PMI Releases Position Paper for COP8: Addresses Need for Harm-Reduction Strategies

 Better alternatives to cigarettes are available now that can help hasten the end of smoking

LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE:PM) is today publishing its position paper on its views surrounding the Eighth Session of the Conference of Parties (COP8) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC). With more than one billion people expected to be smoking in 2025, PMI is urging the WHO, the hundreds of delegates convening in Geneva this week, and the wider public health community to embrace the potential of innovative alternatives to cigarettes in order to achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals for non-communicable diseases as quickly as possible.

Available on PMI.com, the position paper acknowledges that smoking prevalence is in decline, but argues that the pace of that decline could be much faster.

In the paper PMI states: “The landscape of tobacco and nicotine products has evolved significantly over recent years. Not all tobacco products are the same with respect to their health risks. Moreover, rapid innovation offers opportunities to accelerate the downward trajectory of smoking prevalence.”

Ultimately, PMI aims to stop selling cigarettes entirely and is confident that this can happen in less than a century if smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke are proactively encouraged to switch to less harmful alternatives, which already exist but are either not well known or in some cases restricted.

Where these products have been adopted, for instance, in countries such as Japan and the U.K., there have been unprecedented declines in cigarette sales. Progress in these countries signals the potential for great change across the globe and is the core reason why PMI has publicly committed its future to being smoke-free, and continues to develop new science-based technologies and innovations that offer better alternatives to men and women who would otherwise continue to smoke.

PMI’s policy making recommendations published today include:

    Policies must continue to dissuade minors, ex-smokers, and non-smokers from using tobacco- and nicotine-containing products, while making better alternatives to cigarettes available to adults who smoke.
    Tobacco control policies should encompass tobacco-harm reduction strategies as well as supply and demand measures that encourage smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch to better alternatives.
    There should be thorough, independent verification of manufacturers’ products and science to assess how ENDS [electronic nicotine delivery systems] and novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products can support policies to reduce smoking prevalence.
    There should be national and global surveillance systems to study market trends. This surveillance should include data on product usage, including switching rates associated with different tobacco and nicotine products, to enable accurate reporting of smoking prevalence and the use of ENDS and novel and emerging tobacco products.
    Incentives should encourage investment and continuous research and development of less harmful alternatives, including the establishment of quality and performance standards for smoke-free products.
    Mechanisms should be established to enable transparent interaction and consultation between governments and producers of emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

# # #

Notes to Editors

To view the full position statement please click here.

Contacts

Philip Morris International
Ryan Sparrow
+41 (0)58 242 4500
ryan.sparrow@pmi.com

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Panasonic Is Holding Its Special Exhibition "The Moment" Officially Approved by the French Embassy in Japan

Photo exhibition by French artist duo Audic-Rizk and a variety of activities are taking place.


TOKYO-Wednesday 3 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Panasonic Corporation is holding "The Moment" from October 2 to December 2, 2018. This is a special exhibition authorized as a project to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Japan at the Panasonic Center Tokyo (3-5-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo). This exhibition is the second round for FY2018 of the“Let's Build Tokyo Together”(*) interactive activity project.

It is a photographic exhibition with a primary focus on culture. The French duo Audic-Rizk, who has artistic roots in Tokyo, is expressing athletes' vitality to the max in photos and highlights their crowning moments with Panasonic's projector called Space Player. The event is also offering activities based on the theme "Sports X Photos."
Through the exhibition sponsored by the French Embassy in Japan and other organizations, Panasonic will further boost cultural exchanges between France and Japan commemorating the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and globally communicate the attractiveness of sports toward the Tokyo 2020 Games and the Paris 2024 Games through photographic artwork as a Worldwide Olympic Partner and Worldwide Paralympic Partner.

Panasonic will continue to contribute to fostering the Olympic and Paralympic Movement through these global initiatives.

[Profile of the exhibiting artist Audic-Rizk]
Audic-Rizk is French artist duo formed by photographers Julie Audic and Christian Rizk. They studied in Japan for five years from 1998 and 2000 respectively as laureates of the Research Student Program scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. They have developed artwork based on a photographic technique that they call "Intensive Photography," which does not involve any retouching or digital manipulation. With the reflection of atmospheric colors affected by light or humidity during the shooting process, their photos capture the dynamic intensities and motions of sports and athletes as works of art.

