By David Hayes, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Dec. 20--EScout, a Lee's Summit-based online marketplace that links business buyers and sellers, announced a deal Thursday to purchase its largest competitor.
The Internet company formed by UMB Bank four years ago purchased Commerce One.net, a large online marketplace owned by Commerce One, a once highflying publicly traded e-commerce software company based in Pleasanton, Calif.
Alexander Kemper, chief executive of eScout, said the acquisition would make eScout the largest business-to-business marketplace in the world. The combined company would have more than 25,000 corporate customers and $2 billion in annual sales. The deal is expected to be completed early next year.
Commerce One.net handled almost 900,000 transactions with gross sales of more than $1.5 billion during the first nine months of the year, the company said. EScout does not disclose sales revenue.
The acquisition includes Commerce One.net's contracts with more than 1,500 companies that buy and sell through the marketplace.
Commerce One, which took a minority ownership interest in eScout in March 2000, increased its existing ownership share as part of the deal. No cash changed hands, Kemper said.
"EScout and Commerce One.net are the two leading exchanges in North America providing supply-chain services to Fortune 2000 clients," Kemper said. "The combination of Commerce One.net's great clients, people and technology with our 25,000 customers ... should provide both Commerce One.net customers and our existing eScout customers with new business opportunities and services."
Mark Hoffman, chief executive of Commerce One, said selling the online marketplace would allow his company to focus on software development. He said the marketplace was set up in 2000 to validate the marketplace concept and showcase Commerce One's software.
Commerce One.net's operations will be moved to Lee's Summit. Kemper said eScout, which has 65 employees, may add a dozen or more employees as a result of the acquisition.
Kemper said the acquisition would accelerate eScout's push for profitability by at least six months. The company now will be cash flow-positive during the first quarter of 2003, he said.
EScout makes money by taking a small percentage of each sale.
Commerce One was once one of the Internet's hottest companies, riding a multibillion-dollar wave as it benefited from hype over the potential for huge profits as corporations moved their business operations online. Investors believed marketplaces would make money by helping corporations save money as they automated the buying and selling process.
Commerce One's bubble burst, however, along with the rest of the Internet economy when those profits didn't materialize. Commerce One once had more than 3,700 employees and now has about 700 employees. The company's stock, traded on Nasdaq, has lost more than 99 percent of its value since peaking in December 1999.
EScout's focus has changed since the company was formed in 1998. Kemper launched the Internet company to provide online purchase services for small and mid-size banks and their customers.
Backed by more than $60 million in venture capital, eScout now focuses on larger, "Fortune 2000" companies.
Kemper said he believed the outlook for the online marketplace business was good. He said eScout signed up more corporate customers during the third and fourth quarters than "anything we've seen in our company's history."
While the business-to-business market was among the biggest losers when the Internet economy failed, Kemper said he believed the industry was poised to grow.
"It's been a very tough world to be in," Kemper said. "Folks overestimate the speed of change in the first three or four years and underestimate the growth 5 or 10 years out." The business-to-business market is about to turn the corner, he said.
As the market matures, Kemper said he believed existing marketplaces would consolidate. The deal with Commerce One, Kemper said, "establishes eScout as a consolidator."
"We fully expect to make a number of significant acquisitions in this space," Kemper said. "We have had discussions with a number of marketplaces."
To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com.
(c) 2002, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
CMRC,
Cool Clint doubles up to clip Chelsea's charge Chelsea's title aspirations suffered yet another body blow as neighbours Fulham struck at the death to claim a point at Craven Cottage. Clint Dempsey was the hero for the hosts, as a thumping far-post header grabbed a share of the spoils with seconds left. The American had poked the Cottagers ahead with just ten minutes on the clock, before Chelsea eventually battled back, Frank Lampard levelling matters. And the Blues midfielder thought he had done enough to claim all three points with a long-range free-kick, before Dempsey rose unmarked to rescue a point. Chelsea are now three points behind league leaders Liverpool after claiming just ten points from a possible 21. But Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari could not fault his players for their effort as he said: "We had six, seven, eight chances to score and got two. They had two, from free-kicks, and scored twice. We had possession, but we made two dangerous mistakes in our box and because of that we've lost two points, it was just incredible. "But we're in a good position, we just need to win games." Chelsea were hoping to follow up their comfortable Boxing Day win over West Brom but Fulham had other ideas. And Roy Hodgson's men took a deserved lead when Dempsey controlled a Simon Davies free-kick and prodded the ball past Petr Cech. Chelsea had started with Didier Drogba up front and Nicolas Anelka on the bench. But the Frenchman was brought on due to an injury to Florent Malouda and Chelsea immediately looked much more threatening, with Mark Schwarzer called into action to deny the substitute and then Lampard in quick succession. The Blues suffered another injury blow before the break, when Alex limped off to be replaced by Ricardo Carvalho. The changes clearly did not have too much of a negative effect as the Blues were level five minutes after the restart. Drogba was the intended target of a Joe Cole ball, but it was Lampard who fired home as the Fulham defence got in a tangle. And Lampard was at it again 20 minutes later, somehow beating Schwarzer with a 30-yard free-kick. The Blues thought they had the points in the bag until Dempsey powered home a Davies corner to earn a share of the spoils. And Fulham boss Hodgson said: "Credit to our players, they didn't lose their heads and they managed to score a wonderful late equaliser. It was a fantastic fighting effort." FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Ethuhu (Andreasen 78), Murphy (Baird 90), Dempsey, Zamora (Nevland 78), Johnson CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Alex (Carvalho 37), A Cole, Deco, Mikel, Lampard, J Cole (Kalou 72), Anelka, Malouda (Anelka 30).
