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LAS VEGAS - Tuesday, October 9th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

Purchase Adds Five Resorts and 7,400 Owners to Diamond Resorts International® Network

(BUSINESS WIRE/ME NewsWire)-- DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL®, a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, today announced that it has closed, through its subsidiary Diamond Resorts AB Acquisition Company, Ltd, the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Aegean Blue Holdings Plc. This transaction adds five resorts located on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete, as well as approximately 7,400 owners to Diamond Resorts International®.

“Our growth strategy is clear as the expansion of the Diamond portfolio remains a high priority in effort to provide more destination choices to our owners, members and guests,” said Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Resorts International®. “We are pleased to finalize this acquisition and bring these resorts into our portfolio. We look forward to integrating the current Aegean Blue owners into the broader Diamond Resorts International® network, offering opportunities to vacation at our more than 220 resorts in 28 countries around the world. In addition, we look forward to an expanded relationship with Guggenheim Partners.” Financing for the acquisition of Aegean Blue Holdings Plc was provided by Guggenheim Partners.

Aegean Blue has resorts in the following locations:

• Village Heights Golf Resort, Hersonissos, Crete, Greece
• Sun Beach Holiday Club, Ialyssos, Rhodes, Greece
• Leoniki Residence, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
• Grand Leoniki, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
• The Village Holiday Club, Koutouloufari, Crete, Greece

Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world with more than 220 branded and affiliated resorts and over 27,000 guest beds in 28 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 497,000 owners and members through the branded hospitality service of approximately 5,000 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International® is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.

Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through our branded hospitality experience.

About Guggenheim Partners

Guggenheim Partners is a privately held global financial services firm with more than $125 billion in assets under management. The firm provides asset management, investment banking and capital markets services, insurance, institutional finance and investment advisory solutions to institutions, governments and agencies, corporations, investment advisors, family offices and individuals. Guggenheim Partners is headquartered in New York and Chicago and serves clients across North America, Europe and Asia from more than 25 offices in nine countries. For more information about Guggenheim Partners, visit www.guggenheimpartners.com.

Contacts

Diamond Resorts Corporation

Stevi Wara, 702-823-7069

Fax: 702-684-8705

media@diamondresorts.com

LOS ANGELES - Wednesday, October 10th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

DaVinci 3D ROKU Channel Rocks 3D Summit with 3D Auto Conversion and AS3D Breakthrough.

BUSINESS WIRE / ME Newswire-- DaVinci 3D (http://www.davinci3d.com) premiered their line of AS3D hardware and software advancements at the 3D Entertainment Summit in LA last week. They debuted their Auto Stereoscopic 3DTV, glasses free small screen LCD television package which included 2D/3D content conversion and a Sneak preview of their ROKU 3D Channel.

Michael Oliverira, tech writer for Engadget, TechCrunch and a Huffington Post contributor, raved about DaVinci’s AS3D technologies. “DaVinci has the best ASD 3D I’ve seen yet”, and I have studied them all.”

DaVinci 3D Inventor and CEO Stephen Blumenthal elaborated:

“DaVinci 3D has the only Broadcast Quality, glasses free AS3D platform featuring viewer adjustable depth controls, endless viewing comfort, and technically is a seamless replacement for HDTV. By marrying classical 3D optics with Math based PC processing, we have created the next generation in 3DTV.”

Anthony Vazques, President of LA based Sol Nine Productions observed,

“I’ve worked closely with the DaVinci 3D TV platform and the 3D image quality is without peer. They clearly have the only picture which is Consumer market ready. It has no artifacts, no discomfort and it looks and acts like a real TV. “

The DaVinci 3D TV is a turnkey platform featuring a full line of 55”, 42” and 23” AS3D TV’s customized for Retail, Digital Signage, Hospitality, Security, QC, and Medical applications. DaVinci 3D provides a low cost 2D to 3D content conversion solution and live 3D camera capture as an integral part of their 3DTV B2B solution.

In support of its Consumer market initiative, DaVinci is proud to announce the 3D Summit Sneak Preview of its first to market, VOD 3DTV ROKU Internet channel. Currently in beta mode, is scheduled to launch first quarter 2013, and is designed to provide 3D stereoscopic content for With Glasses Consumer TVs. This online ROKU streaming feed will feature 3D stereoscopic movies / indie music videos, cutting edge animation, sports and 3D art.

Michael Oliverira commenting on the DaVinci 3D Roku Channel, “Their AS3D TV and Roku 3D is extremely exciting for me, as it is the first complete 3DTV home package for with or without glasses, and as such, is a big step forward for the 3D industry.”

Paul Cohan SVP Operations said, “By providing 3D content for With Glasses Consumers via ROKU, we are providing content for our NO glasses AS3D TV’s at the same time. This means that a Consumer can purchase a DaVinci 3D TV NOW, plug it into their Cable Box and watch 3D ESPN live, without glasses, or they can log onto our Roku site and watch all of our 3D content just like “REAL” TV.

Contacts

DaVinci 3D

Stephen Blumenthal, 607-339-6098

stephen3d@mac.com

 

Marketing:

607-339-6098

davinci3dbiz@gmail.com

 

 

BUSINESS WIRE/ ME Newswire

Next generation cardio equipment is first to sync with Android™ devices

 Life Fitness, the global leader in commercial fitness equipment manufacturing, introduces the next generation of the Elevation™ Series Treadmills, Cross-Trainers and Lifecyle™ Exercise Bikes with new Discover™ Consoles delivering the personalized technology today’s plugged-in exercisers demand. The new Discover SE and Discover SI Consoles are the first to sync with the Android™ operating system, in addition to Apple’s® iOS platform, and feature an ultra-responsive touch screen with Swipe™ Technology for superior navigation.

Discover cardio products integrate with the company’s new LFconnect™ technology, a cloud-based solution that allows facility owners and managers to customize content for exercisers and enables free asset management. LFconnect gives exercisers log-in capabilities, personalization options, and workout recommendations, plus tracking made popular by the original Life Fitness Virtual Trainer website. With LFconnect, exercisers can also access personal online content, navigate the web directly from the equipment, create their own workout programs and set content preferences.

“Our research shows more than 95 percent of exercisers desire access to online content on equipment,” said Dan Wille, vice president of global marketing and product development, Life Fitness. “This new line of Discover open platform products gives exercisers unprecedented access to not just online content like YouTube and Facebook, but the latest fitness applications and custom entertainment.”

New Elevation Series open platform products include:

    Discover SE Treadmill (19” LCD touch screen)
    Discover SE Cross-Trainers and Bikes (16” LCD touch screen)
    Discover SI Treadmill, Cross-Trainers and Bikes (10” LCD touch screen)

Key features include:

    LFopen™ platform products: Life Fitness is the first fitness equipment-maker to open its product Application Programming Interface (API) platform to allow developer access.
    Apple and Android Compatibility: First exercise equipment to sync with and charge Android operating systems in addition to Apple devices, including iPads®, providing exercisers access to their music, videos, apps and books.
    Surface Capacitive Touch Screen with Swipe Technology: Functions like other personal electronic devices such as tablets. Hyper-sensitive response makes it easier to navigate between high-definition screens.
    Ethernet and Wi-Fi Compatibility: Allows for reliable, consistent connection to online content and remote software upgrades.
    Interactive Lifescape™ Courses: 17 courses, six exclusive, with high-definition hikes, runs and bikes through famous locations around the world. Integrates machine controls with the exerciser including video speed and resistance.
    On-Demand Content: Access a wide selection of music videos and TV programming on equipment.

