Monday, June 30, 2014

Pala Investments Leadership Changes

ZUG, Switzerland - Monday, June 30th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pala Investments is pleased to announce that Michael Barton will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of Pala, succeeding Jan Castro who has resigned from the role, with immediate effect.

Over the last 8 years, Mr. Castro’s leadership has produced a strong track-record of successful investments and value-creation at investee companies across the mining and mining-related sectors. Mr. Barton has been with Pala since its formation and moves to Chief Executive Officer from the role of Chief Investment Officer.

Commenting on the changes, Mr. Barton said, “On behalf of Pala I’d like to thank Jan for his vision, values and focus, which have been instrumental in making Pala what it is today. On a personal level I’d like to thank him for the guidance and mentoring over the years we’ve worked together, which allow me to now assume the role of CEO. Pala has an excellent team and we look forward to playing a continued active role in the sector over the coming years”.

About Pala

Pala Investments is an investment company focused exclusively on the mining sector with a strong track record of successful investments and value creation. Pala’s team has extensive experience within the sector and seeks to assist companies in which it has long-term shareholdings by providing strategic advice and innovative solutions in development, production, turnaround and advanced exploration situations. Pala invests across all geographies and in all mining commodities as well as mining services and consumables. For more information, visit www.pala.com.

Contacts

Pala Investments

Philip Clegg, +41-41-560-9070









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11491/en

Hilton Worldwide Completes $2.3 Billion Secondary Offering

MCLEAN, Va. - Saturday, June 28th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (“Hilton Worldwide” or the “Company”) announced today the completion of a secondary offering of 103,500,000 shares of Hilton Worldwide common stock by certain selling stockholders affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. at a price to the public of $22.50 per share, including 13,500,000 shares sold in connection with the full exercise of the option to purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters, resulting in gross proceeds of over $2.3 billion.

Hilton Worldwide did not offer any shares of common stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. In addition, none of Hilton Worldwide’s officers or directors sold any shares of common stock beneficially owned by them in the offering.

Deutsche Bank Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley served as representatives of the underwriters and joint book-running managers for the offering. J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Wells Fargo Securities also acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. Credit Agricole CIB, HSBC, Macquarie Capital, Barclays, Nomura, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, RBS Securities Inc., Baird, Raymond James, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Drexel Hamilton, Ramirez & Co., Inc. and Telsey Advisory Group acted as co-managers.

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the final prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained from: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, via telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or via email: prospectus.cpdg@db.com; BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway, New York, New York 10038, via email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014.

A registration statement relating to the securities was filed with, and declared effective by, the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The Company’s portfolio of eleven world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,100 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 685,000 rooms in 92 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The Company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “projects,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described under the section entitled “Part I —Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Media Contact
Aaron Radelet
+1 703 883 5804
aaron.radelet@hilton.com



Investor Contact
Christian Charnaux
+1 703 883 5205
christian.charnaux@hilton.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11467/en

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Panasonic's AV & Security Solutions Active at the Stadiums in Brazil

CUIABA, Brazil - Saturday, June 28th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Panasonic do Brasil (PANABRAS) has provided Arena Pantanal Stadium, one of the stadiums to be used in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, with Panasonic's wide variety of AV and security solutions.

The Arena Pantanal, in Cuiaba - Mato Grosso, is the venue for many of the matches to be played during the football event. The stadium's capacity is about 41,000 people and it has the flexible structure, in order to adapt it to future needs and multiple events, even after the event. Its nickname is 'O Verdão' (The Big Green), after the sustainable approach used for the construction and the maintenance.

Panasonic's solutions include two 77.4 square meter large LED screens, security systems (330 cameras, 6 recorders, server and display monitors), three IP PBX main units and 60 IP phones, IT systems and 250 screens of full IP digital signage systems with the cooperation of its strategic partner Canal Livre. Arena Pantanal Stadium kicked off on 2nd April, with a test match between Santos FC and Misto EC.

In addition, Panasonic has supplied two 77 square meter large LED systems to Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, one of the host stadiums for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. The company also has signed a sponsorship deal with Clube Atletico Paranaense based on this stadium that will allow Panasonic to display its brand on the large LED systems for 10 years, advertise the company using the systems and digital displays in the stadium for four years.

[Video] Panasonic's AV & Security Solutions at Arena Pantanal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjP-r7USJkk - Arena Pantanal Stadium Debuts in Brazil with Panasonic's Wide Variety of AV and Security Solutions http://news.panasonic.net/archives/2014/0428_27020.html - Panasonic Business Solutions http://panasonic.net/business/ - Panasonic Brasil (Portuguese) http://www.panasonic.com/br

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140626006513/en

Contacts

Panasonic Corporation

Global Communication Group

Public Relations Office

+81-3-3574-5729

presscontact@ml.jp.panasonic.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11466/en

Bacardi Limited Names New Regional Presidents for Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa

Internal appointments show strong leadership within Bacardi

HAMILTON, Bermuda. - Saturday, June 28th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announces the internal appointments of two new regional presidents. Effective immediately, Jon Grey, 52, assumes responsibility for leading all commercial operations in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, while Mahesh Madhavan, 51, leads the commercial operations for the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region for the Company’s portfolio of premium spirits.

“These internal appointments showcase the seasoned leadership currently within Bacardi and further demonstrate the Company’s ability to nurture and grow talented leaders,” said Michael J. Dolan, Interim CEO of family-owned Bacardi Limited. “These two emerging businesses are critical to the continued growth of Bacardi. I have full confidence in the ability and expertise of Jon and Mahesh to continue to drive our business and the premiumization of spirits in these markets.”

Mr. Grey succeeds Siddik Tetík, who recently announced his decision to leave Bacardi Limited. Mr. Tetík will take on special projects over the next several months in order to help with a smooth transition. Mr. Madhavan replaces Mr. Grey in his capacity as Regional President for MEA.

Jon Grey – Asia Pacific Regional President

With Bacardi since 2005, Mr. Grey previously was regional president for the Middle East & Africa region – a position he has held since 2011. For the past nine years, he has also served as senior vice president of Global Operations responsible for production of all Bacardi products, global supply chain, procurement and R&D activities. Under Mr. Grey’s leadership, Bacardi was certified to be operating in accordance with the world’s most recognized management standards for quality, environment, and health and safety. Bacardi is the only major spirits company to achieve certification under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 for all its production facilities globally, putting it among an elite group of the world’s best run companies. Mr. Grey will be based in Hong Kong, pending Immigration Department approvals.

Mahesh Madhavan – Middle East & Africa Regional President

An 18-year veteran of Bacardi, Mr. Madhavan was managing director of MEA charged with further connecting the iconic brands in the Bacardi portfolio with consumers in the region. During his tenure with the Company, he held leading roles within various emerging markets including managing director of India, managing director for Thailand and Philippines, and managing director of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Mr. Madhavan is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As regional presidents, Mr. Grey and Mr. Madhavan will also serve as members of the Bacardi Global Leadership Team and report to Interim CEO Michael J. Dolan. The Company will begin a search for the new leader of its Global Operations group.

NOTE: Headshots of Mr. Grey and Mr. Madhavan are available via www.BacardiLimited.com and Business Wire.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, the world’s best-selling and most-awarded rum, as well as the world’s most-awarded spirit; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world’s leading super-premium vodka; DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world’s most-awarded blended Scotch; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, the world’s leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines; CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, one of the most popular premium tequilas in Mexico and the United States; and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S®, the fastest-growing global Scotch whisky brand; ERISTOFF® vodka, one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in the world; and ST-GERMAIN®, a super-premium elderflower liqueur.

