BINOSTO(TM) – First and Only Buffered Effervescent Solution for the Treatment of Osteoporosis Launched in the USA

FREIENBACH, Switzerland, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —

EffRx to Regain Rights Outside of North America

EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA is proud to announce that BINOSTO(TM) (alendronate sodium) Effervescent Tablet for buffered oral solution (70 mg) is now available by prescription in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this year approved BINOSTO to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

BINOSTO delivers the “gold standard” in osteoporosis treatment and fracture risk reduction – alendronate sodium – in an easy-to-swallow, buffered solution. BINOSTO represents a true breakthrough in the treatment of osteoporosis – especially for those patients who prefer not to swallow tablets, or have difficulties swallowing pills.

“We are extremely proud having our first product, BINOSTO, launched in the United States by our distribution partner Mission Pharmacal,” said Christer Rosén, Chairman and CEO of EffRx. “We are stepping into a new business phase and it is very encouraging to get the news from Mission about the positive reaction BINOSTO has received from the healthcare community in the United States. With this exciting new treatment option, physicians can rest easily, knowing they are prescribing an easy-to-take and proven therapy for their osteoporosis patients that protects against fracture risk at the hip and spine.”

For anyone with osteoporosis, the best protection against suffering from a life-threatening fracture is taking medications as prescribed. However, studies show that many patients have trouble swallowing pills, are not adherent to therapy, and stop taking their medication. Taken just once a week, with a reduced volume of water to drink and no risk of a tablet getting lodged in the esophagus, BINOSTO has the potential to improve long-term patient compliance and tolerability, thereby decreasing the risks of disabling fractures.

EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA also announces that it will regain the rights to BINOSTO / Steovess(R)(EX101) in territories outside of North America. The development and commercialization rights were originally licensed to Nycomed (acquired by Takeda in 2011). EffRx will commercialize BINOSTO / Steovess (R)through partners in Europe, Russia, The Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. For Business Development inquiries please contact: Lorenzo Bosisio, lbosisio@effrx.com.

About BINOSTO / STEOVESS(R)

BINOSTO is a once weekly, strawberry flavored effervescent tablet containing alendronate 70mg that rapidly dissolves in half a glass (4 oz. or 125 ml) of plain room temperature water to make a buffered solution. BINOSTO is available in the USA in cartons containing four individual tablets.

BINOSTO (formerly EX101) was developed by EffRx based on an agreement with Merck & Co, Inc. granting EffRx the worldwide rights to all effervescent and related patents of FOSAMAX[] (alendronate). Patents have been granted to EffRx providing exclusivity for BINOSTO through February 2023. Additional patents are pending.

In the European Union it is known under the name STEOVESS(R) and was positively accepted under the decentralized procedure (DCP) for National Approvals in December 2011. In the EU STEOVESS(R) is indicated for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis.

About EffRx
EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA is a drug delivery company based in Freienbach, Switzerland. EffRx specializes in improving existing high volume pharmaceutical products by utilizing its novel techniques in different effervescent executions. The primary focus of EffRx is in metabolic bone disease, oncology supportive care, pediatric medications, and support to larger companies in Life Cycle Management. For more information about the company, visit http://www.effrx.com

About Mission Pharmacal

Mission Pharmacal is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, Texas. For more than 65 years, the company has been committed to meeting the unique healthcare needs of women throughout all stages of life, pediatric patients, and those persons dealing with urologic and dermatologic conditions. The company has a proven track record of identifying unmet healthcare needs and developing both innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet these needs.

Contact:

Lorenzo Bosisio
VP Business Development and Marketing
Wolleraustrasse 41B
8807 Freienbach
+41(0)799-63-66-10
lbosisio@effrx.com
http://www.effrx.com

rara.com Music Streaming Apps Come to iPhone, iPad and Windows 8 in 27 Countries

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —

British based music company rara.com launch music streaming apps for Windows 8, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with updated rara.com Android app and web service
7 new countries announced today; Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Portugal. rara.com now live in 27 countries
rara.com apps for Windows 8, iOS and Android provide ad-free on-demand mobile and tablet access to over 18 million tracks from just £/€/$1.99 per month*
rara.com announces global agreement with Lenovo; rara.com apps preloaded on Lenovo Windows 8 tablets, convertibles and PCs plus Android mobiles and tablets
rara.com licensed catalogue grows to 18 million tracks with new label deals with global rights agency Merlin and leading independent digital distributors The Orchard, INgrooves Fontana, Believe Digital and VidZone Digital Media
rara.com marketing campaign kicks off across US, UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain and Australia
British based rara.com today announces a major expansion to its streaming music service, ten months after launching, with new apps for Windows 8, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch as well as an updated Android app and web service. rara.com is switching on 7 new countries today, increasing its global footprint to 27 markets and increasing its catalogue of licensed music to 18 million tracks with thousands of Independent labels signed up through global rights agency Merlin and leading independent digital distributors The Orchard, INgrooves Fontana, Believe Digital and VidZone Digital Media.