For more information, visit www.LifeFitness.com/Discoverproducts.

BUSINESSWIRE / ME NewsWire - MILWAUKEE - Wednesday, October 10th 2012

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) today announced it has completed the acquisition of the medium voltage drives business of Harbin Jiuzhou Electric Co., Ltd. The purchase enables Rockwell Automation to design, engineer and manufacture medium voltage drives and power solutions for a broader base of Chinese and other customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Jiuzhou Electric has successfully served as Rockwell Automation’s contract manufacturer for seven years.

“Our medium voltage drives business is one of the fastest growing units at Rockwell Automation,” said Mike Laszkiewicz, vice president, general manager, Rockwell Automation power control business. “Based on our successful relationship with Jiuzhou Electric, we look forward to providing our customers with the products, service and solutions they’ve come to expect, and grow the business with our combined expertise.”

Rockwell Automation employs more than 1,900 people in China, working among its 35 sales offices, five training centers, manufacturing facilities, a global research and development center and a software development center. More than 6,000 Chinese students are also trained annually, through Rockwell Automation laboratories and an award-winning educational program offered at universities throughout the provinces.

Harbin Jiuzhou Electric Co., Ltd. focuses on research and development, manufacturing, sales and services of high power, electrical and electronic equipment. Jiuzhou was established in 2000 and is registered in Harbin.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 21,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

Contacts

Media Contact:

Rockwell Automation

John Bernaden

414-382-2555

jabernaden@ra.rockwell.com

 

Investor Relations Contact:

Rockwell Automation

Rondi Rohr-Dralle

414-382-8510

rrohrdralle@ra.rockwell.com

 

Please Kindly spread the News !! We are on Twitter @ tantalent 

BUSINESSWIRE - ME NewsWire - BARCELONA, Spain - Wednesday, October 10th 2012

New vSTAC VDI R2 appliance delivers high-performance at breakthrough $165 per desktop

VMworld Europe 2012

VMworld--Pivot3, a leading provider of converged storage and compute appliances, today announced its next generation vSTAC VDI R2 appliance optimized for VMware View® Storage Accelerator. With over four times more RAM, and 10 times more capacity, the vSTAC VDI R2 appliance can save customers up to 45% per desktop over the previous R1 generation.

“With the release of the vSTAC VDI R2, there can be no doubt that Pivot3 has dispelled the myth that VDI cannot compete for cost with conventional desktop PCs,” commented Simon Bramfitt, founder and principle analyst at Entelechy Associates. “Pivot3 has delivered what was once considered impossible, a scalable high-performance VDI appliance that is equally at home in the data center or the branch office, that can deliver a virtual desktop for less than the cost of a PC.”

Purpose built to exploit View Storage Accelerator, the vSTAC VDI R2 appliance allows for the reduction of expensive read caching hardware, while increasing performance by 10X. Tested and certified for VMware View™ 5.1 and VMware vSphere® 5.1, additional features of the purpose-built vSTAC VDI R2 appliance include:

    Two next-generation Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 processors with six cores each, enabling super-fast processing for compute-intensive tasks and driving desktop count up to 125 per appliance, a 15% increase over the previous generation;
    Selectable network speed configurability introducing a high-performance solution for one gigabit Ethernet environments, while also supporting enterprises with 10GE selectable RAM 128/256/384 permitting maximum configurability for demanding 64 bit desktop workloads;
    Selectable SATA storage capacity of 12/24/36TB facilitating user data to be stored in the same array with an optional NAS interface. This additional capacity allows full uncompressed branch office desktops to be deployed using the latest VMware Mirage technology;
    Designed, tested and certified for PCI-e graphics cards such as Teradici, the vSTAC VDI R2 can be configured to support the most demanding video workloads;
    A pre-packaged and configured P Cubed starter appliance that is certified as part of the VMware Rapid Desktop Program.

“We are pleased to see Pivot3 release its next generation vSTAC VDI R2 appliance, which is optimized for VMware View® Storage Accelerator,” said Mason Uyeda, director, end-user computing technical marketing, VMware. “Following our jointly published reference architectures for the Mobile Secure Desktop and Branch Office Desktop solutions, this next generation appliance, paired with VMware technology can provide a powerful VDI solution for customers.”

“The Pivot3 vSTAC VDI R2 delivers a significant breakthrough in terms of performance, simplicity of deployment and customer value,” said Jesper Trolle, vice president of sales at Arrow ECS EMEA. “We see Pivot3 as the clear leader in “View-in-a-box” appliances that can scale from small to enterprise-class deployments. This next generation appliance further increases that lead, and we are sure that our partners and customers will be delighted with this next generation product.”

“Using the VMware View® Virtual Storage Accelerator technology has allowed us to reduce the hardware cost and complexity of our VDI solution while increasing performance,” said Lee Caswell, founder and chief strategy officer at Pivot3. “Our vSTAC VDI R2 appliance continues to provide substantial enterprise-class value, performance and availability against both appliances and discrete physical server and storage products.”

Pivot3’s latest vSTAC VDI R2 appliance will be available to order in November 2012. List pricing starts at $29,999. For more information, visit www.pivot3.com.

Supporting Resources

For a test-drive of the Pivot3 vSTAC VDI Mobile Secure Desktop solution, visit http://pivot3.com/test-drive/ where you can test drive the Pivot3 vSTAC VDI MSD solution that includes all of the latest VMware technology including; View, vCOPs, vShield as well as Trend Micro’s Deep Security.

Find the latest news and information about Pivot3 vSTAC™ VDI and P Cubed online:

    Desktop virtualization whitepaper
    Product information
    VMware Reference Architecture
    Test Drive Pivot3
    Pivot3 VDI Configurator
    VMware View POC Solutions
    VMware Rapid Desktop Program Support
    Twitter

About Pivot3

Pivot3 was founded in 2003 on the idea that today's stack of servers, storage and networks could be radically simplified and unified to drive down complexity and cost. Today Pivot3 has over 600 customers with over 7,000 Pivot3 vSTAC™ appliances deployed across the globe. Pivot3 products are purpose-built and deployed in the data protection, digital surveillance and rich media markets and have seen particular success in the public sector, transportation, education and retail vertical segments. The company has won numerous awards and was most recently selected by the Wall Street Journal for the prestigious "2011 Next Big Thing" category. To learn more about Pivot3, visit www.pivot3.com.

VMware, VMware Mirage, VMware vSphere and VMware View are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

Contacts

Mindshare PR

Heather Fitzsimmons

+1-650-800-7160

heather@mindsharepr.com

 

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Tuesday, October 9th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

Call for Expression of Interest proposals for scientific research focused on new advances in blood safety

(BUSINESS WIRE/ME NewsWire)-- Terumo BCT announces the launch of the Blood Safety Innovation Award. The international award is designed to support scientific and clinical research to enable new advances in blood safety in hematology, immunology and other related fields with up to $100,000 in grants. Clinicians, researchers and scientists at academic institutions and associations who are interested in blood safety across all device platforms are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest, by the Dec. 31, 2012 deadline.

