive dialogue about the
features, benefits, and services they provide.
Zatsit! is the brainchild of Kifle Bantayehu.
"The days of 'build it and they will come' are long
gone for the internet," says Bantayehu.
"In today's over-stimulated communications
environment, small to mid-sized businesses are unlikely to
garner enough attention from prospects to create sufficient
demand. Not to mention that in general entrepreneurs,
artists, and musicians cannot afford the traditional types
of marketing and advertising when they are just starting
out. We created Zatsit! to provide a free advertising
channel to build exposure for their business."
"Business owners, service providers, and even
those wishing to network, continue to struggle with how to
reach their target market of consumers online. And,
consumers, in search of the products, services, and
networking opportunities, are left challenged to sift
through countless websites, reference periodicals, and
newspapers as their sole reference source," adds
Bantayehu. "Zatsit! is a free solution to these
costly challenges."
For further information or interviews contact Kifle
Bantayehu by phone: 703-628-3229; email at kifle@zatsit.com
or visit the website http://www.zatsit.com .
For more information, please contact:
Kifle Bantayehu
Zatsit!
Tel: +1-703-628-3229
Email: kifle@zatsit.com
SOURCE Zatsit!
2007'03.05.Mon
Fourth Phase III Study of Vandetanib (ZACTIMA(TM), ZD6474) in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer
February 26, 2007
A Phase III international, parallel group, randomised,
double-blind study of vandetanib in combination with
pemetrexed for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
after failure of first line anti-cancer therapy
-- For Non-US Healthcare Professional Press Only --
ALDERLEY PARK, Cheshire, Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
AstraZeneca today announced that a new Phase III study of
novel once-daily oral anti-cancer drug, vandetanib
(ZACTIMA(TM), ZD6474), is underway. The study - Study 36 -
will investigate the addition of vandetanib to pemetrexed
(Alimta(R)) as second line treatment for patients with
locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
(NSCLC) after failure of first line anti-cancer treatment.
Study 36 will be conducted across 20 countries worldwide,
and is expected to enrol at least 508 patients.
As its primary objective, Study 36 will evaluate
progression-free survival with vandetanib 100mg plus
pemetrexed 500mg/m2 compared with pemetrexed 500mg/m2 plus
placebo in patients with advanced NSCLC, who have
previously received anti-cancer treatment. The study will
also assess overall survival, objective response rate,
disease control rate, duration of response, effect on
disease related symptoms, time to deterioration of
disease-related symptoms, the safety and tolerability of
vandetanib in combination with pemetrexed, and population
pharmacokinetics of vandetanib
Study 36's Principal Investigator, Dr. Richard de Boer,
Western Hospital, Victoria, Australia, commented "After
treatment failure with initial therapy, response rates to
further treatment is low in patients with advanced
non-small cell lung cancer. The effect of combining novel
targeted agents such as vandetanib with chemotherapy needs
to be explored to progress treatment options for patient
benefit."
Study 36 forms part of an extensive ongoing clinical
development programme for vandetanib in NSCLC and is the
fourth Phase III study in this tumour; the other three
studies are:
-- Study 32 - a randomised, double-blind study,
comparing
vandetanib 100mg in combination with docetaxel with
docetaxel alone in
patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC
after failure of
first-line treatment.
-- Study 57 - a randomised, double-blind, study of
vandetanib 300mg
monotherapy versus erlotinib 150mg in patients with
advanced NSCLC
after failure of at least one, but no more that two,
prior chemotherapy
regimens.
-- Study 44 - a randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study
of vandetanib 300mg plus best supportive care (BSC)
compared with
placebo plus BSC as third/fourth line treatment in
patients with non-
small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after treatment
failure with
chemotherapy and an epidermal growth factor receptor
tyrosine kinase
inhibitor (EGFR TKI).
Vandetanib (ZACTIMA(TM), ZD6474)
Vandetanib works by inhibiting both the development of
the tumour's blood supply through inhibition of VEGFR
(anti-angiogenesis) and the growth and survival of the
tumour itself through inhibition of EGFR. It also inhibits
RET kinase, an important growth factor in certain types of
thyroid cancer. Vandetanib has shown promising anti-tumour
activity in NSCLC when used alone and in combination with
docetaxel in Phase II trials.(1,2) It has also shown
encouraging early data in hereditary medullary thyroid
cancer(3) and has been awarded FDA and EU orphan drug
status, and FDA fast track designation for this indication.
