Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Andy Serkis to Receive IBC’s Highest Award



LONDON -Wednesday 31 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The IBC2019 International Honour for Excellence will go to Andy Serkis, the director, producer and actor who is today best known for his performance capture roles. These include Gollum, Supreme Leader Snoke, King Kong and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes series. Serkis will accept the award at the climax of the IBC2019 Awards Ceremony, on Sunday night.

“IBC is where the technology, the craft and the business of the media industry come together,” said Michael Crimp, CEO of IBC. “The International Honour for Excellence has a long history of rewarding those who have transformed our creative vision. Andy Serkis has achieved this by bringing extraordinary humanity to computer-generated characters.”

Serkis was born in England in 1964 and wanted to be an artist before becoming an actor, working in the theatre and on television. Today he is also a producer and director, with his London-based company Imaginarium Studios producing last year’s Mowgli, Legend of the Jungle, a new interpretation of Kipling’s originals adapted by Serkis, which also featured him co-starring as Baloo the bear alongside Christian Bale’s Bagheera.

His greatest achievement, though, is in making the shift from mere motion capture for CGI towards a combination of technology and the interpretive skill of the actor to create the fidelity of the performance in every detail. This is what gives the performance genuine humanity: his performance as Caesar in the three Planet of the Apes films won him an acting nomination from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

For bringing together the highest performance standards with the latest in image recognition and CGI technology, the IBC2019 International Honour for Excellence will be presented to Andy Serkis.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been chosen as the recipient of this year’s prestigious IBC award,” said Andy Serkis. “In turn, I must share this appreciation with the phenomenal legions of creative artists, visionaries and pioneers with whom I’ve been lucky enough to dance with on this journey of next generation storytelling.”

The IBC2019 Awards Ceremony is free to all IBC visitors. It takes place on Sunday evening 15 September at 18.30 in the RAI Auditorium, and will also see the presentation of two new awards this year, honouring achievements in social responsibility and a Young Pioneer, alongside the IBC Innovation Awards.

Earlier on Sunday Andy Serkis will feature in an IBC2019 Conference Convention Keynote, in conversation with Hollywood journalist Carolyn Giardina. They will review his career, the state of the art in motion capture, and discuss where he sees the future of technology in film and television. The Convention Keynote is at 12.30 in the Forum, and is free to attend.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005738/en/

Contacts

Aimee Moore
amoore@ibc.org
+44 (0) 20 7832 4104

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/andy-serkis-to-receive-ibcrsquos-highest-award/en

The Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan Continues to Lead a Medical Innovation Hub With Its Strength in Digital Health, Health Tech and Medicine



TAIPEI, Taiwan -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Following the success last year, the Healthcare+ Expo sees a rapid growth in size and significance of procurement, networking and marketing. The Expo is now regarded as a primary event in Asia, attracting global participation from more than 5,000 buyers, 500 enterprises, 60 high-profile speakers and 100 professional institutions to come to Taipei on 5-8 December 2019.

Where key opinion leaders go and business grows

Exhibitors this year have a strong presence in medical AI, health tech and medicine. World-class medical centres, IT giants, international brands for medical devices and innovative startups congregate at the Expo to impress audiences with advanced health tech and life-saving medical development. In addition to that, the Expo sets the theme to digital health utilising AI, IoT, cloud computing and robotics, new technology for cancer treatment, precision health and smart hospitals in response to robust market demands.

As part of the Expo programmes, MEDTEX Summit Asia brings together 10 top venture capital firms, global AI pioneers, a Nobel Prize winner and multinational pharmaceutical executives to project their views on futuristic trends of healthcare. Visitors having business agendas can then anticipate fruitful results gained in conferences, match-making sessions and roadshows, as well as taking home with high quality market insights.

Why Taiwan matters to healthcare industry

Taiwan has a competitive edge as it is situated the heart of Asia, with proximity and commercial links to emerging economics, and a home to leading electronics manufacturers and well-connected supply chains. Coupling with its strength in tech, the healthcare system here provides not only a universal coverage for every citizen but a massive amount of data collected over years that paves the way for Taiwan to excel in wider healthcare business competitions.

The Expo thus invites those who are or will be in healthcare business, to save the date, come prepared and stay connected wherever they are. Visitors with interest in the Expo are suggested booking a place online beforehand (click here); early bird offers are available now until 30 September.

Register now

Expo in detail

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190722005809/en

Contacts

Research Centre for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy
Gordon Shen PhD. +886 2 2655 7888 Ext.630 chinhuishen@rbmp.org.tw
Miss Silvia Fan +886 2 2655 7888 Ext.649 silvia@rbmp.org.tw
David Yang PhD. +886 2 2655 7888 Ext.627 fmyang@rbmp.org.tw


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Philip Morris International: World Health Organization Report on Tobacco Fails People Who Currently Smoke

The WHO is missing major opportunity to help smokers by putting science and innovation at the core of public policy

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The following is a statement from Philip Morris International.

On July 26, the World Health Organization released a report on global tobacco use which urges governments to step up efforts to help smokers quit. There is no question that the best choice is never to start using cigarettes or nicotine-containing products or if someone has, they should quit altogether. By encouraging governments to double down on efforts to help men and women who smoke quit, the WHO takes an admirable stance. But the reality is that even with the best treatments available today, many people will not succeed. In any given year, about nine out of 10 men and women who are already smoking will continue to do so; in turn, their risk of smoking-related disease will continue to increase. We, as a society, cannot turn our backs on those people.

Surprisingly, this report, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, fails to acknowledge the robust science and innovation behind alternatives to smoking cigarettes. The WHO misses a critical scientific point: It is the burning of tobacco that produces the vast majority of the harmful chemicals that cause smoking-related diseases, not tobacco itself. Hundreds of millions of men and women who don’t quit stand to gain the most from less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. In fact, a global survey of 31,000 people in 31 countries found that 88 percent of respondents think smokers should have access to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes. https://www.pmi.com/media-center/news/public-supports-alternatives-to-cigarettes. PMI’s alternatives alone have already helped 8 million people abandon cigarettes entirely.

“The WHO is failing the 1 billion men and women around the world that continue to smoke by continuing to ignore the science behind better alternatives to cigarettes,” said Dr. Moira Gilchrist, Vice President of Strategic and Scientific Communications, Philip Morris International. “There is no question that scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives are better than cigarettes. The WHO is perfectly situated to encourage independent research and provide science-based recommendations to smokers. Instead they seem to be closing down dialogue on promising alternatives to continued smoking, choosing instead to focus solely on pharmaceutical industry products.”

In 1997, the UN Focal Point on Tobacco or Health recommended that “in order to assist smokers who are so heavily dependent that they cannot possibly stop smoking, every effort should be made to reduce the toxicity of existing tobacco products.” The same report also recommends that “the WHO is requested to consider the above recommendations in future policy-development activities, including the drafting of a framework convention on tobacco control.”

PMI heeded the call for reduced toxicity products and for more than 20 years has been working on developing and scientifically assessing less harmful alternatives to cigarettes that do not create smoke, because they do not combust. PMI’s scientific assessment program is inspired by the well-recognized practices of the pharmaceutical industry and in line with the draft guidance of the U.S. FDA for Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) Applications. Our scientific studies resulted in more than 340 references in peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals and book chapters. All our clinical studies are registered on the public website www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

We encourage rigorous assessment of our scientific research, which is made transparently available for just that purpose. To date, there have been 73 independent studies and scientific reviews from universities and government research institutes in countries like Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. In general, the conclusions from these studies and reviews are in line with PMI’s own data.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, outlines in his own vision statement that “under my leadership an enhanced and independent WHO will take a science-led and innovation-based approach that is results-oriented and responsive, maximizes inclusive partnerships, and ensures collective priority setting with all stakeholders.” https://www.who.int/dg/vision

One has to ask, why does the WHO not apply these same principles to tobacco control?

“We remain committed to having an open and transparent dialogue based on science,” said Dr. Gilchrist. “We cannot change the past, but we can change the future for the 1 billion people around the world who continue to smoke.”

Our smoke-free strategy complements efforts by the WHO to tackle smoking. Our aspiration is that, by 2025, at least 40 million people who would otherwise have smoked cigarettes will have switched to our smoke-free products (approximately 8 million people to date globally), reducing the number of smokers of PMI cigarette brands by a total 55 million by 2025. Our aspiration is to reduce smoking almost four times faster than the target set by WHO.

“We are shifting our business toward science-based better alternatives. We look forward to working with decision-makers in governments around the world and organizations such as the WHO to accelerate this transformation,” said Dr. Gilchrist. “Despite the WHO report, we remain steadfast in our commitment to unsmoke the world.”