*
   


   

Authorized as part of the Tokyo 2020 Official Programme, the “Let's Build Tokyo Together” project promotes a wide range of activities featuring sports, culture, and education until 2020 bringing together children and young people, who will become major players in the next generation, with an eye on handing over our heritage to the Tokyo of the future with the participation of as many individuals as possible.



"The Moment - Artistic way of looking at sports" exhibition overview

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Period:
   

October 2 - December 2, 2018 * Closed on Mondays

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Open:
   

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (last admission: 5:45 p.m.)

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Venue:
   

Panasonic Center Tokyo (3-5-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo)

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Access:
           

https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/center/tokyo/access.html
           

Two minutes' walk from Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on Rinkai Line
           

Three minutes' walk from Ariake Station on Yurikamome Line

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Admission: Free

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Organized by: Panasonic Corporation

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With the cooperation of:
           

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

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Under the auspices of:
           

Embassy of France in Japan / Institut français du Japon
           

Japanese Olympic Committee
           

Japanese Para-Sports Association Japanese Paralympic Committee



[Related activities]
Date: October 27 (PM)
Contents: Workshop and exhibition tour with AUDICRIZK
Target: Elementary and junior high school students

Date: October 28 (PM)
Contents: Workshop and exhibition tour with AUDICRIZK
Target: Adults

For more information about the related activities, please check the event page on Panasonic Center Tokyo’s website.
URL : https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/center/tokyo.html

Source:
https://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2018/61633.html

Related Links
Panasonic Center Tokyo
https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/center/tokyo.html

Panasonic Center Osaka
https://www.panasonic.com/global/corporate/center/osaka.html

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

Panasonic's Audio Visual Solutions for Professionals
https://panasonic.net/cns/mebd/

Panasonic Delivers a Wide Range of Solutions and Equipment for Staging the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 (Feb 12, 2018)
https://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2018/54669.html

Related Videos:
Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Cheering Stadium
https://youtu.be/6f2kOn9Vqkk
Let's Build Tokyo Together - Special Exhibition "The Passions"
https://youtu.be/GCy5xCXh3hg

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181002005420/en/

Contacts

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


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New Study Evaluates the Ability of Masimo ORi™ to Help Clinicians Reduce Hyperoxemia in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients

NEUCHATEL, Switzerland-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) announced today the findings of an abstract presented at the 2018 Congress of the French Society of Anesthesia and Resuscitation (SFAR) in Paris in which researchers at CHU Angers in France investigated the ability of Masimo ORi™ (Oxygen Reserve Index) to help clinicians reduce the number of days ICU patients experience hyperoxemia while on mechanical ventilation.1 ORi, available outside the U.S., is a noninvasive and continuous parameter intended as a relative indicator of a patient’s oxygen reserve during moderate hyperoxia (partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood [PaO2] in the range of 100 to 200 mmHg). ORi can be trended and has optional alarms to notify clinicians of changes in oxygenation.

Noting that hyperoxemia can lead to patient morbidity and mortality in ICU patients, and that oxygen saturation (SpO2) cannot detect hyperoxemia, Dr. Brochant and colleagues sought to evaluate whether ORi might be useful in helping clinicians determine when to reduce the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) during oxygen therapy, so as to avoid hyperoxemia. In this initial analysis, the first 131 patients in the study, whose data were collected between May 2017 and March 2018, were randomly assigned into an ORi and a control group. In the ORi group, FiO2 was reduced if ORi was > 0. In the control group, the FiO2 level was adjusted according to SpO2. Clinicians recorded blood gas results, episodes of atelectasis, and the length of time spent on mechanical ventilation, for up to 28 days. The principal point of comparison was the proportion of ventilated days with hyperoxemia.

The researchers found that the percentage of days with hyperoxemia was significantly lower in the ORi group: median 14% [interquartile range 0-31%], vs. 29% [IQR 11-50%] in the control group, p=0.005. Average daily PaO2 and FiO2 values were not significantly different between the two groups, suggesting that FiO2 was not systematically lowered in the ORi group. The average number of days without ventilation and median time spent in the ICU were also not significantly different.

The researchers concluded that the use of ORi may help clinicians reduce the percentage of days with hyperoxemia, that analysis of the full group of patients may allow assessment of its effect on the occurrence of atelectasis, and that additional studies may be useful in evaluating the impact of this monitoring on the morbidity and mortality of patients.

ORi has not received FDA 510(k) clearance and is not available for sale in the United States.

