Archive for October 17th, 2012
Official Launch of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
SINGAPORE, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The inaugural awards ceremony to celebrate Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, and organised by William Reed Business Media, will be held on 25 February 2013 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants programme, will recognise the region’s growing culinary diversity and quality, in line with global culinary trends.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants represents an annual review and convergence of opinion from restaurant industry experts. It is recognised globally as the most trusted arbiter and authority on global dining.
Drawing on the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will provide a credible and trusted list that is dedicated to the restaurant industry in Asia and voted for by peers and luminaries from the culinary profession.
William Drew, William Reed Business Media, said of the new list:
“Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, we are excited to announce the date of the first ever awards ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. This launch champions the significant and continued growth of the industry in Asia, and provides the restaurants with international peer reviews, recommendation and profile. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will celebrate the gastronomic delights of Asia. We have no doubt that the list will be a must-have accessory for the increasing number of loyal followers to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
Fabio degli Esposti, International Business Unit Director – Italian Brands of San Pellegrino Nestle Waters, said:
“S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, the fine dining waters that bring the taste of Italian lifestyle to the world’s best tables, are happy to support the first edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. We consider Asia’s culinary scene very important and ready to capture the food enthusiasts’ attention at an international level, therefore we are proud to help The World’s 50 Best to turn the spotlight on Asia.”
Mr. George Tanasijevich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Bay Sands, said:
“We are honoured that Marina Bay Sands has been chosen as the venue for the inaugural Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards in February 2013. Asia’s appetite for good food is unmatched and we’re pleased to play our part in the launch event.”
How Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List is compiled:
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is created from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world. Each region has its own panel of 36 members including a chairperson to head it up. The panel is made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘foodies’, each of whom has seven votes. Of the seven votes, at least three must be used to recognise restaurants outside of the voters’ region. At least 10 panelists from each region change each year. None of the employees of any of the sponsors associated with the awards, including the main sponsor, votes or has any influence over the results.
Votes for restaurants in the following countries in Asia, cast during the voting period for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, will result in the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: Bangladesh, Burma/ Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Individual Awards Categories:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Best Female Chef Award
Chefs’ Choice Award
Best Pastry Chef
Individual country awards
The Best Restaurant in Asia
One to Watch
Chef’s Favourites:
As part of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants programme, the chefs’ from the stellar restaurants who have made it onto the list itself will recommend their personal favourite eateries. From fine dining establishments to hawker stalls, the list will be published online alongside Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list following the awards ceremony on 25 February 2013.
The celebrated chefs’ choices will be supplemented by recommendations from those who eat out the most, namely select members of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants voting academy.
Asia’s Best Dinner:
Hosted by the organisers of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s Best Dinner will take place on
24 February 2013 and will be prepared by four guest chefs based in Asia who appear in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list 2012. The dinner will feature a paired degustation menu at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore for an exclusive audience of 120 people.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Professional Workshops:
On 24 and 25 February 2013 at the At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, celebrated chefs will demonstrate their culinary expertise at two, half-day session workshops. Workshop guests will be treated to gastronomic sampling plates as well as in depth discussion sessions on Asian cuisine, heritage, culture, aspiration and identity. Chefs will share insider knowledge on how to blend traditional and modern cuisine, and will discuss the reinvention of street food for a contemporary kitchen and modern palate.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Results:
Following the awards ceremony on 25 February 2013, the results of the awards will be published live at http://worlds50best.asia/.
Notes to Editors:
This release is also available in the following languages:
English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Thai. The official language of the press office is English.
About William Reed Business Media:
William Reedhasbeen organising The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2002 and the Awards since 2003. The company now launches Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and is solely responsible for organising the awards, collating the votes, and producing the list.
About our main sponsor:
S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of the awards. S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Manifesto:
Organised by Restaurant magazine, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts. What constitutes “best” is left to the judgment of these trusted and well-travelled gourmets. There is no pre-determined checklist of criteria; for example an interesting experience in a simple establishment, where exceptional innovation was discovered, could be judged better than a more opulent meal from a widely feted restaurant team.
The results are a simple computation of votes. Given that this well-constructed list is based on personal experiences it can never be definitive, but we believe it is an honourable survey of current tastes and a credible indicator of the best places to eat around the globe.
SOURCE Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
Official Launch of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
SINGAPORE, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The inaugural awards ceremony to celebrate Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, and organised by William Reed Business Media, will be held on 25 February 2013 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants programme, will recognise the region’s growing culinary diversity and quality, in line with global culinary trends.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants represents an annual review and convergence of opinion from restaurant industry experts. It is recognised globally as the most trusted arbiter and authority on global dining.
Drawing on the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will provide a credible and trusted list that is dedicated to the restaurant industry in Asia and voted for by peers and luminaries from the culinary profession.