2007 Al Sidra Media LLC
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M2 PRESSWIRE-July 5, 2011-: Gateway Communications to demonstrate pan-African Value Added Services at VAS Africa 2011(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS
RDATE:05072011
Johannesburg, South Africa, -- Gateway Communications, the leading supplier of pan-African telecommunications services , will be showcasing its growing range of value added services (VAS) for ISPs (internet service providers) and African mobile network operators (MNOs) at VAS Africa 2011 from the 5- 6 July , 2011.
The Gateway Communications VAS products offer turnkey solutions, which open up lucrative new revenue streams for MNOs and ISPs in Africa. With its wealth of experience in pan-African voice and data transmission networks, Gateway is the ideal partner to aid the rapid expansion of ambitious voice and data service providers.
Gateways VAS products already include Cibenix, an on device service enabling MNOs to have a strategic presence on their customers' handsets, ranging from smartphones to feature phones. And now, following the success of Gateway Online Voice (their online, secure real time voice platform), Gateway Communications is launching Data on Demand.This offeringisa pre-paid data solution giving ISPs and MNOs the ability to buy capacity with no long term commitments, allowing them toenjoy flexible and comprehensive billing and bandwidth solutions.
Our presence in over 40 African countries, teamed with our rich heritage of successfully delivering critical services that mobile operators depend on to run their networks, makes Gateway Communications the right partner to deliver rapid growth. Our ever expanding VAS solutions are tailored for the African market so we deliver new servicesthat drive revenue for operators, concludes Mike van den Bergh, CEO of Gateway Communications.
The VAS Africa event aims to serve the development needs of African operators to extend and expand their VAS offerings. For more information about Gateway Communications VAS visit: http://www.gatewaycomms.com/carrier/en/products-a-services/value-added-services
To learn more about VAS Africa 2011 go to: http://vasafrica.comworldseries.com/
Visit Gateway Communications at stand 6.
About Gateway Communications
Gateway Communications is the largest provider of carrier solutions in Africa, providing voice and data services to Africas leading mobile operators. With more than 60 transponders of satellite capacity over Africa it manages more connectivity over the continent than any other operator. Moreover, with 24 dedicated teleports, access to multiple landing ports, 17 African offices and teams of local experts, it has more on the ground support than any other operator. Gateway Communications is recognised for setting the standards for tomorrows communications:
Best Pan-African Initiative, AfricaCom Awards, November 2010
Best African Wholesale Offering, Capacity Awards, November 2010
Satellite Service Provider of the Year, GSM Backhaul
Operator of the Year and winner of the First Class Customer Service award, SatCom Star Awards, May 2011
Best Wholesale Service Innovation, Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards, June 2011
To find out more, please visit www.gatewaycomms.com
Contact Information:
Gateway Communications: Tom Tudor, Marketing Director Tom.tudor@gatewaycomms.com +44 20 7173 1734
africapractice: Shannon Atherfold satherfold@africapractice.com +27 11 022 6564
ShannonAtherfold | Consultant | africa practice Tel: +27 (0)11 022 6564 | Mobile: +27 (0)83 721 4978 | Fax: +27 (0)86 538 2832 25 Gleneagles Rd, Greenside, JHB 2193 | PO Box 84354, Greenside 2034, Johannesburg www.africapractice.com
africa practice provides strategic communications, corporate citizenship and environmental consulting services, delivered from regional hub offices across Africa and a coordinating office in London .
((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).