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future
Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI’s smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of June 30, 2019, PMI estimates that approximately 8.0 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI’s heat-not-burn product, available for sale in 48 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005489/en/

Contacts
Ryan Sparrow
Philip Morris International Media Office
T: +41 (0)58 242 4500
E: ryan.sparrow@pmi.com


https://www.aetoswire.com/news/philip-morris-international-world-health-organization-report-on-tobacco-fails-people-who-currently-smoke/en

RF IDeas embraces the future of mobile authentication with its newest solution portfolio



ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. -Wednesday 31 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RF IDeas now offers a robust and comprehensive portfolio of mobile access solutions based on Orange Business Services and Safetrust credentials, with additional mobile solutions planned for release in 2019 and 2020.

Today’s smartphones offer artificial intelligence capabilities that support a robust digital persona. “Smartphones are already being used to securely authenticate users for physical access, check-in, payment and other scenarios,” explained David Cottingham, President of RF IDeas. “We believe that mobile access solutions will play a central role in enterprise security as an increasingly mobile workforce requires access to multiple secure devices and applications throughout the workday.”

RF IDeas’ commitment to empowering authentication through any device—including mobile access—cements its position as provider of the leading enterprise platform for identity acquisition within secure authentication and access solutions. Today’s announcement covers the pcProx® Plus BLE dual-frequency proximity, contactless smart card and mobile credential reader with Bluetooth® low energy technology. The reader is available with two firmware versions.

Orange Business Services, a global communications operator, integrator and digital services company has developed software credentials to further the development of mobile access solutions. With an ambition to support the digital transformation in connected buildings and smart cities, the Pack ID mobile credential can simplify the lives of people on the go with use cases, including:

    Logical access
    Mobile wallet
    Secure print
    Cashless vending
    Vehicle (park, share, charge)

RF IDeas is the first reader vendor authorized to resell the Orange Business Services mobile credential.

The Safetrust Wallet mobile credential provides:

    Logical access
    Follow me print
    Multiple badges
    Card emulation: HID

RF IDeas provides the pcProx Plus BLE dual-frequency reader, and the Safetrust Wallet mobile credential is available from Safetrust.

With RF IDeas support for both traditional card-based and mobile credentials, these new readers from RF IDeas set the standard for versatility and open access to the future of mobile authentication. To learn more, visit https://www.rfideas.com/solutions/technology/mobile-authentication-technologies

About RF IDeas

RF IDeas, Inc. is a leader in the employee badge and card reader space for healthcare, manufacturing, government and enterprise. Partnering with leading technology companies, RF IDeas readers enable innovative solutions for single sign-on, secure printing, attendance tracking and other applications that require authentication. RF IDeas readers support nearly all card type technologies worldwide as well as the growing set of mobile credentials. For more information about RF IDeas solutions, visit https://www.rfideas.com.

RF IDeas® and pcProx® are registered trademarks of RF IDeas, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and product or service names are property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005100/en/

Contacts

Arlene King
Marketing Manager
Ph: (866) 439-4884
E: Marketing@RFIDeas.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/rf-ideas-embraces-the-future-of-mobile-authentication-with-its-newest-solution-portfolio/en

Greene Tweed Partners with Canadian Firm for Distribution of Energy Industry Materials and Products

KULPSVILLE, Pa. -Wednesday 31 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Greene Tweed has announced that they will partner with A.R. Thomson Group for the sale and distribution of their Seal-Connect® electrical connectors, elastomeric seals, advanced engineering plastics, and composite materials and finished components for the Energy market.

A.R. Thomson is a regional manufacturer and distributor of gaskets and other fluid containment products, with manufacturing capabilities focused on oil & gas, petrochemical, and oil refining industries. Their distributorship for Greene Tweed’s energy products is exclusive to Canada.

With 25+ years of energy industry experience, Greene Tweed collaborates with customers to develop innovative solutions that meet challenging performance requirements and reduce total cost of ownership.

“With A.R. Thomson’s focus on distribution of products for the oil & gas, petrochemical, and oil refining industries, our partnership will ensure access and responsiveness to Greene Tweed’s industry-leading Energy portfolio of materials and engineered solutions throughout Canada,” said Brent Regan, Vice President and General Manager, Energy, Greene Tweed.

“We are excited to partner with such a great name in Industry!” said Todd Sergeant, Vice President and Business Manager, A.R. Thomson Group. “Greene Tweed’s ability to design and manufacture sealing solutions, abrasive wear components, and electrical connectors is a great addition to the A.R. Thomson Group in Canada.”

For additional information about Greene Tweed’s partnership with A.R. Thomson, contact Greene Tweed at +1.281.765.4500, or visit our website at www.gtweed.com.

About Greene Tweed

Greene Tweed is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance seals and engineered components.

With 150+ years of technical expertise and commercial knowledge in a variety of markets, Greene Tweed collaborates with customers to develop innovative solutions that meet challenging performance requirements and reduce total cost of ownership.

We offer worldwide design and manufacturing expertise, solving your critical challenges through the development of custom-designed, leading-edge components.

Greene Tweed products are sold and distributed worldwide.



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005328/en/

Contacts

Chris Aldred
Corporate Marketing
+1.267.932.5389
caldred@gtweed.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/greene-tweed-partners-with-canadian-firm-for-distribution-of-energy-industry-materials-and-products/en

ITO EN Oi Ocha Green Teas Coming Soon to Walmart

 Two Flavors Launching Nationally In October



NEW YORK -Wednesday 31 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ITO EN (North America) INC. the global leaders of green tea and innovators of healthy beverages today announced that their Oi Ocha ready-to-drink green tea brand, will soon be available in Walmart stores nationwide. Slated for placement in October 2019 with two unsweetened flavors- ITO EN’s premium Oi Ocha green tea, Japan’s top selling brand and Jasmine Green Tea, a popular green tea infused with jasmine flowers. The award-winning teas are celebrated for their naturally smooth taste and clean finish, brewed with ITO EN’s proprietary brewing method using whole tea leaves without artificial additives, flavors or colors, and powders or concentrates. The authentic and refreshing teas are Non-GMO certified with natural catechin tea antioxidants, natural Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and zero calories. Each packaged in a convenient on the go 16.9 fl. oz recyclable PET bottle.

“With a growing number of consumers looking for authentic and healthy beverages, we could not be more excited to expand Ito En’s tea products into Walmart stores nationwide,” says Jim Hoagland, COO at ITO EN (North America) INC. “With Walmart responding to the growing consumer interest for high-quality, authentic and better-for-you products, we are confident that our traditional unsweetened green teas are a great fit for Walmart and their customers.”

The Oi Ocha brand has been growing exponentially in the U.S. market as consumer demand for authentic and healthier beverages continues to grow across the specialty, mainstream markets, and food service channels. The partnership with Walmart not only broadens ITO EN’s brand awareness and distribution but will also give accessibility to a better-for-you beverage to the everyday consumer. With green tea gaining popularity for its health benefits while consumers seek sugar free beverages, unsweetened Oi Ocha teas are ideal to integrate into daily life.

ITO EN is specifically known for its commitment to tea expertise and sustainable practices that are reflected across all of its award-winning brands. With over 50 years of tea expertise, the company is dedicated to authenticity, preserving its culture while creating global innovation for the tea and beverage industry. ITO EN is proud to have ranked #18 in FORTUNE's top 50 Companies that have made an important social or environmental impact through its profit-making strategy and operations. The company was also awarded a sustainability award for its used tea leaf recycling program, creating innovative products from a eco-friendly synthetic resin made from used tea leaves. For more information on ITO EN and its products, please visit www.itoen.com.

About ITO EN:

ITO EN (North America) INC., a subsidiary of ITO EN (Japan) LTD., is an innovative beverage industry leader dedicated to creating authentic products that embody the company’s five principles of Natural, Healthy, Safe, Well-designed and Delicious. With over 50 years of tea expertise in Japan, ITO EN is dedicated to authenticity, preserving its culture while creating global innovation, making it known as Japan’s #1 green tea purveyor with award-winning brands, including TEAS’ TEA Organic®, Oi Ocha®, ITO EN Shots® and matcha LOVE®. ITO EN’s strong commitment to social and environmental impact manifests in its partnerships with regional farmers and governments to stimulate local economies, development of sustainable procurement practices and nurture a new generation of tea farming. To learn more about ITO EN, visit www.itoen.com. ‘Like’ us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005425/en/

Contacts

Rona Tison
ITO EN (North America) INC.
rtison@itoen.com
T. 707-327-6413

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/ito-en-oi-ocha-green-teas-coming-soon-to-walmart/en

‘Royal Hospital Kids’ Free Reading App Launched for Hospitalized Children in Oman

Muscat, Oman -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

Al Manhal, part of TechKnowledge General Trading based in the United Arab Emirates, in cooperation with the Department of Hematology and Oncology for Children at the Royal Hospital in Oman and with the support of Ara Petroleum, a subsidiary of Al-Zubayr Group based in the Sultanate of Oman, have launched the free virtual library reading application ‘Royal Hospital Kids’ for children residing in the hospital to help children to bear and overcome the stages of treatment.