Key Facts:

• The Blood Safety Innovation Award is intended to encourage the investigation of novel scientific ideas, and new concepts, procedures and/or methodologies that have the potential to substantially advance blood safety.
• Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest by Dec. 31st to be considered for the award.
• All Expressions of Interest submitted will be reviewed by the Grant Committee; the Grant Committee will request that finalists complete a Full Submission.
• The Grant Committee consists of representatives from the Terumo BCT Medical Affairs and Clinical Affairs teams, as well as three independent specialists.
• Each application will be reviewed based on the fundamentals of scientific merit, availability of funds and relevance to the priorities of the award program, as well as other application criteria.
• Expenses covered and details about grant recipient responsibilities are available online and by contacting the grant administrators.
• The grant administrators reserve the right to withhold all or partial grant funds based on the quality of submissions.
• Terumo BCT announced on September 10, 2012, that it has awarded a $100,000 research grant to support the investigation of an innovative proposal in therapeutic apheresis, underscoring Terumo BCT’s commitment to continuous learning and advancing blood and blood safety initiatives that touch the lives of donors and patients.

Key Quotes:

Eric Buenz, Ph.D., Director, Medical Affairs

"We are excited to announce the Terumo BCT Blood Safety Innovation Award as a great opportunity to provide support to those in the field with innovative ideas and applications, and novel approaches that will enhance blood safety measures for the benefit of patients in need of transfusion support."

About Terumo BCT:

Terumo BCT, a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies, is the only company with the unique combination of apheresis collections, manual and automated whole blood processing, and pathogen reduction coupled with leading technologies in therapeutic apheresis and cell processing. We believe in the potential of blood to do even more for patients than it does today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers.

Contacts

Terumo BCT

Laura Fusco, +1-303-205-2546

Global Corporate Communications

press@terumobct.com

BUSINESS WIRE/ ME Newswire

 Established through a unique public-private partnership, the project will drive economic growth and provide clean, reliable power for Ugandans


    Completion of project showcases successful public-private partnership for infrastructure development, bringing together the Government of Uganda, Industrial Promotion Services (IPS - the infrastructure and industrial development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development) and Blackstone Portfolio Company, Sithe Global
    The 250MW hydropower plant has nearly doubled Uganda’s electricity supply and virtually eliminated power shortages and blackouts
    The total project cost is approximately $900 million


Uganda’s President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, today inaugurated the 250MW Bujagali Hydropower Plant in the presence of the Aga Khan and project partners Sithe Global, a company majority owned by a fund managed by Blackstone on behalf of its investors. The ceremony, which took place on the eve of celebrations marking 50 years of Uganda’s independence, was attended by government officials, heads of State from across Africa, international dignitaries and members of the diplomatic community. The plant, constructed at a cost of approximately US$900 million, was jointly funded by Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), the infrastructure and industrial development arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, Sithe Global Power LLC (USA), a company majority owned by Blackstone Capital Partners IV, L.P., a fund managed by Blackstone on behalf of its investors, and the Government of Uganda. It has eliminated Uganda’s previous energy shortage by nearly doubling the country’s effective generation capacity (it currently meets 49% of the country’s energy requirements) and provides clean, reliable power at lower costs than existing power generating facilities. Construction of the plant commenced in August 2007. It comprises five units of 50MW each, commissioned in phases between February 2012 and June 2012.

Bujagali represents one of the largest privately-funded power sector investments ever made in Sub-Saharan Africa and sets a unique precedent for public-private partnerships. The plant will be operated by Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL), a company established by the project partners to operate and manage the plant, for a 30 year period, following which it will be transferred to the government of Uganda for a nominal price of US one dollar.

Uganda’s electricity demand has been growing by 10% every year, while supply prior to the commissioning of Bujagali has remained stagnant. Frequent power shortages and blackouts accounted for between 1 to 1.5% loss to Uganda’s GDP, thereby slowing the country’s economic development. Since the first unit became operational in February 2012, Bujagali has provided a reliable solution to Uganda’s power demands, serving as a catalyst for economic growth and replacing emergency thermal generation costs, thereby saving US$ 9.5 million per month in government subsidies.

Commenting on the role of the Aga Khan Development Network, His Highness the Aga Khan, said, “But let me emphasize that this has also been a global story. As we try to count up the key participants, we find that they come from at least 37 different countries - a truly international network of partners. Those of us who represent the Aga Khan Development Network are proud to have been associated with so many fine allies in this work, including our close, central partnership with Sithe Global and Blackstone.”

The project serves as an example of a highly successful public-private partnership model, ideal for replication throughout the region.

Speaking at the event, David Foley, Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Blackstone Energy Partners, said, “Bujagali showcases how successful partnerships between the public and private sectors can create development opportunities for growing economies. Blackstone is proud to have played an important role, together with our partner the Aga Khan, in the development of Bujagali, the successful completion of which is a credit to the leadership of President Museveni and the commitment of the Government of Uganda. Africa is a resource rich continent and is primed for the development of hydroelectric power generation facilities like Bujagali. On behalf of our investors, Blackstone has committed billions of dollars of equity capital to build energy businesses on four continents around the globe and will continue to invest in emerging market countries to provide them with the affordable, safe and reliable energy to sustain their economic growth.”

The Bujagali Hydropower Project has already impacted the surrounding communities with the creation of approximately 3,000 new jobs for Ugandan workers during peak construction; improved community services such as clean water supply, education and health facilities in nearby villages; the provision of micro-credit funds to surrounding rural populations and the enhancement of infrastructure.

“That a project of Bujagali’s size and complexity has been completed on time and within budget whilst adhering to the highest technical as well as social and environmental standards is a huge testimony to the quality and experience of the sponsor, development and construction teams, with whom I am truly proud to be associated. The Bujagali experience is invaluable and we will certainly draw from it when developing future projects in the region,” observed Mr. Nizar Juma, the Chairman of Bujagali Energy Ltd.

Bruce J. Wrobel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sithe Global who was also present at the commissioning said, “We believe that projects like Bujagali, which has both impacted the energy sector in Uganda in a far-reaching positive way and mitigated the ecological footprint of a generation, is the key to sustainable development. We are proud to have joined our partners, the lenders and the Government of Uganda in bringing this project to a reality and it is gratifying to see the impacts the project is already having, not only by making available ample, clean, renewable energy, but also by having a positive effect on the lives of the people living in the community and region around this project.”

The Project has also been registered as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), making it the largest project ever registered in a Least Developed Country. Bujagali will yield an average of 900,000 Carbon Dioxide Emission Reductions (CERs) annually, putting it at the forefront of clean energy efforts.

The project was also made possible by support from a number of other lenders: International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), the European Investment Bank, African Development Bank (“AfDB”), Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelinsslanden N.V. (“FMO”), Societe de Promotion et de Participation pour la Cooperation Economique (“Proparco”)/Agence Francaise de Development (“AFD”), DEG-Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft MBH (“DEG”) and KfW. Barclays/ABSA Capital and Standard Chartered Bank are providing commercial debt under an International Development Association (“IDA”) Partial Risk Guarantee, while MIGA is providing insurance guarantee cover for Sithe Global’s equity.

The Company’s Trusted Delivery Model Improves Equipment Safety and National Security

BUSINESS WIRE / ME NewsWire - WASHINGTON - Tuesday, October 9th 2012

ZTE today reiterated its support for its Trusted Delivery Model and renewed its commitment to work with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (Committee), government agencies, and the private sector to address all cybersecurity concerns.

ZTE has set an unprecedented standard for cooperation by any Chinese company with a US congressional inquiry. ZTE has presented the Committee with ample facts that demonstrate ZTE is China’s most transparent, independent, globally focused, publicly traded telecom company. ZTE is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The company already is recognized as a Trusted Delivery Partner by 140 governments and 500 network carriers.