DUBLIN -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bb4532/egypt_information) has announced the addition of the "Egypt Information Technology Report Q2 2011" report to their offering.
The Egypt Information Technology Report features Business Monitor International (BMI)'s market assessment and independent 5-year forecasts to end-2015 covering personal computers and software; semi-conductors, memory chips, integrated circuits and general components; the internet and IT solutions. The report also analyses regulatory changes (licensing, customs and intellectual property protection) and competitive landscapes comparing multinational and national IT companies by products, sales, market share, investments, projects and expansion strategies.
BMI's Egypt Information Technology Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, IT associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the IT industry in Egypt.
Key Benefits
* Benchmark BMI's independent 5-year IT industry forecasts to test other views - a key input for successful budgetary and strategic business planning in the Egyptian IT market.
* Target business opportunities and risks in Egypt's IT sector through BMI's review of latest industry trends, regulatory changes, and major deals, projects and investments in Egypt.
* Assess the activities, strategy and market position of your competitors, partners and clients via BMI's Company Profiles (inc. KPIs and latest activity).
Coverage:
Executive Summary: Summary of BMI's key industry forecasts, views and trend analysis covering IT, regulatory changes, major investments and projects, and significant multinational and national company developments.
Regional Overview: Cross-border analysis of regional markets, commenting on IT penetration (PC and internet) and market growth drivers (IT market size and IT market compound growth).
Market Overview: Structure, size and value of industry sector; overview of industry landscape and key players; assessment of business operating environment and latest regulatory developments.
BMI 5-Year Industry Forecast: Historic data series and 5-year forecasts to end-2015 for all key industry indicators (see list below), supported by explicit assumptions, plus analysis of key downside risks to the main forecast, including:
IT Sector: IT industry value (US$bn); IT sector contribution to GDP (%); value of hardware, software and services industry (US$mn); PC, peripherals and software imports and exports (US$mn); PC, peripherals and software sales (US$mn); number of PCs (000); PCs/100 inhabitants; internet users (000); internet users per 100 inhabitants; broadband subscribers (000); broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
Economy: Economic growth (%); nominal GDP (US$bn); unemployment (%); interest rates (%); exchange rate (against US$).
Competitive Landscape: Full analysis of the competitive landscape within the hardware, software and services sectors.
Company Profiles
Examining the competitive positioning and short- to medium-term business strategies of key industry players. Strategy is examined within the context of BMI's industry forecasts, BMI's macroeconomic views and BMI's understanding of the wider competitive landscape. Latest financial and operating statistics and key company developments are also incorporated within BMI's company profiles, enabling a full evaluation of recent company performance and future growth prospects.
Companies Mentioned:
* IBM Egypt
* Raya Holdings
* Oracle
* HP
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bb4532/egypt_information
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- The following information was released by the Government of Vietnam:
VGP - The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the role of media by adopting an array of policies to facilitate the sector's development, reiterated Deputy PM Nguya'...n Thia'n Nh-n.
Participants to the opening session of the week-long Asia Media Summit, HA Na'(TM)i, May 24, 2011 - Photo: VGP
Deputy PM Nh-n on Tuesday made the affirmation at the opening ceremony of the 8th Asia Media Summit (ASM) in HA Na'(TM)i, which drew the participation of over 600 delegates, including policy-makers and experts, from the Asia-Pacific region.
The Government leader said the application of the latest state-of-the-art broadcasting technologies has enabled radio stations to expand their coverage to more than 99% of Via't Nam's territory while TV services reached 95% of' its land as since 2007.
At present, 67 radio and TV stations across the country offer to the public nearly 200 thematic channels. In addition, cabled TV network has also expanded significantly in the recent years, providing up to 50 domestic and 75 foreign channels.
Broad-band Internet services are now available in 87% of the communes, wards and townships with more than 20 million regular users and all schools across Via't Nam. 3G telecom services have been widely applied in the country since 2009 and 4G services are running on a trial basis, with the aim of enabling people, particularly young ones, to have access to mobile radio and TV programs, the Internet and other services from their mobile phones.
Deputy PM Nh-n said that the robust development of science and technology, particularly the increasing application of digital technologies has produced both challenges and opportunities to the broadcasting industry. Thus, the Vietnamese Government has worked out specific orientations and steps to be taken for the broadcasting industry along with instructing the trial application of advanced technologies in this service.
In 2009, the Government approved a plan to digitize the broadcasting transmission system to which Via't Nam will basically put an end to terrestrial TV transmission and broadcasting using analogue technologies by 2020, he said, adding that the plan signaled the country's determination to speed up digitization in line with global technological tendencies in the area.
