Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Application Window Now Open for Human Resource Business Professional and Human Resource Management Professional Exams

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Tuesday, April 30th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The HR Certification Institute (the Institute), the internationally recognized independent certifying body for the HR profession, is now accepting applications for the Human Resource Business Professional (HRBP℠) and Human Resource Management Professional (HRMP℠) exams to be offered in September 2013. The HRBP and HRMP credentials are designed for HR professionals primarily practicing outside of the United States and complement the Institute’s existing offerings, and applicants must meet eligibility requirements set forth for their selected credential in order to sit for the exam.

The HRBP and HRMP focus on globally relevant HR concepts that are common across geographic locations and offer a way for HR professionals who have mastered their country’s HR practices and regulations to prove their skills in both the strategic and technical aspects of the profession.

HRBP: validates professional-level core HR knowledge and skills and demonstrates mastery of generally accepted technical and operational HR principles.

HRMP: validates management-level core human resource knowledge and skills and demonstrates mastery of generally accepted HR principles in strategy and policy development as well as service delivery.

The Institute’s portfolio of advanced professional credentials – held by HR professionals in 100 countries – now consists of the HRBP, HRMP, Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®), Professional in Human Resources (PHR®), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®) and California Certifications.

The Fall testing period will take place 1-30 September. Fees for the computer-based exams, which are offered at Prometric test centers throughout the world, range from $275- $375 USD. For more information on HR Certification or to apply for these exams, please visit www.hrci.org/global.

About the HR Certification Institute                                                                    

The HR Certification Institute (HRCI), established in 1976, is the internationally recognized, independent certifying organization for the Human Resources Profession. The HR Certification Institute is the global leader in developing rigorous exams to demonstrate mastery and real-world application of forward-thinking HR practices, policies and principles. Today, more than 125,000 HR professionals in 100 countries proudly maintain the HR Certification Institute’s credentials as a mark of high professional distinction. The HR Certification Institute offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced professional credentials for HR professionals worldwide.

We invite you to learn more at www.hrci.org/global.

Contacts

HR Certification Institute

Margaret Brown, +703-898-9443

Margaret.Brown@hrci.org









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/7390/en

KCI Announces Global Rollout of Novel Skin Graft Harvesting Tool

US Wound Care Physicians Introduced to CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System

SAN ANTONIO - Tuesday, April 30th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kinetic Concepts, Inc. today announced that its CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System will be showcased at a company-sponsored epidermal grafting education summit April 30–May 1 in Denver, Colo. More than 100 wound care providers will attend to discuss advancing outcomes of care with KCI medical technologies, including the new CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System.

The CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System offers an automated, precise and reproducible process of harvesting autologous non-damaged epidermal tissue.

“The CelluTome™ System allows for a simplified and convenient way to harvest epidermis and provide autologous epidermal micrografts,” said Robert Kirsner, MD, PhD, professor and vice chairman, Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and chair, Steifel Laboratories. “Our experience, to date, confirms harvesting with minimal, if any, pain and scarring and, most importantly, the ability to heal patients’ wounds.”

Epidermal grafting has been clinically demonstrated to aid closure of acute and chronic wounds. This new skin grafting platform will enable wound care physicians to harvest epidermal grafts while minimizing donor site complications. The product is designed to consistently and reliably harvest epidermis at the DE junction1, which allows skin grafting without the need for donor site anesthesia. The epidermal micrografts harvested with the CelluTome™ System can be used in conjunction with KCI V.A.C.® Therapy.

“The CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System is unlike anything KCI has really offered before,” said Ron Silverman, MD, chief medical officer, KCI. “Our V.A.C.® Therapy System promotes tissue granulation. The epidermal micrografts harvested with the CelluTome™ System promote healing and skin rejuvenation over freshly granulated tissue with minimal damage to the donor site. For patients, this means that we aren’t creating a new wound to save another.”

“The CelluTome™ System makes grafting accessible to a broader range of clinicians and patients than ever before,” said Joe Woody, president & CEO, KCI. “This new product is a complementary and innovative addition to our existing product portfolio of transformational healing solutions. We are looking forward to launching it with physicians in Denver.”

The epidermal grafting education summit will introduce attendees to the science and provide evidence supporting epidermal grafting. Attendees will learn about the process for epidermal harvesting with the CelluTome™ System and review physician experiences and case studies to date. Peer-to-peer discussion about the role of epidermal grafting in the continuum of care will also be discussed.

In conjunction with this event, KCI will present the CelluTome™ System at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) on May 2–5 in Denver. The CelluTome™ Epidermal Harvesting System will be available in the US in June 2013.

For more information about KCI, please visit www.kci1.com.

About KCI

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (KCI) is a leading global medical technology company devoted to understanding, developing and commercializing innovative, high-technology transformational healing solutions for customers and patients in more than 25 countries around the world. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI is committed to advancing the science of healing and positively impacting patient care by developing customer-driven innovations to meet the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. Proprietary KCI negative pressure technologies have revolutionized the way in which caregivers treat a wide variety of wound types. The V.A.C.® Therapy System has been used on more than 7 million wounds worldwide. Additional information about KCI and its products is available at www.KCI1.com.

The DE (dermoepidermal) junction is the undulating basement membrane zone between superficial (stratum papillare) and basal layer (stratum basale) of the epidermis.

Illustrated Dictionary of Podiatry and Foot Science by Jean Mooney © 2009 Elsevier Limited. All rights reserved.

Contacts

KCI Corporate Communications

Mike Barger, +1-210-255-6824

Email: mike.barger@kci1.com

Barclaycard Germany Signed Multi-Year Contract for Debit and Credit Cards with Gemalto

AMSTERDAM - Monday, April 29th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces that it will provide the swift and seamless migration of Barclaycard Germany’s entire portfolio representing more than 40 credit and in addition three debit products. Under this multi-year agreement, Gemalto will provide the bank with a complete end-to-end solution encompassing personalization, and fulfillment from its local service center in Germany.

Barclaycard is part of the global Barclays banking group and this new contract further extends Gemalto’s partnership with one of the world’s leading payment service providers. Barclaycard has an impressive track record for innovation and an ambitious roadmap for the development of new products and services. Gemalto will provide extensive support for value added services, including the deployment of contactless payment technology.

“Gemalto is a preferred partner for the Barclays Group and we are confident that Gemalto will provide us good support for our growth aspirations in the German market,” said Tim Martens, Head of Business Development for Barclaycard Germany. “There is a strong belief across all functions that we will benefit from the international experience and the global service model as well.”

“Migrating their full card portfolio to Gemalto demonstrates the confidence Barclaycard Germany has in our banking solutions,” said Christoph Siegelin, Vice President of Sales for Financial Services & Retail at Gemalto. “Just as Barclaycard UK has done for many years, the German office is trusting Gemalto to deliver the benefits of EMV-protected payment to their customers.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2012 annual revenues of €2.2 billion and more than 10,000 employees operating out of 83 offices and 13 Research & Development centers, located in 43 countries.

We are at the heart of the rapidly evolving digital society. Billions of people worldwide increasingly want the freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain and work – anytime, everywhere – in ways that are enjoyable and safe. Gemalto delivers on their expanding needs for personal mobile services, payment security, authenticated cloud access, identity and privacy protection, eHealthcare and eGovernment efficiency, convenient ticketing and dependable machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. We develop secure embedded software and secure products which we design and personalize. Our platforms and services manage these products, the confidential data they contain and the trusted end-user services made possible.

Our innovations enable our clients to offer trusted and convenient digital services to billions of individuals. Gemalto thrives with the growing number of people using its solutions to interact with the digital and wireless world.

For more information visit www.gemalto.com, www.justaskgemalto.com, blog.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

Contacts

Gemalto Media Contacts:

Peggy Edoire, +33 4 42 36 45 40

Europe, Middle East & Africa

peggy.edoire@gemalto.com



Pierre Lelievre, +65 6317 3730

Asia Pacific

pierre.lelievre@gemalto.com



Nicole Smith, +1 512 758 8921

North America

nicole.smith@gemalto.com



Ernesto Haikewitsch, +55 11 5105 9220

Latin America

ernesto.haikewitsch@gemalto.com



Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/7379/en

Monday, April 29, 2013

Systagenix and Sorbion Announce Strategic Partnership for Super Absorbent Wound Dressings

GATWICK, England - Monday, April 29th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Systagenix (Gatwick, U.K.) and Sorbion (Senden, Germany) announced today that they have signed a distribution agreement for a superabsorbent wound dressing to be marketed under Systagenix branding.