ZTE’s equipment is safe for US telecom infrastructure. In its Fourth Recommendation, the Committee encourages companies to offer “more consistent review by independent third-party evaluators of their cybersecurity processes.” The Committee has credited ZTE with advocating a solution, based on a Trusted Delivery Model, in which the telecom vendor transfers hardware, software, firmware, and other structural equipment elements to an independent third-party threat assessment laboratory with US government agency oversight.

The Committee has raised technical questions regarding the effectiveness of Trusted Delivery Systems, but the Committee recommends continuing efforts to identify effective mitigation solutions. David Dai Shu, ZTE’s director of global public affairs, said “ZTE appreciates the Committee’s recognition that ZTE has offered US carriers a Trusted Delivery Model solution. ZTE will work with the Committee, US government agencies, and ZTE’s US customers to identify and deploy the most effective equipment cyber-security measures possible. ZTE is committed to assuring US carriers and US government agencies its equipment is safe.”

Dai Shu said, “It is noteworthy that, after a year-long investigation, the Committee rests its conclusions on a finding that ZTE may not be ‘free of state influence.’ This finding would apply to any company operating in China. The Committee has not challenged ZTE’s fitness to serve the US market based on any pattern of unethical or illegal behavior.”

According to the Committee, ZTE was included in this investigation simply because it is one of “the top two Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturers.” Virtually all of the telecom infrastructure equipment now sold in the US and throughout the world contains components made, in whole or in part, in China. That includes the equipment manufactured and sold by every Western vendor in the United States, much of which is made by Chinese joint venture partners and suppliers.

Dai Shu said, “Particularly given the severity of the Committee’s recommendations, ZTE recommends that the Committee’s investigation be extended to include every company making equipment in China, including the Western vendors. That is the only way to truly protect US equipment and US national security. National security experts agree that a Trusted Delivery Model will strengthen national security. In fact, major US carriers are increasingly requiring Trusted Delivery Model in their contracts.”

ZTE has presented the Committee with the following facts:

    ZTE is China’s most transparent, independent, globally focused, publicly traded telecom company. Every business decision and action taken within ZTE serves the Company’s 140,000 public shareholders on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, including many of the world’s leading institutional investors. As ZTE’s Independent Director, an American citizen, has confirmed in a sworn affidavit: ZTE’s business decisions and actions are not directed or influenced by China’s government.
    ZTE has an unbroken history as a commercial telecom technology innovator for three decades. The company is a leader in international equipment standards-setting organizations, and it is recognized as a Trusted Delivery partner by over 500 network carriers in 140 countries. ZTE was the pioneer among Chinese companies entering into technology licensing agreements with US suppliers, with its first licensing agreement with Qualcomm in 1999. In recent years, ZTE has spent over $14 billion on US chip sets and other US equipment, and has created over 20,000 direct and indirect US jobs. ZTE will continue as a major customer of US telecom equipment suppliers for years to come.
    To assure US supply chain security, ZTE offers US carriers its Trusted Delivery Model, a fully transparent and comprehensive review and monitoring system conducted by a highly respected independent US threat assessment laboratory. ZTE’s Trusted Delivery Model provides for a thorough end-to-end security evaluation of ZTE’s software, firmware and hardware throughout the equipment life cycle. The Trusted Delivery Model also makes audits available for US Government agency review to facilitate additional assurance and oversight.
    Given ZTE’s cooperation and the facts ZTE has presented to the Committee, ZTE is disappointed that the Committee chose to narrowly focus its review on just the two largest Chinese companies and to exclude Western telecom vendors and their Chinese joint venture partners. Given that virtually all US telecom equipment is produced in China, in some measure, the Committee’s narrow focus addresses the overall issue of risk to US telecom infrastructure so narrowly that it omits from the Committee’s inquiry the suppliers of the vast majority of equipment used in the US market. ZTE is a relatively small US telecom infrastructure equipment supplier in comparison with most of the Western vendors. Sales of ZTE’s telecom infrastructure equipment in the US comprised less than $30 million in revenue last year. Two Western vendors, alone, last year provided the US market with $14 billion worth of equipment.
    US carriers and the US Government have come to rely upon the Trusted Delivery Model as the best protection for telecom infrastructure equipment. A Trusted Delivery Model is vendor-neutral. US carriers can trust the equipment and that is the best protection of US national security.

“ZTE recognizes and fully respects the Committee’s obligation to protect US national security,” said Dai Shu. “ZTE believes the Committee focused its examination too narrowly on vendor locations not on equipment security. The Committee omitted the Western vendors and their Chinese manufacturing partners, which provide most of the US equipment now in use. The Committee also overlooked the opportunity to advance universal application of the Trusted Delivery Model which protects critical telecom networks on a vendor-neutral basis.”

About ZTE

ZTE is a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every telecommunications sector, including wireless, access & bearer, VAS, terminals and professional services. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while growing revenue. In 2011, ZTE’s revenue increased by 29 per cent to USD13.7 billion. Its overseas operating revenue grew 30 per cent to USD 7.4 billion during the period, accounting for 54.2 per cent of overall operating revenue. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in several international bodies devoted to developing telecommunications industry standards. ZTE provides US carriers with its Trusted Delivery Model; state-of-the-art cybersecurity protection through transparent, comprehensive and continuous standards-based evaluation by independent US threat assessment laboratories. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. The company is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer that is publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ) with 140,000 public shareholders including many of the world’s leading financial institutions. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

Contacts

ZTE

David Dai Shu

202-758-9701

dai.shu@zte.com.cn

 

Anna Hughes

Rory Davenport

202-729-4000

BUSINESS WIRE/ ME Newswire

 Delphi Genetics SA (“Delphi”) has announced today a broad licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, for the use of the StabyExpress™ technology, which allows high yield, cost effective protein expression without the use of antibiotics.

Under the agreement, Merck receives a non-exclusive license to use the StabyExpress™ technology for protein expression in research and product development. In exchange, Delphi is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with the development of Merck product candidates that utilize the StabyExpress™ technology, as well as royalties on sales of such products. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Cédric Szpirer PhD, Delphi Genetics Founder and CEO, explained: “This is Delphi's first broad-based licensing agreement that covers potential use of the StabyExpress™ technology for protein based product in the areas of human and animal health.”

Guy Hélin, CBO, added: “This is the third licensing agreement that we have announced with a world leading healthcare company. The non-exclusive nature of this agreement enables us to consider similar collaborations with other strategic partners, including partners in other fields than biopharma production.”

Delphi also has licensing agreements with Sanofi-Pasteur, announced in June 2009, and with GSK, announced in September 2010.