Nick Massey, CEO of rara.com comments, “I am pleased to announce today that rara.com has made a significant step-forward in the execution of its roll-out strategy and can now be enjoyed in more places, on more devices, with more music and with more partners. rara.com gives you the music you feel like listening to without you having to know the name of every track you want to play. Our expert team of musicologists hand curate rara.com’s channels and playlists bringing you music for every mood. Available today on web, Windows 8, iPhone, iPad and Android, rara.com’s beautiful user interface makes it easier to play the music you love wherever you are, whenever you want, with no annoying adverts.”

New apps for iPhone and iPad

Dedicated rara.com apps launch today for iPhone iPod Touch and iPad providing instant on-the-move access to rara.com’s vast music catalogue and expertly curated channels and playlists. Available to download from the App Store, the AirPlay compatible iOS apps synchronise your music experience through the cloud so that your favourite tracks and playlists from the web are instantly accessible on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Tracks are automatically stored on your device so that you can enjoy the music even when offline.

New Windows 8 app

rara.com also announces the launch of its app for Windows 8 app today for Windows 8 devices launching later this week. rara.com for the new Windows user interface provides simple one touch access to rara.com channels and playlists. On-demand search for rara.com is fully available through the Windows 8 Search charm. rara.com’s app for Windows 8 can be used on the full range of Windows 8 desktop, tablet and hybrid computing devices running the new Windows 8 operating system and will be available to download later this week from the Windows Store.

Global agreement with Lenovo

rara.com today also announces a global agreement with Lenovo, one of the world’s leading PC manufacturers Lenovo is preloading the rara.com music streaming apps onto Lenovo and Medion branded Windows 8 and Android devices around the world. Devices include Lenovo’s Windows 8 PCs, convertibles and tablets, as well as Lenovo Android tablets, including the IdeaTab S2110, A2105, A2107 and A2109 tablets. Lenovo Windows 8 devices include: select IdeaCentre desktops and ThinkPad Classic and Edge laptops, IdeaTab Lynx tablets and IdeaPad laptops, including the recently announced flip and fold IdeaPad Yoga convertible PC.

Deepa Kumar, Director, World Wide Marketing, Software Ecosystem & Cloud Solutions, Lenovo said; “Our collaboration with rara.com will give our customers a great new way to explore and enjoy music on our innovative devices, whether it’s on an all-in-one desktop at home or on one of our convertible PCs switching between work and play. With easy-to-use music apps rara.com makes accessing music simple.”

Updated web service and Android app

rara.com launches an updated web service today with an improved sign up process and a range of stability improvements, customer account management features and additional language support. rara.com’s Android app, available to download from Google Play, has been updated to enable playback control from a dedicated rara.com widget on your Android device home screen.

Growing music catalogue

rara.com today announces licensing agreements with thousands of independent labels through deals with global rights agency Merlin and leading independent digital distributors The Orchard, INgrooves Fontana, Believe Digital and VidZone Digital Media. Building on rara.com’s existing catalogue, the independent label deals increase rara.com’s global music catalogue to 18 million licensed tracks.

New markets

Having gone live in 20 territories over the last 10 months, rara.com launches across seven new countries today: Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Africa, Portugal, bringing rara.com to a total of 27 markets worldwide with further international expansion planned for later this year.

Consumers can now access rara.com in: UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Portugal, US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and South Africa.

International marketing campaign

rara.com’s expansion will be supported by an international above-the-line marketing campaign utilizing a range of digital marketing techniques initially across six countries; USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

Unique introductory pricing

Access to rara.com costs just 99p/99c per month for the first 3 months followed by a flat fee of £/€/$4.99 per month for online access (web), with mobile access to rara.com on iOS, Android and Windows 8 devices (web + mobile) just £/€/$1.99 per month for the first 3 months then £/€/$9.99 per month or local equivalent.*

Independent label quotes:

The Orchard, CEO Brad Navin commented,” “We’re happy to have partnered with such a fast growing and innovative service like rara.com and eager to make our catalogue available to its’ users. Now, they will have access to tracks from indie favorites like Poliça to classics like Dionne Warwick.”

Believe Digital Managing Director, UK & USA Stephen King said, “Believe is delighted to bring its catalogue to rara.com. It’s good to see a streaming service like rara.com come out of the UK, the spiritual home of modern music, and grow so rapidly to compete in the global music arena with established players.”

VidZone Digital Media Founder and CEO Adrian Workman said, “With licensed content from VidZone and other independents rara.com has nearly doubled its global catalogue of licensed repertoire in less than a year and now rara.com’s users have access to more music, on more devices in more countries than ever before.”

INgrooves International MD Alex Branson said, “We are proud to bring the INgrooves Fontana catalogue to music lovers around the world on very user-friendly rara.com.”