Several studies have shown the positive effect of reading on the speed of children's response to treatment and its effect on decreasing the length of their stay at the hospital.

The Royal Hospital Kids application, operated by Al Manhal and using one of its specialized products for children, Nahla wa Nahil, offers hundreds of interactive stories that children can listen to and read, as well as educational games and various worksheets.

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Ghaithi, Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, explained that the Children's Library application was a dream for many children and their families. Reading, in addition to being an educational skill, is one of the easiest and most enjoyable hobbies that children can maintain during their treatment. Many children and their families enjoy reading for leisure, and reading is an inspiration to many people through heroic characters and their achievements in novels and stories. This is undoubtedly a positive motivation for children and their families to follow the treatment plan.

Osama Alzadjali, Communication and Corporate Affairs Manager of Ara Petroleum, said: "The energy companies are distinguished by their contribution to various charitable projects. The children of the Department of Oncology and Hematology at the Royal Hospital are receiving our focus this year. This is in the interest of the health of today's children, who are the pillars of our society of tomorrow, and the youth of the future. The idea of this application, keeping up with modern technologies while contributing to drawing smiles on children's faces, and in the development of reading skills as well, is one of our priorities.

-  More     -

Dr. Al-Ghaithi added that the medical staff hopes that the application will develop to include some educational curricula in the future so that children can continue their academic achievement while in the hospital.

He also praised the role of Ara Petroleum Company, one of the Al-Zubair Group companies, specialized in the field of energy, in launching the application. Their sponsorship and funding of the smart application project for the departments of Hematology and Oncology at the Royal Hospital has made it possible.

Mohamed Al-Baghdadi, Chairman of TechKnowledge, said: "We are very pleased with the presence of institutions that support and are interested in providing such solutions to all who need them. The idea of offering free reading to sick children was a long-standing idea. We were introduced to similar experiences in large international hospitals and we dreamed of presenting the idea within a technological innovation framework that is in line with the technological development of our children.”

“So, based on our partnership with the Royal Hospital, we decided to present the idea of the project to them, which received great attention from the management of the hospital, and to launch the application with the magnificent efforts of all the concerned parties.”

Each child in the hospital will be able to download the RH application free of charge from the Apple App Store or Google Play. They can then scan the login code that’s found on a sticker on the hospital bed to enjoy hundreds of stories that have been selected specifically for different subjects and age levels. The application is supported by Nahla wa Nahil, a system designed to develop the love of Arabic reading for children through a variety of features that generate enthusiasm and add fun for children.

About Nahla wa Nahil

Nahla wa Nahil is the first platform for reading and understanding in Arabic for children between 4 and 11 years of age at all levels of reading. It includes hundreds of books grouped by age level, published by leading educational publishing houses in the Middle East. The books are also available as audio books using advanced technologies to help children with correct pronunciation. Nahla wa Nahil is a 2019 GESS Education Award winner.

www.nahlawanahil.com

www.almanhal.com

About the Royal Hospital

The Royal Hospital, which was inaugurated in December 1987, is one of the most distinguished hospitals in the field of providing health services at the tertiary and referral level in various health specialties. The hospital's services are specialized in the fields of general medicine, surgery, children, women and obstetrics, oncology, and medical laboratories. The hospital is also one of the most important achievements of the modern Sultanate of Oman under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Contacts

Tommaso Sansoni,

Tel: +971 4 439 0630

Fax: +971 4 366 1043

tsansoni@techknowledge.ae

www.techknowledge.ae

www.nahlawanahil.com                    

www.almanhal.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/lsquoroyal-hospital-kidsrsquo-free-reading-app-launched-for-hospitalized-children-in-oman/en

Fluor Awarded EPCM Contract by Cupric Canyon Capital for Project in Botswana

IRVING, Texas -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract by Cupric Canyon Capital for its Khoemacau copper and silver project in northwest Botswana. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the second quarter of 2019.

“We worked closely with Cupric Canyon in the project’s front-end engineering and design phase to establish a capital-efficient design and execution plan for the project,” said Tony Morgan, president of Fluor’s Mining & Metals business. “Fluor was also involved in construction management of the early works for the camp upgrade, bush clearing, transport corridor and surface infrastructure terrace preparation.”

Fluor’s scope includes upgrading the existing copper concentrator plant and new mine surface infrastructure. The project is expected to produce an annual average of 62,000 metric tons of copper and 1.9 million ounces of silver with a life of mine in excess of 20 years.

“We will leverage our local capabilities and extensive copper experience to execute the Khoemacau project with excellence – safely, on time, on budget and with quality,” added Morgan.

Fluor has worked in Botswana since the early 2000s and opened an office in Gaborone in 2015. From Gaborone, Fluor delivers safety, cost-competitive innovations and execution excellence to clients. Fluor conducts business in a socially, economically and environmentally responsible manner, and the Botswana office provides local employment opportunities and supplier and skills development.

About Fluor Corporation

Founded in 1912, Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is a global engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance company that transforms the world by building prosperity and empowering progress. Fluor serves its clients by designing, building and maintaining safe, well executed, capital-efficient projects around the world. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor ranks 164 on the Fortune 500 list with revenue of $19.2 billion in 2018 and has more than 53,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005657/en/

Contacts
Brian Mershon
Media Relations
469.398.7621

Jason Landkamer
Investor Relations
469.398.7222


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/fluor-awarded-epcm-contract-by-cupric-canyon-capital-for-project-in-botswana/en

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Brightline Initiative and IESE Business School Collaborate to Explore Fundamental Trade-offs in Transformation and Strategy Implementation

EWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Brightline™ Initiative announced a new research collaboration with IESE Business School.

Every day, senior leaders and executives around the globe make important decisions around transforming their organizational culture, leadership, processes and technology. They need to make trade-offs to balance autonomy and control within their organizations. They need to evaluate short term versus long term impacts. They must be able to find a sweet spot between desirability and feasibility to win their customers.

Brightline and IESE Business School will explore similar key trade-offs that leaders need to respond to daily. The right decisions by senior leadership can bridge the expensive and unproductive gap between strategy design and delivery to positively transform organizations.

The results of this research collaboration will be published in a series of articles offering guidance for senior executives. By applying the insights from the research, leaders may be able to successfully manage their most important trade-offs.

Prof. Joaquim VilĂ  of IESE Business School will lead this research effort with the Brightline team. He asserts that, “many executives agree that implementation is ‘the problem’. Translating strategy into results goes well beyond communicating a sound strategy to our people. It implies addressing different demands to gain the acceptance and commitment of all involved and, specifically, leading an implementation plan in the midst of a changing environment. Execution implies balancing contradictory goals. All these factors play a role, and it is the weakest aspect that shapes the prospects of reducing the gap between strategy design and implementation results.”

Dr. Edivandro Conforto, Head of Strategy Research at Brightline, says, “Our research and engagement with senior leaders reveals the challenges to transform ideas into reality. With our new partnership with IESE we will dive deeper into how leaders can successfully navigate complex decision-making. This partnership will advance our thought leadership research and will shed light on some of the most critical trade-offs and the right practices to deal with them.”

Brightline’s Executive Director Ricardo Vargas states that, “Today’s leaders struggle to balance organizations’ interests and individuals’ aspirations. In order to successfully transform, leaders need to be able to walk a tight rope between acting quickly and thoughtfully assessing the context. We are very excited to partner with IESE Business School to uncover new insights to help senior executives successfully lead changes needed in their organizations.”

About Brightline Initiative

Brightline™ is a Project Management Institute (PMI) initiative together with leading global organizations dedicated to helping executives bridge the expensive and unproductive gap between strategy design and delivery. Brightline delivers insights and solutions that empower leaders to successfully transform their organization’s vision into reality through strategic initiative management.

PMI is the premier professional association for project management, delivering value for more than 3 million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research.

Learn more at www.brightline.org.

