2007'07.10.Tue
メルシャン、「シャトー・メルシャン」から「甲州ワイン」２品を発売
ボルドー大学との共同研究「甲州アロマプロジェクト」継続で更に進化！
『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香 ２００６』＆
『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州グリ・ド・グリ ２００６』発売
メルシャン株式会社（本社：東京、社長：岡部有治）は、「甲州ワイン」２種の新ヴィンテージ、『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香 ２００６』、『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州グリ・ド・グリ ２００６』を３月１日（木）より全国で発売します。
当社は日本固有のぶどう品種「甲州」をワイン醸造用のぶどう品種として国内はもとより世界のワイン愛好家にも知られる存在の品種とし、「甲州ワイン」の品質を引き上げることを使命と考え、２０００年に「メルシャン甲州プロジェクト」（以下、メルシャン略）を発足しました。さらに２００４年には、ボルドー第二大学醸造学部デュブルデュー研究室の協力を得て、主に甲州ワインの「香り」を追求するプロジェクトとして、「甲州アロマプロジェクト」を新たに発足、共同研究を開始し、「香り」に関する様々な研究を続けてきました。
今回、「甲州アロマプロジェクト」３年目となる研究成果を活かし、香りや味わいがさらに前進した『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香』、『同 甲州グリ・ド・グリ』の２００６年新ヴィンテージを発売します。
『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香』は、ボルドー大学との共同研究「甲州アロマプロジェクト」により「甲州」ぶどう中に含まれていることが確認された、グレープフルーツなど柑橘類の香りの素となる物質（３－メルカプトヘキサノール）の特徴を最大限表現し、さらに同ぶどうの様々な未知の香りも併せ持った個性あるワインとして、２００５年春に５０００本限定で発売し２ヶ月で完売し話題となりました。
２００６年度の研究からは、ワイン造りの原点となる「ぶどう」にテーマを置き、「ぶどう畑」において、より多く香りの前駆物質を増加させるための様々な試みを開始し、「甲州ぶどう」が持つポテンシャルと気候、風土に由来する特徴を把握する研究を進めていてきました。結果、２００６年ヴィンテージは「ぶどう畑」からのメッセージと、醸造技術を融合したワインとなりました。
『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州グリ・ド・グリ』は、甲州ぶどう独特の赤紫色をした皮からのおいしさを追求し、「色」と「味わい」にこだわった「甲州ワイン」として、２００３年秋に初ヴィンテージ２００２年を発売しまた。さらに２００５年ヴィンテージより、「甲州アロマプロジェクト」の研究過程で甲州ワインに含まれていることを見出した、高貴なバラ“ブルガリアン・ローズ”からの甘美な香り「ベータ・ダマセノン」の特徴を表したワイン醸造に取り組み、「香り」の要素も取り込みました。
２００６年度は、今までの研究をベースに、同ワインに最適な醸造技術を駆使することで、「味わい」、「色」、「香り」ともにバランスが取れ、さらに進化した魅力的なワインとなりました。
当社は、今後も日本固有のぶどう品種「甲州」の研究を進め、それを公開していくことで、日本ワインの発展に貢献してまいります。
【 発売の概要 】
◆商品名 『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州きいろ香 ２００６』
『シャトー・メルシャン 甲州グリ・ド・グリ ２００６』
◆税別希望小売価格 ２，３０７円
◆容量・荷姿 ７５０ｍｌ １ケース６本入り
◆発売日 ３月１日（木）
◆発売地域 全国
◆商品サイト http://www.chateaumercian.com/
以上
＜ 消費者お問い合わせ先 ＞
メルシャン株式会社
お客様相談室
ＴＥＬ０３－３２３１－３９６１
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PR
2007'07.10.Tue
米アナログ・デバイセズ、従来品より歪みレベルが１０ｄＢも低い差動ドライバーを発売
アナログ・デバイセズ、業界で最も低歪みの差動ＡＤＣドライバ・ファミリー「ＡＤＡ４９３ｘ」を発表
～ 基地局などワイヤレス機器のアプリケーション向けにＤＣから１００ＭＨｚまで最高のＡＤＣ性能を実現 ～
アナログ・デバイセズ社（ニューヨーク証券取引所：ＡＤＩ）は、本日、Ａ／Ｄコンバータ（ＡＤＣ）駆動用ＩＣの業界標準となっている同社の革新的な差動アンプ・ファミリーを拡張して、競合製品よりも歪みレベルが１０ｄＢも低い新しい差動ドライバ「ＡＤＡ４９３７」と「ＡＤＡ４９３８」を発表しました。「ＡＤＡ４９３７－１」と「ＡＤＡ４９３８－１」は、ＤＣから１００ＭＨｚまでの間で最高性能のＡＤＣを駆動するよう最適化されています。
ＡＤＡ４９３７－１は、４０ＭＨｚまでは１６ビット性能、７０ＭＨｚまでは１４ビット性能、１００ＭＨｚまでは１２ビット性能を提供します。このようにＡＤＣ性能が向上することで、ワイヤレス機器などのアプリケーションで、より少ない誤差でより高いデータ・レートを実現できるようになります。この新しいドライバＩＣをデータ・アクイジション・システムに用いた場合は、ＡＤＣがより高スピードでより高精度のデータを収集できるようになり、その結果システム・スループットとシステム全体の性能が向上します。
アナログ・デバイセズ社高速リニア製品プロダクト・ライン・ディレクター、ジム・ドッシャー（Ｊｉｍ Ｄｏｓｃｈｅｒ）は、次のように述べています。「歪みレベルが低くなったことで、設計者は、ＳＦＤＲ（スプリアス・フリー・ダイナミック・レンジ）やＳ／Ｎ比などのＡＤＣの重要な性能特性を維持できることで、システム性能を直接改善することができます。またこのドライバＩＣにより、信号のレベル・シフトを非常に簡単に行えるので、ＡＣ結合なしにＡＤＣの入力範囲のマッチングが取れ、低周波情報の損失も防ぐことが可能です」
■ＡＤＣドライバ「ＡＤＡ４９３７」と「ＡＤＡ４９３８」について
ＡＤＣドライバ「ＡＤＡ４９３７－１」と「ＡＤＡ４９３８－１」は、基地局などを含むワイヤレス機器や計測機器で現在使用されている高速ＡＤＣの駆動に求められる低ノイズと低歪み性能を兼ね備えています。
ＡＤＡ４９３７－１は３Ｖから５Ｖの単一電源に最適で、１０ＭＨｚで－１２０／－１０２ｄＢｃ、４０ＭＨｚで－９８／－１００ｄＢｃ、７０ＭＨｚで－８４／－９０ｄＢｃという業界最高の低歪み性能を実現します。ＡＤＡ４９３８－１は５Ｖから１０Ｖの電源範囲で動作し、両電源のアプリケーションでは１０ＭＨｚで－１１２／－１０８ｄＢｃ、３０ＭＨｚで－９６／－９３ｄＢｃ、５０ＭＨｚで－７９／－８１ｄＢｃという業界トップレベルの低歪み性能を提供します。ＡＤＡ４９３７－１とＡＤＡ４９３８－１の超低歪み性能は、ＡＤＩ独自の特殊なシリコン・ゲルマニウム（ＳｉＧｅ）シリコン・オン・インシュレータ（ＳＯＩ）プロセス技術ＸＦＣＢ－３の採用によって実現しています。
今回発表したデバイスは、内部コモン・モード・フィードバック・アーキテクチャも特長とし、出力コモン・モード電圧を外部電圧により制御できます。この機能は、ＡＤＣの前段にある部品の出力範囲とＡＤＣの入力範囲の間のあらゆるギャップを埋める役割も果たします。これにより、ＡＤＡ４９３７－１とＡＤＡ４９３８－１はＡＣ結合が不要となり、データ・アクイジション機器やベースバンド通信システムなどＤＣ結合を採用するアプリケーションに適したドライバＩＣとなっています。
■供給と価格について
ＡＤＡ４９３７－１とＡＤＡ４９３８－１は現在サンプル出荷中です。ＡＤＡ４９３７－１の量産開始は２００７年４月、ＡＤＡ４９３８－１は２００７年６月の予定です。
サイズは３ｍｍ × ３ｍｍ ＬＦＣＳＰ（リード・フレーム・チップ・スケール・パッケージ）で、単価は１，０００個受注時で３．７９ドル（米国における参考価格です）、動作仕様は０℃から＋８５℃となっています。詳細は、ウェブサイトhttp://www.analog.com/ADA4937をご覧下さい。
■アナログ・デバイセズについて
アナログ・デバイセズ（ＡＤＩ）は、技術革新、高性能、そして卓越した技術力を企業文化として継承し、半導体市場において長期にわたり高い成長を示してきました。
ＡＤＩは、データ・コンバージョンとシグナル・コンディショニング技術の世界的リーディング企業として業界で高い評価を得ており、あらゆる種類の電子機器分野を取り扱う世界各国６０，０００社以上の顧客に製品を提供しています。アナログおよびデジタル信号処理アプリケーションに用いられる高性能集積回路の世界的なリーディング・メーカーとして、４０年以上の歴史を誇るＡＤＩは、本社をマサチューセッツ州ノーウッドに構え、全世界で約８，９００人の従業員を擁します。製造工場は、マサチューセッツ、カリフォルニア、ノース・カロライナ、アイルランド、フィリピンにあります。アナログ・デバイセズはニューヨーク証券取引所に上場しており（ティッカ－：ＡＤＩ）、ＡＤＩはＳ＆Ｐ ５００インデックスに挙げられています。
【 製品に関する読者からのお問い合わせ先 】
アナログ・デバイセズ株式会社
ホリゾンタル・セグメント・マーケティング・グループ
電 話 ０３－５４０２－８１２８
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2007'07.10.Tue
三井物産など３社、保険会社向け約款・規定集管理ソリューションパッケージを提供
保険会社向け約款・規定集管理ソリューションパッケージを提供開始
文書の改版／改訂に伴う新旧対照表作成／管理業務などを大幅に効率化
インディゴ株式会社（本社：東京都世田谷区、代表取締役社長：平尾 潤一、以下インディゴ）は、三井物産株式会社（本店：東京都千代田区、代表取締役社長：槍田 松瑩、以下三井物産）、三井情報開発株式会社（本店：東京都中野区、代表取締役社長：増田 潤逸、以下三井情報開発）が販売しているＸＭＬ（ｅＸｔｅｎｓｉｂｌｅ Ｍａｒｋｕｐ Ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ）データベース「ＮｅｏＣｏｒｅＸＭＳ」を利用した損害・生命保険会社向け約款・規定集管理ソリューション「ＤｏｃｕＤｙｎｅ ｆｏｒ 保険約款」の提供を開始致します。
金融業界ではコンプライアンスを推進していく上で、約款および規定集の版管理及び差分管理が重要になってきています。本ソリューションは既存の文書管理ソリューション「ＤｏｃｕＤｙｎｅ」を損害保険会社・生命保険会社の約款や規定集の管理用途に特化し、約款文書のテンプレート化コンサルティング等を含め包括的にパッケージングしたものです。「ＤｏｃｕＤｙｎｅ ｆｏｒ 保険約款」では、Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ｗｏｒｄ で作成された約款や規定集をデータベースで一元管理することにより、文書の改版／改訂時の変更内容を管理するための「新旧対照表」を自動生成することができます。また、Ｍｉｃｒｏｓｏｆｔ Ｏｆｆｉｃｅ ＳｈａｒｅＰｏｉｎｔ Ｓｅｒｖｅｒ ２００７ との連携にも対応予定であり、文書のアクセス権限管理と連動したより厳密な改版／改訂管理を行うことも可能になります。これによりユーザは既存の文書資産を有効活用しながら、簡単に、最小の投資で約款および規定集の改変履歴管理を効率化できます。
保険会社向け約款・規定集管理ソリューションは基本パッケージで２，０００万円から。３社では、３年以内に生命保険・損害保険会社３０社への導入を目標としています。
ご注意：
本発表資料には、将来に関する記述が含まれています。こうした記述はリスクや不確実性を内包するものであり、経営環境の変化などにより実際とは異なる可能性があることにご留意ください。また、本発表資料は、日本国内外を問わず一切の投資勧誘またはそれに類する行為を目的として作成されたものではありません。
＜お問い合わせ先＞
製品に関するお問い合わせ先
Ｍｉｔｓｕｉ ＮｅｏＣｏｒｅ Ｃｅｎｔｅｒ
ＴＥＬ：０３－５５７７－８２１１
Ｅ－Ｍａｉｌ： support@neocore.jp
2007'07.10.Tue
Stora Enso is Upgrading Board Quality at its Imatra Mills
July 10, 2007
HELSINKI, Finland, July 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Stora
Enso is investing EUR15 million to upgrade board
manufacturing at its Imatra mills in Finland to meet
customers' developing quality requirements. The project is
scheduled to start in July 2007 and be completed in
September 2008. As a consequence of this quality-driven
investment, the annual production capacity of board machine
5 will increase from 240,000 to 250,000 tonnes of liquid
packaging board (LPB).