Superabsorbent dressings are one of the fastest growing categories in the advanced wound care market providing a solution for fluid management in moderate to highly exuding wounds.

Craig Kennedy, Systagenix VP Business Development said: “We are very pleased to announce this partnership. Sorbion is a market leader in the superabsorbent category, and Systagenix will have access to their Hydration Response® Technology, which helps provide an ideal environment for moist wound healing. The agreement allows Systagenix to distribute a superabsorbent dressing within specified territories under our own brand.”

Olaf Ohm, Sorbion Director for Global Sales & Marketing Operations said: “This co operation represents an excellent opportunity for both companies. Systagenix is established in the global wound care market and Sorbion’s Hydration Response® Technology provides wound care stakeholders with a simple and cost-effective range of solutions to improve treatment results. We are looking forward to co-operating with Systagenix in the longer term and reaching greater numbers of patients around the world.”

Sorbion is a German, owner-operated company based in the Münsterland region specialising in the development, production and sale of high-quality medical products for modern wound treatment.

Established in 2008, following the acquisition of Johnson & Johnson’s advanced wound care business, Systagenix supplies advanced wound dressings into over 70 countries worldwide.

Information on Systagenix wound care can be found at www.systagenix.com. For information on Sorbion wound care please contact www.sorbion.com

Contacts

VSPR for Systagenix

Vicky Stoakes

+44-(0)7747-534-519

vicky@vs-pr.com

$1 Million International Contest to Save Children Extended to May 31, 2013 Announces the Caplow Children’s Prize

MIAMI - Monday, April 29th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Applicants seeking to win $1 million to save children’s lives from preventable causes now have until May 31, 2013, to submit their proposals to the Caplow Children's Prize. Applications have already been received from nearly 50 different countries around the world, but the extra time will allow even more participation.

The rules to the Children’s Prize are simple: Each applicant must propose a plan to save the lives of children who would otherwise die before age five. The lives to be saved must be in immediate danger, and the identity of the beneficiaries must be provided to the donor after the plan is carried out. Plans should balance credibility with the greatest number of lives to be saved within two years. The winner will receive US $1 million to execute their vision. All submitted materials must be in English, and the entire application process can be completed online at www.childrensprize.org. The Children's Prize is open to any person or organization worldwide.

In 2011, almost seven million children around the world died before their fifth birthday from preventable causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, or infection.

“The death of a child is a universal tragedy,” says engineer and entrepreneur Dr. Ted Caplow, creator of the Children’s Prize, “and this contest strives to harness the power of the communications age to create new leverage for philanthropy in this area.”

As a recent father of triplets, Dr. Caplow's journey through the world of fetal medicine had a deep impact on him. Struck by the enormous concentration of resources - medical, financial, and human - that were drawn into assuring the survival of premature infants, he decided to make child mortality the focus of this Prize competition.

Finalists for the Caplow Children's Prize will be selected by an expert judging committee of pediatricians, public health experts, and social entrepreneurs drawn from Harvard University, the University of Miami, Emory University, Ashoka, Agora, and other high-performing organizations.

Contacts

The Children’s Prize

Aleyda K. Mejia, +1 305-776-0902

info@childrensprize.org

Covidien Reports Second-Quarter Results

DUBLIN - Monday, April 29th 2013

    Net sales up 5% (up 7%, excluding foreign exchange rate movement); Medical Devices sales up 4% (up 6%, excluding foreign exchange rate movement)
    Second-quarter diluted GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.93; excluding specified items, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.12

(BUSINESS WIRE/ ME NewsWire)-- Covidien plc (NYSE: COV) today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 (January - March 2013). Second-quarter net sales of $3.10 billion increased 5% from the $2.95 billion reported in the second quarter a year ago. Foreign exchange rate movement lowered the quarterly sales growth rate by two percentage points.

Second-quarter 2013 gross margin of 57.6% declined 0.3 percentage points from the 57.9% of the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, excluding the specified items shown on the attached quarterly Non-GAAP reconciliations table on page 7, second-quarter 2013 gross margin of 57.6% was 0.5 percentage points below that of a year ago. The decline was largely due to the negative impact of the reactor shutdown and unfavorable raw material costs in the pharmaceuticals segment, partially offset by favorable mix and productivity improvements.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2013 were above those of the comparable quarter of the year before. This was due to expenses associated with recent acquisitions, increased separation costs, the medical device tax and spending on growth initiatives, primarily to expand the Company’s sales and marketing presence in emerging markets. Research and development (R&D) expense in the second quarter of 2013 represented 5.2% of net sales, versus 5.7% of sales in the second quarter of 2012. Excluding expense related to a license agreement, second-quarter 2012 R&D spending represented 5.3% of net sales.

In the second quarter of 2013, the Company reported operating income of $596 million, versus $609 million in the same period the year before. Second-quarter 2013 adjusted operating income, excluding the specified items on the attached table, was $688 million, compared with $652 million in the previous year. Second-quarter 2013 adjusted operating income, excluding the specified items, represented 22.2% of sales, versus 22.1% of sales a year ago.

The second-quarter 2013 effective tax rate was 21.9%, versus an effective tax rate of 13.6% in the second quarter of 2012. The second-quarter 2013 adjusted tax rate, excluding the specified items on the attached table, was 17.6%, versus 17.1% in the second quarter a year earlier.

Diluted GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.93 in the second quarter of 2013, versus $1.01 per share in the comparable quarter last year. Second-quarter 2013 adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding the specified items on the attached table, were $1.12, versus $1.05 a year ago.

For the first six months of fiscal 2013, net sales of $6.16 billion were 5% above the $5.84 billion in the first half of the previous year, with foreign exchange rate movement lowering the six-month sales growth rate by two percentage points.

The Company reported operating income of $1.25 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2013, virtually unchanged from that of the comparable period the year before. Six-month 2013 adjusted operating income, excluding the specified items on the attached table on page 11, was $1.37 billion, versus $1.36 billion in the first six months of the prior year. Six-month 2013 adjusted operating income, excluding the specified items, represented 22.3% of sales, versus 23.2% a year ago.

The effective tax rate was 20.5% for the first six months of fiscal 2013, versus an effective tax rate of 15.2% in the same period of 2012. Excluding the specified items on the attached table, the adjusted tax rate for the first six months of 2013 was 17.8%, versus 17.2% in the first six months of 2012.

For the first six months of 2013, diluted GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.96, versus $2.02 in the year-ago period. Excluding the specified items on the attached table, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.22, versus $2.17 in the comparable period last year.

“Our second-quarter performance was paced by broad-based top-line growth and an increase in earnings per share,” said José E. Almeida, Chairman, President and CEO. “Once again, in our Medical Devices segment, strong results in stapling, vessel sealing and neurovascular products were the key drivers of our growth. We also delivered a significant sales increase in Pharmaceuticals, led by the excellent performance of both generic and branded products.

“While our reported performance was negatively affected by unfavorable exchange rate movement, operational growth was in line with our expectations and we again generated rapid gains in emerging markets,” Mr. Almeida said. “Looking forward, we plan to make the investments necessary to enhance our growth, while continuing to deliver a solid earnings performance. Our robust pipeline of new products, increased market opportunities and capital flexibility should enable us to meet the challenges of the global healthcare marketplace and deliver on our expectations.”

BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS

Medical Devices sales of $2.09 billion in the second quarter were 4% higher than the $2.00 billion in the comparable quarter of last year. Operational sales growth was 6%, as foreign exchange rate movement reduced the quarterly sales growth rate by two percentage points. Growth was driven by new products and increased volume. Operationally, second-quarter sales in Endomechanical rose moderately from those of the prior year, fueled by good progress for stapling products that was led by our innovative Tri-Staple™ reloads. In Soft Tissue Repair, sales were slightly higher than those of a year ago, paced by synthetic mesh products and sutures. Sales of Energy products were well above the prior year’s level, primarily due to the continued excellent performance of vessel sealing products, which again registered a double-digit quarterly sales gain. Sales in Oximetry & Monitoring climbed sharply from those of the year before, spurred by a strong double-digit advance for monitors and sensors. Airway & Ventilation sales were above those of last year, chiefly reflecting a significant rise in sales of ventilators, aided by the Newport acquisition. Vascular products posted higher quarterly sales, as decreased sales of compression products were more than offset by strong gains for neurovascular and increased sales for peripheral vascular and chronic venous insufficiency products.