@MasimoInnovates | #Masimo

Reference

    Brochant A, Dupre P, Gaillard T, Lemarie P, Gergaud S, and Lasocki S. “ORi pour moins d’hyperoxie en reanimation.” Proceedings from SFAR 2018, Paris, France. #R244.

About Masimo

Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is a global leader in innovative noninvasive monitoring technologies. Our mission is to improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care. In 1995, the company debuted Masimo SET® Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximetry, which has been shown in multiple studies to significantly reduce false alarms and accurately monitor for true alarms. Masimo SET® has also been shown to help clinicians reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity in neonates,1 improve CCHD screening in newborns,2 and, when used for continuous monitoring with Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ in post-surgical wards, reduce rapid response activations and costs.3,4,5 Masimo SET® is estimated to be used on more than 100 million patients in leading hospitals and other healthcare settings around the world,6 and is the primary pulse oximetry at 9 of the top 10 hospitals listed in the 2018-19 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll.7 In 2005, Masimo introduced rainbow® Pulse CO-Oximetry technology, allowing noninvasive and continuous monitoring of blood constituents that previously could only be measured invasively, including total hemoglobin (SpHb®), oxygen content (SpOC™), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®), methemoglobin (SpMet®), Pleth Variability Index (PVi®), and more recently, Oxygen Reserve Index (ORi™), in addition to SpO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index (Pi). In 2014, Masimo introduced Root®, an intuitive patient monitoring and connectivity platform with the Masimo Open Connect® (MOC-9®) interface, enabling other companies to augment Root with new features and measurement capabilities. Masimo is also taking an active leadership role in mHealth with products such as the Radius-7® wearable patient monitor, iSpO2® pulse oximeter for smartphones, and the MightySat™ fingertip pulse oximeter. Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at www.masimo.com. Published clinical studies on Masimo products can be found at http://www.masimo.com/evidence/featured-studies/feature/.

ORi has not received FDA 510(k) clearance and is not available for sale in the United States.

The use of the trademark Patient SafetyNet is under license from University HealthSystem Consortium.

References

    Castillo A et al. Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants through Changes in Clinical Practice and SpO2 Technology. Acta Paediatr. 2011 Feb;100(2):188-92.
    de-Wahl Granelli A et al. Impact of pulse oximetry screening on the detection of duct dependent congenital heart disease: a Swedish prospective screening study in 39,821 newborns. BMJ. 2009;Jan 8;338.
    Taenzer AH et al. Impact of Pulse Oximetry Surveillance on Rescue Events and Intensive Care Unit Transfers: A Before-And-After Concurrence Study. Anesthesiology. 2010; 112(2):282-287.
    Taenzer AH et al. Postoperative Monitoring – The Dartmouth Experience. Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Newsletter. Spring-Summer 2012.
    McGrath SP et al. Surveillance Monitoring Management for General Care Units: Strategy, Design, and Implementation. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2016 Jul;42(7):293-302.
    Estimate: Masimo data on file.
    http://health.usnews.com/health-care/best-hospitals/articles/best-hospitals-honor-roll-and-overview.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the potential effectiveness of Masimo ORi™. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including, but not limited to: risks related to our assumptions regarding the repeatability of clinical results; risks related to our belief that Masimo's unique noninvasive measurement technologies, including Masimo ORi, contribute to positive clinical outcomes and patient safety; risks related to our belief that Masimo noninvasive medical breakthroughs provide cost-effective solutions and unique advantages; as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these statements or the "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180930005016/en/

Contacts

Masimo
Evan Lamb, +41 949-396-3376
elamb@masimo.com

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Velodyne LiDAR and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Launch Educational Campaign Addressing Autonomous Vehicles’ Potential to Reduce Roadway Fatalities

SAN JOSE, Calif.-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- What if the designated driver of the future was a self-driving car? How would such technology solve the drunk driving epidemic? Velodyne LiDAR is proud to partner with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to create an online educational destination with information on how autonomous vehicles can help prevent roadway collisions. The site explains the basics of autonomous driving in easy-to-understand language for all audiences. The September 30, 2018 site launch is the result of Velodyne LiDAR and MADD’s inaugural year of partnership.

Coinciding with the Walk Like MADD event in San Francisco, Velodyne will publish a webpage spotlighting a series of informational videos. “Both Velodyne and MADD see this as a crucial move in their crusade against further casualties of impaired driving. Velodyne is eager to share its confidence that fully autonomous vehicles will spark global health benefits,” stated Sally Frykman, Velodyne LiDAR’s Director of Education and Business Development.