"We are very pleased to announce this investment,
which demonstrates Stora Enso's unceasing commitment to
quality improvement. This investment will secure Imatra's
long-term competitiveness in liquid packaging board and
enable the mill to satisfy its customers' increasing
quality demands," says Anders Harback, Vice President
of Liquid Packaging Boards Ambient.
Stora Enso's Imatra mills, which have a total annual
production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes, produce
packaging board, graphical board and paper. Liquid
packaging boards are manufactured for all the main types of
liquid packaging. End uses of Stora Enso LPB include a
great variety of food products such as milk, soup, spices,
water, yoghurt and juice, as well as various non-food
products such as liquid detergents and fabric softeners.
Stora Enso is an integrated paper, packaging and forest
products company producing publication and fine paper,
packaging board and wood products -- all areas in which the
Group is a global market leader. Stora Enso's sales totalled
EUR14.6 billion in 2006. The Group has some 44 000
employees in more than 40 countries on five continents.
Stora Enso has an annual production capacity of 16.5
million tonnes of paper and board and 7.4 million cubic
metres of sawn wood products, including 3.2 million cubic
metres of value-added products. Stora Enso's shares are
listed in Helsinki, Stockholm and New York.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Harback, VP,
Liquid Packaging Boards Ambient
Tel: +46-1046-54045
Kari Vainio, EVP,
Corporate Communications
Tel: +44-7799-348-197
Keith Russell, SVP,
Investor Relations
Tel: +44-7775-788-659
Ulla Paajanen-Sainio, Vice President,
Investor Relations and Financial Communications
Tel: +358-2046-21242
2007'07.10.Tue
Cotecna Selected by US Customs and Border Protection to Conduct Supply Chain Security Validations in China
July 10, 2007
GENEVA and WASHINGTON, July 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Cotecna, the international inspection group, has been
selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),
Office of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism
(C-TPAT) to participate in a one-year pilot program to
conduct supply chain security validations in China. The
pilot program officially began on July 1, 2007.
The objective of C-TPAT, a voluntary US
government/private sector partnership that was launched in
the aftermath of 9/11, is to better secure global supply
chains and facilitate legitimate cargo and conveyances
entering the United States. It is open to importers,
customs brokers, terminal operators, carriers and certain
foreign manufacturers to enable them to benefit from
reduced inspections and expedited processing at the US port
of arrival or border. C-TPAT participation requires the
submission of an application and subsequent certification
and validation of the information provided by the
applicant. Validation is done through on-site visits by CBP
personnel and its successful completion makes the C-TPAT
member eligible for enhanced benefits at the customs point
of entry.
The objective of this pilot program in China is for
Cotecna and other selected companies to act on behalf of
the US government to conduct on-site validations of the
manufacturers that supply US importers enrolled in the
C-TPAT program. Today approx. 10,000 companies are enrolled
in the C-TPAT program, of which 6'500 are certified and
approx. 4'200 validated.
Robert Massey, CEO Cotecna said, "We are proud to
have been selected to become a key partner of the US
government in the delivery of C-TPAT services in China. Our
network in China will be a great asset to delivering these
invaluable services. Our work on this pilot program further
develops our excellent relationship with the US Department
of Homeland Security that we began in Operation Safe
Commerce and emphasizes our commitment to global trade
security."
For more information click on these links:
Third party validator pilot selections (
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/third_ptyselec.ctt/third_ptyselec.doc
)
C-TPAT strategic plan - general information (
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/ctpat_strategicplan.ctt/ctpat_strategicplan.pdf
)
C-TPAT FAQs (
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/ctpat_faq.xml
)
Founded in Switzerland in 1974, the COTECNA Group
offers a wide range of trade facilitation services, trade
security services and quality certification standards.
Cotecna is a pioneer in areas such as risk management,
destination inspection and scanner integration projects and
also offers Customs modernization programmes, Customs
valuation assistance, trade security solutions and
commercial inspections. For a full description of our
services, please visit http://www.cotecna.com . The Cotecna
Group has a combined workforce of about 4,000 employees and
agents in close to 100 offices and holds 14 government
inspection contracts.
For more information, please contact:
Cotecna Press
Alison Bourgeois
Vice President Corporate Communications
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-849-7823
Email: press@cotecna.ch
Daine Eisold
Vice President, Supply Chain Security
Washington, USA
Email: CTPAT@cotecnausa.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) Announces Senior Management Appointments
July 10, 2007
SHANGHAI, July 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG
(ADRs) ) today announces two internal executive
appointments - Peter Gowers as Chief Executive, Asia
Pacific region and Kirk Kinsell as President, Europe Middle
East & Africa (EMEA).
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200702131431.jpg
)
Peter Gowers is currently Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
and will remain on the executive committee of IHG. His new
appointment will take effect 1 November 2007. He succeeds
Tony South, Acting Chief Executive for Asia Pacific, who
will resume his responsibilities as Senior Vice President,
Development for the region at that time.
Kirk Kinsell is currently Senior Vice President, Chief
Development Officer for the Americas region, and will join
the executive committee on his appointment. His appointment
is effective 1 September 2007 when he will succeed outgoing
President and Board member Richard Hartman who formally
retires from IHG at the end of September.
Andrew Cosslett, CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group,
said, "I am delighted to be able to make these two key
appointments from within the company. This says a great deal
about the strength and depth of management we have at IHG.
"Both Peter and Kirk have been hugely influential
in the development of IHG, building our brands, developing
stronger relationships with our owners and driving up our
rate of growth.
"Peter has been responsible for raising the
quality of our brand management, most clearly seen in the
recent, highly successful evolution of the InterContinental
brand. He has overseen the development of Priority Club
Rewards into the industry's largest loyalty scheme with
over 33 million members, and built up the power of IHG's
websites and reservation systems.
"Kirk has been at the heart of the resurgence of
our Americas region in recent years. He has driven up our
deal pace and taken the Americas hotel development pipeline
to record levels. His extensive experience both inside and
outside the hospitality industry, combined with his
commercial acumen and drive for results, made him the right
choice to take our EMEA business up to the next level."
In his 20-year hospitality career Kinsell has held a
variety of senior positions in the hospitality industry
including time with Holiday Inn Corporation and ITT
Sheraton. From 1998 he spent four years outside the
industry in COO and CEO roles, before re-joining IHG in
2002 as Senior Vice President, development, the Americas.
Aged 52, Kinsell holds a B.A in Economics from the
University of California, San Diego and a Master of
Professional Studies from the School of Hotel
Administration at Cornell University. He is married with
two children.
Gowers started his career as a management consultant
with Arthur D. Little, which included an Asia-based
assignment in Singapore. He joined IHG - then Bass - in a
strategic planning role in 1999 and was promoted to
Executive Vice President, Strategy for the hotels business
in 2002.
In 2003 he became Executive Vice President of Global
Brand Services for IHG and was promoted to Chief Marketing
Officer in 2005. Aged 34, Peter is a graduate of Oxford
University with a B.A in Jurisprudence (Law). He is married
with two children.
Appointments to the vacated internal posts will be made
in due course.
Notes to Editors
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United
Kingdom (LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs) ) is the world's
largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages,
leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over
3,700 hotels and more than 558,000 guest rooms in nearly
100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a
portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands
including InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne
Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and
Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R),
Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel Indigo(R), and also manages
the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club(R)
Rewards with over 33 million members worldwide.
The company pioneered the travel industry's first
collaborative response to environmental issues as founder
of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative
(IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism
Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders
Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The
environment and local communities remain at the heart of
IHG's global corporate responsibility focus.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all
its hotel brands at http://www.ihg.com and information for
the Priority Club Rewards program at
http://www.priorityclub.com .
For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press
Office at http://www.ihg.com/media .