Founded 152 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 29 facilities and sells in more than 160 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. www.BacardiLimited.com

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50895868&lang=en

Contacts
Bacardi Limited
Patricia M. Neal or Amy Federman, +1-441-294-1110
afederman@bacardi.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11481/en

Afton Chemical Breaks Ground for Its State of the Art Facility on Jurong Island, Singapore

RICHMOND, Va. - Thursday, June 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Afton Chemical Corporation will expand its global supply network with the addition of a new chemical additive manufacturing facility on Jurong Island, Singapore. Designed and located to support the growth of the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, the plant will start to produce components in January 2016 to support the next generation of additive solutions.

Construction will begin after a June 25th groundbreaking ceremony on Jurong Island. The site was selected after an extensive analysis focused on local infrastructure, market access, economics, safety, and logistics.

“Afton Chemical has been a key player in the lubricant and fuel additive industry for more than 90 years,” said Rob Shama, Afton President. “We have a strong commitment to Asia’s fast-growing economy, and this plant means we can improve service levels to all of our customers in the region and security of supply to all customers worldwide.” Shama added that existing plant operations in other regions will remain fully operational to supply the growing demand for Afton’s unique solutions.

“In recent years, we’ve intensified our focus on this important region, and our strategy to meet its needs,” said Damian Barnes, Vice President Supply. “Since 2008, we’ve opened two new sales offices, four local warehouses, and expanded our R&D facilities. And we’ll continue to explore opportunities to better serve the region,” he said.

Foster Wheeler Singapore will manage the engineering and construction. To support Afton’s Engine Oil business, the first operational unit will produce detergents for commercial use in 2016. Construction and startup of additional units to produce dispersants and anti-wear components will follow with full operation expected within the next five years. When completed, the plant will operate around the clock. There is also the opportunity to expand the plant further based on future market conditions.

“In addition to improved supply flexibility, this plant provides opportunities for ‘first intent products’ – products made in Asia-Pacific for Asia-Pacific,” Shama said. “That’s a positive investment for Afton and shows our intention to expand our ‘Passion for Solutions’ in this important region.”

Afton Chemical Corporation - part of the NewMarket Corp. (NYSE: NEU) family of companies, develops and manufactures petroleum additives that help fuels burn cleaner and more efficiently, engines run smoother, and machines last longer. We offer performance fuels and refinery chemicals, such as gasoline performance additives, diesel fuel additives, lubricity improvers, and cold flow improvers; driveline products, such as automotive gear oil and automatic transmission fluid; engine oil additives, such as passenger car engine, heavy duty diesel engine, and railroad and marine diesel engine oils; industrial products, such as antiwear and R&O hydraulic oils, industrial specialty chemicals, industrial gear oils, and grease. The company supports global operations through regional headquarters located in Asia Pacific, EMEAI, Latin America and North America. Afton Chemical Corporation is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit AftonChemical.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Afton Chemical’s management believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: availability of raw materials and transportation systems; supply disruptions at single sourced facilities; ability to respond effectively to technological changes in our industry; failure to protect our intellectual property rights; hazards common to chemical businesses; occurrence or threat of extraordinary events, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks; competition from other manufacturers; sudden or sharp raw materials price increases; gain or loss of significant customers; risks related to operating outside of the United States; the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning our products; future governmental regulation; resolution of environmental liabilities or legal proceedings; inability to complete future acquisitions or successfully integrate recent or future acquisitions into our business and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports that NewMarket files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available to shareholders upon request.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by Afton Chemical in the foregoing discussion speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the company. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this discussion, or elsewhere, might not occur.

Contacts

Afton Chemical Corporation

Lauren Ereio, Marketing Communications Manager

804-788-5800








Saturday, June 28, 2014

"Sekai Menu", Multilingual Menu Display and Ordering Service for Smartphones, Officially Begins Service with Free "Self Plan"

ME NewsWire/Business Wire

SAPPORO, Japan. - Friday, June 27th 2014

"Sekai Menu", a smartphone-based service targeted at restaurants and accommodations with foreign customers, began trial service in April 2014. The service, which allows customers to display translated menus and place orders directly from their smartphones, is developed bySekai Menu, Inc. (Main Office: Sapporo, Japan; Representative Director: Nobuyasu Fukunishi), and will be provided worldwide along with a new "Self Plan" starting June 27, 2014.

With the "Self Plan", restaurant and accommodation owners can provide business information, menu details and photos through an online form, after which a printable QR code image will be provided for free use. By reading the QR code with a smartphone, patrons will be sent to a smartphone web page, where they can view a translated menu and place orders directly to the business. In order to provide multilingual service, the business owner must currently register translated menu data for each language. However, Sekai Menu, Inc. plans to include an affordable online translating service starting in August, 2014 that will provide translated menu data as well.

In additional, Sekai Menu, Inc. will provide a method for businesses to register and maintain their use of the service with a "Support Plan", through the help of registered support agencies.

“Sekai Menu aims to satisfy foreign tourists and reduce the burden on restaurants and accommodations of providing internationalized service.” said Nobuyasu Fukunishi, Sekai Menu’s Representative Director.

About Sekai Menu, Inc. Established in February 2014. Launched the "Sekai Menu" service in 30 different languages worldwide. URL http://sekaime.nu/ Promotional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlvwu_V6wEU

Contacts

Sekai Menu, Inc.

Yusuke Uesugi, +81-11-802-9681

info (at) sekaime.nu









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11465/en

Philip Morris International Seeks Judicial Review of EU’s Tobacco Products Directive

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Friday, June 27th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Subsidiaries of Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM) today filed papers seeking review of the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Commenting on the matter, Marc Firestone, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Philip Morris International, said:

"We believe that the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive disrupts the balance that the EU treaties establish between the Union and the Member States.

“The Directive claims to improve the internal market in tobacco products, but its provisions go in the opposite direction. The Directive includes a mix of product bans, mandates, and delegations of authority that raise serious questions under the EU Treaties about consumer choice, the free movement of goods, and competition.

“There is no disagreement that there should be strict regulation of tobacco products, but measures need to make sense and, above all, honor the EU treaties. We very much hope that this matter is referred to the EU’s highest court for a careful, objective review.”

PMI filed its papers in the English courts, which have proven to be a fast and efficient forum for private litigants to obtain references to the CJEU on issues involving EU law. PMI is seeking review of whether the Directive complies with the EU Treaties in the following areas:

Legal Competence: The EU has power to take measures that are genuinely intended to improve the internal market. PMI contends that several provisions in the Directive run counter that objective. For example, the Directive bans menthol cigarettes – a product that is currently legal in all 28 Member States. By making it illegal for adult smokers in the EU to purchase the product they prefer, the Directive disrupts the internal market and creates incentives for illicit trade.

Fundamental Rights: The Directive appears to ban truthful and non-misleading claims on the packaging of tobacco products. PMI intends to seek review of whether this ban respects the fundamental rights of consumers to information about the products they are choosing.

Delegated Acts: The Directive delegates a number of powers to the Commission to enact rules on essential aspects of the Directive. PMI intends to seek review of whether these delegations comply with the EU Treaties.

The review process is expected to take up to two to three years.

###

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 2013, the company held an estimated 15.7% share of the total international cigarette market outside of the U.S., or 28.2% excluding the People’s Republic of China and the U.S. For more information, see www.pmi.com.

Contacts

Philip Morris International media office

T: +41 (0)58 242 4500

E: media@pmi.com








Friday, June 27, 2014

Emerging Trend Identified in the Evolution of Men’s Style as Almost Half of Men Globally Take Up Body Grooming

Gillette chronicles the journey of one man through ‘100 Years Of Hair’ in just sixty seconds and introduces a new tool for the times

BOSTON. - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Gillette® (NYSE: PG), the world’s leading male grooming brand, today unveils a video that shows the evolution of men’s style over the last century. In just sixty seconds, the video uses the perspective of a man’s bathroom mirror to show iconic looks from each era, spotlighting the way grooming habits have played a role in defining each look and ultimately ending on a man with a fully-shaved chest to highlight the global trend of body shaving. And to ensure guys have the right tools for the times, Gillette has introduced the Gillette BODY Razor built for a man’s terrain.