For the first six months of fiscal 2013, Medical Devices sales rose 6% to $4.22 billion from $3.99 billion in the comparable period a year ago. Foreign exchange rate movement reduced the quarterly sales growth rate by two percentage points.

Pharmaceuticals sales of $573 million in the second quarter were up 13% from last year’s second-quarter sales of $508 million. Sales of Specialty Pharmaceuticals climbed sharply from those of a year ago, primarily due to outstanding growth for generic products, reflecting the first-quarter launch of Methylphenidate HCl ER tablets which accounted for $62 million in sales, coupled with a good performance for EXALGO® (hydromorphone HCl) ER tablets. Sales of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients were considerably above those of the previous year, largely attributable to a substantial increase for narcotic products. Sales of Contrast Products were notably lower than those of the second quarter of 2012, due to decreased sales of Optiray™ in the United States. Sales of Radiopharmaceuticals were lower than in the prior-year second quarter.

For the first six months of fiscal 2013, Pharmaceuticals sales advanced 6% to $1.06 billion from $998 million a year ago. The increase was primarily attributable to growth for Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Foreign exchange rate movement lowered the quarterly sales growth rate by one percentage point. The Company remains on track for the mid-2013 spin-off of the Pharmaceuticals business.

Medical Supplies second-quarter sales of $439 million were 1% above the $434 million reported in the comparable quarter of 2012, as increased sales of Nursing Care products were partially offset by lower sales of SharpSafety™ and OEM products.

For the first six months of fiscal 2013, sales of Medical Supplies, at $873 million, were 2% above last year’s $858 million, led by higher sales of Nursing Care products.

Other                                   In the second quarter of 2013, Covidien purchased approximately 3.2 million ordinary shares under its previously announced share buyback program.

FISCAL 2013 OUTLOOK On May 3, 2013, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Covidien plans to release financial results for fiscal 2010, 2011, 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, all adjusted for the planned spin-off of the Pharmaceuticals segment. On that date, the Company will announce its 2013 guidance, excluding Pharmaceuticals. Covidien will also announce fiscal 2013 guidance for Mallinckrodt plc on that date.

ABOUT COVIDIEN Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2012 revenue of $11.9 billion, Covidien has 43,000 employees worldwide in 70 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The Company will hold a conference call for investors today, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. This call can be accessed three ways:

    At Covidien’s website: http://investor.covidien.com
    By telephone: For both “listen-only” participants and those participants who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the U.S. is 866-202-3048. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is 617-213-8843. The access code for all callers is 22122758.
    Through an audio replay: A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. on April 26, 2013, and ending at 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2013. The dial-in number for U.S. participants is 888-286-8010. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 617-801-6888. The replay access code for all callers is 14102844.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release contains financial measures, including operational growth, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted operating margin and free cash flow, which are considered “non-GAAP” financial measures under applicable Securities & Exchange Commission rules and regulations.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s definition of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. The Company defines free cash flow as net cash provided by continuing operating activities less capital expenditures.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to predict. The Company generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate management’s financial and operational decision-making, including evaluation of Covidien’s historical operating results, comparison to competitors’ operating results and determination of management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’s operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Covidien's business.

Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the Company’s reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the Company’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the tables accompanying this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements contained in this communication that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management's current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or Company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, our ability to effectively introduce and market new products or keep pace with advances in technology, the reimbursement practices of a small number of large public and private insurers, cost-containment efforts of customers, purchasing groups, third-party payors and governmental organizations, intellectual property rights disputes, complex and costly regulation, including healthcare fraud and abuse regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, manufacturing or supply chain problems or disruptions, rising commodity costs, recalls or safety alerts and negative publicity relating to Covidien or its products, product liability losses and other litigation liability, divestitures of some of our businesses or product lines, our ability to execute strategic acquisitions of, investments in or alliances with other companies and businesses, competition, risks associated with doing business outside of the United States, foreign currency exchange rates and environmental remediation costs. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2012, and in subsequent filings with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

To view the full report & tables kindly click here                                                                               

Contacts

Covidien plc

Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372

Vice President

Public Relations

bruce.farmer@covidien.com



Coleman Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343

Vice President

Investor Relations

cole.lannum@covidien.com



Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363

Senior Director

Investor Relations

todd.carpenter@covidien.com

Saturday, April 27, 2013

ZTE First-Quarter Net Profit Rises 35.9% as Operational Review Drives Rebound

Improvement in cash flow and profitability sustained as company focuses on higher margin contracts and maintains cost controls



SHENZHEN, China - Saturday, April 27th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, reported a 35.9% increase in net profit in the first-quarter, as the company’s operational review continued to deliver improvements in cash flow and profitability.

Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company rose to RMB205 million in the first quarter, and basic earnings per share increased to RMB0.06. Operating cash flow in the first quarter significantly improved compared to a year earlier. ZTE’s gross profit margin has expanded for two consecutive quarters, as the company strengthened efforts to control costs. Revenue dropped 2.8% to RMB18.09 billion.

Since the second half of 2012, ZTE has stringently enforced measures to focus resources on key products and markets, target higher-margin contracts, improve cash flow management and reduce costs, under the company’s operational review. This has helped the company achieve a more optimal product and customer mix, and an improved cost structure. The company achieved combined savings of RMB 350 million in selling, administration and research costs in the first quarter compared with a year earlier. The results of the operational review, combined with the disposal gain, allowed the company to overcome the negative effects from currency fluctuation and asset write-downs to record higher net profit.

Looking ahead to the next reporting period, equipment investment by the telecommunications industry is expected to be focused on broadband conversion of wireless and wireline networks and the construction of ancillary facilities. The Group will commit its efforts to product innovation and solution-based operations with a strong focus on mainstream products and improve R&D efficiency. The strategy for populous nations and mainstream carriers will be reinforced, as we seek to concentrate on markets in which we claim strengths while vigorously expanding in the government, enterprise and service segments. The Group will continue to implement the settlement system to facilitate resource management and control, so as to refine cost management and enhance operating efficiency.

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. 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 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). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

Contacts

ZTE Corporation

Margrete Ma, +86 755 26775207

ma.gaili@zte.com.cn



Edelman PR

Mark Lee / Andres Vejarano

+852 2837 4756 / 2837 4735

mark.lee@edelman.com

andres.vejarano@edelman.com







Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/7367/en

Citi to Acquire ING's Custody and Securities Services Business in Central and Eastern Europe with €110 Billion in Assets Under Custody

LONDON - Friday, April 26th 2013

(BUSINESS WIRE/ ME NewsWire)-- Citi Securities and Fund Services has entered in to a definitive agreement to acquire ING’s custody and securities services business in seven Central and Eastern European (“CEE”) markets currently representing €110 billion in assets under custody. ING is a premier provider of custody services in CEE, offering services to many of the world's largest financial institutions.

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval and clearances, includes ING’s local custody and securities services businesses in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Once implemented, the addition of Bulgaria will extend Citi’s custody network coverage to over 95 markets and its proprietary custody network will be expanded to 62 markets.

The acquisition enables Citi to offer investors, intermediaries and issuers comprehensive securities services in the region through a strengthened country presence combined with access to Citi’s global banking network. The transaction will also provide clients with further processing efficiencies and enable consistency of service across multiple markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals, Citi and ING expect this transaction to close in the first quarter 2014.

“With this acquisition, Citi has further strengthened its franchise in six important markets and has added Bulgaria to its proprietary network. We are now even better positioned to serve local and global investors, intermediaries and issuers with the best access, insight and expertise in the region,” said Sanjiv Sawhney, EMEA Head of Securities and Fund Services, Citi. “We look forward to delivering the same level of exceptional service that ING has given its clients in the CEE region.”