For more information, please contact:
Sharona Tao
Brand Public Relations & Communications Manager
Greater China
InterContinental Hotels Group
Tel: +86 21 2893 3309
Fax: +86 21 2893 3399
Email: sharona.tao@ihg.com
2007'07.10.Tue
The9 Limited Obtains Exclusive License to Operate Field of Honor in Mainland China
July 10, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The9
Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY)("The9"), a leading online
game operator in China, announced today that it has,
through a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an
agreement with Beijing Gameworld Tech. Co. Ltd.,
("Gameworld"), an online game developer based in
Beijing, China, for an exclusive license to operate Field
of Honor, a 3D online role-playing game, in mainland China.
The term of the license is for three years from the
commercial launch date of the game in mainland China.
Field of Honor is a 3D massively multiplayer online
real-time strategy & shooting game developed by
Gameworld. In addition to typical massively multiplayer
online game features such as player interaction, teamwork,
and customized character progression, Field of Honor offers
players the option to play under the "strategy" or
"shooting" mode. Seamlessly integrating various
game elements, Field of Honor caters to a broad user base
and aims to bring a different entertainment experience to
online game players in China.
Mr. Jun Zhu, The9's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, commented: "The9's strategy has always been
to offer the highest quality games, either from overseas or
local studios, to Chinese online game players. We are
pleased that The9 obtained the exclusive license to operate
Field of Honor in mainland China. With The9's strong
operational and marketing platform, we believe Field of
Honor has good prospects for success. Going forward, we
will continue to further expand and diversify our game
portfolio to further capture the fast-growing Chinese
online game market."
About The9 Limited
The9 Limited is a leading online game operator in
China. The9's business is primarily focused on operating
and developing high-quality games for the Chinese online
game players market. The9 directly or through affiliates
operates licensed MMORPGs, consisting of MU(R), Blizzard
Entertainment(R)'s World of Warcraft(R), Soul of The
Ultimate Nation(TM), and its first proprietary MMORPG,
Joyful Journey Westz(TM), in mainland China. It has also
obtained exclusive licenses to operate additional MMORPGs
and advanced casual games in mainland China, including
Granado Espada, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Ragnarok
Online 2, Emil Chronicle Online, Huxley, FIFA Online,
Audition 2 and Field of Honor. In addition, The9 is also
working on the development of a 3D fantasy MMORPG game,
Fantastic Melody Online(TM).
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements.
These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates,"
"future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates" and similar
statements. Among other things, the business outlook and
quotations from management in this press release contain
forward-looking statements. The9 may also make written or
oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F
and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in
press releases and other written materials and in oral
statements made by its officers, directors or employees to
third parties. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about The9's beliefs and expectations,
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of
important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to, The9's limited operating history as an
online game operator, political and economic policies of
the Chinese government, the laws and regulations governing
the online game industry, information disseminated over the
Internet and Internet content providers in China,
intensified government regulation of Internet cafes, The9's
ability to retain existing players and attract new players,
license, develop or acquire additional online games that
are appealing to users, anticipate and adapt to changing
consumer preferences and respond to competitive market
conditions, and other risks and uncertainties outlined in
The9's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F.
The9 does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, except as required under
applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Dahlia Wei
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
The9 Limited
Tel: +86-21-5172-9990
Email: IR@corp.the9.com
Web: http://www.corp.the9.com
2007'07.10.Tue
O2Micro(R) Announces Settlement with Sony
July 10, 2007
GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, July 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- O2Micro(R) International Limited (Nasdaq(R): OIIM; SEHK:
0457), a leading supplier of innovative power management,
and security components and systems, announced that it has
reached an agreement in principle with Sony Corporation,
Sony EMCS Corporation, Sony Corporation of America and Sony
Electronics Inc. that resolves all of the outstanding issues
between the companies in the litigation currently pending in
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Texas (Civil Action No. 2:05-cv-00211-TJW).
About O2Micro
Founded in April 1995, O2Micro develops and markets
innovative power management, and security components and
systems for the Computer, Consumer, Industrial, and
Communications markets. Products include Intelligent
Lighting, Battery Management, Power Management,
SmartCardBus(R) and Security products, such as VPN/Firewall
system solutions.
O2Micro International maintains an extensive portfolio
of intellectual property with 7,429 patent claims granted,
and over 9,000 more pending. The company maintains offices
worldwide. Additional company and product information can
be found on the company website at http://www.o2micro.com .
O2Micro, the O2Micro logo, SmartCardBus, and
combinations thereof are registered trademarks of O2Micro.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
For more information, please contact:
Mitchell Benus
Director of Investor Relations
O2Micro
Tel: +1-408-332-1749
Email: mitchell.benus@o2micro.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Yiming Liao of China is Studio Design Champion of 2007 TopCoder Open Sponsored by AOL
July 10, 2007
GLASTONBURY, Conn., July 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
TopCoder(R), Inc., the leader in online programming
competition, skills assessment and competitive software
development, today announced that Yiming Liao of China won
the TopCoder Studio Design track of the 2007 TopCoder Open
Sponsored by AOL which took place at the Mirage Hotel in
Las Vegas, Nevada on June 29th. This marks the first time a
graphic design competition has been included in a TopCoder
program of events.
Liao, also known by his TopCoder name yiming, is from
the Nanshan District of Shenzhen and employed by the China
Merchants Bank. He won the $15,000 grand prize for his
successful submission of a redesign of the TopCoder Studio
home page (http://studio.topcoder.com). To view his
TopCoder member profile please visit (
http://www.topcoder.com/tc?module=MemberProfile&cr=10481546
) .
This year's 2007 TopCoder Open sponsored by AOL
attracted more than 4,600 registrants from TopCoder's
community of 116,000 members representing almost every
country on Earth. An elite group of 77 finalists were
invited from around the world to Las Vegas to compete in
computing science disciplines such as algorithms and
software component design and development as well as
graphic design.
About TopCoder, Inc.
TopCoder is the recognized leader in identifying,
evaluating and mobilizing effective software development
resources. Through its proprietary programming competitions
and rating system, TopCoder recognizes and promotes the
abilities of the best programmers around the world.
TopCoder software harnesses the talent of these developers
to design, develop and deploy software through its
revolutionary competitive development methodology.
TopCoder's methodology emphasizes thorough specification
and design, distributed development using reusable
components, and a rigorous quality assurance review process
that results in higher quality, lower cost software
solutions than traditional software development
methodologies. For more information about sponsoring
TopCoder events, recruiting TopCoder members and utilizing
TopCoder's software services, visit
http://www.topcoder.com/ .
TopCoder is a registered trademark of TopCoder, Inc. in
the United States and other countries. All other product and
company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
For more information, please contact:
Jim McKeown
TopCoder, Inc.
Tel: +1-860-633-5540
Email: jmckeown@topcoder.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Yiming Liao of China is Studio Design Champion of 2007 TopCoder Open Sponsored by AOL
July 10, 2007
GLASTONBURY, Conn., July 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
TopCoder(R), Inc., the leader in online programming
competition, skills assessment and competitive software
development, today announced that Yiming Liao of China won
the TopCoder Studio Design track of the 2007 TopCoder Open
Sponsored by AOL which took place at the Mirage Hotel in
Las Vegas, Nevada on June 29th. This marks the first time a
graphic design competition has been included in a TopCoder
program of events.
Liao, also known by his TopCoder name yiming, is from
the Nanshan District of Shenzhen and employed by the China
Merchants Bank. He won the $15,000 grand prize for his
successful submission of a redesign of the TopCoder Studio
home page (http://studio.topcoder.com). To view his
TopCoder member profile please visit (
http://www.topcoder.com/tc?module=MemberProfile&cr=10481546
) .
This year's 2007 TopCoder Open sponsored by AOL
attracted more than 4,600 registrants from TopCoder's
community of 116,000 members representing almost every
country on Earth. An elite group of 77 finalists were
invited from around the world to Las Vegas to compete in
computing science disciplines such as algorithms and
software component design and development as well as
graphic design.
About TopCoder, Inc.
TopCoder is the recognized leader in identifying,
evaluating and mobilizing effective software development
resources. Through its proprietary programming competitions
and rating system, TopCoder recognizes and promotes the
abilities of the best programmers around the world.
TopCoder software harnesses the talent of these developers
to design, develop and deploy software through its
revolutionary competitive development methodology.
TopCoder's methodology emphasizes thorough specification
and design, distributed development using reusable
components, and a rigorous quality assurance review process
that results in higher quality, lower cost software
solutions than traditional software development
methodologies. For more information about sponsoring
TopCoder events, recruiting TopCoder members and utilizing
TopCoder's software services, visit
http://www.topcoder.com/ .
TopCoder is a registered trademark of TopCoder, Inc. in
the United States and other countries. All other product and
company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
For more information, please contact:
Jim McKeown
TopCoder, Inc.
Tel: +1-860-633-5540
Email: jmckeown@topcoder.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Gerresheimer Successfully Finalises Formation of Joint Venture 'Kimble
July 10, 2007
DUSSELDORF, Germany, July 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
-- Through the joint venture, Gerresheimer expands its
leading
position in the field of life science research.
-- CEO Dr. Axel Herberg: "The joint venture is an
important part of
Gerresheimer's growth strategy and allows both
companies to
profit from market and production synergies."
-- Kimble Chase Life Science and Research Products LLC
had total
sales of around EUR100 million in 2006 (pro forma).
The formation of the joint venture was finalised
yesterday. On 20 March 2007 Gerresheimer had already
announced the establishment of the joint venture with a
subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) in the
USA. The outstanding conditions, particularly approval by
the antitrust authorities, have now been fulfilled.
With a 51% share Gerresheimer has a majority interest
in the new company "Kimble Chase Life Science and
Research Products LLC" (Kimble Chase). TMO holds 49%
of the shares. The joint venture specialises in the
development, production and marketing of life science
products and employs around 1,500 people in seven
locations. Gerresheimer contributes production plants in
the USA, Mexico and China and TMO production plants in the
USA and Germany. The company is based in New Jersey/USA.
Its products are used in industrial pharmaceutical research
and are largely marketed under the trademarks Kimble, Kontes
and Bomex. In the financial year 2006, sales by Kimble Chase
totalled around EUR100 million (pro forma).
"The joint venture marks another important step by
the Gerresheimer Group on the way to becoming a global
pharma & life science group. In this way we will
continue to pursue our growth strategy in the future and
offer our shareholders an attractive investment," says
Dr. Axel Herberg, CEO of Gerresheimer AG
With Kimble Chase the Gerresheimer Group employs around
10,000 people in 37 locations around the world and
approaches a total sales level of EUR1 billion in 2007 as
planned. Since 11 June 2007 Gerresheimer has been listed in
the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt stock exchange,
following one of the largest flotations of the year with a
total issue volume of around EUR1 billion.