There were over a hundred political parties that were clamouring to be registered before the last general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was magnanimous enough to register a good number of them (over 60). Out of this large number, only five were able to win seats at governorship level in the general election. Since then, the other so called political parties have gone into oblivion. Most of their offices are obsolete and locked up. Hardly any of them is currently making efforts to restructure their parties, mobilize membership and build their parties for the next election. In few years time, you would see them springing up to distract Nigerians from making a reasonable choice of the few serious political parties. Out of the serious five, PDP has cleverly shown serious growth and consistency. They still have the largest number of membership and the most spread in the country. Their website is still the most consistent and best organized. What actually they need to do is to review their constitution to be grassroots oriented. The party is designed like an oligarchy and monarchy instead of democracy. If this is done, many people will have the opportunity to participate. The ACN is filled with effective strategies to improve in the next election. Out of the whole parties in the country, I think they are the most hardworking. The strategy to join forces with CPC and APGA will make it a national party and if this is effectively done, they may wrest the power from PDP come 2015. They also need to review their constitution to be people oriented. Currently, the party is run like a monarchy where office holders are picked by the blue blood and after they are elected, they become kings and not civil servants. The party is still revolving around one individual. The party should build a website to enable people access information. Currently, they do not have an effective one. All Progress Grand Alliance (APGA) with base in Anambra and Imo States looks like a child of circumstance. The party has been enmeshed with leadership crisis for a long time thereby hampering its growth. The party does not have large membership strength and is doing nothing to improve on this. Where they are at the seat of power, other parties are controlling the grassroots. To worsen matters, their leaders seem to be eyeing higher positions which might lead to either joining forces or decamping. The latest news item on their website was in 2008. It might not go far wearing the toga of an ethnic party. Her best survival bait is to merge with other upcoming progressives at this point in time. The CPC has a very strong base in the North. It may stand out as the most credible party in the country. Their leader’s credibility is also very transparent even though he is not loved by politicians. The good thing is that Gen. Buhari, the leader of CPC seems the only person who can look the politicians and their corrupt practices in the face and dare them. However, such party as CPC will need time to sensitize and orientate Nigerians on their vision. As far as I am concerned, the party has no religious bias with top faith zealots as its leaders. Merging with other parties in the south will pave way for its success. The challenge I foresee is that ACN may not be as disciplined as CPC especially in fighting corruption and in strengthening the polity and this might bring conflict. I also wonder what the party will be in absence of Gen. Buhari. The one State Labour Party is revolving around Gov. Mimiko. It is just managing to survive. There is actually no sign of further growth beyond Ondo State in the next three years. The party may not be sustained after the current governor leaves office. The best it can do for itself is to merge with the upcoming progressives with its current structure. For other political parties in Nigeria, your best survival strategy is to merge with either of the two biggest parties so we can have two effective national political parties. Experience has shown that we do not need more than these. Others are mere distractions.

ME Newswire / Business Wire

PARIS - Monday, October 8th 2012

Thanks to G-cluster’s patented cloud technology, Orange IPTV customers are now just two clicks away from enjoying a top quality gaming experience on TV in France !

Starting from October 11, 2012, Orange broadband customers will experience a seamless and easy-to-access top quality video gaming experience directly on their TV.

The Orange cloud gaming service powered by G-cluster offers to Orange customers a gaming solution free of any old generation hardware concerns and allows them to easily access and play a wide catalogue of video games directly on TV.

With a catalogue of about 100 video games at launch, the Orange cloud gaming service provides valuable gaming content for the whole family! This innovative gaming solution provides many benefits for the end user: simplicity of access and use, attractive prices, a diversified and wide catalogue of games.

G-cluster has been rendering cloud gaming service since 2010. The launch of the Orange cloud gaming service reinforces G-cluster’s position as the leading cloud gaming platform in Europe.

Simplicity and immediate access

As with video on demand, the end user can access games directly and quickly without the need to download content or purchase any new physical devices. To play, just use the remote controller or a gamepad (any USB gamepad or the one recommended by Orange). The end user can play alone, with other players in the same room or remotely with other Orange TV customers who have subscribed.

Attractive Price point

Orange offers a new model of usage for interactive content to its new TV users with an attractive price point. End users will be able to enjoy a diversified catalogue of games thanks to unlimited and no commitment monthly subscription packs or with 24h, 48h or 1 week rental offers. A free try-before-you-buy offer is available for all the games in the catalogue.

- Discovery pass: 5€/month for unlimited access to 50 top casual games

- Premium pass: 10€/month for access to premium console games on top of the entire catalogue of casual games

- Rentals: 24h, 48h or weekly rentals of games at affordable prices

A comprehensive catalogue for the whole family

Orange and G-cluster have partnered with top leading casual and premium publishers such as Disney, Ubisoft, Playrix, MumboJumbo and Alawar to provide a fun and entertaining experience to all the household members.

The Orange games on demand service will offer games for anyone in the family: action and air fighting games like H.A.W.X® 2 from Ubisoft and kids’ games like Toy Story 3 from Disney. Pixar.

Erik Piehl, president of G-cluster Global says, "G-cluster is very happy to provide its white-label cloud gaming service to Orange, the largest IPTV provider in Europe. This further expands G-cluster's lead as the largest scale TV cloud gaming provider."

Jean-François Rodriguez, VP Games and social media at Orange says, “Orange and G-Cluster have built a strong partnership to offer a new gaming experience by leveraging on Orange high speed broadband network and G-Cluster cloud gaming technology. After Video on Demand, streaming music, Orange customers will now enjoy games on demand service.”

About G-cluster Global Corporation:

G-cluster Global provides cloud services worldwide, using its cloud-based content provision technology, G-cluster. In Japan, the company and its partners offer a streaming video broadcast service for digital televisions, T’s TV <http://t-s.tv/>;. The firm is also actively present in the rest of the world, with offices in Finland and Paris.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.

© 2010 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy's, H.A.W.X., the Soldier Icon, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Contacts

G-cluster Global Corporation

Sevan Kessissian

email: sevan.kessissian@g-cluster.com

+33612106425

Africa’s first dollar-denominated Visa credit cards

BUSINESS WIRE / ME NewsWire - COLUMBUS, Ga. & NAIROBI, Kenya - Monday, October 8th 2012

Kenya’s Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), one of East Africa’s leading banks, has launched the first U.S. dollar-denominated Visa credit cards in Africa using TSYS’ PRIME card management solution.

The credit cards offer convenience, and the ability to save on foreign exchange fees, to CBA’s customers travelling to the U.S. Purchases in the U.S. can simply by debited from the customer’s USD account instead of having every transaction converted to the local currency.

CBA has been a TSYS client since 19971 when it began using the PRIME solution to manage issuing, acquiring, collections and rewards for its suite of Visa products. Four new USD credit cards will be added to this portfolio — Classic and Gold versions for personal users and Silver and Gold for business users. The U.S. dollar-denominated cards will be the first foreign currency cards issued by any bank in Kenya.

“The new U.S. dollar cards offer our customers flexibility and convenience when choosing to use their CBA cards internationally, and reflects our commitment to offer innovative products that we believe will be highly successful in the African market,” said Gladys Akinyi, Head of Personal Banking at CBA. “Our warm thanks go to TSYS for its help in making this launch possible and its excellent support in ensuring we could bring the new cards to market in record time.”

“TSYS congratulates CBA on its decision to leverage our proven PRIME solution to successfully bring the new currency cards to market,” said Jaffar Agha-Jaffar, managing director for the Middle East and Africa, TSYS. “Once again, PRIME has shown it is the leading platform for payments innovation, able to deliver an exciting range of new products and services backed by renowned support and global expertise.”

TSYS’ PRIME is a multi-lingual, multi-currency, multi-institutional and multi-product, single platform solution for issuers and acquirers. It has a global footprint spanning more than 130 clients in more than 70 countries. TSYS has an established presence in Africa and supports more than a dozen banks from its business support team offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

1Commercial Bank of Africa was formerly a client of Card Tech Limited (CTL) which was acquired by TSYS in 2006

About TSYS

At TSYS, (NYSE: TSS), we believe payments should revolve around people — not the other way around. We call this belief "People-Centered PaymentsSM." By putting people at the center of every decision we make, with unmatched customer service and industry insight, TSYS is able to support financial institutions, businesses and governments in more than 80 countries. Offering merchant payment-acceptance solutions as well as services in credit, debit, prepaid, mobile, chip, healthcare and more, we make it possible for those in the global marketplace to conduct safe and secure electronic transactions with trust and convenience.