The video uses a stop motion approach to show evolution of men’s grooming and fashion trends demonstrated through man’s dress, surroundings, soundtrack and hair and shave styles throughout time – moving from an early 20th century man in full suit to a man ready to disco-dance the night way, all the way through to today’s body grooming trend. In addition to the video which was released Wednesday June 25, 2014 on Gillette’s YouTube channel, special behind-the-scenes footage with film creators is available highlighting how the stop motion technology came together to chronicle 100 years of men’s style in only sixty seconds.

“Every era has an iconic look – a combination of fashion and grooming choices. Today’s look calls for body shaving,” said Francesco Tortora, Gillette Global Marketing Director, Procter & Gamble. “Just as fashion constantly evolves, we constantly refine and engineer our precision products to help men feel and look their best. We are proud to offer a precision tool designed to give men an edge in keeping up with the times.”

A recent study conducted by Gillette shows men are more eager than ever to improve their look and hygiene, and to properly prepare for intimate encounters. Body shaving is increasingly part of the routine of 44% of men globally who body groom1. Despite the rising popularity of body shaving, men have had limited tools to choose from, with 58% of current body shavers saying a better razor would enhance their body-shaving experience2.

“Gillette has always worked hard to address the needs of men,” said Tortora. “With body shaving on the rise, we applied our 100+ years of shaving expertise to engineer our first razor specifically built for the terrain below a man’s neck.”

Gillette BODY allows men to tackle the challenging task of body terrain with precision, accuracy, and ease. A unique series of Gillette technologies and features help the razor glide comfortably over body contours:

    Rounded Head for increased maneuverability and total body comfort, adapting to body contours and allowing the razor to move through even the tightest spaces.
    3 Lubricating Strips providing outstanding glide for incredible comfort, no matter the region.
    Ergonomic Anti-Slip Grip for exceptional control, even in the shower, because the last thing you want to do when body shaving is lose control of the razor.
    3 Floating Blades for a close, comfortable shave on some of the most sensitive areas of a man’s body.
    Forward Pivoting Head that easily adapts to body contours.

Gillette BODY razors are available in specific countries. To find out availability in your country, go to Gillette.com.

Visit Gillette’s YouTube channel to view the online content.

About Gillette For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivaled product performance – improving the lives of over 800 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave prep (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, or to see our full selection of products, visit http://www.gillette.com/.

About Procter & Gamble P&G serves approximately 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

1 TNS 2013 Habits & Practices Study: Global data extrapolated from US, Germany, Brazil 2 Source: From Gillette Body Grooming Telephone Survey, Braun Research and Ketchum Global Research & Analytics, 10.14.2013

Contacts

Ketchum

Bettina Garibaldi, +1-646-935-3957

bettina.garibaldi@ketchum.com



Gillette

James Nunn, +1-617-306-8963

nunn.j.1@pg.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11456/en

ADEA to Host 5th International Women’s Leadership Conference along with International Workshop, Sept. 14–16, 2014

Dental Professionals from Around the World Meet to Exchange Ideas on Oral Health Needs of the Public Throughout the 21st Century

WASHINGTON - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the premier association serving the dental education community, is hosting two meetings for today’s globally-minded dental education and research communities: the 5th ADEA International Women’s Leadership Conference (IWLC) and ADEA International Workshop. Both events—being held at the Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel on Sept. 14–16, 2014, in Barcelona, Spain—will focus on professional development, leadership strategies, cross-cultural connections and curricular reform to help chart dentistry’s future course.

Hundreds of dental educators, leaders and practitioners from around the world will come together with ADEA experts, other thought leaders and emerging pioneers in dental education and research for the ADEA international conferences, which are separate in theme and focus.

“Improving oral health in communities throughout the world requires a global community of leadership to produce better health outcomes for the public,” says ADEA President and CEO, Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H. “Our ultimate goal through these events is for participants to learn common interests, share perspectives, foster alliances and collaborate across professions. We have much to learn from each other.”

For the fifth time, with the theme of “Global Health Through Women’s Leadership,” the ADEA IWLC is a three-day conference providing fresh insight and perspectives on how women are forging new pathways to help advance future generations as well as to produce better health outcomes globally. Participants—including both men and women—will explore research-based and practical strategies related to gender and the roles of women leaders in dentistry worldwide through plenaries, working groups and skills-building sessions.

Building on a longstanding collaboration with the Association for Dental Education in Europe, the ADEA International Workshop is a one-day workshop discussing change and innovation in dental education. With the theme “A Global Perspective on Leading Change and Innovation in Dental Education,” this meeting also represents an opportunity to further engage on efforts through the ADEA Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education, which was created in 2005 to facilitate transformation in the education of dental professionals so they graduate with the competences required to meet the oral health needs of the public throughout the 21st century.

Support for the ADEA IWLC is provided from the Colgate-Palmolive Company, DENTSPLY International, Inc., and the Procter & Gamble Company.

More information regarding the 5th ADEA International Women’s Leadership Conference and ADEA International Workshop is available at www.adea.org/Barcelona. Follow us on Twitter at @ADEAweb using #ADEASpain14 and #IWLC14.

About the American Dental Education Association

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is The Voice of Dental Education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and advanced dental education programs, corporations, deans, program directors, administrators, faculty, and students, residents and fellows. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research and the delivery of oral health care for the health of the public. ADEA’s activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings and communications like the esteemed Journal of Dental Education, as well as the dental school admissions services ADEA AADSAS, ADEA PASS, ADEA DHCAS and ADEA CAAPID.

Contacts

ADEA

Kellie Bove, 202-289-7201

bovek@adea.org









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11442/en

Thursday, June 26, 2014

With U Introduces Licensees to the Characters of Popular Gaming App "Happy Ningels"

From Facebook Game to Trade Show -- the Charming Cast of Ningels Make Appearance at Licensing Japan

SAPPORO, Japan - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Licensing Japan 2014

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With U Co., Ltd. will introduce global visitors to Happy Ningels main character Molly and her Ningel buddies at Licensing Japan, held in Tokyo starting July 2nd. With U will be at booth # 21-20.

Developed by With U, the popular Facebook game Happy Ningels revolves around the adventures of angelic baby ninjas as they travel through a fantasy world, weaving a story equal parts adorable and stylish.

Having supervised development of Happy Ningels, With U Vice President and character creator Yukako Yamaguchi noted her inspiration for crafting the game: “I hope that the act of aiding the Ningels on their journey will serve to bring together not only parents and children but all people, putting a smile on their faces in the process.” Yukako added, “Developed with a distinctly feminine touch, Happy Ningels will make its debut as a licensable property at Licensing Japan, where With U will welcome visitors from around the world.”

With more than a thousand unique items and a cast of distinct and adorable characters, Happy Ningels was designed to be enjoyed by a wide audience, irrespective of age, gender, or nationality. The game’s cast of characters explore a world where no harm becomes anyone, a sentiment reflected in aspects such as the cut-scene where a loving mother embraces the Ningels upon failure to complete a level. With U looks forward to discovering business partners interested in sharing our message of kindness and comfort with a global audience.