Note to Editors
You can request photos on this topic via our homepage.
If required, we can also send you high-resolution data.
Reprint free of charge. Please send specimen copy to
Gerresheimer.
Gerresheimer is a pharmaceutical & life science
supply and services company with market leading positions
of specialty products made of glass and plastic.
Gerresheimer owns 37 production sites in Europe, North
America and Asia and employs approximately 10,000 employees
worldwide.
For more information, please contact:
Burkhard Lingenberg
Director Corporate PR & Marketing
Tel: +49-211-6181-250
Email: b.lingenberg@gerresheimer.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Telestone Technologies Corporation Ltd. Enters into Agreement to Acquire Shandong Guolian Communication Technology Co., Ltd.
July 10, 2007
BEIJING, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Telestone Technologies Corporation Ltd.
("Telestone") (Nasdaq: TSTC), a leading developer
and provider of wireless communication coverage solutions
based in the People's Republic of China, today announced
that, through its variable interest entity, Beijing
Telestone Wireless Telecommunication Company Ltd., the
Company has entered into a Stock Transfer Agreement to
acquire 100 percent of the equity in Shandong Guolian
Communication Technology Co. Ltd. ("Guolian").
According to the agreement, on the closing date,
Guolian will receive 800,000 shares of restricted common
stock of Telestone and $500,000 in cash. One year following
the agreement, Guolian is also eligible to receive an
additional 100,000 shares of restricted common stock in
Telestone subject to it meeting certain performance
thresholds.
Guolian is a leading provider of wireless coverage
integration services for carriers in Shandong Province,
China. Guolian has strong ties with various wireless
communications operators in Shandong Province and maintains
a leading market share amongst wireless coverage integration
solutions within the region.
"We are delighted to have reached this agreement
with Telestone. As one of China's leading providers of
wireless coverage solutions, we will benefit greatly from
their technological leadership and the depth of the
products and services that they offer. We look forward to
passing on these benefits to our existing customer base and
strengthening our position as a leading wireless coverage
service provider in Shandong Province," commented Mr.
Lian Renguang, General Manager of Guolian.
Mr. Han Daqing, CEO of Telestone, said: "Our
acquisition of Guolian will give us greater access to the
Shandong market through Guolian's strong customer
relationships. Telestone will continue to seek to grow its
market share in China through both organic expansion and
acquisitions that we believe will be value enhancing to our
shareholders."
About Telestone Technologies Corporation
Telestone provides wireless communications coverage
solutions primarily in the PRC. These solutions include
products such as repeaters, antennas and radio accessories.
Telestone also provides services that include project
design, project management, installation, maintenance and
other after-sales services. Telestone currently has
approximately 556 employees. Additional information on the
Company can be found at http://www.telestonecorp.com .
Statements about the Company's future expectations,
including future revenue and earnings and all other
statements in this press release, other than historical
facts, are "forward-looking" statements and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
and are subject to change at any time. The Company's actual
results could differ materially from expected results. In
reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements.
For additional information please contact:
Todd Li, Board of Directors Officer
Telestone Technologies Corp.
Tel: +86-10-83670088 x1201
Email: liluqiang@telestone.com
Sissi Wang, Board of Directors Officer
Telestone Technologies Corp.
Tel: +86-10-83670088 x1203
Email: wangxiaolin@telestone.com
2007'07.10.Tue
NASDAQ Panel Grants PacificNet's Request for Continued Listing
July 10, 2007
BEIJING, July 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- PacificNet, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PACT), a leading provider of gaming technology,
e-commerce and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
services in China, announced today that the NASDAQ Listing
Qualifications Panel has granted the company's request for
continued listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market, subject to
the condition that on or before September 27, 2007, the
Company shall re-file a complete Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006; any required amendments to
its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, and all
required restatements. In addition, the Company shall file
its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
and its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005, in a form acceptable to the SEC, with appropriate
audit opinions.
In support of its decision, the Panel also notes the
difficult position that the Company was placed in by the
late notification from its previous auditor, Clancy &
Co., of its resignation, the apparently untimely and
incomplete communications from Clancy regarding the
concerns about the Company's stock option grants, and the
withdrawal of prior years' audit opinions by Clancy.
Further, in the likely event that Clancy does not reinstate
the prior years' audit opinions, the Company's new auditor
will need substantial time to re-audit those years.
As previously announced, the Company's prior
independent public accountants have withdrawn their audit
reports regarding the Company's financial statements for
the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. The Company had
a hearing with the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel at
which time it presented a plan of compliance with respect
to the timeline for the re-instatement of audited financial
statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and
2004, and the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
The company is working diligently to meet the above
deadlines. As such, PacificNet stock will continue to
trade under the ticker symbol "PACT".
About PacificNet
PacificNet, Inc. (http://www.PacificNet.com) is a
leading provider of gaming technology, e-commerce, and
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in China.
PacificNet's gaming products are specially designed for
Chinese and Asian gamers with focus on integrating
localized Chinese and Asian themes and content, advanced
graphics, digital sound effects and popular domestic music,
with secondary bonus games and jackpots. PacificNet's gaming
clients include the leading hotels, casinos, and gaming
operators in Macau, Asia, and Europe, while ecommerce and
CRM clients include the leading telecom companies, banks,
insurance, travel, marketing and business services
companies and telecom consumers in Greater China such as
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, China and Hong Kong government.
PacificNet employs about 1,200 staff in its various
subsidiaries throughout China with offices in Hong Kong,
Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau and Zhuhai
China, USA, and the Philippines.
Safe Harbor Statement
This Company's announcement contains forward-looking
statements. We may also make written or oral
forward-looking statements in our periodic reports to the
SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, etc., in our annual report to
shareholders, in our proxy statements, in press releases and
other written materials and in oral statements made by our
officers, directors or employees to third parties.
Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about our beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. These statements are based on
current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you
should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We
caution you that a number of important factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in
any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, PacificNet's
historical and possible future losses, limited operating
history, uncertain regulatory landscape in China, and
fluctuations in quarterly and annual operating results.
Further information regarding these and other risks is
included in PacificNet's Form 10K and other filings with
the SEC.
Contact:
PacificNet USA office:
Jacob Lakhany, Tel: +1-605-229-6678
PacificNet Beijing office:
Ada Yu, Tel: +86 (10) 59225000
23rd Floor, Building A, TimeCourt, No.6 Shuguang Xili,
Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China 100028
PacificNet Shenzhen Office:
Tel: +86 (10) 33222088
Room 4203, JinZhongHuan Business Center, Futian
District, Shenzhen, China
518040
2007'07.10.Tue
FDA Extends GRAS Approval LISTEX(TM) to All Food Products
July 10, 2007
-- The FDA and USDA announced today they have approved
LISTEX(TM) P100, the natural bacteriophage product against
listeria, as GRAS (generally recognised as safe), for all
food products.
WAGENINGEN, Netherlands, July 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
In the fight against Listeria, one of the most dangerous
food pathogens, US food processing companies can now apply
a novel yet natural tool: LISTEX(TM) bacteriophages. The
FDA and USDA have approved this product from The
Netherlands as GRAS, based on extensive safety and efficacy
data and organoleptics tests confirming that LISTEX(TM) is
safe and has no impact on taste, smell, colour, and other
physical properties of treated products.
Bacteriophages ('phage') are the most abundant
micro-organisms on earth. Fresh water and seawater can
contain as many as 1 billion phages per ml, while in fresh
and processed meat and meat products, more than 100 million
viable phages per gram are often present. Phages are
harmless to humans, animals and plants, and target only
bacterial cells. They are extremely specific in regard to
the bacteria they recognize. The LISTEX(TM) bacteriophages
target only Listeria bacteria (leaving desirable bacteria
in place), and are easy to apply in production processes.
In October 2006 the FDA had already proclaimed GRAS for
LISTEX(TM) against Listeria in cheese. The extension to all
products susceptible to Listeria, opens the door for the
meat and fish industry to apply LISTEX(TM). Earlier this
month, the Dutch designated inspection office SKAL
confirmed the 'organic' status of LISTEX(TM) under EU law,
as a result of which it can be used in the EU in regular
and organic products.
EBI Food Safety's CEO, Mark Offerhaus, "Food
Safety now tops the agenda of US food processing companies
and consumers, who are insisting on `green' solutions,
rather than chemicals. Natural bacteriophages prove to be a
unique solution, where increased safety does not come at the
expense of product characteristics. US food processors can
now benefit from LISTEX(TM), like their European
counterparts."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
Listeriosis, the disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes,
is one of the most severe food borne infections, with a
mortality rate of 30%. It can take weeks after exposure
before an infection becomes apparent. The US Food Safety
and Inspection Service maintains a zero tolerance policy
for the bacterium, which grows at refrigeration temperature
and is omnipresent. Risk groups include the young, old,
immunocompromised and pregnant.
About EBI Food Safety
EBI Food Safety ( http://www.ebifoodsafety.com ),
located in Wageningen ("Food Valley"), the
Netherlands, develops and markets natural bacteriophage
products against dangerous food pathogens and is viewed as
product leader in this field. In 2006, the company was
honored with the Technology Innovation Award by Frost &
Sullivan. In 2007, the company was elected as one of
Holland's 25 most promising young enterprises by FEM
Business Magazine. The company's scientific network
includes collaborations with universities and research
centers around the world.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Offerhaus, CEO
EBI Food Safety
Tel: +31-654-913-176
Email: m.offerhaus@ebifoodsafety.com, or
info@ebifoodsafety.com
Web: http://www.ebifoodsafety.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Buongiorno to Acquire 100% of iTouch for Euro 141 Million
July 10, 2007
Becomes the World's No.1 Provider of Mobile Entertainment,
Information, Messaging and Marketing Services
MILAN, Italy, July 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Buongiorno
will pay Euro 129 million to iTouch shareholders, of which
Euro 73.7 million in cash and the remaining in shares.
Additionally Buongiorno will absorb the current Euro 12
million net debt of iTouch.
Banca IMI (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) will arrange a Euro
115 million loan facility for Buongiorno to fund the
transaction.
After the acquisition, Buongiorno will have a team of
more than 1,100 professionals in 20 countries and will
deliver services in more than 40 countries. With 2006
pro-forma aggregated revenues of Euro 318 million and
pro-forma EBITDA of Euro 39 million, the Company will
become the largest worldwide player in the mobile value
added sector.
Oak Investment Partners and Goldman Sachs will become
shareholders in Buongiorno.