William Drew, William Reed Business Media, said of the new list:
“Following the success of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, we are excited to announce the date of the first ever awards ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. This launch champions the significant and continued growth of the industry in Asia, and provides the restaurants with international peer reviews, recommendation and profile. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will celebrate the gastronomic delights of Asia. We have no doubt that the list will be a must-have accessory for the increasing number of loyal followers to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
Fabio degli Esposti, International Business Unit Director – Italian Brands of San Pellegrino Nestle Waters, said:
“S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, the fine dining waters that bring the taste of Italian lifestyle to the world’s best tables, are happy to support the first edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. We consider Asia’s culinary scene very important and ready to capture the food enthusiasts’ attention at an international level, therefore we are proud to help The World’s 50 Best to turn the spotlight on Asia.”
Mr. George Tanasijevich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marina Bay Sands, said:
“We are honoured that Marina Bay Sands has been chosen as the venue for the inaugural Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards in February 2013. Asia’s appetite for good food is unmatched and we’re pleased to play our part in the launch event.”
How Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List is compiled:
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is created from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene. The Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world. Each region has its own panel of 36 members including a chairperson to head it up. The panel is made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘foodies’, each of whom has seven votes. Of the seven votes, at least three must be used to recognise restaurants outside of the voters’ region. At least 10 panelists from each region change each year. None of the employees of any of the sponsors associated with the awards, including the main sponsor, votes or has any influence over the results.
Votes for restaurants in the following countries in Asia, cast during the voting period for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, will result in the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: Bangladesh, Burma/ Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Individual Awards Categories:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Best Female Chef Award
Chefs’ Choice Award
Best Pastry Chef
Individual country awards
The Best Restaurant in Asia
One to Watch
Chef’s Favourites:
As part of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants programme, the chefs’ from the stellar restaurants who have made it onto the list itself will recommend their personal favourite eateries. From fine dining establishments to hawker stalls, the list will be published online alongside Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list following the awards ceremony on 25 February 2013.
The celebrated chefs’ choices will be supplemented by recommendations from those who eat out the most, namely select members of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants voting academy.
Asia’s Best Dinner:
Hosted by the organisers of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Asia’s Best Dinner will take place on
24 February 2013 and will be prepared by four guest chefs based in Asia who appear in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list 2012. The dinner will feature a paired degustation menu at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore for an exclusive audience of 120 people.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Professional Workshops:
On 24 and 25 February 2013 at the At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, celebrated chefs will demonstrate their culinary expertise at two, half-day session workshops. Workshop guests will be treated to gastronomic sampling plates as well as in depth discussion sessions on Asian cuisine, heritage, culture, aspiration and identity. Chefs will share insider knowledge on how to blend traditional and modern cuisine, and will discuss the reinvention of street food for a contemporary kitchen and modern palate.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Results:
Following the awards ceremony on 25 February 2013, the results of the awards will be published live at http://worlds50best.asia/.
Notes to Editors:
This release is also available in the following languages:
English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Thai. The official language of the press office is English.
About William Reed Business Media:
William Reedhasbeen organising The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2002 and the Awards since 2003. The company now launches Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and is solely responsible for organising the awards, collating the votes, and producing the list.
About our main sponsor:
S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of the awards. S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Manifesto:
Organised by Restaurant magazine, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts. What constitutes “best” is left to the judgment of these trusted and well-travelled gourmets. There is no pre-determined checklist of criteria; for example an interesting experience in a simple establishment, where exceptional innovation was discovered, could be judged better than a more opulent meal from a widely feted restaurant team.
The results are a simple computation of votes. Given that this well-constructed list is based on personal experiences it can never be definitive, but we believe it is an honourable survey of current tastes and a credible indicator of the best places to eat around the globe.
SOURCE Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
CNN Launches New Show ‘On China’ Hosted By Kristie Lu Stout
‘On China’ premieres Wednesday October 17 at 5.30pm HKT and takes viewers inside the Chinese Communist Party, with insights from:
Hung Huang, influential Chinese media personality, respected publisher, blogger
Victor Gao, former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry, English translator for Deng Xiaoping
John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator
Preview Video http://on.cnn.com/SVnMtW
HONG KONG, Oct. 16, 2012 significant leadership transition in decades, CNN today announces the launch of its first ever regular series focused on the country, the first by any international television news network. The new monthly show hosted by CNN correspondent and anchor Kristie Lu Stout provides viewers with a unique insider’s view of China from within its own borders.
CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout
Shot on location in Hong Kong at the historic Hullett House, in each 30-minute show Lu Stout sits down with thought and business leaders from within China’s borders for a roundtable discussion about what really drives this world power and economic giant.
With China’s leadership transition expected within a month, the first episode delves into the Chinese Communist Party, exploring how membership is obtained, factions within the party, the personality traits of China’s presumed next leader, and the impact of the ongoing Bo Xilai scandal. At the table helping to demystify the Chinese Communist Party is Hung Huang, a celebrated Chinese media personality and publisher brought up among China’s political elite, Victor Gao, a former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry and English translator for Deng Xiaoping and John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator.
“The world is watching China more than ever and our new show delivers in-depth, intelligent insights on its economic, political and cultural drivers,” said Mike McCarthy, Senior Vice President, CNN International. “We’re proud to be the first international news network to dedicate a regular show to China, enabling viewers within China’s borders and around the world to better understand the country and its people.”