The webpage will feature content including the video “Jane: A Velodyne Story” - a narrative told through the animation of Demente Studio. The video depicts a near-future reality in which self-driving cars could make the difference between an ideal evening and catastrophe. In the story, Jane celebrates her 21st birthday by attending a concert with friends—only to fall asleep behind the wheel. Thankfully, LiDAR technology isn’t reliant on Jane to navigate safely, ensuring her safe return home to her parents.

Additional content modules include “LiDAR 101”, explaining how lidar sensor technology is an essential component of self-driving vehicles. Also included will be footage of the San Francisco Bay Area MADD Law Enforcement Recognition Event, a celebration of heroic first responders, as well as testimonials of first-hand experience of the benefits of autonomous vehicles.

“The promise of safe, self-driving cars is very exciting, particularly for those of us who have seen the devastation that impaired driving and human error can bring,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. Church’s 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in a car driven by a drunk and drugged driver. “MADD will continue to strongly support the safe development of this technology and will work with partners like Velodyne LiDAR to educate and build public acceptance of autonomous vehicle technology.”

“Velodyne LiDAR and MADD have joined forces because a drunk driving fatality every 49 minutes isn’t acceptable. It’s time fully autonomous vehicles became the answer to reducing, preventing, and potentially entirely eliminating human error on the roadway. And it’s essential that the public is aware and educated about technology as a solution to the problem,” stated Sally Frykman.

“MADD is highly respected in the country and in the world for the work that they do,” Velodyne President Marta Hall says. “The organization wants to save lives on the roadways. We share the same goal, which is better safety. We are proud to partner with MADD because our lidar technology provides real solutions to driving challenges. Together we are a wonderful team.”

About Velodyne

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, Velodyne is a technology company known worldwide for its real-time 3D LiDAR computing and software platforms. The company evolved after founder/inventor David Hall developed the HDL-64 Solid-State Hybrid LiDAR sensor in 2005. Since then, Velodyne LiDAR Inc. has emerged as the unmatched market leader of real-time 3D vision systems used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, mobile mapping, aerial mapping, and security. Its products range from the high-performance, surround view Ultra-Puck™ VLP-32, classic HDL-32/64 and cost-effective VLP-16 to the upcoming, hidden Velarray™ and now the 300-meter range VLS-128. Velodyne’s rich suite of perception software and algorithms are the key enablers of its perception systems. Velodyne supports customers from offices in San Jose, Detroit, Frankfurt, and Beijing. For more information, visit http://www.velodynelidar.com.

About MADD

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181001005271/en/

Contacts

Velodyne LiDAR, Inc.
Cesar A. Montero Orozco
cmontero@velodyne.com

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Debt Default Clock Moves Closer to Midnight

Congressional inaction leads to nation’s continued fiscal deterioration in the 3rd quarter


WASHINGTON-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the Debt Default Clock Review Committee completed its second update of the Debt Default Clock. The Debt Default Clock estimates how much relative time remains before the Federal government’s fiscal policies lead to a fiscal crisis resulting in major disruption to the American economy and the treasury securities markets. The Review Committee has seen continued deterioration in the Federal government’s fiscal position since the initial assessment and has concluded that the clock now stands at four minutes to midnight.

Baker Spring, Chairman of the Review Committee, said, “The Review Committee believes the large absolute amount of outstanding Federal government debt, and the burgeoning size of these obligations relative to the United States economy, along with the predominantly short-term maturity structure of Government debt, which subjects the federal government’s budget to significant refinancing risks and increasing interest rate risk, combined with the potential for foreign investor manipulation of our bond markets, all have placed the United States in an increasingly perilous fiscal position.”

Dean Clancy, a member of the Review Committee, said “The current stalemate in the U.S. Congress and its inaction and inability to address these critical fiscal and monetary issues in a meaningful way has led to the Committee’s decision to advance the clock closer to the midnight hour.”

In addition to the Default Clock update, the Federal government’s credit score that was developed by the Review Committee remains in the “POOR” category.

About the Debt Default Clock Review Committee

The Review Committee is an initiative of Compact for America Educational Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit educational corporation that provides leadership and guidance to state governors, state legislators, and members of Congress and the Administration in having states resolve national issues of importance that the U.S. Congress is either unable or unwilling to address. For additional information, visit www.compactforamerica.org and follow on Twitter at @DefaultClock. Data sources and a full description of the Debt Default Clock initiative are available at www.debtdefaultclock.us.