Brightline Coalition

Project Management Institute (PMI) – Boston Consulting Group – Bristol Myers Squibb – Saudi Telecom Company – Lee Hecht Harrison – Agile Alliance – NetEase

Academic and Research Collaboration

MIT Consortium for Engineering Program Excellence – Technical University of Denmark – University of Tokyo Global Teamwork Lab – Insper – Duke Corporate Education – IESE Business School

About IESE Business School

IESE is the graduate business school of the University of Navarra, and has pioneered business education in Europe since its founding (1958). IESE has sought to develop business leaders with solid business skills, a global mind-set and a desire to make a positive impact on society. The school distinguishes itself in its general-management approach, extensive use of the case method, international outreach, and emphasis on placing people at the heart of managerial decision-making.

Learn more at www.iese.edu.

View this news release and multimedia online at: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/52017463/en

Contacts
Brightline Initiative
Dr. Edivandro Carlos Conforto
Head of Strategy Research
edivandro.conforto@brightline.org

IESE Business School
Professor Joaquim VilĂ 
Professor of Strategic Management & Innovation
Academic Director of IESE’s Executive Education Focused Programs
JVila@iese.edu


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/brightline-initiative-and-iese-business-school-collaborate-to-explore-fundamental-trade-offs-in-transformation-and-strategy-implementation/en

World Swimming Champions Will Compete in The ISL: In December the Final Show in Las Vegas

MILAN-Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- On behalf of the International Swimming League/ La Presse Italy

The eighteenth edition of the World Aquatics Championships has just ended in Gwangju in South Korea, but the fever for water sports stays very high. In a few months, to be precise next October, another extraordinary event of global importance will animate the life of the pools. This is the ISL, International Swimming League, a new team competition that will involve the best athletes of the world.

To make a comparison with soccer, this is the Champions League of swimming: only the stars can take part.

The challenge between the international swimming Ă©lite is born from the idea of the Ukrainian tycoon Konstantin Grigorishin and, after a series of cross-fights, will culminate with the final-show in Las Vegas on December 20-21.

Four European and four US teams will compete in three stages in the US (Indianapolis, Dallas and Washington DC) and three in Europe (Naples, Budapest and London); the goal is to increase the spectacularization of the races with a worldwide TV coverage which will allow swimming to become one of the most popular sports for media. The rest, of course, will be the protagonists of the pools.

But who are the stars that will race? At the moment the list of champions who have accepted this challenge is amazing:

Katinka HosszĂº,
Federica Pellegrini, Cate Campbell, Sarah Sjöström, Mireia Belmonte, Katie Ledecky,
Adam Peaty,
Nathan Adrian,
Ryan Murphy,
Chad le Clos, Kyle Chalmers, Florent Manaudou.

The organisers are at work, all the details of this fantastic event will be formalized in a press conference next September.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190729005650/en/

Contacts
Marcella Gastini/ +39 011 7413070/ marcella.gastini@lapresse.it











Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/world-swimming-champions-will-compete-in-the-isl-in-december-the-final-show-in-las-vegas/en

Mary Kay Inc. Named Among Most Reputable Global Employers in Reputation Institute’s 2019 Workplace Study

Mary Kay ranked number 42 on the list of employers for its dedication to building a workplace culture that fosters inclusion and its demonstrated concern for the health and well-being of its employees

DALLAS -Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mary Kay Inc. is proud to be recognized in the 2019 Global Workplace 100 Study by Reputation Institute (Ri) as one of the world’s most reputable employers. Mary Kay is ranked number 42 among the top 100 global companies on the list.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190729005477/en/

“Our reputation among employees and customers is based on the foundation Mary Kay Ash established when she began her dream company in 1963,” said Melinda Foster Sellers, Chief People Officer at Mary Kay Inc. “She envisioned a company based on the Golden Rule that made the world a better place through corporate responsibility, innovation, ethical business practices and people-first management—all factors that contributed to our success in this year’s Reputation Institute study. We’re honored to be named among the most reputable employers from around the world in 2019.”

In the study, researchers at Reputation Institute—a leading provider of reputation measurement and management services—surveyed more than 230,000 individuals in 15 countries. Reputation Institute measured companies based on professional development, total rewards, work environment, market leadership, products and responsibility.

According to the research, over the last year, willingness to work for Mary Kay increased by 6.2 percent, the largest improvement among all the companies measured in the Global RepTrak® 100 study. Mary Kay outranks other global powerhouse brands in a variety of industries across the globe.

“Mary Kay is a rising star in the reputation study—showing the biggest improvement in the ‘willingness to work for’ category of all companies measured,” said Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, Chief Reputation Officer at Ri. “Companies like Mary Kay are reaping the benefits of building workplace cultures that foster inclusion while demonstrating concern for the health and well-being of its employees.”

This is the latest in the series of accolades Mary Kay has received highlighting its position as a global employer of choice. Other recent awards include:

    Top 10 Global CEOs: Reputation Institute named Chairman and CEO David Holl among the top 10 most reputable chief executives in the world according to its CEO RepTrak® 2019.
    Best Midsize Employer 2019: Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Midsize Employers 2019. Mary Kay is ranked number 97 of the 500 companies on the list.
    Best Employer for Diversity 2019: Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity 2019. Mary Kay is ranked number 150 of the 500 companies on the list.
    Global Excellence in the Workplace: Mary Kay Spain and Mary Kay Poland earned the 2018 AON Best Employers Award, recognizing organizations demonstrating excellence in the workplace. Mary Kay China and Mary Kay Mexico picked up the honor in 2017.
    Family-Friendly Employer 2018: Mary Kay Hong Kong was recognized by Home Affairs Bureau as a top family-friendly employer.
    Chinese Enterprise Health Management Top 10 Employers 2018: China International Intellectech Corporation honored Mary Kay China.

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 55 years ago with three goals: offer rewarding opportunities for women, provide irresistible products and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to researching the science behind beauty and to manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, fragrances and nutritional supplements. Through The Mary Kay FoundationSM, the company has awarded more than $78 million to cancer research and domestic violence shelters. Mary Kay Ash’s original vision continues to shine—one lipstick at a time.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190729005477/en/

Contacts

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/mary-kay-inc-named-among-most-reputable-global-employers-in-reputation-institutersquos-2019-workplace-study/en

Aspect Software Announces New Infinity Program for Aspect® Unified IP®

Program commits additional support and long-term benefits to users of the company’s contact center platform



WESTFORD, Mass.-Tuesday 30 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today Aspect Software announced Aspect Unified IP Infinity, a multi-year program designed to help customers protect their investment, reduce infrastructure burden, and ensure ongoing security and compliance for Aspect Unified IP deployments.

“The big news here is that Aspect will be supporting our customers who wish to continue using our Unified IP solution, on-prem, for years to come,” said Patrick Dennis, Aspect President and CEO. “We are extending the product roadmap and ensuring ongoing service and support into the future, to align with the needs of our key customers who are not yet ready to move their contact center system into the cloud.”

This program entitles customers to the upcoming Aspect Unified IP 7.4 release and planned roadmap updates. These updates will include customer requested enhancements, simplified upgrades, and major refreshes of third-party technology which helps to ensure compliance with IT and security standards. Customers will also benefit from the flexible media port migration credit options which makes refreshing and consolidating on the latest media server hardware and software simple and cost effective.

The Infinity program includes upgrade assurance which provides a path for upgrades, with expert consultation, planning and implementation services and maintenance benefits for all users of older versions of Unified IP software who agree to upgrade to the supported version as part of the program. All customers who choose to participate and extend their annual maintenance will receive additional support for upgrades, bridging, or discounted professional services for technology integrations or add-ons.

“We understand that not all our customers are alike, or have the same deployment requirements,” continued Dennis. “We intend to support them as long as they depend on Aspect to provide excellent customer experiences.”

The Aspect Unified IP Infinity program is available immediately to qualified customers. Version 7.4 of Aspect Unified IP will be released later this year.

About Aspect

Aspect is on a mission to simplify and improve customer engagement. Our enterprise software is used by millions of agents every year and supports billions of consumer interactions around the world. Our best-of-breed contact center and workforce optimization applications help companies keep agents engaged while providing exceptional customer service experiences. Our flexible, highly scalable solutions for self-service and live interaction management and workforce optimization are available on-premises or in any hosted, private or public cloud environment. For more information, visit www.aspect.com.