“China is a country of dramatic change, political intrigue, and dynamic economic growth,” added Kristie Lu Stout, CNN anchor/correspondent and host of’On China’. “I’ve been writing and reporting about China since the late 1990s, and the nation continues to fascinate me. I’m excited to host a regular discussion on current affairs and trends inside China.”
The November episode of’On China’looks at the growing strength of Chinese consumerism and in December, the show focuses on Chinese exploration.
Excerpts from the first episode of’On China’: Inside the Chinese Communist Party
Hung Huang, Chinese media personality, well-known publisher and blogger:
“With the advance of technology and the Internet I think that people know a lot more about the party than actually it was willing to let people know. And the party also knows, through the Internet and Weibo, a lot more about how people feel about the party than it probably wants to know. So I think, given that interaction happening, you’re pushing the party toward some kind of reform or game-changer.”
“The Chinese, some of us… kind of live with the idea that the Cultural Revolution is a thing of the past, that no one in China will be crazy enough to go the populist route. To recreate a political movement that turns the country upside down, so much suffering, so much unbelievable destruction of culture and wealth… but the Bo Xilai thing seem to have hit a very sensitive note in the Chinese memory and psyche to say that actually, people actually are thinking about taking that route – and that is really scary.”
“The young people, they are very independent-thinking, they are not particularly enamored, especially after 2008, with an American style political system. I think that chapter has definitely turned its page.”
Victor Gao, former official in the Chinese Foreign Ministry and English translator for Deng Xiaoping:
“Many people from outside of China tend to look at the Communist Party of China as a monolithic group of people. But in reality, it is not. First of all, personalities do matter. Secondly, these so-called political camps do exist. You have these people in higher positions, which belong to different traditions. You have different mentors, you have different associations.”
“If you look at China over the past 30 years in a dynamic way you are confident, you have the optimism; you have the hope that tomorrow China will be better than today because today China is better than yesterday.”
“I think that the Communist Party of China will remain the ruling party for many years – if not for many decades – to come. However, that doesn’t mean that there will be no increasing amount of democracy or democratic participation… It may not be the same as in the United States or in Britain or in European countries etc, it will be very much of Chinese characteristics and that will set China apart from other developed countries for decades to come.”
John Pomfret, award-winning journalist and China commentator:
“We’re entering a new period of uncharted waters, where China’s facing, going to face an enormous amount of challenges. Challenges from very charismatic and populist figures like Bo Xilai, challenges from the bottom up, for people demanding more predictability in their lives, a legal system that will protect their property, a good school for their kids, clean or at least trustable food for their children, clean air to breathe… I think politics will now be very important. And how new leadership deals with politics is going to be enormous.”
“It’s not simply a meritocracy. If your parents are Communist Party members and have a certain amount of connections to the center, chances are you are going to be in the party regardless of your… school studies.”
“The party understands now that the people… want to participate, but the party is struggling to give them a voice while at the same time maintaining total control.”
Airtimes for’On China’
First Episode: Inside the Chinese Communist Party
Wednesday, October 17 at 1730 HKT
Saturday, October 20 at 1230 HKT
Sunday, October 21 at 1930 HKT
Saturday, October 27 at 1930 HKT
Sunday, October 28 at 1230 HKT
Second Episode: Chinese Consumerism
*Note that from November onwards the show will air one hour later due to the time change in the U.S.
Wednesday, November 21 at 1830 HKT
Saturday, November 24 at 1330 HKT
Sunday, November 25 at 2130 HKT
Saturday, December 1 at 2130 HKT
Sunday, December 2 at 1330 HKT
Third Episode: Chinese Exploration
Wednesday, December 19 at 1830 HKT
Saturday, December 22 at 1330 HKT
Sunday, December 23 at 2130 HKT
Saturday, December 29 at 2130 HKT
Sunday, December 30 at 1330 HKT
Related Links:
Twitter: #CNNOnChina
CNN is the world’s leading global 24-hour news network and one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. The CNN brand is available to two billion people via 18 CNN branded TV, internet and mobile services produced by CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc and a Time Warner company. CNN International is the international directorate of CNN Worldwide and distributes news via 14 services in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 280 million households and hotel rooms in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, including over 44 million across the Asia Pacific region and online at http://www.cnn.com/international.
Get the latest social media updates from CNN at:
facebook.com/cnninternational
@cnnasiapr
Follow Kristie Lu Stout at:
@klustout
facebook.com/KristieLuStout
gplus.to/klustout
SOURCE CNN International
Revascularization with OrbusNeich’s Genous(TM) Stent May Enable the Safe and Early Discontinuation of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients with Increased Bleeding Risk
British Medical Journal (BMJ) Case Report Features Patient with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
HONG KONG, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — OrbusNeich today announced the publication of a case report demonstrating that revascularization with the Genous Stent may enable the safe and early discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for challenging patients with an increased risk of bleeding, particularly during the procedure.
The case study, published in BMJ online, features a patient with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who was diagnosed with unstable angina due to a critical stenosis (90%) at the ostium of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and a 75% stenosis of the proximal LAD artery. It was intended that the patient, who was treated with two Genous Stents, receive only one month of DAPT following the procedure. However, due to extensive bruising in the patient’s forearm from antiplatelet use, the initial one month of DAPT was stopped after three days and restarted one week later when the ecchymosis was resolving. At 12-month follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic.