The 8th AMS would serve as a platform for local and foreign broadcasting policy-makers and experts share experience and seek partners and cooperative opportunities in the current digital era.
The 8th AMS is scheduled to wrap up on May 26. The next summit will be held in Thailand in May, 2012.
By Ha*[pounds sterling]i Minh
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -- Wright Express Corporation (NYSE: WXS) announced today that it will report first-quarter 2011 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Michael Dubyak, Chief Executive Officer, and Steve Elder, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call that morning at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's results.
The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet and can be accessed at the Investor Relations section of the Wright Express website, www.wrightexpress.com. The live conference call also can be accessed by dialing (866) 334-7066 or (973) 935-8463. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for approximately three months.
About Wright Express
Wright Express is a global provider of business payment processing and information management solutions. The company's fleet, corporate, and prepaid payment solutions give customers unparalleled security and control across a wide spectrum of business sectors around the world. The company's subsidiaries include Wright Express Financial Services, TelaPoint, Pacific Pride, Wright Express International including Australia, Wright Express Prepaid Cards Australia and Wright Express Fuel Cards Australia. Wright Express and its subsidiaries employ more than 850 associates in five countries. For more information about Wright Express, please visit www.wrightexpress.com.
BioClinica™, Inc., (NASDAQ: BIOC), a global provider of clinical trial management services, will be presenting at the Sidoti & Company's Semiannual New York Micro-Cap Conference on June 25, 2010 at 8:40 a.m. EDT at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City (see also Clinical Trial Research).
Mark L. Weinstein, President and CEO of BioClinica will review the company's robust suite of clinical trial services and provide an update on its business. About BioClinica BioClinica, Inc. is a global provider of integrated, technology-enhanced clinical trial management services. BioClinica supports pharmaceutical and medical device innovation with imaging core lab, internet image transfer, electronic data capture, interactive voice and web response, clinical trial management, and clinical supply chain forecasting and optimization solutions. BioClinica services maximize efficiency and manageability throughout all phases of the clinical trial process. With more than 20 years of experience and over 2,000 successful trials to date, BioClinica has supported the clinical development of many new medicines from early phase trials through final approval. BioClinica operates state-of-the-art, regulatory-body-compliant imaging core labs on two continents, and supports worldwide eClinical and data management services from offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.bioclinica.com. Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, the Company's statements regarding trends in the marketplace and potential future results are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the consummation and the successful integration of current and proposed acquisitions, the timing of projects due to the variability in size, scope and duration of projects, estimates and guidance made by management with respect to the Company's financial results, backlog, critical accounting policies, regulatory delays, clinical study results which lead to reductions or cancellations of projects, and other factors, including general economic conditions and regulatory developments, not within the Company's control. The factors discussed herein and expressed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstance. You should review the Company's filings, especially risk factors contained in the Form 10-K and the recent Form 10-Q.
Keywords: Clinical Trial Research, Therapy, Treatment, BioClinica Inc.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
An executive briefing on agribusiness for June 29, 2009, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities.
VIETNAM-JAPAN PACT SEEN AS OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPORTERS
HANOI -Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, said a senior official yesterday.
Le Trieu Dung, from the Ministry of Industry and Trades Multilateral Trade Policy Department, said that the biggest advantage that the agreement would bring would be preferences for farm produce and garments and textiles, as Japan vowed to remove taxes for 83.8 per cent of the commercial value of Vietnamese agricultural products within 10 years, Japan's highest rate in any ASEAN country.
CHINA'S 2009 COTTON ACREAGE TO FALL 11 PCT: ASSOCIATION
BEIJING - China's cotton planting area in 2009 is estimated to drop 11 per cent from last year, according to a report on the official website of the China Cotton Association (CCA).
CCA made the estimate based on its survey in May. It said that China's cotton acreage is predicted to reach 5.21 million hectares this year, down 12 per cent from its forecast in April.
BEIJING COS BUY TAIWAN FARM PRODUCE AT EXHIBITION
BEIJING - A group of 29 Beijing companies bought up all the farm produce on offer from central Taiwan at an exhibition Sunday, valued at 700,000 yuan (US$102,447).
The companies, including supermarkets, chain restaurants and online sellers, also agreed with the exhibitors to hold Taiwan fruit festivals, tea sales and food festivals in Beijing.
CREDITORS WIND UP 40 COS IN AUSTRALIAN FARM GIANT TIMBERCORP
MELBOURNE - Creditors of troubled Australian agricultural projects manager Timbercorp Ltd (ASX:TIM) have voted to have 40 companies within the group wound up.