Vandetanib is currently in clinical development in a range
of tumours.
ZACTIMA(TM) is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of
companies.
Notes to editors
-- Over 1.35 million new cases of lung cancer are
diagnosed every year and nearly 1.2 million people die as a
result of this devastating disease - more than breast, colon
and prostate cancer combined.(4)
-- If lung cancer is detected at early stages, before
it has spread to other organs or lymph nodes, around half
of patients can survive for five years or more. However,
few lung cancers are found at this early stage and it is
normally diagnosed at the advanced stage, when five year
survival falls to approximately 15%.(5)
-- AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare
business engaged in the research, development, manufacture
and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the
supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's
leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of
US$26.47 billion and leading positions in sales of
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience,
respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca
is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as
well as the FTSE4 Good Index.
-- For more information about AstraZeneca, please
visit: http://www.astrazeneca.com .
References
(1) Natale RB et al. ZD6474 versus gefitinib in
patients with advanced
NSCLC: Final results from a two-part, double-blind
randomized phase II
trial. Proceedings of ASCO 2006; abstract no.
7000.
(2) Heymach JV et al. A phase II trial of ZD6474 plus
docetaxel in
patients with previously treated NSCLC: Follow-up
results. Proceedings
of ASCO 2006; abstract no. 7016.
(3) Wells S et al. A phase II trial of ZD6474 in
patients with hereditary
metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. Proceedings of
ASCO; abstract
no. 5533.
(4) Ferlay J et al. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer Incidence,
Mortality and
Prevalence Worldwide IARC CancerBase No. 5. version
2.0, IARCPress,
Lyon, 2004.
(5) Bepler G. Lung cancer epidemiology and genetics.
Journal of Thoracic
Imaging 1999;14(4):228-34.
For more information, please contact:
Janet Milton-Edwards
AstraZeneca
Tel: +44-1625-515-275
Mobile: +44-7990-640-119
Email: janet.milton-edwards@astrazeneca.com
Carrie Deverell
AstraZeneca
Tel: +44-1625-514-77
Mobile: +44-7929-845-108
Email: carrie.deverell@astrazeneca.com
SOURCE AstraZeneca
2007'03.05.Mon
Korean Airlines Chooses Goodrich to Provide Boeing 747 and Next Generation 737 Landing Gear Overhaul Services
February 26, 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Korean
Airlines has chosen Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) to
provide landing gear maintenance services to support its
fleet of Boeing 747 and Next Generation 737 aircraft. The
agreement includes all scheduled repair and overhaul
services for both aircraft types.
According to Bob Corbeil, Goodrich Landing Gear
Services, Director of Business Development, "This
award builds upon our long-standing relationship with
Korean Airlines and demonstrates a continued confidence and
satisfaction with the services our team has provided in the
past. We are honored to again be part of the behind the
scenes effort that assists in the growth and success of
Korean Airlines."
Goodrich is the original equipment manufacturer of the
landing gear on all models of the: Boeing 737; 757; 767;
747; and 777 families of aircraft. Goodrich also supplies
a variety of technologies which range from wheels and
brakes to thrust reversers to evacuation systems for the
aircraft families.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a
global supplier of systems and services to aerospace,
defense and homeland security markets. With one of the
most strategically diversified portfolios of products in
the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with
significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.
For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com .
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and
as a parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of
which may be referred to as "Goodrich
Corporation" in this press release.
GR - Actuation and Landing Systems
For more information, please contact:
Gail Warner,
Goodrich Corporation
Tel: +1-704-423-7048
Lisa Bottle,
Goodrich Corporation
Tel: +1-704-423-7060
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Actuation and Landing
Systems
2007'03.05.Mon
Elsevier Announces Its Point-Of-Care Medical Information to Be Offered as Part of Chinese Electronic Health Record
February 26, 2007
Partnership with ChinaMedCom is a First of its Kind Between
a U.S. Publisher and a Chinese Healthcare Information
Technology Company and Puts FirstCONSULT Evidence-based
Clinical Information Directly into Electronic Health
Records for Hospitals in China
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- HIMSS --
Elsevier, a world-leading medical publisher, today
announced a strategic partnership to deliver Elsevier's
evidence-based medical information directly to the
hospitals in China as part of ChinaMedCom's electronic
health record.