Happy Ningels on the Web: http://www.happyningels.com/en/

Happy Ningels on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyningels2013

Happy Ningels on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/GwithU2013?feature=watch

About Happy Ningels In the world of Happy Ningels, babies transform into ninjas by drinking milk, using their special abilities to solve mysteries and advance through the puzzle-filled Action Stages. In Decoration Mode, the second component of the game, players can enjoy expressing themselves by customizing their home using items and coins collected on their adventures. To advance in the game, players must exhibit careful thought and creativity, with social aspects such as the invitation of friends playing a key role.

About With U Engaged in the importation of naturally-derived hair colorants that are both consumer and eco-friendly since its founding in 2001, With U is headed by an exclusively female group of executives. Building on this foundation and grounded in a philosophy of kindness and understanding, the G with U gaming division developed the Facebook application Happy Ningels for a global audience. From 2014 onward, we are planning a series of wide-ranging promotional activities, such as the release of a mobile version of Happy Ningels in the Fall and new game projects in the Winter.

Contacts
With U Co., Ltd.
Yasunao Yoshikawa, +81-11-261-9901
press@wizyou.co.jp
Fax: +81-11-261-9902









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11446/en

Hilton Worldwide Prices Secondary Offering

MCLEAN, Va. - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (“Hilton Worldwide” or the “Company”) announced today the pricing of a secondary offering of 90,000,000 shares of Hilton Worldwide common stock by certain selling stockholders affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. at a price to the public of $22.50 per share. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 13,500,000 shares of common stock from the selling stockholders. The offering is expected to close on June 27, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions.

Hilton Worldwide did not offer any shares of common stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. In addition, none of Hilton Worldwide’s officers or directors sold any shares of common stock beneficially owned by them in the offering.

Deutsche Bank Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley are serving as representatives of the underwriters and joint book-running managers for the offering. J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Credit Agricole CIB, HSBC, Macquarie Capital, Barclays, Nomura, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, RBS Securities Inc., Baird, Raymond James, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Drexel Hamilton, Telsey Advisory Group and Ramirez & Co., Inc. are acting as co-managers.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, via telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or via email: prospectus.cpdg@db.com; BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway, New York, New York 10038, via email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014.

A registration statement relating to the securities was filed with, and declared effective by, the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The Company’s portfolio of eleven world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,100 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 685,000 rooms in 92 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The Company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “projects,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described under the section entitled “Part I —Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Media Contact

Aaron Radelet

+1 703 883 5804

aaron.radelet@hilton.com



Investor Contact

Christian Charnaux

+1 703 883 5205

christian.charnaux@hilton.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11444/en

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Call Chicago Home

CHICAGO - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

- Museum will be dedicated to Narrative Art – the telling of stories visually

- Key objective will be to inspire and educate future generations

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMNA) today announced its intention to become a member of Chicago’s vibrant cultural arts scene by locating on the city’s Museum Campus. LMNA will be a gathering place to experience narrative art and the evolution of the visual image – from illustration to cinema to digital arts.

“We are honored to be partnering with the city of Chicago and the many cultural, educational and community groups that have come forward with ideas about how the LMNA will add to their work,” said George Lucas, the Museum’s founder. “I am humbled to be joining such an extraordinary museum community and to be creating the Museum in a city that has a long tradition of embracing the arts and architecture.”

“George Lucas has revolutionized the art of storytelling over the last four decades and we are honored to be the recipient of this incredible legacy investment that will allow everyone to learn about and experience narrative arts,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Like Marshall Field, John G. Shedd and Max Adler before him, George’s philanthropy will inspire and educate for generations. No other museum like this exists in the world, making it a tremendous educational, cultural and job creation asset for all Chicagoans, as well as an unparalleled draw for international tourists.”

The LMNA, previously known as the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum, chose Chicago because of the quality of the site proposed by the city’s task force. The 17-acre site offers unparalleled visitor access. “Choosing Chicago is the right decision for the Museum, but a difficult decision for me personally because of my strong personal and professional roots in the Bay Area,” said Mr. Lucas, a native of Modesto, Ca. “I thank all Californians who reached out to me in support of the Museum.”

The Museum’s location, proposed by a task force appointed by Mayor Emanuel, was selected based on its accessibility to public transportation, ease of access from all parts of the city, potential to create significant new green space, and its ability to accommodate an iconic structure. The LMNA will transform the site by moving the existing parking spaces underground and replacing acres of asphalt with more parkland along the harbor. Architectural renderings for the proposed site will be presented to the City of Chicago in early fall.

“It is a great privilege for the Museum to be a custodian of this cherished land,” said Mr. Lucas, who hopes to open the LMNA in 2018.

To learn more about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and its collection visit us online at www.LucasMuseum.org.

Contacts

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Devon Spurgeon/Kate LeFurgy/David Perry
773.844.6675
press@lucasmuseum.org









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11443/en

Taqua Extends VoWiFi Platform to UMTS Networks

Virtual Mobile Core Leverages Existing Smartphone Dialer and Messaging Interface to Deliver Seamless Cellular to WiFi Communications

AMSTERDAM & RICHARDSON, Texas - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

LTE World Summit 2014

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Taqua®, LLC, a leading supplier of mobile and fixed core networking IP convergence systems and applications, announced today at the LTE World Summit in Amsterdam the general availability of its Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) Virtual Mobile Core for UMTS-based networks.

Taqua’s Virtual Mobile Core VoWiFi solution enables carriers to offer voice and messaging services over WiFi networks, while keeping the user experience exactly the same whether the calls and messages go over WiFi or cellular. Depending upon signal strength, the phone selects the WiFi or cellular network to conduct incoming and outgoing calls and messages. This allows carriers to utilize any existing WiFi access point, reduce cellular spectrum load, and expand and enhance network coverage. Leveraging the success of Taqua’s CDMA solution set that was launched by Sprint in February, Taqua has completed development of its new UMTS VoWiFi platform and has begun trialing the new UMTS solution with wireless and broadband operators.

“There are significant advantages for wireless and emerging competitive mobile carriers to utilize a seamless ‘WiFi-first’ model for mobile voice and messaging,” said John Hoadley, Wireless CTO at Taqua. “All service providers should take full advantage of WiFi, as it’s the largest network in the world. It is a very cost effective approach for carriers to combat the OTTs and to improve their coverage for voice and messaging services everywhere.”

Taqua’s seamless “WiFi-first” voice and messaging service is unlike any existing Over-the-Top (OTT) application. Taqua’s solution conducts both cellular and WiFi calls from the phone’s native dialer/messaging interface and existing phone number. Most OTT applications require a separate, downloadable interface, different subscriber contact identity (not the user’s mobile number), and come with numerous subscriber conflicts.

In contrast, Taqua’s solution enables cellular and WiFi calls from a single phone interface and the subscriber’s existing phone number. The Taqua solution uses the phone’s native dialer, contacts, call history and voice mail, as well as the native SMS, using the same message notifications, inbox and outbox. Subscribers will not notice the difference between calls made over WiFi or cellular. Taqua’s solution will also work seamlessly with any standards-based native WiFi clients embedded in smartphones and tablets.

Seamless voice and messaging over WiFi is just one in a series of solutions that are available in Taqua’s Virtual Mobile Core, which is designed to solve interworking challenges between 3G, small cell, WiFi, and 4G/LTE networks. Other applications include Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC.)

Taqua is showcasing its Virtual Mobile Core’s VoWiFi solution in booth 52a at the 2014 LTE World Summit on June 23-25.

About Taqua® LLC.

Taqua enables a rich and seamless fixed and mobile user experience by transitioning legacy networks to LTE and IMS architectures. For over a decade, hundreds of wireline, cable and wireless carriers have utilized Taqua’s next-generation mobile convergence core, switching, IP peering, backhaul systems, and enhanced applications to deliver IP-based solutions that transition legacy networks and establish enhanced services to subscribers across all broadband networks. Taqua is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with research and development facilities in Boston, MA, Toronto, Canada, and Dallas, TX, and a newly opened European office in Darmstadt, Germany. More information on Taqua can be obtained by calling +1.972.692.1800 or by browsing the website at www.taqua.com.