Products and service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190729005358/en/

Contacts

Michael Harris, Aspect Software CMO
Tel: 602-586-5810
michael.harris@aspect.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/aspect-software-announces-new-infinity-program-for-aspectreg-unified-ipreg/en

Monday, July 29, 2019

3M and SGA Settle Patent Dispute Relating to Paint Spray Technology

ST. PAUL, Minn. & WORCESTER, Mass.-Monday 29 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- 3M Company and Saint-Gobain Abrasives Inc. and their respective affiliates have settled a long-standing patent dispute in Europe that related to paint spraying technology and included infringement actions brought by 3M under several European patents against Saint-Gobain Abrasives in Germany and in France and corresponding nullity actions by Saint-Gobain Abrasives in Germany, nullity counter-claims in France and oppositions before the European Patent Office. The patents enforced by 3M included EP1961488 B1, EP 1,366,823 B1, EP 2,090,372 B1 and EP 2,090,373 B1 all of which relate to 3M’s Paint Preparation System (PPS™) technology. Saint-Gobain Abrasives supplies a variety of products under its “Norton Paint Systems” (NPS) brand.

The settlement concluded between 3M and Saint-Gobain Abrasives includes the resolution of all disputes and a release of Saint-Gobain’s NPS products under 3M’s paint spray technology related patents.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $33 billion in sales, our 93,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

About Saint-Gobain

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure, and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change. Saint-Gobain operates in 68 countries with sales of €41.8 billion in 2018 and more than 180,000 employees. www.saint-gobain.com.

Contacts
3M Media Contact
Fanna Haile-Selassie
fhaile-selassie@mmm.com

Saint-Gobain Media Contact
Patricia Marie
patricia.marie@saint-gobain.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/3m-and-sga-settle-patent-dispute-relating-to-paint-spray-technology/en

Philanthropist Tej Kohli Pledges $2 Million Gift to Champion Biotech Solutions for Eliminating Corneal Blindness Worldwide By 2030

Believes that biotechnology will offer solutions to some of the world’s greatest humanitarian challenges.

$2 million gift to Massachusetts Ear and Eye to establish ‘The Tej Kohli Cornea Program’

LONDON & BOSTON-Monday 29 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Tej Kohli, a London-based billionaire who made his fortune during the dotcom boom selling e-commerce payments software, has pledged $2 million to Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston to fund innovation in research to cure corneal blindness, including the development of promising biotechnology solutions. The move reflects Kohli’s belief in the promise of new technologies to build a better world as he seeks to find a solution to eliminating avoidable corneal blindness that is not dependent on transplantation.

Kohli has already made substantial progress in his global mission to eradicate avoidable corneal blindness by 2030. The philanthropic Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in Hyderabad is an eminent institution for corneal research and expertise. Between 2016 and 2018 the institute saw 167,321 outpatient visits, collected 26,269 donor corneas, utilized 15,784 cornea and completed 31,511 surgical procedures.

285 million people in the world have a visual impairment and 39 million people are blind, according to the World Health Organization. Blindness is heavily impacted by poverty, with up to 14 of the 39 million living in India. Yet a good proportion of blindness, including 75% of corneal disease, is curable. 12.7 million of the world’s blind are waiting for cornea transplants, including six million in India, and only one in seventy of those on waiting lists receive a corneal transplant each year. Solving the problem of corneal blindness will require an affordable non-surgical solution.

Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE) is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School (HMS) and its Department of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest vision research and clinical enterprise. Between 2016 and 2018, MEE ophthalmologists conducted 521,805 patient visits and performed 101,941 ophthalmic surgeries and procedures. A long-time leader in research and clinical care for retinal disease, MEE performed the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited disease in March 2018. Its clinician scientists are currently conducting more than 110 clinical studies and trials, in order to investigate new therapies across a broad array of vision disease and disorders.

The Tej Kohli Cornea Program at MEE will accelerate innovative and collaborative research to achieve unprecedented breakthroughs in corneal disease. The program will pursue pathways to cure corneal blindness through prevention and treatment, including cutting-edge molecular technology for rapid diagnosis and early detection of corneal infection and GelCORE, an adhesive biomaterial for replacing corneal tissue. The clinician/scientists who will lead this work are:

    Reza Dana, MD, PhD, MSc, an internationally recognized expert in corneal disorders and ocular inflammation. Dr. Dana holds the Claes H. Dohlman Professorship in Ophthalmology at HMS and is director of the cornea service at the MEE.
    Michael Gilmore, PhD, is the founder and principal investigator of the Harvard-wide Program on Antibiotic Resistance. Dr. Gilmore holds the Sir William Osler Professorship in Ophthalmology at HMS.
    James Chodosh, MD, MPH, holds the David G. Cogan Professorship in Ophthalmology in the field of Cornea and External Disease and is an associate director of the Infectious Disease Institute in the Department of Ophthalmology at HMS.

The work of these investigators follows a tradition of pioneering innovations in corneal and immunology research at MEE. Claes H. Dohlman, MD invented the Boston Keratoprosthesis (B-KPro), the most popular artificial cornea in the world and Dr. Chodosh has expanded its scope, restoring vision to those with blinding corneal disease and injury. Dr. Gilmore published the definitive research on “super bugs” discovering the mechanism used by microorganisms to acquire multidrug resistance. Last March, Dr. Dana led a pre-clinical study published in Science Advances – showing early indications that GelCORE may be able to seal cuts or ulcers on the cornea and then encourage the regeneration of corneal tissue.

Tej Kohli’s goal of curing corneal blindness is being pursued through philanthropy, including the $2 million donation to MEE, as well as through business ventures and investments in technology. Kohli recently acquired a proprietary regenerative biotechnology that is currently in clinical trials. If successful as an off-the-shelf solution, Kohli believes that this regenerative biotechnology could be immediately relevant to up to one third of the 12.7 million who are currently waiting for corneal transplants world-wide.

Tej Kohli says:

“Biotechnology is in a chain reaction of exponential technological progression and rapid development that offers unprecedented new opportunities to improve human life. What we think we can achieve with biotechnology is a non-surgical solution to corneal blindness that can be applied through a syringe like a vaccine. Mass. Eye and Ear is one of the leading centres of excellence in the world, and my $2 million donation is to help ensure that the development of a technological solution to eliminating corneal blindness becomes a reality.”

Joan W. Miller, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at HMS and Chief of Ophthalmology at MEE, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, says:

“We are deeply appreciative of this gift, which will allow us to advance biotechnology therapies - first to clinical trials and ultimately to large populations of people afflicted with corneal infection and blindness. Tej Kohli is passionate about curing corneal blindness around the globe and we at Mass. Eye and Ear are very pleased to partner with him as we develop the next generation of treatments and cures.”

About Tej Kohli

Tej Kohli is a London-based entrepreneur with a well-publicized mission to cure corneal blindness worldwide by 2030. He first rose to success during the dotcom boom selling technology solutions and e-commerce payments software before becoming a real estate investor in technology hubs. He now focuses on high-impact investments into AI, robotics, biotech and genomics ventures with the potential to transform lives and change the world.

Mr Kohli is a Distinguished Alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IITK) where he completed a degree in Electrical Engineering.

www.tejkohli.com

Tej Kohli Cornea Institute video: https://youtu.be/aGSKKoMCDAE

About Massachusetts Eye and Ear

MEE, founded in 1824, is an international center for treatment and research, is a member of Partners HealthCare. MEE specializes in ophthalmology and otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. MEE clinicians provide care ranging from the routine to the very complex. Home to the world's largest community of hearing and vision researchers, MEE scientists are driven by a mission to discover the basic biology underlying conditions affecting the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck and to develop new treatments and cures. In the 2018-2019 "Best Hospitals Survey," U.S. News & World Report ranked MEE #4 in the U.S. for ophthalmology and #6 for otolaryngology.

www.MassEyeandEar.org



A video about the biotech innovations that The Tej Kohli Cornea Program will support is available here: https://youtu.be/2zUBtj6H7GM

Contacts

For an interview with Tej Kohli please contact:
Mike Macfarlane
mike@tejkohli.com
+447764 225 924

Helen Tarbet / Kim van Beeck / Hannah Ratcliff (Buchanan)
kohliventures@buchanan.uk.com
+4420 7466 5000

For an interview with Dr. Joan Miller please contact:
Jennifer Street
+1617-573-3424
Jennifer_Street@meei.harvard.edu


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/philanthropist-tej-kohli-pledges-2-million-gift-to-champion-biotech-solutions-for-eliminating-corneal-blindness-worldwide-by-2030/en

NEC Acquires Norwegian Bioinformatics Company, OncoImmunity AS

TOKYO-Monday 29 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- NEC Corporation (NEC; TOKYO: 6701) today announced the acquisition of OncoImmunity AS, a Norway-based bioinformatics company that develops proprietary machine learning software to support the fight against cancer. OncoImmunity AS will now become a subsidiary of NEC and operate under the name of NEC OncoImmunity AS.