"Integrating our electronic health record with
Elsevier's world-class content is what the hospitals in
China need to improve efficiencies in their
hospitals," says Jianbo Lei, MD, Chairman and
President, ChinaMedCom. "Our ability to deliver
concise and relevant contextual information directly into
the electronic health record can help improve patient
safety and reduce medical errors in China's rapidly
evolving healthcare environment."
Elsevier developed FirstCONSULT to integrate its
clinical reference content directly into the electronic
workflow and enhance a hospital's clinical decision
support. Content is indexed against industry standard
clinical vocabularies, patient demographics and organized
around the clinician's workflow, allowing FirstCONSULT to
deliver rapid answers to specific patient scenarios
directly into the electronic health record.
"The demands on today's healthcare organizations
are greater than ever and we are dedicated to supporting
the health practitioner, in any country, with the latest
medical information to provide better patient care,"
says Brian Nairn, CEO, Elsevier, Health Science Division.
"Working with ChinaMedCom will enhance the clinical
information available to the physician in China and will
help them make better informed decisions at the point of
care."
More information can be found at
http://www.ClinicalDecisionSupport.com or at booth 3945 at
the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
(HIMSS) annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA,
February 26 - March 1, 2007.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific,
technical and healthcare information products and services.
Working in partnership with the global science and health
communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in 74 offices
worldwide publish more than 1,800 journals and 2,200 new
books per year, in addition to offering a suite of
innovative electronic products, such as MD Consult (
http://www.mdconsult.com/ ), FirstCONSULT (
http://www.FirstCONSULT.com ), Mosby's Nursing Consult (
http://www.mosbysnursingconsult.com ), ScienceDirect (
http://www.sciencedirect.com/ ), Scopus (
http://www.info.scopus.com/ ), bibliographic databases,
online reference works and subject specific portals.
Elsevier ( http://www.elsevier.com ) is a global
business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and
has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier
Group plc ( http://www.reedelsevier.com/ ), a world-leading
publisher and information provider. Operating in the science
and healthcare, legal, education and business-to-business
sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible
information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on
the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker
symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock
Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).
About ChinaMedCom
ChinaMedCom is specialized in providing value-added
medical information solutions to the leading hospitals in
China. Determined to bring the latest medical information
concepts to China, ChinaMedCom is also participating in
helping establish industry standards throughout the
country.
Founded in 2004, its founder and senior management team
are composed of graduates from elite universities in the
United States, with experience in internationally-renowned
HIT or management consulting firms. Headquartered in
Beijing, People's Republic of China, with its U.S.
operations based in New York, ChinaMedCom has formed an
extensive system of academic research, product development,
marketing & sales, and consulting expertise between
China and the US. ChinaMedCom continues to develop programs
that are dedicated to sharing academic findings and
providing integrated clinical decision support solutions to
the new-generation e-hospitals in China. Learn more at:
http://www.ChinaMedCom.com .
For more information, please contact:
Mike Smith
Elsevier
Tel: +1-314-453-5070
Email: Michael.smith@elsevier.com
SOURCE Elsevier
2007'03.05.Mon
Banner Year for Otis in the Casino Resort Industry
February 26, 2007
FARMINGTON, Conn., Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Otis
Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
(NYSE: UTX), won contracts in the casino resort industry of
approximately $150 million in 2006.
"We are pleased to be the supplier of choice in
products and services for casino resorts around the
world," said Sandy Diehl, senior vice president of
strategy, business development and communications for
Otis.
In 2006, Otis won installation, modernization and
service contracts for casino resorts in major gaming
locations worldwide, including Las Vegas, Atlantic City,
southeastern Connecticut, Vancouver, Montreal and Macau.
For example, in Atlantic City, Otis was recently awarded a
contract to supply and install 18 elevators at the Trump
Taj Mahal Casino Resort and a contract to provide 18
elevators for the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
expansion. In Macau, Otis was awarded a contract to supply
and install six elevators, two escalators and a hydraulic
freight elevator for the Wynn Macau expansion. Otis
previously won Phase 1 of Wynn Macau, installing 28
elevators and two escalators. Last summer, Foxwoods, the
world's largest casino located in southeast Connecticut,
USA, selected Otis to supply 29 elevators for its $700
million expansion and to maintain all of its more than 150
elevators.
Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest
manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products
including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With
headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs
61,000 people, offers products and services in more than
200 countries and territories and maintains 1.5 million
elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified
company providing high technology products and services to
the building and aerospace industries.
For more information, please contact:
Tizz Weber
Director, Communications
Otis Elevator Company
Tel: +1-860-676-6127
Email: Tizz.Weber@Otis.com
SOURCE Otis Elevator Company
2007'03.05.Mon
Otis Global Transportation Wins Total Nearly One-Quarter of a Billion Dollars
February 26, 2007
FARMINGTON, Conn., Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Otis
Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
(NYSE: UTX), won elevator and escalator contracts serving
the public transportation industry in 2006 valued at nearly
one-quarter of a billion dollars, with the latest agreements
awarded in Greece and Germany.
"We are honored that our customers around the
world continue to select Otis as the supplier of choice for
their high-volume transportation needs," said Sandy
Diehl, senior vice president, strategy, business
development and communications.
In Athens, Otis was awarded a contract to provide 76
units, including 44 escalators and 16 Gen2(R) elevators, as
part of the city's subway expansion.
In Germany, Otis entered into an agreement with
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's largest rail company, to supply
and install elevators in rail and subway stations
throughout the country.
Otis has won installation, modernization and service
contracts for airports and rail, subway and ferry stations
throughout the world, including Brazil, China, France, Hong
Kong, Italy, Macau, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom,
United States and Canada.
Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest
manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products
including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With
headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs
61,000 people, offers products and services in more than
200 countries and territories and maintains 1.5 million
elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified
company providing high technology products and services to
the building and aerospace industries.
For more information, please contact:
Tizz Weber Director
Communications of Otis Elevator Company
Tel: +1-860-676-6127
Email: Tizz.Weber@Otis.com
SOURCE Otis Elevator Company
2007'03.05.Mon
Linktone Comments on Results of MonsterMob Shareholder Meeting
February 26, 2007
Company Will Not Pursue Making an Offer for UK-based Mobile
Services Company, Following Shareholder Approval of LaNetro
Zed Proposal
SHANGHAI, China, Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Linktone Ltd. (Nasdaq: LTON), a leading provider of
wireless interactive entertainment products and services to
consumers in China, announced today that it will not make an
offer to acquire MonsterMob Group Plc following the results
of MonsterMob's shareholder meeting held on Friday,
February 23.
(Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/20061101171222-64.jpg )
As previously announced last week, Linktone was
contemplating a formal offer of approximately $77.8 million
to acquire all of the outstanding equity of the UK-based
wireless services company if MonsterMob's shareholders
rejected a pending offer from LaNetro Zed to acquire a
52.6% interest for approximately $66.8 million. On Friday,
a majority of MonsterMob's shareholders accepted the Zed
offer.
Chairwoman of Linktone, Elaine LaRoche commented,
"While Linktone believes that the combination of our
business with that of MonsterMob made good strategic sense
and had the potential to provide economic value to
shareholders on both sides, we respect the decision made by
MonsterMob's shareholders on Friday."
"The Board of Linktone continues to consider all
opportunities to enhance shareholder value. While our core
business in wireless value-added services in China continues
to grow, we continue to explore opportunities to extend our
footprint in to new markets in China and if an appropriate
opportunity arises, abroad," continued Ms. LaRoche.
About Linktone Ltd.
Linktone Ltd. is a leading provider of wireless
interactive entertainment products and services in China.
Linktone provides a diverse portfolio of services to
wireless consumers, with a particular focus on media,
entertainment and communications. These services are
promoted through the Company's own marketing channels and
through the networks of the mobile operators in China.