“ING was one of the first agents to identify the region’s rich opportunities, rapidly establishing an office network that provided unparalleled geographic coverage and local expertise,” said Neeraj Sahai, Head of Securities and Fund Services, Citi. “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance our securities and fund services capabilities and extending our leadership position in emerging markets.”

Through its Securities and Fund Services business, Citi’s industry-focused experts provide institutional issuers, intermediaries and investors worldwide with tailored solutions delivered through proven global platforms that feature modular, open architecture. With $13.5 trillion of assets under custody and the industry’s largest proprietary network, clients can leverage Citi’s local market expertise and global reach to extract value across the entire investment value chain.

###

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About Citi Transaction Services

Citi’s Transaction Services comprises Securities and Fund Services and Treasury and Trade Solutions, and is an integral part of Citi’s Institutional Clients Group. Transaction Services offers integrated cash management, trade and securities and fund services to multinational corporations, financial institutions and public sector organizations around the world. With a network that spans more than 97 countries, Citi’s transaction services supports over 75,000 clients. As of the first quarter of 2013, transaction services held on average $415 billion in liability balances and $13.5 trillion in assets under custody.

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Amy Cayzer

Tel: +44 (0)20 7508 3082

Email: amy.cayzer@citi.com

Pure IP Selects Sonus to Enable Microsoft Lync 2013 Qualified Enterprise Solutions

Sonus SBC 1000, SBC 2000 Session Border Controllers Chosen to Enhance Pure IP's Microsoft Lync 2013 SIP Trunking Service

WESTFORD, Mass. & LONDON - Friday, April 26th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

Key Takeaways:

    Pure IP selected Sonus as its sole session border controller provider for SIP trunking deployments in Microsoft Lync environments
    Pure IP was the first United Kingdom-based provider to obtain updated SIP trunking qualification for Microsoft Lync 2013
    Pure IP has successfully deployed more than 80 Microsoft Lync SIP trunking solutions in multiple countries, either directly or via supporting key partners
    As enterprise Unified Communications grows, session border controllers will be critical in helping companies realize interoperability, service quality and security required when implementing multi-vendor Internet Protocol networks
    The Sonus SBC portfolio provides the industry’s broadest end-to-end SBC solution, delivering Session Initiation Protocol-enabled applications from the enterprise headquarters to the branch office

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonus Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONS), a global leader in SIP communications, and Pure IP, a telecommunications company specializing in Unified Communications and voice delivered over IP networks, today announced that the Sonus SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 Session Border Controllers have been selected by Pure IP as a foundational component of Pure IP’s Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking service, both at the core and at the edge of the network for enterprises deploying Microsoft Lync 2013.

Pure IP was the first United Kingdom based provider to obtain the updated SIP trunking qualification for Microsoft Lync 2013. Pure IP was also the first qualified as a SIP trunk provider for Microsoft Lync 2010. SIP trunking, coupled with Pure IP's local number availability, allows corporations of all sizes to have access to a complete, integrated solution for one or multiple sites and countries.

The Sonus SBC 1000 and Sonus SBC 2000 are also Microsoft Lync 2013 qualified for session border controller (SBC) and survivable branch appliance (SBA) deployments. The updated qualification means that Pure IP’s customers adopting Lync 2013 or migrating from Lync 2010 can be confident of experienced network support for all of Lync's new features.

SBCs are the critical access technology to enable customers to unify disparate Unified Communications (UC) architectures across an enterprise. The Sonus portfolio provides the industry’s only end-to-end SBC solution delivering SIP-enabled applications from the enterprise headquarters to the branch office.

Pure IP provides secure SIP trunking services from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, delivering secure, feature-rich, high-quality service over a public or private Internet connection to help enable successful Microsoft Lync deployments across different locations. Enterprises can leverage Pure IP's SIP trunking service and Sonus’ SBC 1000 or SBC 2000 at the core of their networks to manage interoperability and provide high levels of network security in Microsoft Lync environments.

SIP trunking is the technology that next generation network providers rely on as a more flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) services. Microsoft Lync Server 2013 allows end-users to access these services along with on-net calling and improved conferencing services through the core features available in Lync.

Pure IP selected Sonus’ SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 as customer demarcation devices due to built-in resilience, ease of implementation, ease of management and ease of integration into customer networks. In addition, the SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 have been "performance verified" by Miercom, an independent test lab specialized in testing networking and communications equipment.

A Microsoft Gold Communications Partner, Sonus helps enterprises optimize Microsoft Lync voice deployments by securing SIP trunking services at the network border and providing a seamless flow of SIP-based multi-vendor media for UC deployments. Access to UC applications such as instant messaging (IM), collaboration, conferencing and voice empowers enterprises to communicate with speed and simplicity.

Quotes:

“Pure IP has successfully deployed more than 80 Microsoft Lync SIP trunking solutions in multiple countries, either directly or via supporting key partners. The combined Pure IP and Sonus offering delivers superior value to our customers who seek feature-rich, secure end-to-end communications for their SIP trunking and Microsoft Lync networks,” said Gary Forrest, managing director, Pure IP.

"Pure IP's decision to partner with Sonus is further validation that enterprises can rely on the SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 as an enterprise session border controller for their Lync deployments," said Serge Adam, vice president of EMEA, Sonus. “The Sonus SBC portfolio is purpose-built for the most demanding network requirements so customers can have peace of mind that their selection is a solid one."

Other Facts:

    The Sonus SBC 1000 and Sonus SBC 2000 have received Microsoft Lync 2013 qualification in several categories, including session border controller (SBC), survivable branch appliance (SBA), E-911 ELIN gateway and enhanced gateway. The SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 have also received Microsoft Office 365 Exchange Unified Messaging qualification.
    Pure IP provides 24/7 service and support to customers in 13 countries via its network operation centers in central London and Auckland's North Shore
    Sonus is positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the "Magic Quadrant for Session Border Controllers," published October 9, 2012 by Gartner, Inc.
    The SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 have been performance verified by Miercom. To access the Miercom report visit http://www.sonus.net/miercom/

Additional Resources:

    Calculate SIP trunking savings with the Sonus SIP trunking ROI calculator
    View complete information about the Sonus SBC portfolio at www.sonus.net
    Download the Webtorials report, “Enterprises Place 2013 Unified Communications Bets: How Many Horses in This Race?”
    Download the Webtorials report, “Mobile Unified Communications: The Emergence of 4D Convergence”
    Sonus published the third edition of “Session Border Controllers for Dummies” reference book in partnership with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Download a free copy here

Tags:

Sonus, SONS, Pure IP, Microsoft, Microsoft Lync, Webtorials, Unified Communications, UC, SIP, SIP trunking, cost savings, security, employee productivity, interoperability, savings report, study, trends, session border controller, SBC

About Sonus:

Sonus Networks, Inc. is a leader in IP networking with proven expertise in delivering secure, reliable and scalable next-generation infrastructure and subscriber solutions. With customers in over 50 countries across the globe and over a decade of experience in transforming networks to IP, Sonus has enabled service providers and enterprises to capture and retain users and generate significant ROI. Sonus products include session border controllers, policy/routing servers, subscriber feature servers and media and signaling gateways. Sonus products are supported by a global services team with experience in design, deployment and maintenance of some of the world's largest and most complex IP networks. For more information, visit www.sonus.net.

About Pure IP:

Pure IP is a telecommunications company specializing in Unified Communications and voice delivered over IP networks focused on serving business customers of all sizes. Pure IP is a certified partner of many of the leading voice applications and products including Microsoft Lync. These certifications provide customers with the assurance and security that they are supported by a qualified engineering team when deploying voice changes in their network.

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

The information in this release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Although Sonus believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report are forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Sonus' business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of Sonus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent Sonus' views only as of the date on which such statement is made, and should not be relied upon as representing Sonus' views as of any subsequent date. While Sonus may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Sonus specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.

Contacts

For Sonus Networks:

Wendy Tullo, +1 972-301-4978

wtullo@sonusnet.com



or

Lois Paul & Partners:

Anastasia Efstratios, +1 617-986-5873

anastasia_efstratios@lpp.com

Amonix Achieves World Record for PV Module Efficiency in Test at NREL

SEAL BEACH, Calif. - Friday, April 26th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amonix Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems, announced today that it has successfully converted more than 36% of direct sunlight into electricity. A module showcasing Amonix’s latest-generation CPV technology has been in outdoor testing from late February to April of this year. During this period, the Amonix module demonstrated a peak operating efficiency of 36.2% measured on March 14, 2013 with a DNI of 876 W/m2, an ambient temperature of 16°C and instantaneous wind speed of 1 m/s, breaking the previous 34.2% peak efficiency set by Amonix in May 2012.