OncoImmunity AS, founded in 2014, is a bioinformatics company dedicated to the development of software solutions that facilitate the effective selection of patients for cancer immunotherapy, and identify optimal neoantigen targets for truly personalized cancer vaccines and cell therapies in a clinically actionable time frame.

NEC announced its business strategy surrounding its AI-driven drug discovery business in May 2019. This acquisition is integral for enhancing the resources and capabilities that support the development of its individualized immunotherapy pipelines. NEC will maintain its focus on drug discovery, while NEC OncoImmunity AS continues its neoantigen prediction services.

Sharing a common vision, both NEC and OncoImmunity AS firmly believe in improving individualized cancer treatments through Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI holds great promise in enabling each and every patient to receive the most appropriate medication.

“The OncoImmunity AS team are delighted to be joining the NEC Group and firmly believe that the union will realize great synergies, marrying the mutual strengths of OncoImmunity AS’s and NEC’s neoantigen prediction pipelines with NEC’s expertise in AI, data management and security. These synergies will help strengthen NEC’s individualized immunotherapy programs, whilst simultaneously positioning NEC OncoImmunity AS as the leading neoantigen prediction service provider in the field,” said Dr. Richard Stratford, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of OncoImmunity AS.

“NEC strongly believes that healthcare based on genomics paves the way for individualized medicine. OncoImmunity AS is a recognized player in the neoantigen prediction field, and their compelling systems are expected to form valuable synergies with NEC. We are confident that this acceleration of development will provide promising new avenues that lead to better cancer treatments,” said Osamu Fujikawa, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation.

About NEC Corporation
For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190729005230/en/

Contacts
NEC Corporation
Joseph Jasper
Corporate Communications Division
j-jasper(at)ax.jp.nec.com

https://www.aetoswire.com/news/nec-acquires-norwegian-bioinformatics-company-oncoimmunity-as/en

Panasonic’s Real-time Tracking and Projection Mapping Compatible Projector Impresses Audience at Tokyo 2020’s “One Year to Go” Ceremony

―Innovative video presentation helps to celebrate world’s top sporting event―

OSAKA, Japan -Wednesday 24 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On July 24, 2019, Panasonic Corporation, a worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partner, announced that its real-time tracking and projection mapping compatible projector was used for a highly innovative video performance during the “One Year to Go” Ceremony, which the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolis jointly held at the Tokyo International Forum on July 24 to kick off the one-year countdown and call athletes worldwide to participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The ceremony, which was attended by Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President Yoshiro Mori, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Tokyo 2020 guests including International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, and other dignitaries as well as an audience of some 5,000, kicked off the one-year countdown with an opening performance, the IOC’s invitation to the Tokyo 2020 Games, an unveiling of medal designs and an invitation to volunteer torch runners.

During the opening performance, participants enjoyed an innovative video projection of colors and effects that followed a fast-moving dancer while she performed a dynamic routine that included many difficult gymnastics movements. The demonstration was a convincing reminder of Tokyo 2020’s promise to deliver the most innovative games in history.

The dance was performed by Honami Tsuboi, a Japanese rhythmic gymnast at the Beijing 2008 Games, to the accompaniment of music played on three-stringed shamisen instruments by the Yoshida Brothers from the Tsugaru region of northern Japan.

Real-time tracking and projection mapping for spatial image rendition (uniform projection of video onto various surfaces) was implemented with Panasonic's unique technology for projecting images on fast-moving objects using special projectors. Real-time tracking and projection mapping detects the movements and positions of the target object at high speed to achieve smooth, low-latency projection mapping. Panasonic’s real-time tracking and projection mapping technology achieves the industry's lowest latency, just 0.0016 second, or less than 1/10th that of conventional devices, between detecting an object’s position and transmitting images*. Panasonic’s industry-leading technology is expected to find highly useful applications in fields including sports competition.
*According to the company’s research as of July 24, 2019

Satoshi Takeyasu, Chief Brand Communications Officer (CBCO) of Panasonic Corporation, commented, “We are honored to offer our real-time tracking and projection mapping technology at the opening performance of Tokyo 2020’s “One Year to Go” Ceremony celebrating Tokyo’s hosting of the world’s greatest sporting event. We are committed to using our innovative technologies to help Tokyo 2020 deliver the most innovative Olympic and Paralympic Games in history. ”

Going forward, Panasonic, a worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will continue to supply advanced products, technologies and solutions to share the passion and excitement of the Games with people worldwide.

Panasonic’s Commitment to Olympic Mission
As a global citizen, Panasonic’s principles are aligned with the Olympic mission. The company has supported the Olympic Games for more than 30 years and the Paralympic Games since 2014, including through sponsorship and the provision of innovative technologies (in the "Audio Visual Equipment", "Home Appliance" and "Electric Bicycle" categories) developed over a century. Panasonic is committed to building a better world – a vision it shares with the IOC – through its worldwide sponsorship of the Games and via the nature of its everyday business activities.

About Panasonic #ABetterLifeABetterWorld #SharingThePassion
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 582 subsidiaries and 87 associated companies worldwide, recorded consolidated net sales of 8.003 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2019. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global.

Source:
https://news.panasonic.com/global/press/data/2019/07/en190724-4/en190724-4.html

Related Links

Panasonic Official Olympic Website -Sharing the Passion-
https://www.panasonic.com/global/olympic.html

Panasonic to Hold a Special Exhibition to Promote the Olympic and Paralympic Values with Sports Manga Titled "SPORTS x MANGA" (Jun 25, 2019)
https://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2019/69285.html

Panasonic Projector Global
https://panasonic.net/cns/projector/

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190724005307/en/

Contacts
Panasonic Corporation
Global Communications Department
Global PR Office
Click here to go to Media Contact form

https://www.aetoswire.com/news/panasonicrsquos-real-time-tracking-and-projection-mapping-compatible-projector-impresses-audience-at-tokyo-2020rsquos-ldquoone-year-to-gordquo-ceremony/en

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Alibaba.com Opens Platform to Empower U.S. Small Businesses to Sell to the World

Leading Global B2B Ecommerce Platform Introducing New Seller Enablement Functions, Including U.S.-to-U.S. Transactions, New Ecosystem Participants, and a Nationwide Tour of “Build Up” Events to Help Small Businesses Go Live

NEW YORK -Wednesday 24 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest B2B ecommerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), today opened its platform to empower U.S. businesses to sell their products to millions of Alibaba.com buyers in the U.S. and around the globe. Now, the nearly 30 million Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) in the U.S.– especially manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors – can better access the $23.9 trillion global B2B ecommerce market, an opportunity that is six times larger than the global B2C ecommerce market.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190723005345/en/

The company is also unveiling an enhanced ecosystem of participants. These include anchor sellers and B2B service providers who share Alibaba.com’s mission to make it easier for SMBs to do business.

To help U.S. SMBs successfully access the $23.9 trillion B2B ecommerce opportunity, Alibaba.com is also co-producing a series of “Build Up” workshops and webinars with local chambers of commerce and B2B organizations across the country, including SCORE, one of the nation’s largest non-profit network of volunteer, expert business mentors.

“Alibaba aims to empower entrepreneurs and help them succeed on their own terms,” said John Caplan, Head of North America B2B at Alibaba Group. “With 10 million active business buyers in over 190 countries and regions, we are reshaping B2B commerce by providing the tools and services needed for U.S. SMB companies to compete and succeed in today’s global marketplace.”

KEY NEW PLATFORM ENHANCEMENTS

Alibaba.com has added key features that enable U.S. SMBs to do business locally (U.S.-to-U.S.) and globally:

U.S. Business Sellers
Streamlined ability to build and manage a single digital store on the global Alibaba.com platformValuable transaction capabilities, including online payment*CRM and communications tools to facilitate the direct ownership of customer relationshipsEnhanced digital marketing tools to target B2B demand that is right for themOption to work with Alibaba.com’s U.S.-based Seller Success team

U.S. Business Buyers

Access to a growing number of U.S.-based supplier options on the us.alibaba.com landing page, in addition to thousands of global suppliers
A more robust inquiry functionality that enables buyers to begin discussions and negotiations
Expanded product selection ranging from ready-to-ship to fully customized
Improved product and supplier search functionality to allow buyers to quickly identify best fit, i.e. customized vs. finished goods, and by types and locations of suppliers




* On-platform payment will be available for transactions within the U.S – except in New York and Nevada, beginning on July 25 2019.

“We recognized the opportunity to expedite global growth through Alibaba.com early on,” said Evan Gettinger, Co-Founder of Gett Clean, a U.S.- based professional cleaning products manufacturer who has seen a significant uptick in inquiries about its products on the platform. “With the new combination of platform tools available and the addition of major, name-brand sellers, we expect a faster path to our growth targets.”