TSYS’ headquarters are located in Columbus, Georgia, with local offices spread across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. TSYS provides services to more than half of the top 20 international banks, is a Fortune 1000 company and was named one of the 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere magazine. For more information, please visit us at www.tsys.com.

About Commercial Bank of Africa

Commercial Bank of Africa Ltd (CBA) was founded in 1962 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and immediately thereafter established branches in Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, and in Kampala, Uganda. With the nationalisation of banks in Tanzania, CBA was incorporated in Kenya in 1967 with headquarters in Nairobi.

Today, CBA is one of East Africa’s largest privately owned banks with assets of more than USD$900m and 27 branches throughout Kenya and Tanzania.

Contacts

TSYS Investor Relations

Shawn Roberts, +1.706.644.6081

shawnroberts@tsys.com

 

TSYS Media Relations

Cyle Mims, +1.706.644.3110

cylemims@tsys.com

 

TSYS

Sara Ruffell, +357.22882600

sararuffell@tsys.com

 

Commercial Bank of Africa

Chris Pasha, +254 20 2884305

Chris.pasha@cbagroup.com

ME Newswire / Business Wire

MEDWAY, Mass. - Friday, October 5th 2012

Cybex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYBI), a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment, proudly announced that it will hold its Fourth Annual Cybex Pink Ribbon Run throughout the month of October. The initiative is designed to promote breast cancer awareness and highlight the important role exercise plays in reducing the risks associated with breast cancer.

Cybex is partnering with fitness clubs and other organizations to install special-edition pink treadmills around the country. For each mile logged on every new qualifying pink Cybex treadmill during October, Cybex will donate 10 cents to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. More than $100,000 has been raised in the first three years of the Pink Ribbon Run, with this year expected to surpass previous years. Fitness enthusiasts are embracing this initiative more than ever regionally, nationally and internationally, with new initiatives launched this year in Denmark and the U.K.

“More and more studies are illustrating how exercise can lower a woman’s breast cancer risks,” said Lisa Juris, vice president of marketing for Cybex. “We’re excited to work with our partners once again to raise awareness and funds to support women’s health and wellness through the Pink Ribbon Run this October.”

The facts regarding breast cancer are staggering:

    One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer.
    Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
    One out of 210 breast cancer cases occurs in women under the age of 40.

But research has shown that fitness and exercise play a key role in reducing the risks associated with breast cancer. A study published in the journal Cancer in June 2012 found that women who engaged in 10 to 19 hours of exercise per week had about a 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer. Research conducted by the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that overweight or obese women who lose as little as 5 percent of their body weight through diet and exercise may lower their breast cancer risk by 22 percent. Exercise is also important for women who already have breast cancer. The Yale Exercise and Survivorship Study found that two to three hours of exercise per week resulted in a 40 percent to 67 percent reduced risk of death.

For more information about Cybex’s Pink Ribbon Run, please visit http://cybexintl.com.

About Cybex

Cybex International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment primarily for commercial use. The Cybex product line, including a full range of strength and cardio training machines, is designed using exercise science to reflect the natural movement of the human body. Led by the Cybex Research Institute, Cybex fitness equipment is engineered to produce optimal results for users from the first-time exerciser to the professional athlete. Cybex designs and builds its products in the USA for a wide range of facilities, from commercial health clubs to home gyms, in more than 85 countries worldwide. For more information on Cybex and its products, visit the Company’s website at www.cybexintl.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to comply with the terms of its credit facilities, competitive factors, technological and product developments, market demand, economic conditions, and the resolution of litigation involving the Company. Further information on these and other factors which could affect the Company’s financial results can be found in the Company’s previously filed Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, its Reports on Form 10-Q, its Current Reports on Form 8-K, and its proxy statement dated April 12, 2012.

Contacts

Media Contact:

for Cybex International

David Fouse, 703-938-6430

fouse@pinkstongroup.com

PARIS - Friday, October 5th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

BUSINESS WIRE / ME Newswire-- Organized as part of the CARTES trade show, the SESAMES Awards reward the best technological innovations in terms of smart cards, digital security, identification, secure transactions and contactless since 1995.

The projects submitted are presented to 38 jury members, international experts recognized in their field, who choose the finalists and the winners of the SESAMES Awards, in total impartiality and confidentiality of entries, thus highlighting the most dynamic and most ingenious companies.

The SESAMES Awards reward the best projects in 10 categories. For the first time this year, the SESAMES Discovery will give an award to the best innovation presented by a start-up company. The SESAMES Awards’ finalists will be presented at CARTES in the SESAMES Area, hall 4. The Winners will be announced during the SESAMES Awards Ceremony, on November 5th, 2012 (upon invitation).

Discover the 36 finalists:

Hardware

    Advanced Card Systems Ltd. with "ACR1222U-J4 Li-ion Web-To Reader"
    Cinterion with "Firmware & Patient data Security for medical device"
    NXP SEMICONDUCTORS with "Next Generation NFC Radio Controller"

Software

    Intrinsic-ID with "Secure Cloud application"
    Morpho with "Network Triggered Multi-IMSI"
    Rosberg System AS with "Extreme Secure Smart Device"

Identification / ID Cards / Health

    NXP SEMICONDUCTORS with "OpenWays Mobile Key DUAL© with Pure NFC™"
    Sunward Telecom Limited with "13.56MHz RF-SIM"
    Vision-Box with "vb i-dispenser"

IT Security

    DS3 with "DS3 Multi-purpose Authentication Server"
    Entersekt with "Interactive Transaction Athentication"
    Morpho with "EMV Pro Digit"

Transportation

    Infineon Technologies AG with "Security Controller for Transport Applications"
    KENTKART EGE ELEKTRONIK A.S. with "Onboard Public Transportation Tablet"
    Turkcell with "Turkcell Wallett Road Toll Payment Service"

Banking / Retail / Loyalty

    AIRTAG with "AIRFID"
    Toro Development Ltd. with "Akami suite"
    Turkcell with "Turckcell Home Delivery Service with Smart Magnets"

Trusted Internet / Authentication

    NXP Semiconductors Austria GmbH with "Mobile POS for eTicket and stored value reload"
    Tatra banka with "Card&Reader"
    Vlatacom with "VLAD-1"

Mobility

    Intrinsic-ID with "Secure Cloud application"
    Oberthur Technologies with "Multi-brand NFC payment wallet"
    Printechnologics GmbH with "Touchcode"

e-Transactions

    Elavon Merchant Services with "Elavon MobileMerchant"
    Fiteq with "EMV MultiTeq-TagTeq"
    Giesecke & Devrient with "Portigo"
    Synqera with "Simplate"

Manufacturing & tests

    Gemalto with "PrintPixel"
    Gemalto with "Sealys Edge Sealer"
    MGI Digital Graphic Tehnology with "JETcard 3D"
    OBERTHUR TECHNOLOGIES with "PaperSIM card"

Discovery

    Bridget with "B-Smart Packaging"
    Coded Imagery with "Personalisation of ID with Biometric Watermarks"
    Kuapay LLC with "Kuapay"
    RCDEVS SARL with "OpenOTP/TiQR Authentication Server"

To follow the trade show in real time:

    follow us on Twitter "@_cartes" and on our blog www.blogcartes.com
    visit our website: www.cartes.com

About CARTES 2012: The CARTES 2012 show, taking place from 6 to 8 November at the Parc des Expositions in Paris-Nord Villepinte, is the world's leading event in smart technologies for security, payment, identification and mobility. With 143 countries represented, 450 exhibitors and 140 conferences with international experts, CARTES 2012 is an essential trade show for all the players in this highly dynamic market. This year, for its 27th edition, CARTES 2012 is putting the spotlight on India.