Through in-house development and alliances with
international and local branded content partners, the
Company develops, aggregates, and distributes innovative
and engaging products to maximize the breadth, quality and
diversity of its offerings. Linktone categorizes China's
wireless services landscape as "MAGIC" -- Music,
Advanced Gaming, Graphics, Instant Messaging and Community.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements of a
forward-looking nature. These statements are made under
the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify
these forward-looking statements by terminology such as
"will," "expects,"
"anticipates," "future,"
"intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates," and similar
statements. The accuracy of these statements may be
impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected or anticipated, including risks related to:
current or future changes in the policies of the PRC
Ministry of Information Industry and the mobile operators
in China or in the manner in which the operators enforce
such policies; the risk that other changes in Chinese laws
and regulations, or in application thereof by other
relevant PRC governmental authorities, could adversely
affect Linktone's financial condition and results of
operations; the risk that Linktone will not be able to
compete effectively in the wireless value-added services
market in China for whatever reason, including competition
from other service providers or penalties or suspensions
for violations of the policies of the mobile operators in
China; the risk that Linktone will not be able to develop
and effectively market innovative services; the risk that
Linktone will not be able to effectively control its
operating expenses in future periods or make expenditures
that effectively differentiate Linktone's services and
brand; and the risks outlined in Linktone's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
registration statement on Form F-1 and annual report on
Form 20-F. Linktone does not undertake any obligation to
update this forward-looking information, except as required
under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Edward Liu Brandi Piacente
Linktone Ltd. The Piacente Group,
Inc.
Tel: +86-21-6361-1583 Tel:
+1-212-481-2050
Email: edward.liu@linktone.com Email:
brandi@thepiacentegroup.com
SOURCE Linktone Ltd.
2007'03.05.Mon
Lilly Plans New Clinical Trial of Xigris(R)
February 26, 2007
Trial will help better identify appropriate patient, define
the benefit-risk profile in this population
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly
and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced plans for a new
clinical study of Xigris(R) (drotrecogin alfa [activated]).
The trial is designed to help clinicians better identify
severe sepsis patients at high risk of death who are more
likely to benefit from this novel therapy and to further
clarify the drug's benefit/risk profile. The new trial
initiative follows discussions with the European Medicines
Agency (EMEA) in the context of its fourth annual license
reassessment for Xigris.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO)
"Advancements made in sepsis care over the past
five years, and ongoing scientific questions surrounding
appropriate patient selection for Xigris and about severe
sepsis treatment in general make this an opportune time for
a new Phase III placebo-controlled study of Xigris,"
said J. Anthony Ware, M.D., vice president, Lilly Research
Laboratories and global platform leader for cardiovascular
and acute care. "The trial may provide additional
scientific insights and potential patient benefits."
Xigris was licensed in the EU in August 2002 under
exceptional circumstances, which establishes an annual
review. During each reassessment, the Committee for
Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) reviews all
existing data. In discussions, Lilly committed to conduct a
new placebo-controlled clinical trial to help refine
appropriate patient identification for treatment with
Xigris. Commercial Xigris will remain available to
physicians for treatment of severe sepsis patients within
the currently approved label during the course of the
trial.
In the United States, where Xigris is licensed for
adult patients with severe sepsis (sepsis associated with
acute organ dysfunction) at high risk of death, the federal
Food and Drug Administration does not annually reassess
licensing.
Lilly's medical team is working with medical experts in
Europe and the United States to develop a protocol for the
international trial involving Xigris, with the primary
endpoint being 28-day all-cause mortality. Lilly estimates
the trial will begin enrolling patients during the first
quarter of 2008 and take approximately two and a half years
to complete.
PROWESS(i) - Recombinant Human Activated PROtein C
Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis - the pivotal Phase
III registration trial for Xigris, was initiated in July
1998. Enrollment was suspended at the second interim
analysis in June 2000 because Xigris demonstrated a
significant survival benefit that exceeded the
prospectively set stopping rules. The trial showed a
relative risk reduction in mortality among high risk
patients by 29 percent. Mortality rates were 30.9 percent
among drotrecogin alfa (activated)-treated patients vs.
43.7 percent among patients treated with placebo
(p=0.0002). In patients with multiple organ dysfunction,
mortality rates were 26.5 percent among drotrecogin alfa
(activated)-treated patients vs. 33.9 percent in patients
treated with placebo (p=0.006). PROWESS was the first
large severe sepsis trial to meet the primary endpoint of a
significant reduction in mortality and led to approval of
Xigris in more than 50 countries globally.
The new trial will be conducted in patients within the
currently indicated population (adults with severe sepsis
at high risk of death) and utilize the current standard of
care for severe sepsis. It will differ from PROWESS in that
it will set further parameters for patient identification
and evaluation to identify patients early in the course of
sepsis, and to ensure appropriate and adequate patient
selection and safety assessments for those receiving the
drug.