Buongiorno S.p.A. (MTAX STAR, Italian Stock Exchange:
BNG), a leading multinational operating in the digital
entertainment market, has signed today a definitive
agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of iTouch
Ventures Limited.
"The acquisition of iTouch is another hugely
important step in Buongiorno's strategy to build a global
organization. The two companies together have a truly
worldwide footprint with a strong presence in many key
markets including the US, the UK, France, Spain, Italy,
South Africa, Australia, Benelux, Mexico and Brazil. Given
its global presence, diversified product portfolio and
complementary channels, the combined entity will be in a
very strong position to benefit from the significant
expected market growth in the Mobile Value Added Services
sector. Additionally Oak Investment Partners, Goldman Sachs
and the iTouch management team will become shareholders in
Buongiorno. We are delighted to welcome them on board and
to start working together to further accelerate our plan to
generate significant shareholders returns," comments
Mauro Del Rio, founder and Chairman of Buongiorno S.p.A.
Founded in 1995 in South Africa, iTouch is a market
leader in the distribution of mobile entertainment products
and services. iTouch has offices in 13 countries and
distributes its content in 23 countries, having access to
over 500 million mobile users through a flexible
multi-channel strategy. The business markets its products
directly to consumers through its own brands and also
through extensive relationships with media partners and
mobile network operators. iTouch has made strong financial
progress since its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2000 on
the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has in place solid
financial control procedures and is managed by an
experienced and motivated team that will remain with the
combined Group following the acquisition.
iTouch de-listed from the LSE in June 2005 following
the acquisition of the company by For-side.com in Japan for
GBP 184 million but is now privately owned following a
management buyout in February 2007. Current investors in
iTouch include Oak Investment Partners with 40% of the
ordinary shares and Goldman Sachs with 20%, as well as the
management team.
The value of the transaction is Euro 141 million.
Buongiorno will pay Euro 129 million to iTouch shareholders
and will absorb the current Euro 12 million of net debt of
iTouch. The consideration will be satisfied partly in cash
and partly in new Buongiorno shares to be issued to iTouch
shareholders in exchange for iTouch shares, pursuant to
article 2440 and 2441 of the Italian Civil Code.
The cash component, for a total amount of Euro 73.7
million of the total consideration, will be funded by a new
loan facility arranged by Banca IMI S.p.A. (Intesa Sanpaolo
Group) for a total amount of Euro 115 million.
The contribution in kind is to be settled by issuing
15.4 million new shares in Buongiorno (at a share price of
Euro 3.59 per share) with a par value of Euro 0.26 each,
reserved for the shareholders of iTouch, arising from an
increase in share capital to be approved by Buongiorno's
shareholders in an upcoming Extraordinary Shareholders
Meeting to be convened for this purpose. The total amount
of Buongiorno's fully diluted outstanding shares post
transaction will be 106.2 million as per the Treasury
method.
"The combination of Buongiorno and iTouch creates
the undisputed No. 1 player in the mobile entertainment
market worldwide. More than 1,100 strong professionals will
now become one team and will be able to align their skills,
creativity and passion behind a common goal of bringing
digital entertainment experiences to 1 billion people
worldwide by 2012. We are looking forward to the
integration of the two groups that will lead to an even
better service for our customers, even bigger professional
opportunities for our people and even more exciting
perspectives for our shareholders," comments Andrea
Casalini, Chief Executive Officer of Buongiorno S.p.A..
"The mobile VAS market continues to offer major
opportunities for development and requires increasing size
and global scale. We are excited to jointly address the
market with Buongiorno. The joint entity will be the
pre-eminent player in the sector globally, leading the way
in the 3G revolution which is reshaping the traditional
mobile content and services sector," comments Wayne
Pitout, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of iTouch.
With 2006 pro-forma aggregated revenues of Euro 318
million (1) and Euro 39 million EBITDA (before exceptional
expenses) the newly formed Group will be the leading
provider of mobile entertainment, information, messaging
and marketing services globally.
The combined company is expected to benefit moreover
from fixed cost synergies and scale, achieving tangible
margin improvements and a reduction in business risk due to
a balanced multi-channel approach and improved geographic
reach.
The company will provide further details on the
operational and income statement impact of the transaction
with respect to its targets for 2007 and long term plan
after the closing date. Further details relating to the
transaction will be included in the documentation to be
made available to the Italian Stock Exchange, Consob and
the Shareholders in accordance with Italian laws and
regulations.
The closing of the acquisition of iTouch by Buongiorno
is subject to certain conditions precedent, among which the
approval of the dedicated capital increase by the General
Shareholders' meeting of Buongiorno and the absence of
material adverse change with respect to the transaction.
It is intended that following the closing of the
transaction Wayne Pitout will join the Board of Buongiorno
as an Executive Director, together with a designee of Oak
Investment Partners. Wayne Pitout will be in charge of
M&A activities in the new combined entity.
The total number of shares are subject to the lock-up
agreement in the purchase agreement, which shares will
represent approx. 14.5% of the post-dilution share capital
of Buongiorno S.p.A.. The lock-up commitments will last 180
days as of closing with limited permitted sales by certain
shareholders prior to the expiration of the 180 day
lock-up.
Bonelli Erede Pappalardo acted as legal advisor, UBS
Investment Bank as financial advisor to Buongiorno for this
transaction and Banca IMI and UBS Investment Bank as
advisors for the financial structure of the deal.
Simmons & Simmons and Finn, Dixon & Herling
acted as legal advisors to iTouch.
(1) Total revenues are calculated as the sum of
Buongiorno revenues (Euro 191.8 million) plus iTouch net
revenues effected for network operator share (GBP85.6
million converted to Euro using a GBP/Euro exchange rate of
1.47).
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations,
Michaela M. Carboni,
Head of Investor Relations
Tel: +39-02-58213541
Email: michaela.carboni@buongiorno.com
PR and Communication, Corporate Global
Lucia Predolin,
Head of International Marketing and Communication
Tel: +39-02-58213504
Cell: +39-335-7540418
Email: lucia.predolin@buongiorno.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Energy Investors Funds Closes Seventh Fund With US$1.35 Billion
July 10, 2007
NEW YORK, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Energy
Investors Funds ("EIF"), an established private
equity fund manager that invests in the energy and electric
power sector, today announced that it has successfully
closed the firm's seventh institutional fund, the United
States Power Fund III, L.P. with US$1.35 billion in
commitments, exceeding the $1 billion target established
for the fund.
Investors in US Power Fund III include ABP Investments,
Contra Costa County Employees Retirement Association, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, John Hancock Life Insurance
Company, Mayo Clinic, New York Life Investment Management,
and University of Toronto Endowment Fund and Pension Plan,
in addition to other corporate and public pension funds,
funds of funds, endowments and foundations, insurance
companies, banks and financial institutions, and family
offices. The global investor base represents the U.S.,
Canada, Europe and Australia, with 43 investors in total.
"We had a tremendous response from the investor
community for US Power Fund III," said John Buehler,
Energy Investors Funds Managing Partner. "The power
market in the United States is still extremely vibrant and
investors responded to our experienced team and 20-year
track record as an innovative private equity investor in
this sector."
US Power Fund III, EIF's largest fund to date, will
continue the firm's strategy of acquiring U.S. power and
energy generation and transmission assets with long-term
off-take contracts. The fund seeks to maximize returns to,
and achieve liquidity for, its investors through regular
cash distributions and proceeds from the sale of assets.
This investment strategy has remained consistent throughout
the firm's history. The firm relies primarily on its own
sourcing for deals, rather than participating in auctions.
"Our investment philosophy is as relevant today as
any time in our history due to the rising energy costs and
increased demand for electricity, which calls for the
construction of efficient, low-emission power assets,"
said Herb Magid, Energy Investors Funds Managing Partner.
"We will continue to invest across the spectrum of
power assets, including assets that are in the development
stage as well as facilities that are under construction or
already in operation to create a portfolio of
geographically and technologically diversified
assets."
"Our deal pipeline remains strong and is growing
due to the increased need for utilities and development
companies to seek outside financial partners like EIF to
help build assets," said Terry Darby, Energy Investors
Funds Managing Partner. "As the country's power
infrastructure ages, and recent energy policy changes
nationwide call for the development of cleaner power
plants, we should continue to see robust opportunities to
put capital to work for our investors."
US Power Fund III has already made an investment in the
Green Line development project.
Bingham McCutchen served as legal advisor.
About Energy Investors Funds
Energy Investors Funds was founded in 1987 as the first
private equity fund manager dedicated exclusively to the
independent power and electric utility industry. Its
consistent, proven investment strategy is to create
geographically and technologically diversified portfolios
of electric power-related assets that provide superior
risk-adjusted equity returns with current cash flow and
capital appreciation. As investment managers Energy
Investors Funds seeks to mitigate commodity risk (fuel and
electricity) by focusing primarily on acquiring power
assets with long-term off-take contracts. Energy Investors
Funds has mobilized over US$3.3 billion in capital, and
currently manages six private equity funds from its offices
in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. These funds have
made over 90 diversified investments with a combined
underlying asset value exceeding US$5 billion. For more
information visit http://www.eif.com .
For more information, please contact:
Alex J. Stockham
Rubenstein Associates
Tel: +1-212-843-8297
Email: astockham@rubenstein.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Infineon, National, Balda and Samsung Score iPhone Design Wins, iSuppli Teardown Reveals
July 10, 2007
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- In
terms of cost, iSuppli Corp.'s teardown analysis of Apple
Inc.'s iPhone offered few surprises, with its
Bill-of-Materials (BoM) closely conforming with our
preliminary functional estimate issued in January. However,
in terms of suppliers, the iPhone is packed with surprises,
with newcomers Infineon Technologies AG, National
Semiconductor Corp. and Balda providing key components in
the product -- along with established component makers like
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. -- according to iSuppli's
Teardown Analysis service.
"iSuppli's teardown, conducted this weekend,
determined that the 8Gbyte version of the iPhone has a
total hardware BoM and manufacturing cost of $265.83,
generating a margin in excess of 55 percent on each 8Gbyte
iPhone sold at the $599.00 retail price," said Andrew
Rassweiler, principal analyst for iSuppli.
In January, before iPhones were available for physical
teardown, iSuppli estimated a $264.85 hardware BoM and
manufacturing cost for the 8Gbyte iPhone. Note that these
costs do not include royalties and logistics expenses.
iPhone Semiconductor Winners
Infineon, a new supplier to the iPod family, was among
the biggest winners in terms of semiconductor content. The
German semiconductor supplier contributed the digital
baseband, radio-frequency transceiver and power-management
devices, providing much of the core communications
capability of the iPhone. Altogether, Infineon's silicon
content accounted for $15.25 worth of the iPhone's BoM,
representing 6.1 percent of the 8Gbyte version of the
product's total cost.