Over the entire testing period, the Amonix module earned a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outdoor efficiency rating of 34.9%, a new world record, under international standard operating conditions for concentrator photovoltaics of 900 W/m2, 20°C ambient temperature and 2m/s wind speed, breaking the previous 33.5% rated efficiency record also set by Amonix in May 2012. The module uses Boeing Spectrolab 40% high efficiency solar cells and Amonix’s proprietary CPV technology to achieve world record performance.

This result continues Amonix’s long history of leading the world in solar module efficiency, having been the first to convert over 1/3rd of the sun’s energy in May 2012, and the first to break 30% module efficiency in 2011.

“Amonix’s proprietary technology platform allows us to continue driving rapid performance improvements in our CPV system,” said Vahan Garboushian, Amonix Founder and CTO. “The advances we have demonstrated over the last 2 years have all been with the same generation 40% cells, demonstrating an unprecedented cell to module conversion efficiency of greater than 90%. With improvements that are underway in cell efficiency and additional advances in our module technology, we will continue to drive efficiency higher over the coming years.”

About Amonix:

Amonix is the recognized leader in designing and manufacturing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems that require no water in power production, use land better, and produce more energy per acre than any other solar technology. With the longest track record of real-world CPV deployments in the industry, Amonix is proven to be the best choice for solar power systems in sunny and dry climates. Amonix is located in Seal Beach, California. For more information, visit http://www.amonix.com.

Contacts

Amonix

Megan Gormley

562-200-7730

mgormley@amonix.com

PR@amonix.com



Friday, April 26, 2013

SensiumVitals® pilot study demonstrates significant improved patient care and hospital cost savings

ABINGDON, England - Thursday, April 25th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toumaz Limited (AIM: TMZ), a pioneer in low cost, ultra-low power wireless communications technology, announces the results of its pilot study for its SensiumVitals® disposable wireless vital signs monitoring solution. The study exceeded expectations with SensiumVitals® detecting all patients who experienced deterioration in their condition between routine ward observation rounds, preventing more serious clinical problems and saving an average of $9,004 per patient, per stay.

The pilot study at Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, USA demonstrated that the use of SensiumVitals® on patients in the general wards of the hospital facilitated early intervention and avoided the escalation of their conditions and prevented costly admissions to intensive care or high dependency units. It also contributed significantly to shorter hospital stays.

Independent analysis of the cost benefits of the SensiumVitals® solution concluded that the average cost saving for each patient receiving early intervention was $9,004 per hospital stay. Also, these patients had on average a six day reduction in their hospital stay compared to a matched comparison group. This research and analysis was conducted by researchers from the Analysis Group of Boston and Université du Québec à Montréal.

SensiumVitals® is an ultra-light weight, wireless, wearable, FDA-cleared medical device. It enables caregivers to rapidly detect changes in temperature, heart and respiration rates. These small patches contain pre-gelled ECG electrodes which are attached to the patient’s chest to provide continuous monitoring of vital signs that can be viewed on screen at the ward’s central station, or a portable web enabled device. SensiumVitals® can be set to send alerts automatically to doctors’ and nurses’ pagers or smart phones and to seamlessly deliver patient vital signs data to a hospital’s Electronic Medical Records System. Of the nurses who used the device, 85% reported that continuous monitoring of vitals was useful.

Dawna Hendel, Chief Nursing Officer at Saint John’s, commented:

“Healthcare costs are a concern for everybody, as well as patient outcomes. Instead of getting patients’ vital signs every four or six hours, this allows us to identify changes early. Ideally, we would roll it out to all of the medical-surgical units and the emergency room. It really does improve care for patients.”

Anthony Sethill, Toumaz CEO, added:

“The efficacy of this type of patient monitoring device in clinical practice and its ability to immediately alert medical professionals to patient deterioration has the potential to deliver tangible improvements in patient outcomes, reduce hospital stays and aid in safeguarding patient health.

“The success of this pilot study clearly indicates that significant cost savings can be made by a hospital deploying SensiumVitals® across its general medical and surgical wards.”

Following its success in the pilot study, SensiumVitals® is anticipated to receive CE marking during 2013, and the Group is in advanced planning for a pilot with a private hospital group in the UK.

The results of Toumaz’s pilot study have been published here: www.toumaz.com

About Toumaz (www.toumazltd.com)

Toumaz is a pioneer in low cost, ultra-low power wireless technologies for a wide range of markets including medical monitoring and internet connected consumer devices. The recent acquisition of Frontier Silicon brings operational scale and expertise together with a leadership position in digital and networked audio markets.

Contacts

Toumaz Limited

Anthony Sethill, Chief Executive Officer

Steve Atkinson, Senior VP & GM Healthcare

+44 (0) 207 391 0630



or

College Hill

Katherine Granger/Gemma Howe

+44 (0) 207 866 7855

Toumazhealthcare@collegehill.com

SILICA Rolls Out Power 'n More Design Support Strategy

Investment will boost technical support for power system designs at device and system levels across every phase of the design cycle

POING, Germany - Thursday, April 25th 2013

(BUSINESS WIRE/ ME NewsWire)-- SILICA, an Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) company, today announced a strategy to establish itself as the power experts in European semiconductor distribution. The new strategy is being rolled out under the brand Power ’n More, and builds on Silica’s strong ability to support end-to-end designs both at system and device level.

Explains Karlheinz Weigl, Silica’s regional vice president of sales for Central Europe and Executive Sponsor for Power ’n More, “With the continuing trend for energy saving in electronic systems, designers need more and more support to align with the relentless wave of new regulations and directives. To date, engineers have been hampered by a lack of in-depth expertise and know-how across the distribution channel.”

“Through Power ’n More we plan to establish ourselves as the ‘Power Experts’ among European customers and suppliers. To attain this goal, we have invested heavily in training and education to instill in staff at all levels a culture focused on a detailed understanding of the needs of our power customers.”

Training and education is just the start of an integrated approach that lies at the heart of the Power ’n More strategy. As power experts, Silica will develop the facilities to support designers from system specification, architecture definition and topology, through to assistance on best-fit device selection, PCB layout or EMC analysis. In doing so, the company is to put extensive resources at design engineers’ disposal providing its 14 dedicated power field application engineers with simulation technology, backed by five fully equipped power labs across Europe, which will be launched in 2013. As with the company’s successful Core ’n More microcontroller initiative, specific resources will be deployed in focus countries such as Germany, Italy, the UK, France and the Nordic region.

Silica application engineers will combine power expertise with their in-depth knowledge of specific application areas, for example in industrial electronics, home automation, identification, lighting and other growth sectors. This means that Silica’s technical support can guide customers from inspiration to production, regardless of the industry they work in. In-house resources are to be complemented by a ‘Platinum’ network of independent power systems consultants, each able to provide customers with turnkey solutions for power projects.

Power ’n More is fully supported by Silica’s extensive line card featuring most of the top 10 power IC suppliers, including Analog Devices, Diodes, Infineon, International Rectifier, Maxim Integrated, Microchip, NXP, ON Semiconductor, Renesas, Rohm, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments. The strategy builds on Silica’s expertise in programmable logic, MCU/MPU, analogue and lighting design support.

About Silica

Silica, an Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) company, is one of the leading semiconductor distributors in Europe. Silica accelerates its customers’ success by connecting 25 technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 15,000 customers and providing in-depth design support and cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For more information, visit www.silica.com.