Timbercorp creditors met in Melbourne on Monday for the second time to consider Timbercorp administrator Mark Korda's recommendation that 40 companies within the group - excluding the managing entity Timbercorp Securities Ltd - be placed in liquidation because they had no money and could not continue to trade.
TAIWAN ENTREPRENEUR FARMER TOUTS HIS RICE ONLINE
TAIPEI - Will a Taiwanese housewife buy rice from a farmer who pushes his products in the "Kuso" way online? Probably not.
However, this is not a problem for Hsieh Ming-chien, an electronics factory worker-turned-farmer in Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien, who has succeeded in touting on the Internet the rice he produces and has put his name on the map as a farmer-blogger.
ANDRA PRADESH FARM SECTOR TO GET EXTRA HOURS OF FREE POWER
HYDERABAD - Free power supply to India's agriculture sector in Andhra Pradesh will be enhanced from seven to nine hours a day from July 15.
Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy issued instructions to this effect to the Andhra Pradesh state's transmission and distribution firms during review of the power sector at a two-day conference of District Collectors that began on Friday.
MALAYSIA TO TACKLE PLANTATION SECTOR'S FOREIGN WORKERS DEPENDENCE
TAIPING (Malaysia) - Malaysian plantation industry's dependency on foreign workers is expected to be tackled by 2020, Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said.
He said this was because the Malaysian government was in the midst of intensifying efforts to lure young people to fill the vacancies in the industry.
IRRIGATION CAN PARTLY MAKE UP FOR INDIA'S DELAYED MONSOON:MONTEK
NEW DELHI - Delayed monsoon is a matter of concern, but India can withstand its adverse impact to some extent on the strength of irrigation, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on Friday.
"If you will have a bad monsoon, it will affect agriculture. Some of that effect can be countered because there is a lot of irrigation. The country can withstand drought... even if agriculture production goes down a bit during the Kharif, it can be made up in Rabi," he told reporters.
TASMANIAN TIMBER WORKERS WELCOME NEWS OF POSSIBLE GUNNS' PARTNER
HOBART - Timber workers are hailing the announcement of a potential joint-venture partner for Gunns Ltd's (ASX:GNS) proposed A$2.2 billion (US$1.776 billion) Tasmanian pulp mill.
Gunns announced on Monday it has agreed to proceed with one company to develop a joint-venture agreement for the project, and is moving forward with the preferred partner on that basis.
CHINA WILLING TO WORK WITH TAIWAN TO TACKLE DOWNTURN: OFFICIAL
BEIJING - A Chinese official said here Sunday that China is willing to join hands with Taiwan to get over difficulties at a time when the impact of the global financial crisis still persists.
Zheng Lizhong, executive deputy director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks during a meeting with heads of the delegations of Taichung City and Taichung, Changhua and Nantou counties of Taiwan.
VIETNAM'S RICE EXPORTS GROW - EVEN IN DRY ECONOMY
HANOI - As a sole exception to the downward trend of export activities in general and agricultural products in particular, Vietnamese rice exports have maintained consistent, steady growth in both volume and value since the beginning of the year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first six months of this year, the country exported 3.8 million tonnes of rice, bringing home US$1.8 billion, up 25 per cent over the same period last year.
VIETNAM'S SEAFOOD EXPORT VALUE DOWN, INDUSTRY FACES DIFFICULTIES
HANOI - Vietnam earned US$320 million from seafood exports in June, bringing the total export value in the first half of the year to almost US$1.7 billion, a year-on-year decline of more than 11 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
The European Union remains Vietnam s largest seafood importer with 357 million USD, making up more than 26 per cent, followed by Japan.
INDIAN BANKS CAN GIVE MORE RELIEF TO FARMERS: RBI
MUMBAI - India's public sector banks have been authorised to give more relief to farmers under the debt relief scheme, provided the lenders do not ask the Government to bear the losses.
Under the debt relief scheme, called One Time Settlement (OTS), farmers were given debt relief to the extent of 25 per cent of their loans, if they pay 75 per cent of their debt to the banking sector. The scheme is for loans that were overdue on December 31, 2007 and remained unpaid until February 29, 2008.
INDIA'S FERTILISER MINISTRY PROMISES TIMELY SUPPLY OF FARM NUTRIENTS
NEW DELHI - India's Fertiliser Ministry on Friday unveiled its 100-day action plan that promises steps for two major stakeholders -- farmers and the industry -- to ensure "timely availability" of farm nutrients as well as "quick disbursal of subsidy".