Contacts

Press Contact

Actifin

Marie-Caroline Cardi

+331 56 88 11 13

 

Jennifer Jullia

+331 56 88 11 19

cartes@actifin.fr

Cette initiative d'avant-garde réduit l'impact environnemental des évènements organisés, sans frais pour les clients

SINGAPOUR - Dimanche 7 Octobre 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hilton Worldwide a lancé aujourd'hui un programme de compensation carbone pour les évènements et les réunions se déroulant dans certains de ses établissements en Asie du Sud-Est. Sans frais supplémentaires pour les clients, Hilton Worldwide mesurera les émissions de carbone de toutes les manifestations dans 11 de ses établissements en Malaisie, à Singapour et en Thaïlande, et achètera des crédits carbone pour compenser leur impact sur l'environnement. Les crédits carbone seront utilisés pour financer des projets dans le domaine des énergies renouvelables à Bornéo et au Cambodge.

« Le développement durable est une priorité pour Hilton Worldwide ; il est au cœur de nos activités. Pour nous, il ne s'agit pas juste de dire que nous nous engageons dans ce domaine, mais il s'agit de prendre des mesures », a déclaré William Costley, vice-président chargé des opérations en Asie du Sud-Est chez Hilton Worldwide. « Ce programme propose aux organisations et aux personnes une option durable pour leurs conférences, réunions ou évènements sociaux. En compensant les émissions de carbone sans frais supplémentaires pour nos clients, nous pouvons, ensemble, rendre à l'environnement ce qu'il nous donne et en faire profiter d'importants projets mis en œuvre dans la région dans le domaine des énergies renouvelables. »

Hilton Worldwide est le premier et le seul grand groupe hôtelier multimarques à faire des actions de durabilité et des mesures correctives sa marque de fabrique dans chacun de ses 3 900 hôtels dans le monde.

Ce programme porte sur les manifestations organisées à partir du 1er octobre 2012. Il couvre tous les évènements comme les réunions, les conférences, les mariages et autres réceptions organisés dans les espaces de réception des hôtels participant à l'opération. Hilton Worldwide utilisera son instrument LightStay™ Meeting Impact Calculator pour suivre et mesurer les émissions de carbone de chaque évènement. Cet instrument de calcul prend en compte de nombreux facteurs, notamment la consommation d'eau et d'électricité, les aliments consommés et les chambres réservées. LightStay™ est le système exclusif de Hilton Worldwide destiné à analyser, consigner et améliorer les performances de durabilité dans chacun de ses établissements dans le monde. Il offre aux hôtels des outils et des ressources leur permettant d'améliorer leurs performances et de partager leurs bonnes pratiques.

Selon LightStay™, Hilton Worldwide a atteint son objectif quinquennal de réduction de 20% de ses déchets ; le groupe est en bonne voie de diminuer sa consommation énergétique et ses émissions de CO2de 20% ainsi que sa consommation d'eau de 10% d'ici 2013.

En collaboration avec Climate Friendly, un fournisseur de solutions de compensation carbone, Hilton Worldwide a identifié deux premiers bénéficiaires pour son programme de compensation carbone en Asie du Sud-Est. Il s'agit du Projet de régénération de la forêt tropicale à Bornéo et du Projet Foyers de cuisson au Cambodge.

« Les organisations sont de plus en plus soucieuses de l'impact de leur activité sur l'environnement », a déclaré William Costley. « Le programme de compensation carbone mis en œuvre par Hilton Worldwide en Asie du Sud-Est permet aux établissements de mesurer l'impact environnemental de leurs évènements et de compenser cet impact de manière pertinente. »

Voici les hôtels participant à la phase de lancement du programme :

    Conrad Centennial Singapore
    Hilton Singapore
    Hilton Kuala Lumpur
    DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur
    Hilton Petaling Jaya
    Hilton Kuching
    Millennium Hilton Bangkok
    Conrad Bangkok
    Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
    Hilton Pattaya
    Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Pour un complément d'information :

Découvrez Hilton MICE en Asie du Sud-Est

Découvrez le Programme de compensation carbone de Hilton Worldwide en Asie du Sud-Est

À propos du Projet de régénération de la forêt tropicale à Bornéo

Le Projet de régénération de la forêt tropicale à Bornéo (Borneo Rainforest Rehabilitation Project) vise à restaurer les forêts tropicales de Sabah, en Malaisie, et à développer l'espace vital pour les espèces sauvages comme les orangs-outangs, les ours malais, les gibbons, les éléphants pygmées et le rhinocéros de Sumatra, en voie de disparition. En outre, la régénération de la forêt contribuera à abaisser les niveaux de gaz à effet de serre dans l'atmosphère.

À propos du Projet Foyers de cuisson au Cambodge

Le Projet Foyers de cuisson au Cambodge (Cambodian Cookstove Project) est axé sur la production et la diffusion massive d'un foyer de cuisson à haute efficacité énergétique, le New Lao Stove. Près de 90% des Cambodgiens dépendent au quotidien du bois de chauffage et du charbon de bois pour cuisiner leurs repas, ce qui contribue à l'épuisement des ressources forestières. Le New Lao Stove permet d'économiser 22% de bois et de charbon de bois par rapport aux réchauds traditionnels. L'utilisation généralisée du New Lao Stove doit contribuer à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et à préserver les forêts du Cambodge.

À propos de LightStay™

LightStay™ est un système exclusif développé pour calculer et analyser les performances de durabilité. LightStay™ mesure plusieurs paramètres utilitaires et opérationnels tels que l'énergie, l'eau, le carbone, l'aménagement, l'utilisation de produits en papier, les déchets, le stockage de produits chimiques, la qualité de l'air et les transports (liste non exhaustive). De plus, LightStay™ fournit des outils de réseautage social qui permettent aux établissements de communiquer et de partager des informations ; il est doté d'un « calculateur d'impact des réunions » qui évalue l'impact sur la durabilité des réunions ou conférences qui ont lieu dans un établissement. Hilton Worldwide est la première entreprise hôtelière multimarques à faire de la mesure de la durabilité sa marque de fabrique ; elle vient d'obtenir les certifications ISO 9001 et 14001 pour sa gestion de la qualité et de l'environnement – parmi les plus importantes certifications accordées à des bâtiments commerciaux en termes de volume. Rien qu'en 2010, l'entreprise a économisé plus de 74 millions de dollars de coûts en réduisant de 6,6% sa consommation énergétique, de 7,8% ses émissions de carbone, de 19% sa production de déchets, et de 3,8% sa consommation d'eau.www.HiltonWorldwide.com/corporate-responsibility/