Contacts

Ketchum

Patrick Foarde, +1 404-879-9254

Patrick.foarde@ketchum.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11432/en

"Project Last Mile" Expands to Improve Availability of Life-Saving Medicines in Additional Regions of Africa

The Coca-Cola Company, USAID, the Global Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation invest more than $21M USD to expand initiative to 10 countries

ATLANTA - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) The Coca-Cola Company and its Foundations, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced the expansion of “Project Last Mile” to include 10 African countries over the next five years.

This public-private partnership - currently focused on Tanzania and Ghana - applies Coca-Cola’s logistic, supply chain, distribution and marketing expertise to help African governments maximize the ability to get critical medicines and medical supplies the “last mile” to those who need it most in remote communities in Africa.

Today’s commitment to expand includes an investment of more than $21 million USD from the partners, as well as the official addition of USAID to this powerful coalition. The next country where Project Last Mile is being implemented is Mozambique. The additional seven countries are in various stages of identification and discussion with local governments.

“Africa has been a vital part of our business for more than 85 years, and we’re committed to doing our part to help people across Africa live healthier and more active lives,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “We know our business can only be as strong as the communities we serve, and we’re honored to use Coca-Cola’s expertise to improve the distribution of medicine and medical supplies. Project Last Mile has been a great and growing success so far, and we look forward to working with our partners to improve lives across more communities and more countries. It’s wonderful to be able to help more people enjoy better access to life-sustaining and life-enhancing medicines.”

Through Project Last Mile, the government agencies managing the procurement and efficient distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies benefit from private sector expertise, learning how to forecast demand for medicines and vaccines, better market the availability of such commodities, and ensure the cold chain equipment is maintained properly for storing certain medicines and vaccines.

“As a result of Last Mile we have been able to implement professional practices that have improved our planning, distribution and performance management processes. This has improved our capability to consistently deliver critical medical supplies throughout Tanzania,” said Cosmas Mwaifwani, The Director General of the Medical Stores Department in Tanzania. “Since we began working with our partners in 2010, we have been able to increase the availability of medicines in medical clinics by 20-30 percent in some places where we have implemented the direct distribution model. Additionally, the partners have shared distribution tools with us to enable us to efficiently reach more than 5,500 health facilities.”

“Project Last Mile is an excellent example of partners coming together to develop an innovative solution that provides access to critical medicines and medical supplies in remote African communities,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. “Private sector involvement has a vital role to play in public health.”

“As a global community we have set ambitious goals of ending preventable child and maternal deaths and creating an AIDS-free generation,” said USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah. “By harnessing the power of Project Last Mile's coalition to get life-saving medicines to the people that need them most, we can help to bend the curve and accelerate reductions in child and maternal deaths.”

Project Last Mile is executed in collaboration with Yale’s Global Health Leadership Institute, Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) and Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), who each bring unique skills to make the project sustainable.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 17 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.

About The Global Fund

The Global Fund is an international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund promotes partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the most effective way to help reach those in need. This innovative approach relies on country ownership and performance-based funding, meaning that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing where verifiable results are achieved.

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has supported more than 1,000 programs in more than 140 countries, providing AIDS treatment for 6.1 million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 11.2 million people and 360 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people - especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Susan (Sue) Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. For more information visit our website at http://www.gatesfoundation.org/.

About The Yale Global Health Leadership Institute

The Yale Global Health Leadership Institute develops leadership through education and research programs that strengthen health systems and promote health equity and quality of care.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Visuals and Broll footage to accompany this release can be downloaded at:

Project Last Mile Infographic: www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/infographic-project-last-mile

Project Last Mile Photos:

www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/image-library/project-last-mile-msd-delivers-medicine-via-boat

www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/image-library/project-last-mile-mother-child-await-medical-care-in-tazania

www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/image-library/project-last-mile-nurse-dispenses-medicine-to-a-woman-patient

www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/image-library/project-last-mile-technicians-work-on-a-cooler-used-to-store-vaccines-at-a-clinic

Project Last Mile Broll: http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/a-v-library/project-last-mile-broll

Photo Caption:

Photo 1 : The Medical Stores Department (MSD) in Tanzania delivers medicines to a clinic via boat in the Rafiji Delta region of Tanzania's Pwani District. MSD is the government agency in Tanzania responsible for procuring, storing and delivering medicines throughout the country. In the rainy season, MSD uses boats to access rural clinics. Since Project Last Mile launched in 2010, MSD's distribution system has expanded to include delivery to more than 5,500 health facilities. Previously, MSD delivered to approximately 150 district warehouses, thus losing sight of the last mile. (Photo: Business Wire)

Photo 2: Mother Nasra Ally and child are waiting outside a clinic in the Northern Zonal Area of Tanzania's Dar es Salam District as a truck offloads medicine directly to the clinic. They await medical care that was not easily accessible prior to the launch of Project Last Mile. (Photo: Business Wire)

Photo 3: Coca-Cola Lead Cooler Technician, Maxwell Ayisi (right), and Ghana Health Service Refrigeration Technician, Livingstone Modey (left), repairing a dual gas/electric cooler used to store vaccines at a clinic in Peki Dzake in the Volta Region of Ghana. (Photo: Business Wire)

Photo 4: A nurse from a clinic in Dar es Salam District, Tanzania, dispenses medicine to a patient, Optuna John. Since Project Last Mile launched in 2010, Medical Stores Department's distribution system has expanded to include delivery to more than 5,500 health facilities. Previously, Medical Stores Department delivered to approximately 150 district warehouses, thus losing sight of the last mile. Now, people like Optuna can receive medical care that was not readily accessible in the past. (Photo: Business Wire)

Contacts

The Coca-Cola Company

April Jordin, +01 404-676-2683

tcccpressinquiries@coca-cola.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11424/en

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

ZTE Issues Update on Global Patent Invalidation Action Against Vringo

ME NewsWire /Business Wire

SHENZHEN, China. - Wednesday, June 25th 2014

ZTE Corporation announced that the Patent Re-examination Board of the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China is reviewing applications from the company to invalidate 32 patents claimed by Vringo Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Further applications to invalidate the patents claimed by Vringo entities will be filed by ZTE to the Patent Re-examination Board. ZTE has also initiated patent invalidation litigations against Vringo in courts in the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia.

ZTE reserves the right to pursue further action in other jurisdictions to protect the interests of the company and our customers.

ZTE is committed to defending the company and our subsidiaries against patent-related claims initiated by Vringo entities in litigations in Europe, Asia and South America. ZTE steadfastly opposes all forms of abuses of intellectual property, and the improper use of patent assets as a tactic in licensing negotiations.

In parallel to the concerted global patent invalidation action, ZTE has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, requesting the regulator to investigate the licensing practices of Vringo in light of concerns that these practices are impeding fair competition in the telecommunications market.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, ZTE submitted 2,309 filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2013, the second-highest total globally. ZTE ranked top in the WIPO’s PCT application tables in 2011 and 2012, reflecting the company’s world-leading efforts in technology innovation.

In the past five years, ZTE has invested more than RMB 40 billion in research and development. As of the end of 2013, more than 16,000 patents have been granted to ZTE. The world-leading intellectual property assets of ZTE offer a strong safeguard for the company to prevail in patent litigations internationally.

Since December 2013, courts in the United States issued rulings in favor of ZTE in at least three cases concerning Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

As one of the world’s leading technology innovators, ZTE respects the intellectual property of other companies. ZTE has signed dozens of global intellectual property licensing agreements with holders including Qualcomm, Siemens, Ericsson, Microsoft and Dolby Laboratories.