National's contribution to the iPhone BoM is relatively
small, with its lone chip in the product costing $1.50,
which represents less than 1 percent of total product cost.
However, the part-a serial display interface-represents an
important design win for National, which has never had a
part in an iPod.
TPK Solutions (Balda) gets touch screen module, Epson
gets display
One of the key features of the iPhone is the display,
and the supplier for the display module in the model torn
down by iSuppli was Balda of Germany in association with
its partner TPK Holding of China. The module costs an
estimated $27, representing 10.8 percent of the 8Gbyte
model's cost.
For a complete version of this report, including a
table presenting key component suppliers, please visit:
http://www.isuppli.com/news/default.asp?id=8117&m=7&y=2007.
All Information and Intellectual Property Contained
Herein is the Sole Property of iSuppli Corporation
About iSuppli Corporation
iSuppli Corporation is the global leader in technology
value chain research and advisory services. iSuppli
provides market intelligence services for the EMS, OEM and
supplier communities in addition to servicing consumer
electronics and media concerns. Services afforded by
iSuppli range from electronic component research to
device-specific application market forecasts, from teardown
analysis to consumer electronics and from display device and
systems research to multimedia content and services. More
information is available at http://www.isuppli.com .
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Cassell
Editorial Director and Manager of Public Relations
iSuppli Corporation
Tel: +1-408-654-1714
Mobile: +1-408-921-3754
2007'07.10.Tue
Success with Globalization -- ABAS Promotes the Application of ERP System in SMEs Worldwide
July 10, 2007
HONG KONG, July 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Following a
series of events with the theme of "Worldwide ABAS --
success with globalization" held in Europe and US from
Mar to May, ABAS held a seminar with the same theme in Hong
Kong Scout Centre on 26th, June which attracted attendees
from electronic and plastic industry.
Held by ABAS and its 48 partners in 26 countries via
exhibitions, seminars and customer forums worldwide, the
events aim at promoting the application of ERP system in
SMEs globally. This seminar invited Mr. Peter Forscht, COO
of ABAS Software Ag Ltd., and Mr. Vincent Lau, COO of ABAS
Business Solutions (PRC) Ltd. to introduce global ABAS ERP
application, ABAS' industry advantage, business prospect
and local support.
As one of the founders of ABAS, Mr. Peter Forscht said:
"Since its foundation in Germany in 1980, ABAS has been
focusing on developing international market. During the past
few years, ABAS ERP has become one of the most successful
ERP softwares in international market. We serve customers
from automotive components, electronic, plastic, sofa
industries etc. With the development of international
trade, ABAS develops its business. In the past 4 years, the
installation of ABAS ERP has increased by 48.4%. In 2007,
our aim is to achieve an increase of 11%."
In the era of globalization, enterprises need to use
global resources extensively. As a multinational, ABAS
experiences in handling international projects. With the
success in international field, ABAS decided to help
customers manage scattered business operations in different
countries, integrate value chain, achieve business
objectives with ERP and ultimately promote the widespread
application of ERP system.
In China, ABAS has been making its great effort to
promote the application of ERP system in SMEs. Mr. Vincent
Lau said: "We've been helping our customers and
manufacturers to plan and implement the interconnection and
integration of information systems between Mainland China
and Hong Kong, sort their internal progress to make it
accord with policies requirements since the release of new
policies on Processing Trade, which provide them with huge
support.
"Additionally, Chinese government released new
policies which reduce the tax-rebate of garment, toys,
papers, and plastics industries etc. on 19th, June, which
would impact manufacturers in these industries. From a
long-term perspective, based on the increasingly great
pressure on trade balance, cancellation of export
tax-rebate of most products will be a trend. Enterprises
should make early plans."
About ABAS
ABAS Business Solutions (PRC) Ltd is a recognized
leader in delivering collaborative ERP solution. It was
founded in Hong Kong in 2003 and established branches in
Shenzhen and Shanghai afterward. It aims to provide
comprehensive ERP software and IT services from consulting
to software development & support to SMEs in China.
Now, we have over 1900 customers with 36000 users
worldwide. For details, please visit our website:
http://www.abas-prc.com .
For more information, please contact;
Ms. Helen Fan
Tel: +755-3333-6322
Email: Helen.fan@abas-prc.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Canadian Solar Schedules Second Quarter 2007 Results Conference Call
July 10, 2007
JIANGSU, China, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Canadian
Solar Inc.
("the Company") (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today announced
that it will hold a conference call with investors and
analysts on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 (in Jiangsu) at 9 p.m.
to discuss results for the Company's second quarter 2007 and
business outlook. This will be 9 a.m. in New York on
Tuesday, August 14, 2007.
The news release announcing the second quarter 2007
results will be disseminated on August 14, 2007 before the
NASDAQ stock market opens.
The dial-in number for the live audio call beginning at
9 p.m. (in Jiangsu) on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 or 9 a.m.
(in New York) on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 is
+1-866-202-0886 or +1-617-213-8841 (international). The
passcode is 62629322. A live webcast of the conference call
will be available on Canadian Solar's website at
http://www.csisolar.com .
A replay of the call will be available 1 hour after the
conclusion of the conference call through 11 p.m. on
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 (in Jiangsu) or 11 a.m. on
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 (in New York) at
http://www.csisolar.com and by telephone at +1-888-286-8010
or +1-617-801-6888 (international). The passcode to access
the replay is 54310460.
About Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ)
Founded in 2001, Canadian Solar Inc. (CSI) is a
vertically integrated manufacturer of solar cell, solar
module and customer-designed solar application products
serving worldwide customers. CSI is incorporated in Canada
and conducts all of its manufacturing operations in China.
Backed by years of experience and knowledge in the solar
power market and the silicon industry, CSI has become a
major global provider of solar power products for a wide
range of applications. For more information, please visit
http://www.csisolar.com .
For more information, please contact:
In the U.S.
David Pasquale
The Ruth Group
Tel: +1-646-536-7006
Email: dpasquale@theruthgroup.com
In Jiangsu, P.R. China
Bing Zhu, Chief Financial Officer
Canadian Solar Inc.
Tel: +86-512-6269-6755
Email: ir@csisolar.com
2007'07.10.Tue
CMS Hasche Sigle Advises ZhongDe Waste Technology AG on the First Chinese Prime Standard IPO on the German Stock Exchange
July 10, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, July 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- As of
today ZhongDe Waste Technology AG (with its subsidiaries
"ZhongDe Group") will be traded on the Prime
Standard at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as the holding
company of a company which operates solely in China. This
was the first public offering in Germany of shares in a
company which operates in China and the first indirect
listing in the highly regulated Prime Standard of the
German Stock Exchange. The ZhongDe Group is a leading
manufacturer of waste incineration plants for clinical and
household waste in China. Since 1996 it has sold over 170
waste incineration plants to customers in 13 provinces
throughout China, 112 of which were sold in the last three
business years alone. The domicile of the holding, which
manages the business in China, is Hamburg.
Including the Greenshoe options up to 4,185,264 no-par
value ordinary bearer shares have been offered for sale by
way of a public offering in Germany and Luxembourg and by
way of private placements to institutional investors
outside Germany, Luxembourg and the USA. Of these up to 3
million shares stem from a capital increase and up to
639,360 from shares held by various selling shareholders.
Up to 545,904 further shares were earmarked for a Greenshoe
option. At EUR 26 per share the placement price was at the
upper end of the price range of EUR 23-26.
ZhongDe's IPO heralds a new direction for Chinese
investments abroad and underlines the importance of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the procedural and cost
advantages in direct competition to other major stock
exchanges, such as London and New York. Historically, most
Chinese companies have sought listings on US exchanges, but
especially for medium-sized firms an IPO in the US is now
often perceived to be too costly. Being Europe's biggest
market, Germany presents itself as an attractive
alternative for Chinese companies planning to go public on
a stock exchange outside China. Frankfurt offers Chinese
companies an excellent entry point to the European capital
market through its low capital costs and high liquidity. It
is expected that quite a number of Chinese companies will
list on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the coming months.
An experienced team of lawyers from CMS Hasche Sigle
operating in close cooperation with the CMS office in
Shanghai acted as issuer's counsel, providing ZhongDe Waste
Technology with comprehensive advice on the IPO. The team
drafted the prospectus in English and handled the BaFin
clearance procedure.
Sal Oppenheim jr. & Cie. KGaA was the global
coordinator and sole bookrunner and was advised by Dewey
Ballantine acting as underwriters' counsel. Sal. Oppenheim
and the Bank of China International acted as joint lead
managers for the IPO with CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets as
co-lead manager. The selling agents were Bayerische
Landesbank, comdirect bank AG and DAB bank AG.
Advisers to ZhongDe Waste Technology AG
CMS Hasche Sigle
Dr Henrik Drinkuth, partner, Hamburg (Capital Markets
and Stock
Corporation Law, Lead Partner)
Dr Andreas Zanner, partner, Frankfurt, (Capital Markets
and Stock
Corporation Law, Lead Partner)
Dr Ulrike Gluck, partner, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
Dr Martin Kniehase, Frankfurt (Capital Markets)
Holger Hirschberg, Frankfurt (Capital Markets)
Dr Rupert Doehner, Frankfurt (Stock Corporation Law)
Benjamin Kroymann, Frankfurt (Chinese Law)
Dr Hilke Herchen, Hamburg (Stock Corporation Law)
Jeanette Yu, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
Karen Wang, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
Kevin Wang, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
David Yuan, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
Dr Falk Lichtenstein, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
Ann Chen, Shanghai (Chinese Law)
About CMS Hasche Sigle:
CMS Hasche Sigle is one of the leading German law firms
with more than 480 lawyers. It covers the entire area of
commercial law and provides legal advice to major German
and international companies from a wide spectrum of
industry. It has offices in Berlin, Cologne, Duesseldorf,
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart, Chemnitz,
Dresden, Brussels, Belgrade, Moscow and Shanghai.
CMS Hasche Sigle is a partnership of lawyers and tax
consultants; for register details / list of partners see
http://www.cms-hs.com
CMS Hasche Sigle is a member of CMS, an alliance of
leading independent European law firms. With over 595
partners, a total of 2,000 lawyers and tax consultants and
around 4,200 support staff we advise our clients at
commercial locations in 48 business centres in Europe and
further afield on legal and tax issues.