“Chronic ITP is characterized by premature destruction of autoantibody-coated platelets causing persistent thrombocytopenia and increased risk of bleeding,” said Charles Chan, M.D., Gleneagles Medical Center, Singapore. “Additionally, ITP patients may also have an increased risk of thrombosis versus the general population and those patients with acquired thrombocytopenia. The Genous Stent has been shown to be safe and effective in high-risk patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI) and has not been associated with increased rates of late stent thrombosis when accompanied by only one month of DAPT. Thus, the Genous Stent may provide a safer option for patients, such as those with ITP, who have an increased risk of bleeding and are therefore contraindicated to long-term DAPT.”
The 55-year-old male patient had a week-long history of unstable angina and was diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia as risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). He was diagnosed with ITP 20 years prior and did not receive long-term steroid treatment or splenectomy. The patient received DAPT and prednisone three days in advance of the procedure and was transfused with six units of platelets on the third day prior to coronary stenting.
Reference
Chan Wah Hak CM, Tan YO, Chan C. Coronary artery stenting in a patient with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: a clinical conundrum. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 24.
About the Genous Technology
Genous is OrbusNeich’s patented endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capture technology that promotes the accelerated natural healing of the vessel wall after the implantation of blood-contact devices such as stents. The technology consists of an antibody surface coating that captures EPCs circulating in the blood to the device to form an endothelial layer that provides protection against thrombosis and modulates restenosis.
The Genous Stent, which has been commercially available in more than 60 countries since 2005, has been proven as a safe, effective alternative to drug eluting stents and is supported by data from more than 8,000 patients in clinical studies. There is a growing body of evidence from multiple clinical studies that the Genous Stent is effective for patients that are non-responsive to or cannot tolerate long-term DAPT.
About OrbusNeich
OrbusNeich is a global company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices for the treatment of vascular diseases. Current products are the world’s first pro-healing stent, the Genous Stent, as well as other stents and balloons marketed under the names of Azule™, R stent, Scoreflex™, Sapphire™, Sapphire II and Sapphire NC. Development stage products include the COMBO Dual Therapy Stent™, the only dual therapy stent to both accelerate endothelial coverage and control neo-intimal proliferation through the combination of the Genous pro-healing technology with an abluminal sirolimus drug elution delivered from a biodegradable polymer that achieves full and complete dissipation by 90 days. OrbusNeich is headquartered in Hong Kong and has operations in Shenzhen, China; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Hoevelaken, The Netherlands; and Tokyo, Japan. OrbusNeich supplies medical devices to interventional cardiologists in more than 60 countries. For more information, visit http://www.OrbusNeich.com.
Follow OrbusNeich on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/OrbusNeich, and learn more about the company and its innovative technology on OrbusNeich’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/OrbusNeichMedia.
RS Components Unveils Major Electronics Design Innovations and Reinforces Position as Leading Online Resource Hub for Global Engineering Community
DesignSpark PCB Version 4.0 and ModelSource Component Library represent significant milestone in evolution of highly functional free design tools: RS now offers complete engineering solution and design ecosystem
SINGAPORE, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world’s leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has revealed major new developments in the company’s evolutionary programme to transform the online sourcing, design and purchasing experience for electronics engineers and purchasing professionals worldwide. The latest innovations in RS’ free suite of technical solutions designed to support engineers throughout the entire electronics design process include:
- DesignSpark PCB Version 4.0, the company’s award-winning PCB design tool, now featuring access to an industry-leading component library, PCB manufacturing service and BOM quote functionality;
- ModelSource, a unique new web-based component library, downloadable from DesignSpark, RS’ online community for engineers.
Version 4.0 of DesignSpark PCB, the world’s most powerful free electronics design software for schematic entry and PCB layout, now features a new library manager, which enhances the functionality of the tool’s existing library by integrating with ModelSource, a unique new online component library which is freely available as a standalone tool via the DesignSpark website.
The ModelSource library contains over 80,000 PCB schematics and footprints from leading manufacturers and is available for download in more than 20 different formats compliant with the most popular PCB design software packages. In addition, it contains over 30,000 3D models in 24 formats for widely used mechanical 3D software. The libraries are aligned with the RS board-level product offer and enable engineers to focus on innovation, research and development rather than spending time on creating the basic building blocks of the design.
A new Bill of Materials (BOM) Quote function integrated within DesignSpark PCB Version 4.0 provides an instant quotation for the components in the PCB design. The tool automatically generates a BOM user report using the RS part numbers embedded in the new PCB component libraries.
A further time saving feature of the new software revision is the PCB Quote service, which provides independent quote comparisons from a variety of bare-board PCB manufacturers based on the engineer’s design specifications. The engineer can then proceed with a direct quote from the selected PCB subcontractor.
Developed by RS in conjunction with Number One Systems, DesignSpark PCB has attracted engineers from all over the world to the RS website since its launch in July 2010, and the number of downloads of the unrestricted schematic capture and PCB layout software has now reached almost 160,000.