Contacts

ZTE Corporation

Margrete Ma, +86 755 26775207

ma.gaili@zte.com.cn









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11455/en

Hilton Worldwide Announces Secondary Offering of 90,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

MCLEAN, Va. - Tuesday, June 24th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (“Hilton Worldwide” or the “Company”) announced today that certain selling stockholders affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. have commenced a secondary offering of 90,000,000 shares of Hilton Worldwide common stock. The underwriters will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 13,500,000 shares of common stock from the selling stockholders.

Hilton Worldwide is not offering any shares of common stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. In addition, none of Hilton Worldwide’s officers or directors are selling any shares of common stock beneficially owned by them in the offering.

Deutsche Bank Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley are serving as representatives of the underwriters and joint book-running managers for the offering. J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, via telephone: 1-800-503-4611 or via email: prospectus.cpdg@db.com; BofA Merrill Lynch, Attention: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway, New York, New York 10038, via email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014.

A registration statement relating to the securities has been filed with the SEC, but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time that the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The Company’s portfolio of eleven world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,100 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 685,000 rooms in 92 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The Company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “projects,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described under the section entitled “Part I —Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts

Media Contact

Aaron Radelet

+1 703 883 5804

aaron.radelet@hilton.com



Investor Contact

Christian Charnaux

+1 703 883 5205

christian.charnaux@hilton.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11426/en

Oral-B® SmartSeries™ Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth® Connectivity Now on Sale

World’s First Available Interactive Electric Toothbrush – the First of Its Kind with Bluetooth 4.0 Connectivity – Now Available in UK Ahead of Widespread Worldwide Availability Beginning This Fall

CINCINNATI. - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) After making headlines worldwide with its groundbreaking debut at Mobile World Congress in February, the wait is over for the Oral-B interactive SmartSeries electric toothbrush with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

The Oral-B SmartSeries with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, the next level of innovation from Oral-B, the worldwide leader in oral care and #1 power brush brand used by dentists worldwide, is on sale in the UK after initial, limited quantities sold out quickly with rave reviews.

The SmartSeries 6000 with Bluetooth connectivity is now available at retailers including boots.com and Amazon.co.uk in the UK at the recommended retail price of 229 British Pounds.*

Wider Western Europe and North American sales will begin in Fall 2014, with remaining regions throughout the world scheduled for 2015.

The Oral-B App is available free on iOS today in the UK and US, and Android in August. It will be available in Western Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand through July, August and September of 2014 and in remaining regions in 2015.

On top of removing up to 100 percent more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush, the Oral-B SmartSeries works with the Oral-B App to set a new standard in personal oral care for the connected consumer interested in monitoring, guiding and creating smarter, more personalized brushing routines to develop better habits to drive improved outcomes of dental appointments.

Pre-tests of the Oral-B App have shown that when connected, brushing time increases from less than 60 seconds with a manual toothbrush to two minutes and 16 seconds with an electric toothbrush, surpassing the dental professional-recommended two-minute per session.

“Oral-B has a long history of innovation in oral care and this is one of the most widely anticipated products in our more than 60 year history. The worldwide reception from consumers, dental professionals and retail customers has been incredible,” said Wayne Randall, Vice President, Global Oral Care at Procter and Gamble. “The possibilities for improved oral health offered by data-based solutions and increased collaboration between patients and dental professionals are significant and exciting trends, and we’re proud to be the pioneer in the space.”

In the first customer reviews of the Oral-B SmartSeries with Bluetooth connectivity, following a limited preview sale on boots.com in the UK, the brush achieved an overall 4.8-star rating:

    Rosie382 on boots.com on 6 May, 2014 “Great product – unlike any other”: “Overall, this is a really fantastic brush. It is an investment but one that is well worth it and if you care about your teeth and gums then it really is invaluable.”
    6BethP on boots.com on 2 May, 2014 “Game changer”: “Very happy I invested in this toothbrush and can throw my manual one away!”
    xprettiiblux on boots.com on 7 May, 2014 “Squeaky clean!”: “…Then there’s the Bluetooth app. It is a brilliant feature, it really allows you to tailor your dental care, as well as allowing you to speak with your dentist to identify problem areas.”

Features & Benefits of the New Oral-B SmartSeries with Bluetooth 4.0 Connectivity:

    Bluetooth 4.0: Low-energy connectivity links electric toothbrush to smartphone app
    Oscillating-rotating-pulsating technology: Removes up to 100 percent more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush
    Six different cleaning modes: Daily Cleaning, Deep Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Tongue Cleaning
    Compatible with six different brush heads: CrossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive, Floss Action, TriZone
    Pressure sensor: Signals and decelerates the speed when the user is brushing too hard
    Travel accessories: Protects the brush and charger during travel

Features & Benefits of the Oral-B App:

    Two-Way Communication: The app reports data from the brush and can be used to program the brush for personalized routines.
    Expert Guidance with Focused Care: Working hand-in-hand with a dental professional, patients’ brushing routines can be reviewed and programmed in the app to help improve behaviors and focus on problem zones within the mouth.
    Personalized Brush Programs: Use a smartphone as a “remote control” to customize the brush settings, including session length and selecting preferred modes.
    Stores Data: Because it’s not always convenient to have a smartphone in the bathroom, the brush can store up to 20 brushing sessions, synching the data and updating records the next time the app is connected to the toothbrush.
    Fosters Better Brushing Habits: The app and interactive electric toothbrush help drive patient compliance, which determines a large part of the success of dental appointments.
    Helps Achieve The Recommended Two Minute Session: With news, weather, calendars, videos, achievement badges and of course, oral care tips, two minutes twice a day will fly by.

For more information on the new SmartSeries and other Oral-B electric toothbrushes with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, visit oralb.co.uk.

* Prices will vary and all pricing, merchandising, shelving, and distribution decisions are at the sole discretion of the retailer.

About Oral-B Oral-B is the worldwide leader in the over $5 billion brushing market. Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, the brand includes manual and electric toothbrushes for children and adults, oral irrigators and interdental products, such as dental floss. Oral-B manual toothbrushes are used by more dentists than any other brand in the U.S. and many international markets.

About Procter & Gamble P&G serves approximately 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140624005532/en/

Contacts

MSLGROUP New York

Jessica Spano, 646-500-7654

jessica.spano@mslgroup.com

Quintiles Named a Best IT Workplace by Computerworld

Honored for Sixth Year as a Top Destination for IT Professionals

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - Tuesday, June 24th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Quintiles, the world’s largest biopharmaceutical services provider and a Fortune 500 company, has been named one of IDGComputerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT 2014, the sixth time it has received this employer distinction over the past seven years.

Computerworld has ranked the top 100 work environments for technology professionals at U.S. companies or U.S. staff of international companies each year since 1994. The list is compiled each year based on company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, training and retention. In addition, Computerworld conducts extensive surveys of IT workers with their responses factoring heavily in determining the rankings.

“We are delighted to be named for the sixth time as one of the top IT workplaces,” said Quintiles Chief Information Officer Richard Thomas. “It is testament to the quality of our team and their focus on creating value over the long haul. The human edge in technology is more critical now than ever. Having a great workplace and culture is our foundation, and it allows everyone to flourish professionally, lifting our team performance to ever higher levels in everything we do,” Thomas added.

“Hiring the best and the brightest IT pros, offering them competitive pay and providing top-notch benefits is just the beginning for the outstanding employers on this year's Best Places to Work in IT list,” said Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. “Both newcomers to the list and rock-steady stalwarts nurture their talent with challenging business-critical projects, extensive training opportunities and ongoing career development programs. They invest in their own futures by investing in their employees.”