Contacts

SILICA (Avnet EMG GmbH)

Kerstin Kurth, Director Communications

+49 (0)8121 777-340

kerstin.kurth@silica.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

UPS to Acquire Hungarian Healthcare Logistics Company CEMELOG

Acquisition Enhances UPS’s Growing Global and European Healthcare Network

ATLANTA & BUDAPEST, Hungary - Thursday, April 25th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced it will purchase Hungary-based pharmaceutical logistics company, CEMELOG Zrt, as part of its ongoing global growth and investment strategy. The acquisition further strengthens UPS’s healthcare reach and expertise in Europe, enabling comprehensive, compliant services to customers in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries across the increasingly important markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

UPS expects to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2013, subject to customary closing conditions. Per company policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Based outside of Budapest, CEMELOG has offered customers across Central and Eastern Europe tailor-made healthcare logistics solutions for the last fourteen years. Backed by a strong regional network, advanced warehousing management systems, full quality assurance services and an experienced workforce, the company helps healthcare clients maximize supply chain efficiencies, meet regulatory requirements and deliver products reliably and securely. CEMELOG’s customers include some of the most recognized healthcare brands in the world.

“This acquisition is a continuation of our ongoing growth strategy across our business units and allows us to create innovative solutions for our customers that leverage UPS’s global network,” said Scott Davis, UPS Chairman and CEO. “It will position us well to meet the needs of healthcare companies in a key geographic location as they strive to regionalize logistics operations as a way to increase efficiencies.”

“This is a tremendous development for our company,” said Éva Magyari, CEMELOG Chief Executive Officer. “The sale serves the best interests of our employees and customers as it enables us to join a premier brand and global leader in healthcare logistics.”

The acquisition adds three additional facilities of approximately 255,000 square feet (24,000 square meters) of healthcare distribution space to UPS’s current European network. The announcement follows the opening of three new dedicated healthcare facilities across Asia in October 2012 and the expansion of five facilities across North America in early 2013. UPS now operates more than 6.4 million sq. ft. (nearly 595,000 square meters) of dedicated healthcare space in 41 facilities worldwide.

UBS is acting as financial advisor to UPS.

UPS delivers value to healthcare companies through a broad portfolio of specialized freight and small package transportation and distribution services. UPS’s healthcare network offers services such as temperature-sensitive handling, geographic-specific regulatory compliance, monitoring and security, kitting and labeling, as well as order management and accounts receivable. Services across all locations are accessible via one global IT order management platform. UPS helps healthcare manufacturers meet stringent and often complex regulatory requirements, provides flexibility for a changing business environment and reliably serves an increasingly global customer base.

For more information on UPS’s broad healthcare logistics capabilities, visit: www.ups.com/healthcare.

UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight, the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at www.UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at www.blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit www.pressroom.ups.com.

Contacts

UPS Corporate Public Relations

Ivette Lopez, 404-828-8113

ivettelopez@ups.com



or

UPS Europe Public Relations

Carsten Helssen, 32 2 7769832

Carsten.helssen@europe.ups.com

Gemalto First Quarter 2013 Revenue

ME Newswire / Business Wire

AMSTERDAM - Thursday, April 25th 2013

    Revenue up +9% at constant exchange rates, growing in all segments
    Double-digit revenue increases in Secure Transactions and in Security
    Excellent performance of Platforms & Services, up +29% at constant exchange rates

Revenue figures in this document are for ongoing operations1 and variations are at constant exchange rates except where otherwise noted. Revenue figures including contribution of assets held for sale and variations at historical rates are provided in the appendix of this document. All figures presented in this press release are unaudited.

Regulatory News:

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 - GTO), the world leader in digital security today announces its revenue for the first quarter of 2013.

First quarter 2013 Ongoing operations (€ in millions)
                     

Mobile Communication
                     

Machine-to- Machine
                     

Secure Transactions
                     

Security
                     

Patents
                     

Total first quarter 2013
                     

Total first quarter 2012

Revenue
                     

239
                     

45
                     

143
                     

91
                     

0
                     

518
                     

483

Year-on-year variations at constant exchange rates
                     

+4%
                     

+3%
                     

+13%
                     

+21%
                     

n.m.
                     

+9%
                     
                                                                                                                                                                       

Olivier Piou, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “First quarter growth extends last year’s strong performance. The Platforms & Services activity carries on its fast development, delivering almost half of the quarter’s revenue growth. We continue to build on the long-term contracts in place and add new clients who want to secure mobile access to their services. Electronic identity programs deployed by governments modernizing their services remain on their outstanding trajectory, driving Security growth to +21%. Sales of high-end products to mobile network operators continue to expand and are expected to accelerate over the year as additional LTE and mobile payment services are launched. With this good start, we are on track to deliver on our strong 2013 outlook.”

Basis of preparation of financial information

Ongoing operations

For a better understanding of the current and future year-on-year evolution of the business, the Company provides revenue from “ongoing operations” for both 2013 and 2012 reporting periods.

The adjusted income statement for ongoing operations excludes, as per the IFRS income statement, the contribution from discontinued operations to the income statement, and also the contribution from assets classified as held for sale and from other items not related to ongoing operations.

In this publication reported figures for ongoing operations only differ from figures for all operations by the contribution from assets held for sale.

Appendix 3 bridges the revenue for ongoing operations to the revenue for all operations.

Historical exchange rates and constant exchange rates figures

Revenue variations are at constant exchange rates except where otherwise noted.

The Company sells its products and services in a very large number of countries and is commonly remunerated in currencies other than the Euro. Fluctuations in exchange rates of these other currencies against the Euro have a translation impact on the reported Euro value of the Company revenues. Comparisons at constant exchange rates aim at eliminating the effect of currencies translation movements on the analysis of the Group revenue by translating prior year revenues at the same average exchange rate as applied in the current year.

To view the full report and tables please click here.

Contacts

Gemalto

Investor Relations

Gabriel Rangoni, +33 6 1426 6956

gabriel.rangoni@gemalto.com



or

John Lineberger, +33 6 1243 6304

john.lineberger@gemalto.com



or

Corporate Communication

Isabelle Marand, +33 6 1489 1817

isabelle.marand@gemalto.com

ExxonMobil Marks World Malaria Day with Renewed Commitment to Combatting Malaria

ExxonMobil has provided more than $110 million in funding and support; reaching 83 million people since 2000

IRVING, Texas - Wednesday, April 24th 2013

    Support to continue in 2013 with $10 million in grants for the fight against malaria
    ExxonMobil-supported programs have distributed 13.1 million bed nets, 1.7 million top-line malaria treatments and 942,000 rapid diagnostic tests over the past 13 years

(BUSINESS WIRE/ ME NewsWire)-- On the eve of World Malaria Day, ExxonMobil announced its next round of ExxonMobil Foundation grants to organizations working hard to combat malaria.

The new grants support the lifesaving malaria programs of leading global organizations, including Malaria No More, Africare, the United Nations Foundation, USAID, Jhpiego, Population Services International, UNICEF and the Medicines for Malaria Venture. ExxonMobil is also supporting a number of these organizations’ World Malaria Day events across Africa, including Malaria No More’s World Malaria Day Concert and Ceremony in Cameroon and Grassroot Soccer’s World Malaria Day soccer tournaments in Nigeria, Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, among others.

“Through our longstanding work in Africa, ExxonMobil has witnessed firsthand the devastating health and economic impacts of malaria,” said Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “We are building on our efforts over the past 13 years to support innovative programs to stop the spread of this preventable disease and save lives.”

Over the past decade, the global community has made impressive strides against malaria. Thanks to increased awareness and wider distribution of bed nets, diagnostics and treatments, deaths from malaria have fallen by more than 25 percent since 2000. However, much work remains as global funding for malaria slows, threatening to reverse the progress made against this disease.

ExxonMobil is committed to helping this progress continue. As one of the leading private-sector investors in malaria, ExxonMobil has provided more than $110 million in grants and other support since 2000. Recognizing that no single approach is sufficient, ExxonMobil funds a range of interventions and efforts, including research, advocacy, treatment and prevention to ensure a comprehensive response. Each grant supports specific solutions that are filling gaps in the fight against malaria. ExxonMobil also leverages its internal expertise to support organizations across the malaria field.

“Corporations have a key role to play in fighting malaria,” said Dr. Regina Rabinovich, ExxonMobil Malaria Scholar-in-Residence at Harvard University. “The private sector provides resources, internal expertise and institutional knowledge that help amplify the impact of malaria programs and, ultimately, save lives.”