Unveiling the agenda here, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M K Alagiri said, "(The) Fertiliser Monitoring System will be upgraded to ensure timely availability of fertilisers and quick disbursal of subsidy."
MAYOR, MAGISTRATES TO PROMOTE TAIWANESE PRODUCE IN BEIJING
TAIPEI - Heads of the local governments of Taichung City, Taichung County and Changhua County departed for Beijing Friday to promote agricultural products from central Taiwan.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu, Taichung Magistrate Huang Chung-sheng and Changhua Magistrate Cho Poh-yuan headed for Beijing aboard a direct charter flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
SOUTH KOREA'S FARM COOPERATIVE BIS RATIO TOPS 12.5%
SEOUL - South Korea's farmers' federation said Sunday that its capital adequacy ratio may have reached 12.5 per cent thanks to efforts by member cooperatives to create fresh funds.
A total of 1 trillion won (US$778 million) worth of fresh funds has been generated as of Friday following a capital fund drive that began in May, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) said in a press release.
GUNNS MAY HAVE SECURED JV PARTNER FOR TASMANIAN PULP MILL
MELBOURNE - Australian woodchipping company Gunns Ltd (ASX:GNS) says it has a potential joint-venture partner for its A$2.2 billion (US$1.777 billion) Tasmanian pulp mill as it continues to negotiate finance for the project.
"Over the past six months, Gunns has progressed a detailed process to identify partners for potential participation in the Bell Bay pulp mill," the company said in a statement on Monday.
TASMANIAN OPS FACING "UNACCEPTABLE" FINANCIAL LOSS: PAPERLINX
SYDNEY - Australian Paper manufacturer PaperlinX Ltd (ASX:PPX) says a review of its Tasmanian operations has found the business is facing an "unacceptable" financial loss.
PaperlinX chief executive Tom Park said the group will work with Tas Paper employees, customers, government and its lenders to "produce more positive future outcomes" for the business.
FUMIGATION TREATMENT PLANT HELPS TAINAN MANGO EXPORTS TO JAPAN
TAIPEI - A fumigation treatment plant has played a big role in the success in a Tainan County town's efforts to export Irwin mango exports to Japan, cutting down the time it takes to process the fruit before shipping it overseas.
Mango growers in the Tainan County town of Yujing said that in the past, Taiwan had mainly exported Chin Huang mangoes, a yellow-skinned mango, because they could be stored for a longer time than the more popular Irwin mango, with its sweet fragrance and attractive red color.
INDONESIA'S CORN PRODUCTION CONSTANTLY RISING
JAKARTA - Indonesia`s corn production has been constantly increasing, especially since the crops are easy to grow.
Indonesia`s corn production so far this year has reached 16.47 million tons, and last year only 16 million tons, secretary general of the National Corn Council Maxdeyul Sola said in Jakarta Friday.
(C) Asia Pulse Pte Ltd.
CONTACT:
Asia Pulse Production Centre
Phone: (612) 9322 8634
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M2 PRESSWIRE-2 September 2008-Stockwire.com: (OTCBB:GNAU) General Automotive Co. just released some important news.(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
RDATE:02092008
(OTCBB:GNAU) General Automotive Co.- General Automotive Announces Joint Venture Operating Terms
A dedicated Chat Room for (OTCBB:GNAU) General Automotive Co. has been created at STOCKWIRE.com to discuss this news event.
Visit the following link to begin chatting with your fellow shareholders: http://www.stockwire.com/chat ---------------------------------------------------------- (OTCBB:GNAU) General Automotive Co.
Tuesday September 2, 7:45 am ET Acquisition Focused Automotive Company and Notable Ceramics Research Firm Join Forces in Automotive Fuel Cell and Sensor Technology Venture
ORLANDO, Fla.-General Automotive Company , a North American provider of parts, accessories and advanced technology for the automotive industry, announces the operating agreement terms for their newly created joint venture named Advanced Composite Technology, LLC , per the Company?s recent 8-K filing denoting such in regard to its definitive agreement with SenCer, Inc.
General Automotive and SenCer recently formed the ACT joint venture to develop, commercialize and market SenCer?s groundbreaking UltraTemp? ceramic composite materials for accelerating the development of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly fuel cell technologies.
The joint venture also intends to advance the development and commercialization of next-generation oxygen sensors, which represent a significant part of the Company?s current business, which generated total annual revenues of $15.3 million in 2007.