À propos de Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide est l'un des plus importants groupes hôteliers au monde, proposant toute la gamme d'hébergements, depuis des centres de villégiature et des hôtels offrant les services complets les plus luxueux en passant par des appartements dédiés aux longs séjours et des hôtels de moyenne gamme. Depuis 93 ans, Hilton Worldwide propose aux voyageurs d'affaires et de loisirs ce qu'il y a de mieux en termes d'hébergement, de service, de confort et de rapport qualité/prix. La société reste fidèle à sa tradition : offrir à ses clients une expérience de séjour exceptionnelle dans toutes ses marques mondiales. Ses marques, qui comprennent Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton et Hilton Grand Vacations, regroupent plus de 3 900 hôtels et propriétés à temps partagé, avec en tout 640 000 chambres proposées dans 91 pays. La société gère également le programme de fidélisation de renommée mondiale Hilton HHonors®. Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter www.hiltonworldwide.com et vous connecter à Hilton Worldwide surwww.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide et www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

À propos de Climate Friendly

Climate Friendly est le premier prestataire australien fournissant des certificats de compensation carbone et d'énergie renouvelable. Fondé en 2003, sa clientèle est mondiale. Son offre complète de services de grande qualité font de Climate Friendly le prestataire de référence de nombreuses organisations dans le monde. www.climatefriendly.com

Photos/Galerie multimédia disponibles: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50428916&lang=fr

Le texte du communiqué issu d’une traduction ne doit d’aucune manière être considéré comme officiel. La seule version du communiqué qui fasse foi est celle du communiqué dans sa langue d’origine. La traduction devra toujours être confrontée au texte source, qui fera jurisprudence.

Contacts

Audrey Wong

Hilton Worldwide Asie-Pacifique

+65 6833 9763

audrey.wong@hilton.com

 

HOUSTON - Thursday, October 4th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it was awarded a License and Process Design Package contract by Jiutai Energy Group (Jiutai) for its Methanol to Olefins (MTO) Recovery Project in Dalu New Area, Zhungeer Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.

KBR’s MTO technology will be used in the recovery process for Jiutai’s 600 KTA ethylene and propylene unit. The recovery process will take 1,800 KTA methanol to the MTO Reactor and convert it. The effluent from the MTO Reactor will then enter KBR MTO Recovery to separate 600 KTA polymer grade ethylene product and propylene product.

“We are pleased with the increased response from clients for KBR MTO Recovery Technology,” said John Derbyshire, president, KBR Technology. “This project builds upon KBR’s more than 60-year history of olefins production and recovery. We are honored that Jiutai has selected KBR MTO Recovery Technology and look forward to delivering superior performance on this milestone project. Asia is one of the fastest growing regions with a very high demand for consumer products made from ethylene and propylene. This process will be key in the production of propylene and ethylene, both very important commodity products in the future.”

Jiutai was established in 2002 and has been listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Singapore (named “China Energy“) since 2006. Jiutai is a National High-technology enterprise, and mainly produce 1,300 KTA methanol and 1,100 KTA diethyl ether (DME) with the production facilities in Linyi, Shangdong; Ordos, Inner Mongolia; Guangzhou, Guangdong; Zhangjiang, Jiangsu; Beijing. Jiutai developed its own DME technology and is the largest DME producer in the world at present.

KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power, industrial, and commercial markets. For more information, visit www.kbr.com.

Contacts

KBR

Zac Nagle, 713-753-3625

Vice President,

Investor Relations and Communications

Investors@kbr.com

 

Marianne Gooch

Director, Corporate Communications

Media Relations Hotline: 713-753-3800

Mediarelations@kbr.com

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HOUSTON - Thursday, October 4th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it was awarded a contract by Statoil Tanzania AS (Statoil) to perform pre-front end engineering and design (pre-FEED) studies for a prospective liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Tanzania, East Africa.

The pre-FEED study is designed to help Statoil further assess the viability of developing an LNG facility to export natural gas from this East African region. The project is expected to be completed during 2013.

“We are excited to be selected by Statoil for this important project,” said Mitch Dauzat, president, Gas Monetization. “KBR looks forward to working together with Statoil to define their LNG concept for Tanzania.”

KBR has been working with Statoil for more than 30 years and has an outstanding record for successful project execution, predominantly for Statoil’s Gas Processing plants.

KBR is a global engineering, construction and services company supporting the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power, industrial, and commercial markets. For more information, visit www.kbr.com.

Contacts

KBR

Zac Nagle, 713-753-3625

Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications

Investors@kbr.com

 

Marianne Gooch, 713-753-3800

Director, Corporate Communications

Mediarelations@kbr.com

BUSINESS WIRE / ME NewsWire - BERLIN - Wednesday, October 3rd 2012

 Phase III Trials of MK-3102 Underway

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced Phase IIb data for MK-3102, the company’s investigational once-weekly DPP-4 inhibitor in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. MK-3102 significantly lowered blood sugar in this 12-week study compared with placebo, with an incidence of symptomatic hypoglycemia that was similar to placebo, in patients with type 2 diabetes. These data were presented today at the 48th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Berlin.

“If approved, MK-3102 would provide a novel, once-weekly treatment option to help reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes,” said lead study author Ira Gantz, M.D., Clinical Research, Metabolism, Merck Research Laboratories.

Study Design

The findings reported today are from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging study designed to evaluate five doses of MK-3102 (0.25, 1, 3, 10 and 25 mg) in patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise.

A total of 685 patients with a mean baseline HbA1c of approximately 8 percent were randomized: 571 patients received MK-3102 at one of the five once-weekly doses (0.25 mg, n=113; 1 mg, n=115; 3 mg, n=114; 10 mg, n=115; 25 mg, n=114) and 114 patients received placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline at 12 weeks compared to placebo across doses. The secondary endpoints were 2-hour post-meal glucose and fasting plasma glucose.

Study Results

MK-3102 significantly reduced HbA1c compared to placebo (p<0.001) from a mean baseline of approximately 8 percent across all doses. In the full study population at 12 weeks, the placebo-adjusted reduction from baseline in HbA1c was 0.71 percent with MK-3102 25 mg; 0.67 percent with 10 mg; 0.49 percent with 3 mg; 0.50 percent with 1 mg; and 0.28 percent with 0.25 mg.

A statistically significant (p<0.001) trend was observed across doses studied for the secondary endpoints of 2-hour post-meal glucose (PMG) and fasting blood glucose (FPG). For 2-hour PMG placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline at week 12 were: MK-3102 25 mg=2.5 mmol/L; 10 mg=2.3 mmol/L; 3 mg=1.9 mmol/L; 1 mg=1.9 mmol/L; 0.25 mg=1.0 mmol/L. For FPG, placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline at week 12 were MK-3102 25 mg=1.2 mmol/L; 10 mg=0.7 mmol/L; 3 mg=0.8 mmol/L; 1 mg=1.1 mmol/L; 0.25 mg=0.1 mmol/L.

In the study, MK-3102 was generally well tolerated with a safety profile that was generally similar to placebo.

Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that affects 366 million people globally, including nearly 26 million people in the U.S., however, based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999-2006, more than 40 percent of patients are not at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) goal of less than 7.0 percent for HbA1c.

“Since the discovery of the DPP-4 inhibitor class, Merck has been actively committed to advancing the science of how to treat type 2 diabetes. We are encouraged by these Phase IIb results in patients with type 2 diabetes, and we are initiating Phase III studies to move MK-3102 forward in the development process,” said Nancy Thornberry, Senior Vice President and Franchise Head, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Merck Research Laboratories.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the possibility that all of the expected synergies from the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; Merck’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation and/or regulatory actions.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Merck

Media

Pam Eisele, +1 908-423-5042

 

Kim Hamilton, +1 908-423-6831

 

Investor

Carol Ferguson, +1 908-423-4465

 

Justin Holko, +1-908-423-5088