ALIBABA.COM BUILDS ITS U.S. B2B ECOSYSTEM WITH NEW PARTICIPANTS

Alibaba.com is bringing on a number of brands and organizations that share a passion for supporting SMBs, including major U.S. businesses and service providers.

In March, Alibaba.com announced a strategic collaboration with Office Depot, and today Robinson Fresh, a division of C.H. Robinson, is joining the platform. Both are committed as “Anchor Sellers” to provide extensive product catalogs to meet the expanding interests of the platform’s huge audience of buyers. The participation of Anchor Sellers is intended to bring significant benefits, including generating new buyer interest that occurs when product selection expands.

“We’re proud to expand our strategic collaboration with Alibaba.com,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer for Office Depot, Inc. “By becoming an anchor seller, we can reach a larger small business audience and provide them with the products and services they need to compete on a global scale.” Additionally, Alibaba.com customers will now have access to member-exclusive offers, discounts and premium content from an expanding ecosystem of leading business service providers including:

● 71lbs

● BigCommerce

● Indeed

● ShipStation (NASDAQ: STMP)

● Skuvault

● TeamViewer

● Wellbots

● Xometry

NATIONAL TOUR OF LOCAL “BUILD UP” EVENTS TO SUPPORT SMB GROWTH

The first in-person Alibaba.com Build Up event will be held today in Brooklyn at Industry City – a community of innovative industrial and manufacturing businesses – along with co-hosts, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Industry City. Each Build Up event will provide attendees an in-depth workshop, the opportunity for one-on-one training and consultation from Alibaba.com experts as well as exclusive discounts, incentives, and support from the ecosystem of brands and organizations.

The Brooklyn Build Up will be closely followed by events in Los Angeles on July 26 with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce at California Market Center and Chicago on July 30 with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce at M Hub. Additional Build Ups around the country are planned throughout the year with support from local and national business organizations, including local SCORE chapters, Food Export USA – Northeast, and Food Export Association of the Midwest USA. In addition, Alibaba.com is co-producing digital Build Up content with SCORE.

“Small businesses are the engine of the U.S. economy, but they face challenges,” said Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE. “SCORE and our network of mentors is excited about helping U.S. businesses learn about the huge opportunity in ecommerce at these physical and virtual Build Up workshops available to communities across the U.S.”

To learn more about the enhanced Alibaba.com platform, new collaborators or to register for a Build Up workshop near you, please visit Alibaba.com/BuildUp.

About Alibaba.com

The first business unit of Alibaba Group, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global B2B e-commerce that aims to make it easy to do business anywhere. Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is engaged in services covering all aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers, and place orders online fast and efficiently. It serves millions of buyers and suppliers from over 190 countries and regions around the world.

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group’s (NYSE: BABA) mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere and the company aims to achieve sustainable growth for 102 years.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190723005345/en/

Contacts
Media Contacts
Alibaba Group
Brion Tingler
brion.tingler@alibaba-inc.com

Alibaba Group
Roger Zhang
roger.zhang@alibaba-inc.com


https://www.aetoswire.com/news/alibabacom-opens-platform-to-empower-us-small-businesses-to-sell-to-the-world/en

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Moody’s Acquires RiskFirst, Expanding Buy-Side Analytics Capabilities



NEW YORK -Friday 26 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) announced today that it has acquired RiskFirst, a leading FinTech company providing risk analytic solutions for the asset management and pension fund communities. The acquisition positions Moody’s Analytics to extend its range of market-leading risk solutions to the institutional buy-side.

RiskFirst’s award-winning PFaroe® platform is a leading risk solution for U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension markets, supporting over 3,000 plans and more than $1.4 trillion in assets. RiskFirst also offers innovative solutions for the institutional investment market, including endowments, foundations and asset managers.

“RiskFirst sits at the heart of the buy-side and asset owner ecosystem and is known for its specialized expertise and high-quality products,” said Mark Almeida, President of Moody’s Analytics. “Adding RiskFirst’s platform to Moody’s Analytics’ product offering creates significant opportunities for growth and demonstrates our commitment to extend our reach and capabilities to the buy-side and asset owner community.”

Asset owners are increasingly seeking more sophisticated risk solutions, supported by advanced technology and analytics, to address growing financial management, funding and capital management challenges. This acquisition creates opportunities to extend the analytical capabilities of RiskFirst’s platform and to develop new solutions to meet evolving customer needs.

“Combining Moody’s Analytics scale, reach and capabilities with RiskFirst’s leading solutions and extensive customer base creates a strong value proposition for buy-side institutions and asset owners,” said Matthew Seymour, CEO of RiskFirst. “This deal will enhance our capabilities while building on what has made RiskFirst successful: a sophisticated, technically excellent product combined with superior service and support.”

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Moody’s expects the acquisition of RiskFirst to be accretive to earnings per share on a GAAP basis in 2022. On an adjusted EPS basis, which excludes purchase price amortization, the transaction is expected to be accretive in 2021. RiskFirst generated £16.5 million of revenue in 2018. The transaction was funded with offshore cash on hand.

ABOUT MOODY’S CORPORATION

Moody's is an essential component of the global capital markets, providing credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparent and integrated financial markets. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) is the parent company of Moody's Investors Service, which provides credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities, and Moody's Analytics, which offers leading-edge software, advisory services and research for credit and economic analysis and financial risk management. The corporation, which reported revenue of $4.4 billion in 2018, employs approximately 13,200 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 44 countries. Further information is available at www.moodys.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for Moody’s business and operations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and other information in this release are made as of the date hereof (except where noted otherwise), and Moody’s undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Moody’s is identifying examples of factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, credit market disruptions or economic slowdowns, which could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, credit quality concerns, changes in interest rates and other volatility in the financial markets such as that due to the U.K.’s planned withdrawal from the EU; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the uncertain effectiveness and possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting credit markets, international trade and economic policy; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations, including provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) and regulations resulting from Dodd-Frank; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the EU and other foreign jurisdictions; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquires to which Moody’s may be subject from time to time; provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act legislation modifying the pleading standards, and EU regulations modifying the liability standards, applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to credit rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; the possible loss of key employees; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the outcome of any review by controlling tax authorities of Moody’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if Moody’s fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which Moody’s operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations and the ability of Moody’s to successfully integrate such acquired businesses; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions. Other factors, risks and uncertainties relating to Moody’s acquisition of RiskFirst could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including difficulties or unanticipated expenses in connection with integrating RiskFirst’s operations, products and employees into Moody’s and the possibility that anticipated synergies and other benefits of the acquisition will not be realized in the amounts anticipated or will not be realized within the expected timeframe; risks that the acquisition could have an adverse effect on the business of RiskFirst or its prospects, including, without limitation, on relationships with vendors, suppliers or customers; claims made, from time to time, by vendors, suppliers or customers; changes in the global marketplace that have an adverse effect on the business of RiskFirst; and the accuracy of any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Moody’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in other filings made by Moody’s from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on Moody’s business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Moody’s to predict new factors, nor can Moody’s assess the potential effect of any new factors on it.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190725005401/en/

Contacts

For Moody’s:

Salli Schwartz
Investor Relations
212.553.4862
sallilyn.schwartz@moodys.com

OR

Michael Adler
Corporate Communications
212.553.4667
michael.adler@moodys.com

For RiskFirst
Anna Sharrock
+44.20.7655.1717
anna.sharrock@finnpartners.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/moodyrsquos-acquires-riskfirst-expanding-buy-side-analytics-capabilities/en

Friday, July 26, 2019

MPEG LA Issues Statement Regarding CRISPR Patent Licensing

DENVER -Friday 26 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In light of questions asked of MPEG LA regarding recent events that include the announcement by The Broad Institute and MilliporeSigma to offer their own CRISPR License (press release), the commencement of a new patent interference proceeding by the US Patent Office set in motion by a series of patent applications filed by The University of California [Interference No. 106,115], and MilliporeSigma’s petition to the US Patent Office to interject itself into that interference proceeding [go to the USPTO Portal and insert application number 15/188,911], MPEG LA today issued the following statement:

“MPEG LA believes that to maximize the benefits of CRISPR, the market needs a patent pool option in which all stakeholders participate and the market’s confusion and uncertainty concerning the patent landscape can be addressed. Interim steps on which that result may be built can be a positive. Among all the parties involved in CRISPR patent licensing, MPEG LA is unique in its independence and neutrality. We are not aligned with any particular stakeholder. The appointment of an independent and neutral administrator is important to ensuring that a pool is pro-competitive. With our trusted track record and our existing worldwide infrastructure, we stand ready to assist all stakeholders with formation of a CRISPR patent pool that addresses competitive market needs and realities.”