DesignSpark PCB Version 4.0 and ModelSource are available at designspark.com, RS’ online gateway created to support engineers throughout the design process by bringing together design information, user reviews and blogs, and free-of-charge tools, which today boasts more than 90,000 registered members.
“Supporting innovation in electronics design is an important focus of our business, and we recognise the critical value of time in an engineer’s efforts to bring a product to market,” said Mark Cundle, Head of Technical Marketing at RS. “Through our advanced eCommerce capabilities, and our continued investment in evolving and upgrading our online tools and resources, we have made major leaps forward in accelerating the find, design and buy process for engineers and purchasing professionals across the globe.”
For further information, please visit www.designspark.com.
About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the world’s leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products. With operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 550,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 46,000 parcels on the same day the orders are received. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronics, automation and control, test and measurement, electrical and mechanical components.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2012 had revenues of GBP 1.27bn.
For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-components.com.
Further information is available via these links:
Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components
Relevant Links:
Electrocomponents plc
www.electrocomponents.com
RS Components
www.rs-components.com
DesignSpark
http://www.designspark.com
Editorial Contact:
RS Components
Tan Soo Chun
Public Relations Manager – Asia Pacific
Tel: +65-6391-5745
Email: soochun.tan@rs-components.com
PR Agency Contact:
The Hoffman Agency
Rasheed Abu Bakar
Senior Account Executive
Tel: +65-6361-0250
Email: rscomponentsteam@hoffman.com
Related stocks: LSE:ECM
The Outcome of The 17th Meeting International is Positive for Trade Relationship Between Brazil and Mexico
The meeting brought together 110 Brazilian and Mexican government authorities and business leaders, who had the opportunity to strengthen their relationship and combine forces to further the commercial relationship between the two countries
SAO PAULO, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –The topic of the 17th Meeting International held on October 10 through 13 in Punta Mita, Mexico was “The Challenges of the Latin American Economy”, which was discussed by Brazilian and Mexican government authorities and business leaders. Sponsored by LIDE [Grupo de Lideres Empresariais – Group of Business Leaders], chaired by Brazilian businessman Joao Doria Jr., the event pointed to the main hurdles and possibilities for growth in the trade relations between the two countries.
Marcos Raposo, the Brazilian ambassador to Mexico, stressed that “Brazil needs a greater share of the consumer market, and that Mexico should diversity its trade relations. This would enable the two nations to become partners and stimulate cooperation between the two economies.”
The seminar held on October 12 enabled participants to get a better understanding of the business needs and opportunities of the two countries, as well as a broader vision of the challenges facing the Latin American economy. Presentations by Paulo Rabello de Castro, economist and President of LIDE ECONOMIA, and Paulo Skaf, the President of FIESP [Federacao das Industrias do Estado de Sao Paulo– The State of Sao Paulo Federation of Industries] further drove the debate between event participants.
Good reforms and a favorable business environment are essential for the development of both nations, which should combine forces in the current scenario. Brazil is linked to the Mercosur, and Mexico has a free trade agreement with the United States. According to Ildefonso Guajardo, the representative of the new Mexican Government, Brazil and Mexico are increasingly moving apart and because of this both countries end up losing. “One of President Enrique Pena Nieto’s plans is to work together and expand the trade relations between the two countries.”
Marco Maia, the Chairman of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, reminded participants that both governments play an important role in global leadership. “In this time when we are facing an economic crisis, business leaders can positively contribute to improve this scenario.” Minas Gerais governor Antonio Anastasia believes the meeting was extremely useful as it revealed excellent opportunities for business, trade and institutional relations between two countries, which are experiencing very similar situations.
Wesley Batista, CEO of JBS, the world’s largest beef exporter, with three processing facilities in Mexico, was one of the business leaders present at the Meeting. He explained that the relationships that emerge from the Meeting always yield important fruits in future. “We are always able to strengthen our commercial ties” he added. According to Marcelo Lyra, VP for Institutional Relations at Braskem, the largest manufacturer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, and the world leader in the production of biopolymers, the event enables a close interaction between company CEOs. “we are physically close, we can look each other in the eye and feel the need for business, the outcome of this is certainly positive”.
Contact with the press:
Erica Valerio — CDN Comunicacao Corporativa
Telephone: 55 11 3643-2710
PR Newswire Launches 2nd Annual Earnies Awards Program to Recognize Successful Earned Media Campaigns
Online community to help choose the winners through public voting
NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — PR Newswire today announced the launch of the 2ndannual Earnies awards, the first community-chosen awards program developed to recognize creative and successful earned media campaigns executed through social media channels.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/NY93087 )
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110719/NY37427LOGO )
“The ongoing emergence of new social media platforms provides brands numerous unique opportunities to earn media, engage audiences and increase brand visibility,” said Rachel Meranus, vice president, Marketing & Communications, PR Newswire. “Communicators need to be even more strategic, innovative and agile in order to capture the attention of all of their audiences. The Earnies will recognize how they are doing so successfully.”