Quintiles has been recognized on numerous occasions for its pioneering work in IT, recently being named to the "CIO 100" by CIO magazine for creating business value through the effective and innovative use of IT. In 2013, Quintiles received the SCRIP industry award for best technological development in clinical trials, and also took home the Computerworld Data+ Editor’s Choice Award for its Infosario® platform big data solutions that help pharmaceutical organizations improve their probability of success throughout the drug development process.

About Quintiles

Quintiles (NYSE:Q), a Fortune 500 company, is the world’s largest provider of biopharmaceutical development and commercial outsourcing services. With a network of more than 29,000 employees conducting business in approximately 100 countries, we helped develop or commercialize all of 2013’s top-100 best-selling drugs on the market. Quintiles applies the breadth and depth of our service offerings along with extensive therapeutic, scientific and analytics expertise to help our customers navigate an increasingly complex healthcare environment as they seek to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of better healthcare outcomes. To learn more about Quintiles, please visit www.quintiles.com

Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for Quintiles.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50891795&lang=en

Contacts

Quintiles

Phil Bridges, Media Relations

+1-919-998-1653 (office)

+1-919-457-6347 (mobile)

phil.bridges@quintiles.com



Karl Deonanan, Investor Relations

+1-919-998-2789

InvestorRelations@quintiles.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11423/en

China to Host World’s Largest Integrated Health Industry Event “tHIS” in 2015

tHIS 2015

SHANGHAI - Wednesday, June 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions, the leading healthcare event organizer in China, announced Wednesday the launch of The Health Industry Summit (tHIS) in Shanghai. This new event, to be held 15-18 May 2015 at National Exhibition and Conference Center (Shanghai), the world’s largest single block exhibition complex, will combine a Summit program of over 100 conferences with a gigantic 260,000 sqm exhibition area through co-locating three of the leading health industry exhibitions, namely CMEF, PHARMCHINA, API CHINA, effectively forming the world’s largest integrated health industry event.

It is not surprising that Reed Sinopharm, a joint venture between China’s state-owned Sinopharm Group and the world’s leading event organizer Reed Exhibitions, decided to launch such a grand international event. With China predicting its health industry to grow into an RMB 8 trillion (USD 1.2 trillion) industry by 2020, and a strengthening of health sector demand, the move is clearly intended to secure more international trade and influence for China’s already sizable sector.

Along with the exhibition which completes the value chain for pharmaceutical and medical industries, an extensive conference program is designed to share the latest thinking on policies and investment, R&D, manufacturing and distribution, professional education and hospital applications. It is estimated that more than 6000 exhibitors and a staggering 150,000 professional visitors and leading academics from 140 countries and regions will land in Shanghai next May to join this unique event, bringing in significant business service and tourism revenue opportunities to the city.

Apart from scale, tHIS has also positioned itself as the platform to explore synergies emerging from the interactions between and within the Pharmaceutical and Medical sectors, which share a significant base of distributors and end users, as more and more companies begin to operate in a cross-sector capacity.

As China’s healthcare sector only accounts for around 5% of China’s GDP, there remains abundant potential for further investments and growth especially when it is being fueled by favorable demographic trends and continuing urbanization in decades to come. However, many industry players believe that while further growth in the sector is attainable, there will likely be fierce industry restructuring. The competitiveness of the local enterprises and the environment which foster innovation will need improving before China can realize the future it has envisioned.

Contacts
Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions
James Wang, +86-10-59339302
james.wang@reedexpo.com.cn









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11441/en

OT and V3D Partner to Help Mobile Operators Enhance Customer Experience

COLOMBES, France & LYON, France. - Tuesday, June 24th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Oberthur Technologies (OT) a world leader in digital security solutions for the mobility space and V3D, the independent QoS and QoE software editor for mobile networks, announced today their strategic partnership to provide mobile operators with an embedded solution for analyzing and improving the Quality of Experience (QoE) directly perceptible and felt by the mobile user.

With the extensive use of new connected devices and the arrival of new technologies such as LTE, mobile operators are facing higher expectation of end-users in terms of network quality and quality of experience.

In this context, V3D and OT partnership was initiated to combine both companies’ best of breed Customer Experience monitoring technologies. OT’s Smart Monitoring associated to the V3D’s EQual One solution provides mobile operators with an accurate picture of the coverage, call data status, data, browsing, applications and streaming experience of consumers in real time. This joint solution is not restricted only to consumers’ devices but also covers the Machine-to-Machine experience capabilities.

“Along with the quality and continuity of service monitoring capabilities already provided by our Smart Monitoring solution, this partnership with V3D allows us to supply our customers with exclusive and meaningful source of QoE data directly from any customers’ devices and SIM Cards on the market. Thanks to this solution mobile operators can easily gain a better understanding of their customers’ problems and expectations in order to improve the quality of end-user experience” said Marek Juda, Managing Director of the Solutions Business Unit at OT.

“We are very enthusiastic about this partnership with OT, using our solution to strengthen their existing embedded solutions to better serve and satisfy customers. Indeed, it is why V3D chose to place EQual One in the heart of the CEM and Customer Care solutions of the Telecom industry leaders, enriching these solutions – introducing an outside-in approach - with customer experience data gathered directly from end-users devices” comments Philippe VIAL-GRELIER, Chief Executive Officer of V3D.

ABOUT OBERTHUR TECHNOLOGIES

OT is a world leader in digital security solutions for the mobility space. OT has always been at the heart of mobility, from the first smart cards to the latest contactless payment technologies which equip millions of smartphones. Present in the Payment, Telecommunications and Identity markets, OT offers end-to-end solutions in the Smart Transactions, Mobile Financial Services, Machine-to-Machine, Digital Identity and Transport & Access Control fields. OT employs over 6 000 employees worldwide, including 600 R&D people. With more than 50 sales offices across 5 continents and 10 facilities, OT’s international network serves clients in 140 countries. For more information: www.oberthur.com

ABOUT V3D

V3D is a dedicated editor concentrating its know-how on the combination of network expertise, smartphones and their operating systems (OS). V3D offers turnkey solutions to monitor and manage networks and value added services from a customer point of view. The heart of the solution EQual One allows MNOs to measure true network Quality of Experience (QoE) of their mobile subscribers. V3D headquarter is based in Lyon, France. For more information, visit: www.v3d.fr – press@v3d.fr

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACTS

Oberthur Technologies

Audrey Besnardeau, Tel : +33 1 78 14 76 75

a.besnardeau@oberthur.com



FTI Consulting Strategic Communication

Yannick Duvergé, Tel : +33 1 47 03 68 65 / +33 6 74 91 48 05

yannick.duverge@fticonsulting.com



V3D

Hélène VALLEE, + 33 481 761 370

hvallee@v3d.fr

StreamWIDE Launches Enterprise Mobile Messaging App “Team on the Run” Maximizing the Efficiency of Group Communication

PARIS. - Tuesday, June 24th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) StreamWIDE (Paris:ALSTW) (FR0010528059 – ALSTW), the Next-Generation Mobile Value Added Service expert, announced today the launch of Team on the Run (TOTR), a secure and reliable white label instant messaging application.

The TOTR App is especially designed to meet the internal communication needs of businesses and organizations of all sizes and is available through the specialized e-commerce website www.teamontherun.com.

Once the account for this prepaid service, free for the first five users, has been successfully enrolled; a designated team administrator manages the account through an online web portal. From here, the platform can be customized with contacts, groups, features and restriction rules.

Team members download the App directly from Google Play or the App Store onto their smartphone. Once installed, Team on the Run automatically pushes the organization’s contacts and groups, previously configured by the team administrator, onto the mobile device and the team is ready to go live with a state of the art, secure communication environment.

“Team on the Run received great feedback during its presentation at The Mobile World Congress where customers stated that the reduction in messaging and call costs necessary to conduct business alone justify the investment” commented StreamWIDE CEO Pascal Beglin.