In addition to CMS Hasche Sigle, the following firms
are also members of the CMS alliance: CMS Adonnino Ascoli
& Cavasola Scamoni (Italy), CMS Albinana & Suarez
de Lezo (Spain), CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre (France), CMS
Cameron McKenna LLP (Great Britain), CMS DeBacker
(Belgium), CMS Derks Star Busmann (the Netherlands), CMS
von Erlach Henrici (Switzerland) and CMS Reich-Rohrwig
Hainz (Austria). CMS has 58 offices in 25 countries around
the world.
For further information on CMS Hasche Sigle see
http://www.cms-hs.com and on the CMS alliance see
http://www.cmslegal.com .
For more information, please contact:
Contact CMS Hasche Sigle:
Dr Henrik Drinkuth
Tel: +49-40-37-630-327
Email: Henrik.Drinkuth@cms-hs.com
Dr Andreas Zanner
Tel: +49-69-71-701-139
Email: Andreas.Zanner@cms-hs.com
Elmar Salinger, press and public relations
Tel: +49-30-203-60-1208
Email: Elmar.Salinger@cms-hs.com
2007'07.10.Tue
AU Optronics Corp. June 2007 Consolidated Revenues Set Record High at NT$38.9 Billion
July 10, 2007
HSINCHU, July 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AU
Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the
"Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today
announced preliminary consolidated June 2007 revenue of
NT$38,882 million and unconsolidated net sales of NT$38,881
million, both increasing 9.5% sequentially and representing
record-breaking revenue in two successive months. On a
year-over-year comparison, consolidated and unconsolidated
June 2007 revenues increased significantly by 112.3% and
112.4% respectively.
2Q2007 unaudited consolidated and unconsolidated
revenues broke the hundred-billion dollar milestone,
totaled NT$105,935 million and NT$105,929 million
respectively, increasing 31.2% and 31.3% respectively from
1Q2007, and both representing a significant 74% Y-o-Y
growth.
Shipments of large-sized panels(a) used in desktop
monitor, notebook PC, LCD TV and other applications for
June also set a new record of 6.84 million units, up 5.1%
from the previous month. Shipments of
small-and-medium-sized panels totaled 12.26 million, a
15.1% sequential growth. AUO shipments of large-sized as
well as small-and-medium-sized have broke the record for
four consecutive months.
Preliminary shipments of large-sized panels for the
second quarter was 19.48 million, a 22.2% rise from 1Q2007
and a 92.2% Y-o-Y growth, while shipments for small- and
medium-sized panels also increased to total 32.23 million,
a 45.6% increase from 1Q2007 and a 78.3% Y-o-Y growth.
(a) Large-size refers to panels that are 10 inches and
above in diagonal
measurement while small- and medium-size refers to
those below 10
inches
Sales Report: (Unit: NT$ million)
Net Sales(1) (2) Consolidated(3)
Unconsolidated
June 2007 38,882
38,881
May 2007 35,503
35,499
M-o-M Growth 9.5 %
9.5 %
June 2006 18,318
18,309
Y-o-Y Growth 112.3 %
112.4 %
Jan to June 2007 186,655
186,623
Jan to June 2006 127,148
127,121
Y-o-Y Growth 46.8 %
46.8 %
(1) All figures are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted
accounting principles in Taiwan.
(2) Monthly figures are unaudited, prepared by AU
Optronics Corp.
(3) Consolidated numbers include AU Optronics Corp., AU
Optronics (L)
Corporation, AU Optronics (Suzhou) Corporation, AU
Optronics (Shanghai)
Corporation and Tech - Well (Shanghai) Display Co.
About Au Optronics
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO") is one of the top
three largest manufacturers* of large-size thin film
transistor liquid crystal display panels
("TFT-LCD"), with approximately 20.1%* of global
market share with revenues of NT$293.1billion (US$9.0bn)*
in 2006. TFT-LCD technology is currently the most widely
used flat panel display technology. Targeted for 40"+
sized LCD TV panels, AUO's new generation (7.5-generation)
fabrication facility production started mass production in
the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company currently operates
one 7.5-generation, two 6th-generation, four 5th-generation,
one 4th-generation, and four 3.5-generation TFT- LCD fabs,
in addition to eight module assembly facilities and the AUO
Technology Center specializes in new technology platform and
new product development. AUO is one of few top-tier TFT-LCD
manufacturers capable of offering a wide range of small- to
large- size (1.5"-65") TFT-LCD panels, which
enables it to offer a broad and diversified product
portfolio.
* DisplaySearch 1Q2007 WW Large-Area TFT-LCD Shipment
Report dated May 5,
2007. This data is used as reference only and AUO
does not make any
endorsement or representation in connection
therewith. 2006 year end
revenue converted by an exchange rate of
NTD32.59:USD1.
For more information, please contact:
AU Optronics Corp.
Corporate Communications Dept.
Rose Lee
Tel: +886-3-500-8899 x3204
Fax: +886-3-577-2730
Email: rose.lee@auo.com
Yawen Hsiao
Tel: +886-3-500-8899 x3211
Fax: +886-3-577-2730
Email: yawen.hsiao@auo.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Xinhua Finance Media Expands Outdoor Advertising Capabilities With New Acquisition
July 10, 2007
SHANGHAI, China, July 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua
Finance Media ("XFMedia"; Nasdaq: XFML) yesterday
announced it had acquired a 100% interest in Convey
Advertising Company ("Convey"), a major outdoor
advertising operator in Hong Kong and across southern
China. The acquisition expands XFMedia's outdoor
advertising network to seven additional cities and includes
significant high traffic and key transit routes linking
mainland China with Hong Kong and Macau.
(Logo: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200704262018.JPG )
Founded in 1986 in Hong Kong, Convey has advertising
rights to over 3,000 outdoor media assets, 2,000 of which
are exclusive. These outdoor media assets include
traditional outdoor billboards, LED and LCD boards and
others in Dongguan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan in
Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macau in the south and
Tianjin in the north. The company's main strengths are in
the wealthy southern China cities, particularly along the
border-port gateways through which millions of mainland
Chinese pass each year on their way to the prime shopping
and gambling destinations of Hong Kong and Macau.
In 2006, Guangdong province ranked number one in China
in terms of GDP, which amounted to one-eighth of the entire
country. Its USD 336 billion of GDP was higher than the
combined GDP of Hong Kong (USD 187.1 billion) and Singapore
(USD 138.6 billion). According to The Tourism Boards of
Hong Kong and Macau, there are 12.5 million and 10 million
travelers from Mainland China to Hong Kong and Macau
respectively every year, and 83% of them go through
gateways at border ports of Guangdong province.
Convey has a 20-year history and has secured the most
strategic billboard space in Hong Kong and along the
gateways through to mainland China," said XFMedia's
CEO, Ms Fredy Bush. "I am delighted we have the
opportunity to work with Convey Chairman Mr Mak as he is
one of the most experienced professionals in the outdoor
industry in Asia."
"The acquisition of Convey will significantly
strengthen XFMedia's advertising platform and enhances our
ability to reach China's key high net-worth demographic.
The Hong Kong and southern China markets are very
important, and this acquisition provides us with very high
profile access to these areas. We believe the outdoor
advertising market has strong potential and good synergies
with other elements of the XFMedia platform," Ms Bush
added.
Convey is a pioneer in developing innovative and
high-technology outdoor advertising solutions, offering the
High Power Visual Projection System, which allows large
scale visual displays on architectural surfaces, and the
Patented Mobile Inflatable Billboard, which creates
impressive product and branding effects. To see or
download some billboard samples, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinancemedia.com/uploadedfiles/advertising/billboards/070202/
.
Convey's Chairman Mr S.T. Mak said he was confident
that Convey would be able to expand its advertising asset
portfolio in key mainland China markets as a result of the
new arrangement with XFMedia. "The supply of outdoor
advertising space in China is limited, and I believe the
price per billboard in China will continue to go up. We
expect that the growth potential is even higher with the
technological support we can provide to better utilize the
advertising space," Mr Mak said.
Mr Mak and other key Convey management executives have
signed five-year employment contracts with the company.
Convey has a total of 65 employees.
The transaction was closed on July 2nd, 2007. Under
the agreement, XFMedia has acquired control of Convey
through the purchase of 100% of the shares of its holding
company Good Speed Holdings Limited. XFMedia has made an
initial cash payment of USD 33 million, and may make
further payments in cash and Class A common shares of
XFMedia depending on Convey's financial performance in 2007
and 2008. The transaction is expected to be accretive to
XFMedia's earnings per share in 2007.
XFMedia's Advertising Group creates and places
advertising with integrated campaigns that reach
television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and outdoor media
in China. In April, the Advertising Group expanded its
outdoor media assets in the Beijing area, with an exclusive
agreement to sell advertising onto 2,000 new public service
billboards in strategic locations throughout the city.
About Xinhua Finance Media Limited
Xinhua Finance Media ("XFMedia"; Nasdaq:
XFML) is China's leading diversified financial and
entertainment media company targeting high net worth
individuals nationwide. The company reaches its target
audience via TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and other
distribution channels. Through its five synergistic
business groups, Advertising, Broadcast, Print, Production
and Research, XFMedia offers a total solution empowering
clients at every stage of the media process and keeping
people connected and entertained.
Headquartered in Beijing, the company has offices and
affiliates in major cities of China including Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. For more
information, please visit http://www.xinhuafinancemedia.com
.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements.
These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates,"
"future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates," ``confident''
and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from
management in this announcement contain forward-looking
statements. XFMedia may also make written or oral
forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 20-F and
6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in press
releases and other written materials and in oral statements
made by its officers, directors or employees to third
parties. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about XFMedia's beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties are risks
include but are not limited to, the risk that the China
advertising market including for outdoor display may not
grow as expected and other risks, outlined in XFMedia's
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its registration statement on Form F-1. All
information provided in this press release is as of the
date of this release, and XFMedia undertakes no duty to
update such information, except as required under
applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Joy Tsang
Tel: +86-21-6113-5999
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinancemedia.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Xinhua Finance CEO Sends Letter to Shareholders
July 10, 2007
SHANGHAI, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Chief Executive
Officer of Xinhua Finance Limited (TSE Mothers: 9399) and
Xinhua Finance Media Limited (Nasdaq: XFML), Fredy Bush,
today issued the following statement to shareholders of
both companies:
Dear fellow shareholders,
Xinhua Finance Media Limited ("XFMedia") and
its parent, Xinhua Finance, were again the subject of a
media story that requires me to clarify certain
inaccuracies and misperceptions. I will not let these
media reports distract us from our very intense focus on
our business. And you should know that the business
remains strong as is evidenced by XFMedia's announcement
this morning revising upwards its revenue guidance for
second quarter 2007 from $23 million to an anticipated
range of $27-29 million. In addition to the information
below, you can read a letter which went out to my staff on
July 5, 2007 which is available on our website at
http://www.xinhuafinance.com/employee-letter-070705 .