Baker Spring and members of the Review Committee are available to discuss this update. Please contact Baker Spring at (703) 812-8178 or baker.spring@compactforamerica.org to arrange for an interview.

Contacts

Compact for America Educational Foundation Inc.
Baker Spring, +1 703-812-8178
baker.spring@CompactforAmerica.org

Rimini Street Honored with Multiple Award Wins for Customer Service Excellence

 Company recognized with thirteen awards from three prominent award organizations



LAS VEGAS-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rimini Street, Inc., (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of enterprise software products and services, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products, today announced it has been honored with multiple award wins from three prestigious award groups for the Company’s unwavering dedication to providing outstanding service delivery to clients around the world. Rimini Street won a total of thirteen awards across three prominent award organizations – Stevie® International Business Awards, Globee® Awards and Customer Sales and Service (CSS) World Awards® – in categories for Customer Service Department of the Year, Customer Service Leadership of the Year, Customer Service Team of the Year, Customer Service Executive of the Year, and Company of the Year.

Customer Service Achievements for Client Dedication and Delivery

Rimini Street’s Global Service Delivery (GSD) team received awards for Customer Service Department of the Year across all three award organizations based on its ultra-responsive, premium-level support provided to Oracle and SAP clients globally. Rimini Street’s GSD team provides 24/7/365 support coverage, and is made up of hundreds of expert engineers based in every major global region, who support clients with operations in 117 countries. The team provides rapid resolution to client issues via a team of highly experienced senior support engineers as well as support for custom code, performance tuning and interoperability. The Global Support team closed more than 25,000 cases across 45 countries in 2017, executed response times averaging less than five minutes for Priority 1 cases, and achieved an exceptional client satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 (with 5.0 being “excellent”).

Furthermore, Rimini Street’s Global SAP support team earned a Stevie Award for Customer Service Team of the Year for its excellence in service delivery to SAP clients around the world. The SAP support team demonstrated its dedication by consistently meeting a 4.84 out of 5.0 rating (5.0 being “excellent”), reaching a 55% response rate on client surveys, and resolving more than 9,000 cases in 2017 and the first half of 2018. The Global Oracle Applications support team also earned awards in the Customer Service Team of the Year category, including a CSS World award and Globee award. The Oracle Application Support team earned its recognitions by responding to an average of 10,000 Service Level Agreement updates per month, closing more than 10,100 cases in 2017, and achieving a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in 70% of its case surveys.

Additional recognition was awarded to Rimini Street service delivery team individuals including:

    Globee Award, Customer Service Executive of the Year, Craig Mackereth, group vice president of Global Support
    CSS World Award, Customer Service Leadership of the Year and Stevie Award, Customer Service Executive of the Year, Jennifer Perry, vice president of Global SAP Support
    Stevie Award, Product Development/Management Executive of the Year, Vicky Damelio, senior regional director, Business Solutions – EMEA
    Stevie Award, Woman of the Year, Meloney Graham, vice president of Global Oracle Applications Support

Company Recognitions for Continued Growth

Rimini Street received a gold Stevie Award for Company of the Year, and another gold from the Globee Awards for Sales Revenue Growth of the Year for its multiple achievements across growth, expansion and customer service. The Company achieved several key milestones in 2017, most notably completing Rimini Street’s merger with GP Investments Acquisition Corp. in 2017, and beginning to trade as a publicly listed company on Nasdaq under the symbol “RMNI.” Additionally, Rimini Street expanded its award-winning support offering by growing its presence in Brazil, opening an office in France, and adding six new product lines including the launch of its next-generation advanced database security solution. The Company also announced full year net revenue for 2017 of $212.6 million, an increase of 33% year over year. In addition, the Rimini Street Foundation, established in 2015, continued its global mission to help communities in need, partnering with more than 100 charities around the world to provide financial support, in kind donations, and employee volunteer hours.

The winners for the Stevie International Business Awards will be honored at a gala dinner event on October 20, 2018. Both the CSS World Awards and Globee Awards hosted their event galas earlier this year.