ACT?s groundbreaking technology solves the two most persistent problems in fuel cell design; cost and durability, by replacing expensive platinum conductors with co-fired proprietary ceramic conductive layers. The technology will also enable the design of more sophisticated oxygen sensors to help maximize fuel economy and minimize exhaust emissions for motor vehicles worldwide.
General Automotive President and CEO Joseph DeFrancisci commented, ?Backed by extensive field test data supporting remarkable thermal properties and the bonding relationship with engineered oxide, conductive metals and ceramics coatings from SenCer?s breakthrough technology UltraTemp?; we believe this new joint venture will accelerate commercial development of potential industry-changing devices in the automotive sensor and fuel cell technology markets globally.?
Joint Venture Operating Terms with Commercial Viability Timeline
On July 22, 2008, General Automotive Company and SenCer, Inc. entered into an Operating Agreement which sets forth the regulations, terms and conditions under which Advanced Composite Technology, LLC , the Joint Venture will be operated.
The Operating Agreement provides that GAC and SenCer shall each hold 50% membership interests in the Joint Venture. Initially, GAC shall contribute services and incur such costs and expenses as it shall deem necessary to determine the commercial viability of the Joint Venture?s business, of which services have an agreed-upon value of $200,000.
Profile for General Automotive Co.
General Automotive Company provides original equipment and aftermarket automotive parts, mobile electronics, and related automotive products in the United States and internationally. The company primarily co-manufactures and supplies DVD players, monitors, back up camera systems, iPod holders, and other products and accessories. It also offers a suite of automotive engine management parts. General Automotive Company serves auto manufacturers, vehicle processing centers, and distributors through its own sales force, independent sales representatives, and independent distributors. It has a joint venture agreement with SenCer, Inc. to develop, commercialize, and market SenCer's groundbreaking U...
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VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- AmeriGas Propane, Inc., general partner of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:APU), announced today that the company has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Bumstead liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage terminal located near Phoenix, AZ to Plains LPG Services, L.P. for approximately $52 million. The Partnership expects to realize a gain on the sale of approximately $48 million. The 3.5 million barrel underground storage facility provides LPG storage for the western U.S. As part of the transaction, AmeriGas will retain the right to store propane for its retail operations under a long-term storage agreement.
Eugene V. N. Bissell, chief executive officer of AmeriGas, said: "We are extremely pleased with the agreement reached with Plains to sell the Bumstead terminal. The proceeds of the sale of the terminal will be used for general partnership purposes."
David L. Lugar, vice president of supply and logistics for AmeriGas, said, "While Bumstead will remain an important storage location for AmeriGas retail operations in the western U. S., divestiture of the facility will enable us to focus our resources on our core businesses." The transaction is expected to close within 90 days, subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions.
AmeriGas Partners is the nation's largest retail propane marketer, serving nearly 1.3 million customers from over 600 locations in 46 states. UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI), through subsidiaries, owns 44% of the Partnership and individual unitholders own the remaining 56%.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements which management believes to be reasonable as of today's date only. Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management's control. You should read the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results. Among them are adverse weather conditions, price volatility and availability of propane, increased customer conservation measures, the capacity to transport propane to our market area and political, economic and regulatory conditions in the U. S. and abroad. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to release revisions to its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today.
Comprehensive information about AmeriGas is available on the Internet at http://www.amerigas.com.
IRVINE, Calif. -- Westec InterActive, the leader in video-based business intelligence solutions, today announced its new family of iVR intelligent video recorders, which deliver breakthrough digital video surveillance performance based on advanced technologies that digitally capture and archive audio and video.
Among the iVR's key stand-out features are the flexible recording options, the online account management system, and the enterprisewide device management capabilities. Available now, Westec's iVR is available in three models: iVR3000; iVR6000; and iVR9000. Each model is designed to fit the needs of every industry including commercial businesses, industrial facilities, housing developments and government municipalities.
"Building on Westec's position as the leader in video-based business intelligence solutions and the pioneer of interactive security, we are pleased to announce the next generation of digital video surveillance products for all types of intelligent business monitoring," said Mitch Johnson, president of Westec InterActive. "These products are taking digital video recording to new heights. The new Westec iVR delivers unprecedented flexibility and functionality in all types of intelligent business monitoring including security, operations, marketing and other business functions."
Flexible Recording Options
The Westec iVR series gives a variety of recording options, from 24-hour recording to recording only when a predefined event occurs. Events can include camera motion detection, HVAC abnormalities, or other inputs that can be set to trigger recording, such as alarm inputs.
Advanced features are available to expand the iVR's capabilities to include voice prompting, no false-alarms engine, full integration with POS, ATM, Access Control and more.