-- Over the years the media has criticized Xinhua
Finance as being too
close to the Xinhua News Agency and the government
of China; now they
are criticizing us for not being close enough. The
fact is, we have a
20 plus 10 year exclusive agreement signed in 2000
with the China
Economic Information Service of the Xinhua News
Agency and that has not
changed. This has been publicly disclosed on
numerous occasions.
-- Xinhua News Agency has always had its own financial
services division,
and it is called the China Economic Information
Service of the Xinhua
News Agency. Their recent announcement concerned an
upgrade of those
services. And, contrary to suggestions in the Wall
Street Journal,
they are not involved in indices, ratings and so
forth. Again, this is
publicly disclosed.
-- The media also have attempted to dispute my role in
the founding of
Xinhua Finance and how this company achieved the
success it has
experienced to date. The fact is I was both a
founder and early
investor. The information regarding the
establishment of the company
is recorded clearly in the company's public
registration documents.
The track record of the company, the valuable
business relationships we
have established, and the financial performance we
have achieved speak
for themselves, and we are very proud of these
important
accomplishments.
-- I want to point out one of the misperceptions in the
article that is
very important to me, even if it may seem innocuous:
I have never
attributed the success of Xinhua Finance solely to
my own personal
persistence and determination, but instead to that
of my entire team.
-- The article also attempted to cast a shadow on me
personally. Even
insignificant facts like the color of my car, the
size of my home in
Hawaii, and what my staff calls me were inaccurate.
In English, my
staff calls me Fredy, and in Chinese, because of my
hair, some
jokingly call me "mian mian", which means
instant noodles. But I'm
not going to dignify other inaccuracies about my
personal life,
supposed nicknames and long-ago family tragedies
with further comment.
As a shareholder of Xinhua Finance and XFMedia myself,
I want the staff to spend its time on building the business
and shareholder value, and that is what I am focused on
doing.
I welcome any suggestions you would like us to consider
as we continue to move our company forward. I truly
appreciate your ongoing support.
Best regards,
Fredy Bush
Chief Executive Officer
Xinhua Finance Group
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's premier financial
information and media service provider and is listed on the
Mothers Board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and
the world, Xinhua Finance's proprietary content platform,
comprising Indices, Ratings, Financial News, and Investor
Relations, serves financial institutions, corporations and
re-distributors worldwide. Through its subsidiary Xinhua
Finance Media Limited (Nasdaq: XFML), Xinhua Finance
leverages its content across multiple distribution channels
in China including television, radio, newspaper, magazine
and outdoor media. Founded in November 1999, Xinhua Finance
is headquartered in Shanghai, with offices and news bureaus
spanning 11 countries worldwide. For more information,
please visit http://www.xinhuafinance.com .
About Xinhua Finance Media Limited
Xinhua Finance Media ("XFMedia"; Nasdaq:
XFML) is China's leading diversified financial and
entertainment media company targeting high net worth
individuals nationwide. The company reaches its target
audience via TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and other
distribution channels. Through its five synergistic
business groups, Advertising, Broadcast, Print, Production
and Research, XFMedia offers a total solution empowering
clients at every stage of the media process and keeping
people connected and entertained.
Xinhua Finance Media Limited is a subsidiary of Xinhua
Finance Limited. Headquartered in Beijing, the company has
offices and affiliates in major cities of China including
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. For
more information, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinancemedia.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements.
These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates,"
"future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates" and similar
statements. Among other things, statements made about
XFMedia's strategic and operational plans, projected
revenues, contain forward-looking statements. XFMedia may
also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its
periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission in its annual report to shareholders, in press
releases and other written materials and in oral statements
made by its officers, directors or employees to third
parties. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about XFMedia's beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the
following: our growth strategies; our future business
development, results of operations and financial condition;
our ability to attract and retain customers; competition in
the Chinese advertising market; changes in our revenues and
certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our
revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation
or arbitration; risks associated with recent adverse press
articles, the expected growth of the Chinese advertising
and media market; and Chinese governmental policies
relating to advertising and media. Further information
regarding these and other risks is included in our
registration statement on Form F-1, as amended, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. XFMedia does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking
statement, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
China
Joy Tsang
Tel: +86-136-2179-1577 or +852-9486-4364
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
United States
Eric Andrus
Tel: +1-646-805-2010
Email: EAndrus@rlmnet.com
2007'07.10.Tue
Asia's Entertainment Capital Macau to Host New Asia Mobile Awards
July 10, 2007
-- GSMA Calls for Entries to the Asia Mobile Awards 2007
MACAU, China, July 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
The GSMA today launched the Asia Mobile Awards 2007, a
new awards programme for companies across the mobile value
chain that serve users in the Asia region with compelling
mobile content, products and services. Categories include
Mobile Entertainment, Mobile Advertising, Social
Networking, and also Mobile Broadband Device.
The awards are now open for entry and will close on
Friday 28th September 2007. Presentation of the awards
will form the climax of a special gala dinner at the Macau
Tower Entertainment & Convention Centre, on Tuesday
13th November 2007, as part of the GSMA's Mobile Asia
Congress (12-15 November). Full details, including rules,
eligibility, criteria and entry forms are available, along
with table booking details at
http://www.asiamobileawards.com .
Judged by an independent panel comprising journalists,
analysts and academics from across Asia, the awards are
open to players from across the industry that provide
mobile products and services that are commercially
available in at least one Asian market.
Categories in the Asia Mobile Awards `07 are:
Category 1: Mobile Entertainment Awards
a) Best Mobile Game
b) Best Mobile Music Service
Category 2: Best Mobile Advertising
Category 3: Best Mobile Social Networking Service
Category 4: Best Mobile Broadband Handset/Device
"These awards have been created to recognise
leadership and reflect the sheer pace of progress and
growth across Asia's diverse mobile communications
markets," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. "Our
aim is also to showcase the hottest entertainment related
content developed for the fourth screen, as well as devices
that enable rich multimedia to capture the imagination of
users throughout Asia."
In addition, the GSMA's Innovation Awards are now part
of an ongoing Mobile Innovation Programme that aims to help
thousands of small and medium-sized companies developing
innovative mobile products and services to reach mobile
operators, and bring their innovations to market. Four
mobile innovation awards will also be presented at the
Mobile Asia Congress in Macau as part of a Mobile
Innovation Summit. One overall winner will be selected for
presentation at the gala dinner in Macau. Deadline for
entries into the Mobile Innovation Awards is 14th
September. Visit http://www.mobileinnovation.org to find
out more.
The new Asia Mobile Awards complement the GSMA's annual
Global Mobile Awards at the Mobile World Congress in
Barcelona (formerly the 3GSM World Congress), which will
open for entry from 1 September 2007.
About the GSM Association:
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade
association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone
operators across 218 countries and territories of the
world. In addition, more than 200 manufacturers and
suppliers support the Association's initiatives as key
partners.
The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile
phones and wireless services work globally and are easily
accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers
and national economies, while creating new business
opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The
Association's members serve more than two billion customers
-- 82% of the world's mobile phone users.
For more information, please contact:
For the GSM Association:
Mark Smith or David Pringle
Tel: +44-78-50-22-97-24 / +44-79-57-55-60-69
Email: press@gsm.org
2007'07.10.Tue
Paleo Entertainment to Develop New FPS Powered by Crytek's CryENGINE 2(R)
July 10, 2007
FRANKFURT, Germany and SAN DIEGO, July 4
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Paleo Entertainment, a new
independent development studio based in San Diego,
California, today announced that they have begun developing
an original FPS game entitled "Merchants of
Brooklyn" which will be powered by the new CryENGINE
2(R) middleware from Crytek.
"Before licensing the CryENGINE 2(R) for our new
project," said Troy Latimer, President of Paleo
Entertainment, "we looked carefully at all our
options, and concluded no other engine could produce the
kind of AAA quality game we were aiming to develop, nor
were any other toolsets as advanced or user friendly as the
ones delivered with the CryENGINE 2(R). The combination of
the best rendering and physics engine of any middleware
available, together with the powerful Sandbox 2(TM) editing
system, was what lead us to decide to license this
technology from Crytek rather than attempt to develop an
engine ourselves, or license something from another 3rd
party. With this agreement in place, we can immediately
begin to move forward with prototyping our game, secure in
the knowledge the engine will be able to handle everything
we need, while the tools will give us the creative freedom
to build the kind of next generation game no one has been
able to make until now."
"We are very pleased to welcome Paleo
Entertainment as our newest engine licensee and proud to be
their technology partners" said Faruk Yerli, Managing
Director of Crytek, "their bold ideas and unique art
style showed us that they had the talent and vision to
create something truly original which would stand out on
its own merits, and also utilize many of the features of
our engine in fresh and innovative ways."
About Crytek GmbH
Crytek GmbH ("Crytek") creator of the
multiple award winning next-generation first person shooter
Far Cry, and the upcoming blockbuster hit Crysis, is an
interactive entertainment development company with its
headquarters located in Frankfurt/Main, Germany and
additional studios in Kiev, Ukraine and Budapest, Hungary.
Crytek is dedicated to creating exceptionally high quality
video games for the PC and next-generation consoles,
powered by their proprietary cutting edge
3D-Game-Technology CryENGINE 2(R). For more information
about Crytek, please visit http://www.crytek.com .
Developers who are interested in obtaining a commercial
license for the CryENGINE 2(R) middleware should mail their
enquiries to cryengine@crytek.com
About Paleo Entertainment, LLC
Paleo Entertainment is an independent video game
developer located in San Diego, California. From humble
beginnings as a modding team, Paleo Entertainment has grown
into a passionate team of AAA game developers. They are
committed to the creation of fun and engaging next
generation titles. Their upcoming FPS title,
"Merchants of Brooklyn", will take advantage of
Crytek's CryENGINE 2(R) to deliver engaging, fast-paced,
futuristic mafia action mixed with Neanderthal vs.
Cro-Magnon clones. For more information about Paleo
Entertainment, visit http://www.paleoent.com .
For more infomation, please contact:
Harald Seeley,
Engine Business Manager
Crytek GmbH
Tel: +69-219776669
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