In addition to reliable and secure instant messaging, TOTR enables image, video, audio and location sharing with PDF, walkie-talkie and other features in the immediate roadmap; especially designed to boost team efficiency.

The Team on the Run service is available hosted in a private or public Cloud (IAAS) as well as hosted on premise for bigger organizations or for Operators wishing to add this turnkey solution to their portfolio of offerings.

About StreamWIDE

An established leader for value-added telephony services, StreamWIDE assists worldwide operators and service providers in shaping their telephony multimedia service innovation. From application servers to mobile and web apps, StreamWIDE delivers on-premise or cloud-based, end-to-end, carrier-grade NextGen VAS solutions in the areas of mobile messaging, voice messaging, virtual numbers and telephony for social networks, convergent charging, conferencing, call center services, ringback tones and IVR.

Operating from France, the USA, China, Romania, Tunisia, Austria, Russia, Argentina, Singapore and South Africa, StreamWIDE is listed on Alternext Paris (NYSE Euronext) - FR0010528059 – ALSTW.

For more information, visit www.streamwide.com or our LinkedIn or Twitter pages.

Contacts

Press contact:

Andrea Gould, +1 2013552147

StreamWIDE Inc.

Communications Director

agould@streamwide.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11425/en

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

ZTE Wins Wind Telecom Contract to Build First 4G TD-LTE Network in Dominican Republic

ZTE’s unified platform EPC and eNodeB solutions to be deployed to help Wind Telecom build cost-effective and high-performance network

ME NewsWire/Business Wire

SHENZHEN, China. - Tuesday, June 24th 2014

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, announced that the company won a contract from Wind Telecom to build the first 4G TD-LTE network in the Dominican Republic.

ZTE’s globally-leading TD-LTE solutions will be implemented to help Wind Telecom deploy a stable high-speed network to provide mobile broadband services for consumers and businesses in the Dominican Republic. ZTE’s unified platform EPC and eNodeB solutions, based on ZTE’s proprietary Cloud Radio technology, will help Wind Telecom achieve savings in capital expenditure, and operation and maintenance costs, and lay solid foundations for future growth.

"This next-generation network is an investment in the future of the Dominican Republic,” said José Clase, Chairman of the Board of Wind Telecom. “This platform will help bridge the digital divide and raise the economic competitiveness of the Dominican Republic by helping to lift the standard of education. The high-speed network connectivity will also deliver an enhanced user experience for consumers.”

Wind Telecom, with a long history of providing comprehensive telecommunication and television services in the Dominican Republic, is renowned as an operator of high-quality and professional broadband access and television services.

"We are very pleased to work with Wind Telecom to build the Dominican Republic's first TD-LTE 4G network,” said Yu Xin, Vice President of ZTE Corporation. “With our expertise in TD-LTE 4G, ZTE is committed to providing the best user experience for customers of Wind Telecom."

“Until the end of October, 2013, ZTE published 815 SAE/LTE patent statements in the IPR database of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), accounting for 13 percent of the total in the global telecommunications industry,” said Jiang Xiangyang, Vice President of ZTE Corporation. “Our industry leading technology advantages will guarantee ZTE and Wind Telecom provide the wonderful mobile broadband services for consumers in the Dominican Republic.”

As a global provider of industry-leading solutions, ZTE developed an end-to-end Turnkey solution for Wind Telecom after analyzing the operator’s existing networks. With the help of ZTE, Wind Telecom’s 4G TD-LTE network will serve consumers and businesses and help make Dominican transition to the wireless broadband era, meeting higher data bandwidth needs.

Under the multi-year contract, ZTE will help Wind Telecom deploy a 4G TD-LTE network in 2.5 – 2.7 GHz spectrum covering major cities and rural areas of Dominican, as well as provide 4G mobile devices that will appeal to users and help them take advantage of the broadband capabilities of the new network.

ZTE has eight R&D centers in U.S, Europe and China dedicated to research of 4G LTE technologies and systems. More than 5,000 experts at ZTE are involved in the research and development of 4G LTE wireless system, core network and terminal products.

As a provider of end-to-end TD-LTE solutions covering core network, wireless network, terminals, chips, and service platforms, ZTE has established TD-LTE trials and commercial networks for 66 leading operators in 40 countries in Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

ZTE has deployed commercial 4G TD-LTE networks for operators globally including China Mobile, China Mobile Hong Kong, Bharti Airtel and Hi3G in Sweden.

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 160 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while growing revenue. 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://www.me-newswire.net/news/11427/en

Mavenir adds Mobility to Voice over Wi-Fi

Move voice calls between LTE and Wi-Fi, seamlessly with Evolved Packet Data Gateway

RICHARDSON, Texas. - Monday, June 23rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Mavenir Systems (NYSE: MVNR), a leading provider of software-based network solutions for mobile services, today announced the availability of its Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG). For subscribers using Wi-Fi, the ePDG provides a secure connection to the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network and enables seamless mobility between LTE and Wi-Fi.

Mavenir’s ePDG allows subscribers to maintain constant access to high-speed data and voice services whether they are in LTE coverage areas or using Wi-Fi at public hotspots, at the office or in the home. As subscribers arrive in the office, for example, the ePDG ensures that data sessions remain active and voice calls stay up while the device switches from LTE to Wi-Fi access.

The ePDG is an integral part of Mavenir’s IMS converged voice solution that is used by mobile operators for both Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE). Mavenir’s approach enables operators to leverage their investments in VoLTE, and extend service reach as well as improve indoor coverage by launching VoWi-Fi. Momentum for IMS-based VoWi-Fi is picking up, as indicated recently by UK mobile operators Three UK and Everything Everywhere (EE), who plan to launch service in 2014.

“Globally, operators are trying to manage mobile subscribers’ demand for ubiquitous service access while dealing with tremendous surge in mobile data usage,” said Pardeep Kohli, Mavenir’s President and CEO. “We believe ePDG and converged access to IMS are logical extensions of VoWi-Fi, as mobility is becoming a key differentiator for operators.”

Apple’s recent announcement that iOS 8 will support Wi-Fi Calling, significantly increases the number of devices compatible with mobile operators’ VoWi-Fi service and accelerating adoption. A number of carriers have indicated support for Apple's iOS 8 Wi-Fi calling solution when the operating system launches. An advantage VoWi-Fi calling service has over OTT voice apps such as Skype, is that the service is seamless, works with the existing dialer and uses the existing phone number.

As a market leader in VoWi-Fi and VoLTE, Mavenir provides a comprehensive converged voice solution that consists of the Telephony Application Server (TAS), Call Session Control Function (CSCF), and a uniquely architected ePDG that is optionally integrated with Mavenir’s Packet Gateway (PGW) and Session Border Controller (SBC). The entire solution is based on the fully virtualized, highly scalable, mOne® software platform that can be deployed on cloud-based infrastructure and enables low cost of ownership.

About Mavenir:

Mavenir Systems (NYSE: MVNR) provides software-based networking solutions that enable mobile service providers to deliver next generation services over 4G LTE networks. Mavenir™ has a fully virtualized end to end portfolio of Voice/Video, Messaging and Mobile Core products that include IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and Session Border Controller (SBC). Mavenir’s solutions, based on the award-winning mOne® software platform, leverage NFV and SDN technologies for deployments on cloud-based infrastructure.

www.mavenir.com

© 2014 Mavenir Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Mavenir Systems®, AirMessenger®, Mavenir™, mOne®, mStore™ and mCloud™ are trademarks and registered trademarks of Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Contacts

Mavenir Systems

Katie Caballero or Maryvonne Tubb, +1 469-916-4393

pr@mavenir.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11422/en