Remote Account Management System
Westec offers Web-based management of the iVR as well as dynamic IP addresses, eliminating the need for a static IP address and offering support for every type of connectivity including dial up, cable, DSL and more.
Designed for either live or unsupervised remote operation, Westec's iVR provides compressed, streaming video with adequate bandwidth so authorized company officials can remotely access any of their locations and watch video footage and review activity and exception reports from a password-protected Web interface, virtually anywhere they have Internet access. This technology gives corporate managers the ability to monitor and manage data from a single remote location.
Enterprisewide Managed Devices
Westec's advanced network management platform introduces the concept of digital video recorders as manageable devices. For the first time, customers can rest assured that their remote digital recorders are operating correctly 24 hours a day.
The iVR allows constant communication between Westec's Central Command Centers (c3) and every customer system installed on the network. With this type of capability, the remote digital recorder is no longer an isolated island of information but part of an enterprisewide robust video and data network providing invaluable information for security, marketing and operations functions.
Techs & Specs
Westec's family of iVRs is now available. They offer 7.5 ips to 30 ips per video channel with audio integration for two to 16 channels. Built around Westec InterActive's server client and Web interface, the iVR family provides user-friendly, secure digital recording solutions with months of audio and video archival capacities. The top-of-the-line iVR9000 uses MPEGA and MJPEG compression technology for high-quality video viewing and recording with minimal network bandwidth requirements, and it offers expansion for 16 audio voice down zones.
About Westec InterActive
Westec delivers interactive and digital video-based business intelligence solutions that enhance operational performance and are proven to positively impact the bottom line. The pioneer of intelligent video surveillance, Westec combines the latest in digital video technologies with industrywide experience in delivering solutions that help improve marketing, sales, operations, security, and business planning issues for America's biggest retailers, restaurant chains, industrial facilities and other businesses.
For more information on Westec InterActive, visit online at www.westecnow.com.
ATLANTA, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth is expanding its support of voice and data convergence by providing advanced multimedia communications for customers with the Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 from Nortel. This new customer premises equipment solution complements voice and data communications consolidation by delivering innovative collaboration and productivity applications to the desktop.
"Customers are consolidating voice and data networks for added efficiencies and capabilities, realized by new applications over secure, reliable transport," said Joan Kratz - vice president, BellSouth Business Marketing. "This new solution supports applications that bring tangible value to emerging technologies like voice over IP."
Central Piedmont Community College, located in Charlotte, is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering over 100 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. The school is in the process of migrating its voice and data network and was hesitant to invest additional capital on its legacy voice equipment.
"BellSouth showed us how we could seamlessly integrate the Nortel MCS 5100 into our network, providing the support the school needs without demanding significant re-investment in hardware. Our faculty and staff are more productive and efficient by using the teleconference, collaboration, and presence applications that it offers," said Celese Ward - manager, Instructional Technology Services, Central Piedmont Community College. "In fact, our ultimate goal is to make these features available to the student body, and to deploy the video applications as well."
The customer premises equipment operates on a SIP-based platform (Session Initiation Protocol -- the protocol used to enable next-generation applications) and supports a comprehensive list of advanced multimedia applications. Customized call management and advanced routing capabilities allow greater mobility by providing users with anytime accessibility, from almost any device. Enhanced collaboration is made possible through sharing services such as file exchange, Web pushing and white boarding. With Meet-Me Media Conferencing, Video Conferencing, and messaging capabilities like Instant Messaging (IM), every call can be turned into a productive multi-party work session. While the MCS 5100 supports the convergence of voice and data networks, it can be deployed in a traditional, TDM (time division multiplexing) environment as well, bringing the features, benefits and applications associated with IP to customers not yet ready for full migration.
"By deploying the Nortel IP multimedia solution, BellSouth's customers will be able to collaborate in the manner best-suited for their circumstances, whether via videoconferencing, voice, IM or text messaging across the most convenient media for end-users -- with high reliability. Adherence to SIP- based industry standards means this solution is designed to accommodate current and future applications in a multi-vendor environment, which is critical for enterprises seeking a hosted IP multimedia solution," said Malcolm Collins - president, Enterprise Networks, Nortel.
The Nortel Multimedia Communications Server 5100 delivers voice, call management, desktop video calling, collaboration tools, video capabilities with multi-point video conferencing, Instant Messaging capabilities and Web application collaboration that allows applications and documents to be shared in real time.
About BellSouth
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider.
Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R).
More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/ .
CONTACT: Media, Todd Smith of BellSouth, +1-404-829-8723, or todd.smith@bellsouth.com
Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html