Organizations that ExxonMobil supports have been instrumental in the important advances made against malaria over the past decade. To date, ExxonMobil’s funding has helped to distribute more than 13.1 million bed nets, 1.7 million top-line malaria treatments and 942,000 rapid diagnostic tests. ExxonMobil has also supported the training of more than 250,000 health care workers to ensure these interventions are used effectively. In total, ExxonMobil’s malaria assistance has reached an estimated 83 million people in Africa and the Pacific Rim.

ExxonMobil focuses on funding programs that are making a difference on the ground right now. For example, a recent study found that ExxonMobil grantee Malaria No More’s “Knock Out Malaria” communications program in Cameroon has increased bed net use significantly, encouraging approximately 298,000 adults and 221,000 children to start sleeping under a net. This is just one of the many success stories in which individuals and communities have come together to champion the fight against this disease.

The 2013 grant recipients include:

    Malaria No More
    Harvard School of Public Health
    UN Foundation – Nothing But Nets
    PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI)
    Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
    Accordia Global Health Foundation
    Jhpiego
    Global Health Corps (GHC)
    USAID – President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)
    Population Services International (PSI)
    Africare
    Cameroon Business Community Coalition against Malaria, Tuberculosis and AIDS
    Grassroot Soccer
    Family Care Foundation
    Norwegian Red Cross
    University of California, San Francisco – Global Health Group
    Oxford University – ExxonMobil Scholars in Global Health Science

ExxonMobil is proud of the work of our grantees over the past decade and remains committed to working with local and international partners to drive continued progress in the future.

About ExxonMobil Foundation

ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in the United States. Globally, ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil Foundation provide funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2012, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $256 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contribution programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

Contacts

ExxonMobil

Media Relations, 972-444-1107

Toshiba Launches Sub-Power Management IC for Mobile Products

Realizes high efficiency: supports light loads, saves space

TOKYO - Wednesday, April 24th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that it has launched a sub-power management IC embedded with a DCDC step-down convertor and LDO (Low Drop Out) for use in mobile products such as cellular phones and smartphones that realizes high efficiency at a light load.

The new product "TC7732FTG", increases the coil drive frequency from the widely used 2MHz to 4MHz, making it possible to use a smaller packaged 1.0μH coil that takes up less space.

Output voltage can also be set by the I2C bus, securing a reduction of circuits using resistor ICs. External IC parts can be reduced by integrating other peripheral MOSFET and capacitors into the new product. These modifications cut the mounting area on the circuit board by 35% against single-function devices (potential reduction associated with general application products; Toshiba data.), making it possible to realize more compact products while maintaining the standard functions of mobile applications.

Applications

Mobile products using lithium-ion batteries such as cellular phones and smartphones

Main Features

1. DCDC step-down convertor (1ch) + LDO (4ch) 2. Synchronous rectification PWM drive + Forced PWM mode for light load 3. Setting output voltage + Sequence by I2C bass


Main Specifications
           

Product name
         

TC7732FTG

Input voltage
         

2.7 to 5.5V

Output voltage

(Configured by I2C bass)
         

0.8 to 3.4V

Oscillation frequency
         

4MHz

Efficiency 1
         

81% @10mA

Efficiency 2
         

85% @200mA
           

*Follow this link for more on this product. http://www.semicon.toshiba.co.jp/eng/product/new_products/linear/1322916_37663.html

Customer Inquiries: Mixed Signal Controller Group Tel: +81-44-548-2821


Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.


About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130424005643/en/

Contacts

Media Inquiries:

Toshiba Corporation

Semiconductor & Storage Products Company

Koji Takahata, +81-3-3457-4963

semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/7344/en

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Nordson EFD Wins Golden Mousetrap and Service Excellence Awards

Chosen for innovative design of non-contact dispense valve

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Wednesday, April 24th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nordson EFD, a Nordson company (NASDAQ: NDSN), has recently been honored with both the Golden Mousetrap Award and the Service Excellence Award (SEA). The Golden Mousetrap Award was presented for Nordson EFD’s Square WaveTM 745NC high speed, non-contact dispense valve for the photovoltaic (PV) industry, while the SEA recognized Nordson EFD for excellence in the crucial area of customer service.

The Square Wave 745NC was developed to apply controlled amounts of liquid flux to the narrow solder-coated metal ribbon that is used to connect adjoining PV wafers. Its accurate, controlled flux application prevents flux residue from collecting on light-absorbing cell surfaces, reducing their power-generating capability.

“This year marks 50 years of EFD commitment to developing innovative technologies that help our global customers make superior products,” said Ken Forden, Nordson EFD vice president and general manager. “Winning the Golden Mousetrap Award is a testament to the innovation of our people who consistently strive to solve the dispensing challenges of our customers, and the Service Excellence Award supports our worldwide reputation as a customer-focused organization. We are truly grateful for this recognition.”

The annual Golden Mousetrap Award is sponsored by Design News magazine and is presented for products judged by the Design News editors to be innovative, exceptional, and cutting-edge. The award was presented at the Pacific Design & Manufacturing Show in Anaheim, CA.

Sponsored by Circuits Assembly magazine, the SEAs are based on evaluations by each company’s own customers on dependability, quality, responsiveness, technology, and value for price. The award was presented at IPC APEX 2013, held in San Diego, CA.

For more information, visit Nordson EFD on the web at www.nordsonefd.com, www.facebook.com/NordsonEFD, or www.linkedin.com/company/nordson-efd, email at info@nordsonefd.com, or call +1 401.431.7000 or 800.556.3484.

Photo available at http://www.nordsonefd.com/images/Golden-Mousetrap-Ronda-Matarese-Accept-Award.jpg Caption: Ronda Matarese, Nordson EFD Technical Service Engineer, accepts Golden Mousetrap Award

About Nordson EFD

Nordson EFD designs and manufactures precision fluid dispensing systems for benchtop assembly processes and automated assembly lines. By enabling manufacturers to apply the same amount of adhesive, lubricant or other assembly fluid to every part, every time, EFD dispensing systems are helping companies in a wide variety of industries increase throughput, improve quality, and lower their production costs. Other fluid management capabilities include high-quality syringe barrels and cartridges for packaging one- and two-component materials, along with a wide variety of fittings, couplers and connectors for controlling fluid flow in medical, biopharmaceutical and industrial environments. The company is also a leading formulator of specialty solder pastes for dispensing and printing applications in the electronics industry.

About Nordson Corporation

Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ: NDSN) delivers precision technology solutions to help customers succeed worldwide. The company engineers, manufactures and markets differentiated products and systems used for dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials and other materials, fluid management, test and inspection, UV curing and plasma surface treatment, all supported by application expertise and direct global sales and service. Nordson serves a wide variety of consumer non-durable, durable and technology end markets including packaging, nonwovens, electronics, medical, appliances, energy, transportation, construction, and general product assembly and finishing. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the company has operations and support offices in more than 30 countries. Visit Nordson on the web at www.nordson.com, www.twitter.com/Nordson_Corp or www.facebook.com/nordson.

Contacts

Nordson EFD

Rhonda Mitchell

Strategic Marketing Services Manager

401-431-7065

Rhonda.Mitchell@nordsonefd.com

 

Philip Morris International: New Study by Roland Berger Finds Tobacco Products Directive Will Cost Jobs and Hit Tax Revenue across Europe

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Wednesday, April 24th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) could adversely affect Europe’s economy, resulting in up to 175,000 job losses and lost tax revenue of up to EUR 5 billion throughout Europe, according to a new study published by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.

The study, commissioned by Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM), and undertaken by Roland Berger, measures the potential economic impact of several of the proposals under consideration by the EU including standardizing the packaging and labeling of cigarettes and a ban on menthol and slim cigarettes. It concludes that these measures have the potential to reduce prices across the whole tobacco market and to fuel the illicit trade in tobacco products, resulting in significant job losses and reduction in tax revenues.

“The introduction of the new Tobacco Products Directive could significantly affect the European economy, not only the tobacco sector,” said Patrick Mannsperger, Partner at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. “The tobacco sector currently generates more than EUR 100 billion in tax revenue annually, a reduction in this revenue will require spending cuts or tax rises in other areas, which could have an adverse effect on the economy and a negative impact on employment in the EU.”