The Earnies award program, which is open to individual practitioners as well as brands and organizations, focuses on the unique approach and strategy used to implement a campaign. Hosted on the AGILITY@work web site, all submissions will be reviewed by an independent panel of social media thought leaders. From a shortlist of finalists selected by the panel, final winners will be determined by community voting through social media. The Earnies award program is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. based campaigns, however submissions are accepted in English only.
For its second year, PR Newswire has added additional categories to allow organizations even more chances to showcase their successful earned media campaigns. The categories include: The Earnies Grand Prix; Best Use of Video in Social Media; Best Connection to Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook Audience; We Can’t Believe That Worked!; Best Use of Social Listening for Campaign Planning; Best Visual Campaign through Pinterest & Instagram; Best Use of an Infographic; Best Global Communications Program; Best Integrated Campaign on a Shoestring Budget and Best Piece of Branded Content.
To learn more about the awards program, review the categories and enter a submission, visit AGILITY@work. The deadline to submit is November 16, 2012 and there is no cost to enter. Final winners will be announced via @AgilityAtWork in early 2013. Judges panel to be announced shortly.
Join the conversation and follow the progress of the awards process on Twitter @AgilityAtWork.
About PR Newswire
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 58 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content — from rich media to online video to multimedia — and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world’s largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world’s enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.
Media Contacts:
Rachel Meranus
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
PR Newswire
+1.201.360.6776
Rachel.Meranus@prnewswire.com
Creating Growth Through M&A is Being Stifled by a Lack of Joined Up Thinking in M&A Processes
- New global study by Eversheds reveals that deal due diligence does not focus enough on post deal integration
- Little or no focus beyond the deal transaction to post-integration is compromising the benefits and value of cross-border M&A
- Internal processes are as much to blame as external factors
LONDON, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Global businesses are not realising the full potential of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a means of driving growth due to weaknesses in the deal process. A new global study, The M&A Blueprint: Inception to Integration, published today by global law firm Eversheds, shows that deal teams need a more holistic approach and stronger connections between the planning, completion and post-deal integration phases.
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The study involved more than 400 multi-national businesses* who have worked on cross-border M&A deals in the past three years. It shows that nearly half (43%) of businesses believe that the most common cause for deals not successfully achieving their goals is due to a failure to address post deal integration from the early stages of deal due diligence.
The report also shows that legal risk is an increasingly important consideration in the assessment of potential deals. General Counsel provide essential input at this stage and more than half (59%) of all respondents said they had spotted potentially damaging issues early enough to caution management about proceeding with the deal.
The research highlights that less experienced buyers are finding the process challenging but even those with a wealth of knowledge believe that there are improvements to be made.
Stephen Mok, Head of Corporate in the Hong Kong office of Eversheds, said:
“The current economic climate has made the business of doing deals much tougher, with the research highlighting an acute awareness of risk in the process. However, company boards are under pressure to secure growth and M&A is an essential business tool for achieving this, in particular for organisations thinking about tapping into or increasing their penetration in new international markets.”
“Our research shows that the overriding factor contributing to the success of a cross-border deal, is the presence of a core team providing the ‘connective tissue’ to link all the phases together, taking the deal from the inception stage through to post-completion integration. Businesses need to start joining the dots between the different stages of the deal cycle to move the focus from just simply ‘doing the deal’ to thinking about life for the business beyond the deal.”
“More than three quarters of Eversheds’ deal activity is cross border and we always advise our clients to adopt a project management approach for the life cycle of the deal. This helps them to focus on post-deal integration – and achieving maximum value from the deal – from the outset.”
“Our findings also show that many businesses know they can do better and want to see best practice in action on each and every transaction. So, with the publication of this report we have drawn out the key areas that businesses have identified as best-practice in the international deal-making process.”
The M&A Blueprint: Inception to Integration report sets out the blueprint for success in cross-border deals as identified by deal-makers themselves:
1. Inception
– From the start – 38% of deals where the in-house team were brought in too late suffered problems during integration.
– Early warning – 59% of all respondents said they had spotted potentially damaging issues early enough to advise that a deal should not go ahead.
2. Planning and due diligence.
– The crucial stage – 43% said the most common cause of the failure to realise value in transactions was down to avoidable errors in the due diligence and planning phase.
– Joined up thinking – 70% felt that linking due diligence and integration planning together would help to improve the deal process.
3. Deal execution
– What matters most – The reasons General Counsel would advise not to proceed with a deal were illegality/regulatory (45%), e.g. bribery, competition and antitrust, and commercial concerns (45%), e.g. price and valuation, litigation risk, integration costs.
4. Integration
– A false saving? – 83% did not use external lawyers to a large degree during integration, although they were acknowledged to add value. The main reason for this was cost.
– Avoid mismatches – 26% felt that the failure to realise value in a recent cross-border M&A deal was due to a misalignment between legal dealmakers and the day to day business team.
The report also found that companies are two and half times more likely to have faced problems with integration if the in-house legal teams were involved late in the process. This is particularly true for those who are less experienced in the deal process, with the report showing that businesses whose in-house legal teams had worked on less than ten cross-border deals over the past two years were more likely to face problems in the integration phase.
Additionally, the report reveals that legal advice, both internal and external, is currently brought in too late and not at a strategic level. Appropriate proper legal advice at every stage in the deal cycle is critical to the success of M&A transactions.