MPEG LA, LLC

MPEG LA is the world’s leading provider of one-stop licenses for standards and other technology platforms. Starting in the 1990s, it pioneered the modern-day patent pool helping to produce the most widely used standards in consumer electronics history and is expanding access to other groundbreaking technologies including electric vehicle charging and CRISPR. In addition, MPEG LA has developed Increscent Therapeutics™, a delivery platform for oligonucleotide therapeutics, which is available for licensing. MPEG LA has operated licensing programs for a variety of technologies consisting of more than 21,000 patents in 90 countries with some 250 patent holders and more than 6,000 licensees. By assisting users with implementation of their technology choices, MPEG LA offers licensing solutions that provide access to fundamental intellectual property, freedom to operate, reduced litigation risk and predictability in the business planning process. For more information, go to www.mpegla.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190725005951/en/

Contacts

Tom O’Reilly
MPEG LA, LLC
Tel: 303.200.1710
toreilly@mpegla.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/mpeg-la-issues-statement-regarding-crispr-patent-licensing/en

AHF Praises World Bank for $300M to Fight Ebola in DRC

KAMPALA, Uganda -Thursday 25 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today praised leaders at the World Bank for quickly committing $300 million in aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for its efforts to contain and eliminate an outbreak of Ebola in that country that has claimed nearly 1,700 lives.

As of July 12, there have been 2,477 Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that have resulted in 1,655 deaths. In addition, the virus spread to neighboring Uganda, where as of June 24, there have been a total of three confirmed cases of Ebola. All three individuals had recently traveled to the DRC, and all succumbed to the disease.

The World Bank’s commitment of aid comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) finally declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in the DRC on July 17—a long overdue acknowledgement that the current Ebola outbreak remains uncontained and still poses a significant threat to global health security.

A PHEIC declaration carries legal obligations requiring affected states to cooperate with the WHO in coordinating an outbreak response plan and also puts the global public health community on notice signifying a substantial health security risk to the world.

“We thank the World Bank for stepping up so quickly with this much needed aid to help contain and eliminate the current Ebola outbreak in the Congo,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “We have been highly critical of the World Health Organization and its leader, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for their unconscionable delay in formally recognizing this outbreak as a public health emergency in DRC, but also as the significant global health threat it poses to the world. An emergency declaration is only effective if it’s followed by swift action and we applaud the World Bank for its both its compassion and alacrity delivering this aid. And in order to mount a truly robust response, all available vaccines must be fast-tracked for approval so that a large-scale inoculation campaign can also begin immediately.”

According to a news report by the BBC, the WHO is currently facing a shortfall of $54 million needed to address the outbreak.

AHF operates healthcare programs in two countries currently being affected or being threatened by the outbreak—Uganda and Rwanda. Despite lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, basic medical equipment and supplies are still in short supply. AHF recently donated thirty-thousand dollars’ worth of medical supplies to Uganda to help protect medical staff in Western Uganda near the DRC border.

For more information, please contact Ged Kenslea at gedk@aidshealth.org or (323) 791-5526

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.2 million people in 43 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190724005962/en/

Contacts
AHF AFRICA MEDIA CONTACT:
Oluwakemi Gbadamosi, Senior Manager, PR and Communications, AHF Africa
+256.771.870.163
Oluwakemi.gbadamosi@aidshealth.org

US MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF
+1 323 308 1833 work
+1.323.791.5526 mobile
gedk@aidshealth.org

Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF
+1 323 219 1091
dn@aidshealth.org

https://www.aetoswire.com/news/ahf-praises-world-bank-for-300m-to-fight-ebola-in-drc/en

Cuda Oil and Gas Inc. Announces Agreements to Sell all of its Quebec Assets for a Total Transaction Value of $10.59 Million

CALGARY, Alberta -Thursday 25 July 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cuda Oil and Gas Inc. (“Cuda” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CUDA) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a series of binding Asset Purchase Agreements (the “APAs”) to sell all of its oil and gas assets and related liabilities located in the Province of Quebec (“Quebec”) at a total transaction value of CAD$10.59 million, including cash consideration at closing of CAD $4.29 million, to arm’s-length purchasers (the “Transaction”). The Transaction is anticipated to close on or about August 30, 2019.

Highlights:

Cuda will dispose of all of its petroleum and natural gas rights in Quebec (the “Assets”) which includes all land permits, licenses and production rights and interests in the Province as well as all tangible assets including drilling and related equipment associated with the Assets;
The purchasers will assume all environmental liabilities, including abandonment and reclamation obligations, associated with the Assets in Quebec, estimated by the parties at CAD $3.2 million;
The purchasers will pay CAD $4.29 million to Cuda in cash consideration; and
The purchasers will cause Cuda to be released and discharged, at closing, from a pending CAD $3.1 million claim associated with the exercise of dissent rights in connection with the plan of arrangement of the Company completed August 15, 2018.
This Transaction is subject to normal closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

KES 7 Capital Inc. (“KES 7”) acted as a financial advisor to the Company. Pursuant to TSXV requirements, KES 7 has confirmed that it is an arm’s-length party to Cuda and the purchasers.

Glenn Dawson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cuda stated: “This is a significant transaction for Cuda shareholders in its magnitude and strategic creation of a pure play company in the Powder River Basin which has been described as the ‘Permian of the Rockies’.

“Moving forward, Cuda will focus on development of the Company’s high netback conventional light oil assets and Secondary Recovery Miscible Gas Flood in Converse County, Wyoming. Cuda’s contiguous Powder River Basin lands contain multiple defined opportunities to access and develop low risk proven conventional reservoirs.

“Additionally, light oil charged unconventional reservoirs within the Cretaceous Stack are highly prospective. Economic horizontal drilling exploitation opportunities are being matured across the Basin by major operators.”

At year-end 2018, Cuda’s independent reserves evaluator, Ryder Scott, assigned significant light oil reserves to the Company. The reserves evaluation was prepared in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the COGE Handbook and NI 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. Summary reserves information for the Company's Proven Developed Producing ("PDP") and Proved Non Producing ("PNP"), Total Proved ("1P"), and Proved plus Probable ("2P") Reserves is provided below. No reserves were assigned to the Assets and all of the reserves were assigned to the Company’s remaining Alberta and Wyoming assets.

Reserves at December 31, 2018:

PDP + PNP is 1,534 mboe (62 % oil & liquids)
1P is 4,949 mboe (84 % oil & liquids)
2P is 14,571 mboe (84% oil & liquids)
Reserve Value at December 31, 2018 (before tax discounted at 10%):

PDP + PNP is $26.8 Million
1P is $77.8 Million
2P is $191.6 Million
About Cuda Oil and Gas Inc.

Cuda Oil and Gas Inc. is engaged in the business of exploring for, developing and producing oil and natural gas, and acquiring oil and natural gas properties across North America. The Cuda management team has worked closely together for over 20 years in both private and public company environments and has an established track record of delivering strong shareholder returns. Cuda will continue to implement its proven strategy of exploring, acquiring, and exploiting with a long-term focus on large, light oil resource- based assets across North America including significant operational experience in the United States. The Cuda management team brings a full spectrum of geotechnical, engineering, negotiating and financial experience to its investment decisions.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. In particular, this news release includes forward-looking information relating to the Transaction, the impact of the Transaction on Cuda and its results and development plans; regulatory and third party approvals relating to the Transaction; anticipated Transaction consideration and form thereof; the expected closing date of the Transaction; the anticipated discontinuance, release and discharge of the dissent claim; the Company pro forma the Transaction; the estimated environmental liabilities, including abandonment and reclamation obligaitons; and the anticipated benefits of the Transaction; the existence and performance of resource and reserve opportunities on the Company’s lands and related lands; and activity levels in the Company’s core areas. Risk factors that could prevent forward-looking statements from being realized include market conditions, third party and regulatory approvals, ongoing permitting requirements, the actual results of current exploration and development activities, operational risks, risks associated with drilling and completions, uncertainty of geological and technical data, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future oil and gas prices. Although Cuda has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

"BOEs" may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190724005745/en/

Contacts
Glenn Dawson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cuda Oil and Gas Inc.
(403) 454-0862

https://www.aetoswire.com/news/cuda-oil-and-gas-inc-announces-agreements-to-sell-all-of-its-quebec-assets-for-a-total-transaction-value-of-1059-million/en