The report also concludes that:

    Pack standardization is likely to influence consumer behavior, resulting in downtrading to cheaper brands and growth in the illicit trade;
    The illicit trade, which already represents about 11 percent of cigarette consumption in the EU, could grow by 25 to 55 percent under the TPD as a result of standardized packaging and the ban on slim and menthol cigarettes which would mean these products would only be available on the illegal market. This translates to an increase in annual sales of illicit cigarettes from 68 billion to 84-106 billion.

Combined these factors could lead to:

    As many as 175,000 job losses;
    Up to EUR 5 billion in lost tax revenue in the EU in total;
    An increase in smoking rates by up to 2 percent as a consequence of price competition reducing prices across all tobacco market segments.

The TPD will hit some countries particularly hard. For example, in Poland, the TPD could cost up to 50,000 jobs and up to EUR 780 million in lost tax revenue. Bulgaria could lose up to 29,000 jobs, while in Greece annual tax revenue could decline by up to EUR 220 million.

The implementation of plain packaging, currently under discussion as a potential amendment of the new TPD, has the potential to further amplify the effects on tax revenue and jobs described above. Based on a first estimate, combined these factors could lead to as many as 305,000 job losses and up to EUR 8.5 billion in lost tax revenue in the EU in total. In addition, the illicit market could increase by up to 65 percent if the new TPD including plain packaging is introduced.

PMI’s Vice President, Communications, Julie Soderlund commented, “As this study confirms, standardizing packaging and banning 10 percent of the EU cigarette market, without any credible scientific evidence that this will reduce smoking rates or improve public health, risks fueling the black market, which already costs Member States EUR 12.5 billion annually. We hope the EU will reconsider these proposals and replace them with a regulatory framework that is not politically driven, but science-based and effective in reducing the harm caused by smoking without imposing unnecessary burdens on the economy.”

Click here to download the study free of charge: www.rolandberger.com/pressreleases

To learn more about PMI visit www.pmi.com.

About Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, founded in 1967, is one of the world's leading strategy consultancies. With 2,700 employees working in 51 offices in 36 countries worldwide, we have successful operations in all major international markets. The strategy consultancy is an independent partnership exclusively owned by about 250 Partners.

About Philip Morris International Inc.

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) is the leading international tobacco company, with seven of the world’s top 15 international brands, including Marlboro, the number one cigarette brand worldwide. PMI’s products are sold in more than 180 markets. In 2012, the company held an estimated 16.3% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 28.8% excluding the People’s Republic of China and the U.S. For more information, see www.pmi.com.

Contacts

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

Press Department

Tel.: +49 89 9230-8483

E-mail: press@rolandberger.com

www.rolandberger.com



or

Philip Morris International

PMI Press Office

Phone: +41 (0) 58 242 4500

E-mail: media@pmi.com

www.pmi.com

 

Nuvo Research Announces European Launch of Pliaglis® by Galderma

ME Newswire / Business Wire

MISSISSAUGA, Canada - Wednesday, April 24th 2013

Nuvo Research Inc. (TSX:NRI), a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of products for the topical treatment of pain and Galderma Pharma, S.A. (Galderma), today announced the European launch of Pliaglis (lidocaine and tetracaine) Cream 7%/7%. Nuvo has licensed worldwide marketing rights for Pliaglis to Galderma, a global pharmaceutical company specialized in dermatology. Marketing licenses have been issued in 14 of the 16 European countries which are listed in the European Marketing Application for Pliaglis.

Pliaglis is a topical local anesthetic cream that uses Nuvo’s proprietary phase-changing technology to form a pliable peel on the skin when exposed to air. In the E.U. Pliaglis is indicated in adults to produce local dermal anaesthesia on intact skin prior to dermatological procedures.

Galderma launched Pliaglis in Argentina in 2011 and in the U.S. in March 2013 and anticipates that it will launch in Canada and a number of Central American, South American and Asian countries in 2014 and 2015.

“We are proud in being able to bring additional comfort to patients in Aesthetic treatments,” said Mr. Didier Leclercq, Managing Director of Galderma Aesthetic & Corrective Center of Excellence. “Pliaglis really sets a new standard in topical anesthetics, and is a great complementary product in our already comprehensive Aesthetic portfolio in Europe. “

“The launch of Pliaglis in the E.U. is yet another important and exciting milestone for Nuvo,” said Dr. Bradley Galer, President of Nuvo’s Pain Group. “Galderma has an excellent launch plan for the countries of Europe to introduce the benefits of Pliaglis to physicians who provide aesthetic services to their patients.”

Important Safety Information

Indication: PLIAGLIS® (lidocaine and tetracaine) Cream 7% / 7% is indicated in adults to produce local dermal anaesthesia on intact skin prior to dermatological procedures. Contraindications: PLIAGLIS® Cream is contraindicated in patients with a known history of sensitivity to lidocaine or tetracaine, or local anesthetics of the amide or ester type and is also contraindicated in patients with sensitivity to para-aminobenzoic (PABA) or any components of the product. Pliaglis should not be used on mucous membranes or on broken or irritated skin. Adverse Events: In clinical studies, the most common local reactions were erythema (47%), skin discoloration (16%), and edema (14%). The most common systemic adverse events were headache, vomiting, dizziness, and fever, all of which occurred with a frequency of <1%. Warnings/Precautions: Methemoglobinemia has been associated with use of local anesthetics such as tetracaine. PLIAGLIS® Cream should be used with caution in patients with severe hepatic disease. When using PLIAGLIS® Cream in conjunction with other local anesthetic agents, the total dose of anesthetic should be considered due to the potential for additive systemic toxic effects. Contact with the eyes should be avoided. The treated area should not be occluded before removing Pliaglis from the skin.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About Nuvo Research Inc.

Nuvo Research is a publicly traded, Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. The Company is building a portfolio of products for the treatment of pain through internal research and development and by in-licensing and acquisition. The Company’s product portfolio includes Pennsaid®, Pliaglis and Synera®. Pennsaid, a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is used to treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee(s). Pennsaid is sold in the United States by Mallinckrodt Inc., a Covidien company, in Canada by Paladin Labs Inc. and in several European countries. Pliaglis is a topical local anesthetic cream which provides topical local analgesia for superficial dermatological procedures. The Company has licensed worldwide marketing rights to Pliaglis to Galderma Pharma S.A., a global specialty pharmaceutical company specialized in dermatology. Synera is a topical patch that combines lidocaine, tetracaine and heat, approved in the United States to provide local dermal analgesia for superficial venous access and superficial dermatological procedures and in Europe, for surface anaesthesia of normal intact skin. Nuvo currently markets Synera in the United States and its licensing partner, Eurocept International B.V., has initiated a pan-European launch of Synera (under the name Rapydan®) in several European countries. The Company is also developing the compound WF10, for the treatment of immune related diseases. Further more information, please visit www.nuvoresearch.com.

About Galderma

Galderma is a global company founded in 1981 committed to delivering innovative medical solutions to meet the dermatological needs of people throughout their lifetime while serving healthcare professionals around the world. The company has 31 wholly-owned affiliates with a worldwide network of distributors and more than 4,000 employees. Galderma’s extensive product portfolio is available in 70 countries and treats a range of dermatological conditions including: acne, rosacea, onychomycosis, psoriasis & steroid-responsive dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer and medical solutions for skin senescence.

With approximately 20% of revenues invested each year to discover and develop new products and access innovative technologies, the company is one of the world’s leading investors in dermatology R&D. Four state-of-the-art R&D centers and four manufacturing sites are dedicated to providing a wide range of innovative medical solutions which meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.

Strategic brands include Epiduo®, Oracea®, Clobex®, Differin®, Rozex®/MetroGel®, Silkis®/Vectical®, Tri-Luma®, Loceryl®, Cetaphil®, Metvix®, Azzalure®, Restylane® and Emervel®.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. Some forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "indicates" or similar expressions These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Nuvo considers the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable at the time they were prepared, but caution that these assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, are discussed in the Company’s Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, as well as in Nuvo's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2012. Nuvo disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events, except as required by law. For additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward looking statements, investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings, annual report and Annual Information Form and other filings found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Contacts

Galderma

Karin Falck

Public and Media Relations Officer

+41 (0) 216 427 972

Email: karin.falck@galderma.com

Website: www.galderma.com



or

Nuvo Research Inc.

Email : ir@nuvoresearch.com

Website: www.nuvoresearch.com