Xigris is the only approved pharmaceutical therapy
specifically indicated in Europe for the treatment of adult
patients with severe sepsis with multiple organ failure when
added to best standard care. The use of Xigris should be
considered mainly in situations when therapy can be started
within 24 hours after the onset of organ failure. In the
United States Xigris is indicated to reduce mortality in
adult patients with severe sepsis (sepsis associated with
acute organ dysfunction) at high risk of death.
"Lilly stands firmly behind the PROWESS trial,
which led to the approval of Xigris in more than 50
countries," said Mark D. Williams, M.D., medical
director for Xigris. "This new study will focus on
helping physicians identify the optimal patient for Xigris
therapy by further clarifying the benefit-risk profile of
this novel therapy."
Several post-marketing studies have provided
significant insights into severe sepsis pathophysiology and
treatment with Xigris. Lilly is committed to applying this
learning in this new clinical trial with these indicated
patients -- the adult patient with severe sepsis at high
risk of death, Williams said.
In addition to the new placebo-controlled study, a
Phase II Xigris clinical trial began in November 2006.
RESPOND - Research Evaluating Serial Protein C levels in
severe sepsis patients ON Drotrecogin alfa [activated] - is
designed to tailor the dose and duration of Xigris based
upon serial Protein C levels. Data from this trial could
advance Xigris therapy by using a biomarker such as Protein
C to provide the right dose of Xigris to the right patient
at the right time, said Williams. Five hundred patients are
being enrolled at 50 sites in 11 countries for the trial.
About Severe Sepsis
Sepsis is a common, deadly and under-diagnosed disease
that claims approximately 1,400 lives worldwide each day.
Severe sepsis often develops as a complication after common
illnesses such as pneumonia, and bacterial infections.
Annually, there are approximately 88 cases of severe sepsis
per 100,000 people in Europe and 750,000 cases in the United
States, largely as a consequence of rapid organ failure
during the most life-threatening stage of the illness --
the first 28 days.(ii)(iii)(iv)
About Xigris
Xigris (drotrecogin alfa [activated]) is a recombinant
form of human Activated Protein C. It is administered by
intravenous infusion and is available in 5 mg and 20 mg
vials. In November 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration approved Xigris for the reduction of
mortality in adult patients with severe sepsis (sepsis
associated with acute organ dysfunction) who have a high
risk of death (e.g., as determined by APACHE II).
Bleeding is the most common serious adverse effect
associated with Xigris therapy. In PROWESS, a Phase III
study, serious bleeding events were observed during the
28-day study period in 3.5 percent of Xigris-treated and
2.0 percent of placebo-treated patients. The difference in
serious bleeding occurred primarily during infusion. Each
patient being considered for therapy with Xigris should be
carefully evaluated and anticipated benefits weighed
against potential risks associated with therapy. For full
safety information including contraindications and
warnings, please see Xigris Prescribing Information, which
can be obtained by visiting http://www.Xigris.com .
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is
developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and
best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the
latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and
from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers
-- through medicines and information -- for some of the
world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information
about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.
P-LLY
Xigris(R) (drotrecogin alfa (activated), Lilly)
i The Recombinant Human Activated Protein C Worldwide
Evaluation in Severe Sepsis (PROWESS) study was initiated
in July 1998. Enrollment was suspended at the second
interim analysis in June 2000 because Xigris demonstrated a
significant survival benefit that exceeded the prospectively
set stopping rules. Analysis indicated a statistically
significant 29% relative reduction in risk of death among
high-risk (APACHE II score greater than or equal to 25)
patients (P=0.0002). In these patients, survival rates were
69% for Xigris patients, compared to 56% for standard
therapy patients at 28 days. The difference in survival was
sustained through 2.5 years of follow-up.
ii Angus DC et al. Crit Care Med 2001; 29,: 1303-10
iii Davies A et al. A European estimate of the burden
of disease in ICU. In preparation.
iv Bone RC et al. Chest 1992; 101:1644-55
For more information, please contact:
Joedy Isert
Eli Lilly and Company
Tel: +1-317-276-5592
Cell: +1-317-997-8544
SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
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