The full report can be requested by emailing imogenlee@eversheds.com
Notes to editors
* The research was conducted between May 2012 and July 2012. The sample includes responses from 400 in-house deal-makers, from 41 different countries, who are responsible for the legal aspects of cross-border M&A and who have done at least one cross-border M&A deal worth over $100 million in the past three years.
About Eversheds LLP
Eversheds LLP and its world wide associate offices have over 4,500 legal and business advisers providing high quality legal services to the private and public sector and business and finance community. Access to all these services is provided through the firms global operations. Eversheds combines local market knowledge and access with the specialisms, resources and capability of one of the world’s largest law firms.
Roamware Acquires IPcom, Strengthens Presence in Latin American Mobile VAS Market
CUPERTINO, Calif./PRNewswire/ — Roamware, Inc., the global leader in mobile operator service solutions, announced the acquisition of IPcom S.A., a leading provider of mobile value added services solutions from Uruguay. IPcom has a strong footprint in Latin America with mobile operator customers in 18 countries in the region. IPcom’s product portfolio includes BSS/OSS, roaming, messaging, location based solutions, Big Data Analytics, mobile finance and MVNO solutions. With this acquisition, Roamware consolidates its market leadership position in Latin America and adds new solutions to its product portfolio.
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“IPcom is a strategic addition to Roamware,” said Ori Sasson, Chairman & CEO of Roamware. “There are many signs of consolidation in our industry. The strongest players are coming together for the benefit of mobile operator customers. Latin America has been a focus market for us. With IPcom’s depth of experience in delivering value added solutions to Latin American customers, Roamware is in a stronger position to offer its cutting edge solutions in the areas of LTE Roaming, Customer Experience Management, M2M, Active Testing and MVNE services to Latin American mobile operators as well as taking IPcom’s complementary portfolio worldwide” continued Mr. Sasson.
“We are delighted with the integration of IPcom with Roamware,” said Enrique Steynberg, General Manager, IPcom. “Over the last 15 years, IPcom has built a strong customer base in Latin America. IPcom has a strong and varied product portfolio and state of the art data center, NOC, testing lab and a talented team of regional telecom experts. We are excited to combine IPcom’s capability with that of Roamware to create a stronger value proposition for Latin American and global operators”, added Mr. Steynberg.
About Roamware
Roamware, Inc. is the global leader in mobile operator service solutions with a customer base of over 530 mobile operators across 160 countries. Roamware is a market leader in mobile roaming solutions. Roamware has an estimated 60 percent share of the roaming value added services market, specializing in steering, data roaming, Big Data business intelligence, CEM QoS, LTE, M2M and regulatory compliance for operators to help them increase revenue, reduce cost and compete with disruptive technologies. The company’s headquarters is located in Cupertino, California with operations worldwide. Learn more about Roamware’s products and solutions at http://www.roamware.com
Roamware Contacts:
Srinivas B Vijayaraghavan
Director Marketing
m: +919739970225
e: srinivas.v@roamware.com
Source: Roamware Inc
Cashmere World Makes Strong Debut in Hong Kong
HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ — Cashmere World had a successful debut in Hong Kong, benefitting from the presence of important international buying offices in the city and enjoying the synergy with collocated fair, Fashion Access (25 – 27 September 2012). Close to 2,000 buyers from 50 countries were on hand to view the fibres, yarns and finished cashmere products on offer.
Exhbitors’ products display with colourful cashmere
Opening Ceremony of Cashmere World 2012
Visitors’ feel the sense of luxury of cashmeres products
Hong Kong registered the biggest number of visitors with 942, followed by Mainland China, 500, and Japan, 114. The other countries/regions with the most buyers registered were Australia, India, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia and the USA.
Informative seminars held during the fair, “Peclers Paris’ FW13-14 Key Accessories Trends for Women/Men/Youth/Kids” and “Buying Accessories for the European Market” provided the latest trends for cashmere industry. Besides, proving to be an important element of the fair was the conferences on “Solutions to Exporting Cashmere Products to Western Countries” & “Development & Trends in the Cashmere Trade”, offering different perspectives from different sectors of the cashmere industry.
Mr Hao Xukuan, chairman of Viction Cashmere Group, took a supplier’s point of view, highlighting the superior position of China’s cashmere. Hao noted that China produces 200,000 tons of cashmere fibre a year, 70% of which comes from Inner Mongolia. In fact, 50% of the world’s cashmere comes from this region. The quality is excellent, being shiny white and of 14 microns in fineness. With a good supply of quality raw material, together with state of the art machinery and techniques plus professional management, China has an advantage over other cashmere supplying regions of the world.
However after the 2008 financial crisis, China was faced with a number of challenges: a strong currency, raw material price increases and rising labour and energy costs that chipped away at China’s cashmere advantage. The strict ecological production requirements of Western countries also created a barrier that kept many Chinese cashmere brands from entering the international market.
Mr Hao believes that China must develop a good platform for its cashmere industry, developing it as a strong and reliable manufacturing base. His own company Viction has been a successful supplier of cashmere fibre, yarn, and finished items to the world’s leading cashmere brands.