“Rimini Street built its foundation on a commitment to provide exceptional customer service to clients around the world, a mission that has been steadfast since its inception thirteen years ago,” said Brian Slepko, senior vice president, Global Service Delivery at Rimini Street. “Rimini Street’s clients are always our number one priority as exemplified by the support teams’ dedication to delivering proven, world-class 24x7x365 support, and earning exceptional customer satisfaction scores. It is an honor to be recognized by these three prestigious award groups, which is strong endorsement and recognition for our best-in-class client support team and all of Rimini Street’s global employees.”

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

About the Customer Sales and Service World Awards

Customer Sales and Service World Awards is the world’s premier recognitions program created to honor industry-wide and peer achievements of individuals, teams, departments, most valuable professionals, milestones, and champions in Sales & Customer Success, Customer Service & Contact Centers, Sales and Service Enablement which includes Training, Consulting, and Outsourcing. To learn more, visit www.cssworldawards.com.

About the Globee Awards

Globee Awards were created to honor and generate industry wide recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and businesses worldwide in every area. An annual industry and peers recognition program, Globee Awards honor best companies of all types and sizes in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin-America, best products, innovations, management and teams, women in business and the professions, and PR and marketing efforts from all over the world. Learn more about the Globee Awards at www.globeeawards.com.

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI) is a global provider of enterprise software products and services, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products. The Company has redefined enterprise software support services since 2005 with an innovative, award-winning program that enables licensees of IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and other enterprise software vendors to save up to 90 percent on total maintenance costs. Clients can remain on their current software release without any required upgrades for a minimum of 15 years. Over 1,620 global Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and other organizations from a broad range of industries currently rely on Rimini Street as their trusted, third-party support provider. To learn more, please visit https://www.riministreet.com/, follow @riministreet on Twitter and find Rimini Street on Facebook and LinkedIn. (C-RMNI)

Forward-Looking Statements

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© 2018 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.

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Contacts

Rimini Street, Inc.
Michelle McGlocklin, +1 925-523-8414
mmcglocklin@riministreet.com

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Guangzhou Launched Culture Journey to Connect Maritime Silk Road

AYIA NAPA, Cyprus-Tuesday 2 October 2018 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- On 27th September, “Floral Whisper along the Silk Road—Culture Journey of Maritime Silk Road” marks a successful end in Cyprus. It is a global campaign to accelerate the cultural construction of 21st Century Maritime Silk Road on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the “Belt and Road” Initiative.

Organized by Administration of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Press and Publication of Guangzhou Municipality, the cultural journey took place on September 21st, 24th and 26-27th in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Cyprus respectively.

During the official event in the three countries, a Memorandum of Understanding on “Co-operation and Protection of the Maritime Silk Road Cultural Heritage and Sharing of Achievements” was signed which agreed that all parties will work together to uphold the cultural heritage protection of the Maritime Silk Road. The event has paved a road of friendship and cooperation for the cities along the route with the theme "One Exhibition, One Memorandum, One Performance". “On this basis, we will continue to write a new chapter in the development of the Maritime Silk Road," said Mr. Lu Zhiqiang at the launch event.

The "Floral Whisper along the Silk Road" cultural performances including classic music of Guangdong, Cantonese Opera provided a magnificent gala to the local audience.

The maritime silk road is a maritime passage connecting China and the world which appeared in 200 BC, leaving a lot of precious cultural heritage.

As the “Millennium Business City” and one of the birthplaces of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou has a glorious history of global trade, civilization and mutual understanding for more than two thousand years. Guangzhou has developed and integrated diversified culture, forming an urban character of openness and inclusiveness. Taking the "Floral Whisper along the Silk Road" as an opportunity, Guangzhou is vigorously facilitating the circulation of cultural elements of the maritime silk road worldwide and further enhancing its international influence.

Cultural promotion activities of the Maritime Silk Road were also held in major cities of the three countries on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Through the combination of four programs, namely “Maritime Silk Road Impression”, “Maritime Silk Road Expression”, “Maritime Silk Road Flavor” and “Maritime Silk Road Memories”, the culture of the Maritime Silk Road and the image of Guangzhou were promoted from various perspectives. The atmosphere was vibrant and lively.

Guangzhou hopes to carry out exchanges and cooperation in various forms with the countries along the maritime silk road, laying a broad public opinion foundation for the overall cultural protection of the maritime silk road and establishing an international cultural exchange platform so as to realize the common prosperity of the cultural heritage of the cities and regions along the maritime silk road.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180928005299/en/

Contacts

Global Raytur (Beijing) Public Communication Co.,Ltd

Susie Yang

+86 13810899552

yangsisi@globalraytur.com

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