Another problem that China now faces is the lower sale price of cashmere which is killing the luxury image of cashmere and hence its profits. Mr Hao believes that Chinese cashmere companies also must strive to develop a luxury brand image. Viction, for example, is now venturing into brand development with the end in view of marketing its own cashmere labels to domestic customers which he sees as a huge potentially profitable market.
In fact, the World Luxury Association (WLA) has forecasted a sharp rise in the purchase of luxury goods until at least 2014/2015, with China leading the way. Already, Chinese purchases of luxury goods in France, Italy and the UK account for 48% of all sales. With China reducing its customs duties on imported luxury goods, starting October 2011, it is expected that luxury sales within China will increase considerably. Prestige cashmere labels from Italy and Scotland are already present in China but reduced import tariffs will make China even more attractive to international and Chinese brands.
From the other end of the spectrum, Ms Alessandra Cocchi, managing director of EastMax Fashion Ltd spoke from the perspective of a buyer. She has nervously been watching the ongoing fierce price war, with China buying up a quarter of greasy cashmere and creating a monopoly, she said. Available quantities of greasy cashmere have been drastically reduced — China is down to 5-6000 tons from 11-12000 tons and Mongolia is now below 3000 tons down from 5-6000 tons 2-3 years ago. As an extension of the supply situation in China and Mongolia, China has been actively buying in Afghanistan and prices there have also surged up to Mongolian levels with most supplies depleted.
Cocchi is also concerned about the increasing number of cashmere goats, resulting in less grazing grassland per goat, therefore the fibre has become coarser. Breeding in quantity and not quality is not good for the future of cashmere industry, she warned. Concurring with Mr Hao, she stressed that cashmere should remain a luxury item and need to eliminate low and mass market products to uphold the fine image of cashmere.
Interestingly, Mr Murray Ko Sek-yan, MD of Meridian Industries Ltd took on a buyer as well as a supplier perspective. His company is involved in cashmere production from the fibre stage to the end product. It includes overseeing the healthy growth of the goats, the harvesting of the fibres, processing it into yarns and the knitting of the final garments — the total production line.
He noted that Western customers place great emphasis on cashmere composition tests to show proof of quality. However, test results are far from accurate, with the same batch of cashmere tested at different test laboratories, or even in the same laboratory but with different technicians, yielding different results. China uses the mostly optic microscopy approach while Europe does scanning electron microscopy.
Hence he recommends in house and third party testing every step of the process; doing counter testing to verify; avoiding contamination of the tested cashmere fibre with other fibres; and using a reputable testing company. Keeping good records of testing on the same lot of cashmere fibres at different stages of the process would be beneficial when challenged to show proof by the buyer. “If you have done due diligence, the buyers are more inclined to work it out with you,” he said.
No doubt, Asian manufacturers have learned hard and fast about the cashmere business in the recent past, said Mr Ronnie Lamb, an international cashmere consultant. Some of them are now ready to test their skills in the international market by launching their own brands. “Brand is about reputation and branding is reputation building. Brand strategy and business strategy are related and works hand in hand. Good brands involve clarity, personality, reliability, trust, the promise of an experience, and the consistent delivery of that experience.”
Cashmere World is a vertically integrated business platform for the international cashmere trade. Started in 2010, it has since become the annual meeting place for cashmere producers and buyers, a catalyst for innovations in cashmere production technology, and an important venue for the promotion of the unique qualities that make cashmere one of the world’s best-loved luxury materials.
It returns next year, from 25 to 27 September.
Notes to Editors
About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)
Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia, including UBM China in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing. We have over 240 products including trade fairs, conferences, trade publications, B2B/B2C portals and virtual event services. As Asia’s leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in China, India and Malaysia, we stage the leading events of their kind across the region. Our 200 events, 24 publications and 16 vertical portals serve over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world with high value face-to-face business-matching events, quality and instant market news and industry trends, and round-the-clock online trading networks and sourcing platforms. We have over 1,100 staff in 21 major cities across Asia, stretching from Japan to Turkey.
About UBM plc (www.ubm.com)
UBM plc is a leading global company. We inform markets and bring the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,500 staff in 40 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
About China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products (CFNA, http://www.cccfna.org.cn)
The China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products was established in September 1988. It has industry development as well as regulatory responsibilities, helps to implement policies and serves as a bridge between the industry and the government. At present, the chamber has 5,000 corporate members across the country, with 43 national-level sub-chambers covering all agricultural products. The Cashmere Sub-Chamber is one of these and has a history of more than ten years. Major members include the top 15 organisations which form the core of China’s cashmere industry and whose export accounts for half of the national total.
For fair details, please contact:
Ms Perrine Ardouin, Event Director
Email: Perrine.Ardouin@ubm.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Gay Amistoso, Marketing Communications Manager
Email: gamistoso@gmail.com
Ms Sally Wong, Marketing Communications Executive
Email: Sally.Wong@ubm.com
APLF Limited
17/F China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852-2827-6211
Fax: +852-2827-7831
Website: http://www.aplf.com
Website: http://www.cashmereworldfair.com
Source: UBM Asia
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