*International pricing

International subscription pricing for rara.com: Territory Currency Subscription package pricing DIS DIS web web web + mobile web + mobile US USD 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Canada CAD 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 UK GBP 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Ireland EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 France EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Germany EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Italy EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Spain EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Portugal EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Austria EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Belgium EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Luxembourg EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Netherlands EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Finland EUR 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Denmark DKK 9.99 49.99 19.99 99.99 Norway NOK 9.99 49.99 19.99 99.99 Sweden SEK 9.99 49.99 19.99 99.99 Switzerland CHF 0.99 5.99 1.99 11.99 Australia AUD 0.99 7.99 2.99 12.99 New Zealand NZD 1.99 7.99 2.99 13.99 Mexico MXN 12.99 63.99 23.99 127.99 Brazil BRL 1.99 7.99 2.99 15.99 Singapore SGD 0.99 4.99 1.99 9.99 Hong Kong HKD 4.99 28.00 10.99 48.00 Taiwan TWD 30.00 149.00 55.00 249.00 Malaysia MYR 1.99 8.99 2.99 16.99 South Africa ZAR 6.99 33.99 13.99 68.99
About rara media group

rara.com is the new global digital music service designed for the mass-market, where you do not need to be a music expert or a technology enthusiast to use the service. Your music subscription ensures the service is clutter-free with no intrusive advertising. rara.com is provided by rara media group limited, a private company headquartered in London. Licensed by all of the major labels; Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music and Warner Music Group the global rights agency Merlin and leading independent digital distributors including The Orchard, INgrooves Fontana, Believe Digital and VidZone Digital Media. rara.com is powered by digital music service provider Omnifone.

Further information:

Tim Hadley
rara.com
+44(0)7976410001
thadley@rara.com

Streams Into Stability: Bayat Foundation Launches Beautify Afghanistan Strategic Initiative To Combat Water, Sanitation, and Health Issues; Initial Focus On Restoration Of The Kabul River

KABUL, Afghanistan/PRNewswire/ — Fatema Bayat, Executive Director of the Bayat Foundation, a 501 c(3) charitable organization committed to improving the quality of life for the youth, women, poor, and elderly of Afghanistan, took advantage of the Foundation’s annual dinner on 12 October to announce the official launch of Beautify Afghanistan, a new strategic initiative for the Foundation in 2013.
“Afghanistan is a nation blessed with tremendous natural resources and beauty,” Mrs. Bayat said. “Unfortunately, through mismanagement, indifference, desperation, and ignorance, Afghanistan’s bounty of nature has become scarred by overuse, pollution, and neglect. Many Afghans today struggle to find adequate sources of potable water and polluted water has become a major factor in the spread of diseases such as diphtheria, cholera and malaria. To help combat this, we are pleased to announce a new strategic initiative for 2013 and beyond – Beautify Afghanistan: Education. Empowerment. Environment. We are confident that this program will help Afghans to engage with their natural environment in more productive and sustainable ways than at present, helping to ensure a lasting legacy of natural beauty and resource for future generations.”
The program’s mission is to engage, empower, educate, and excite Afghans – especially those most at-risk citizens – to act on behalf of, and take greater responsibility for, their community environments in order to restore hope, pride, honor, beauty, and economic security to Afghanistan. It is designed as an “umbrella” initiative which will initiate, manage, provide catalyst funding, administer, and develop support for multiple environmental programs that will change behaviors and improve communities. It will be focused on programs that are developed for Afghans, by Afghans, and recognize the inherent interaction between people & nature. Projects will be about managing people and providing incentives to change behavior as much as managing environmental issues.
Championing principles such as education, individual responsibility, public-private partnerships, and sustainable economic support focused on Afghanistan’s at-risk women and youth, Beautify Afghanistan’s initial focus will be on the restoration of the Kabul River. The Foundation will turn Streams Into Stability by organizing cleanups of rubbish, promoting new – more sanitary – ways of handling wastewater and sewage, restoring a sense of national pride in the waterway as a symbol of Afghanistan’s vibrancy and natural health, and creating economically sustainable initiatives for at-risk Afghans that revolve around the river.
About the Bayat Foundation
Since 2005, the US-based Bayat Foundation, a 501 c(3) charitable organization, has promoted the well-being of the Afghan people. Founded and directed by Ehsan Bayat and Fatema Bayat, the Foundation has contributed to more than 200 projects dedicated to improving the quality of life for the youth, women, poor, and elderly of Afghanistan. Projects have included the construction of new facilities and sustainable infrastructure in needy regions, and the promotion of health, education, economic, and cultural programs. In addition to his charitable initiatives, Ehsanollah Bayat founded Afghan Wireless (AWCC) in 2002 – a joint venture between Telephone Systems International, Inc. (TSI) and the Ministry of Communications – which was the first GSM wireless and Internet Service Provider in Afghanistan, and later established Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which includes Ariana Radio (FM 93.5). For more information, please email info@bayatfoundation.org.
CONTACT: Montgomery Simus, m.simus@tsiglobe.com, +1-702-809-6772
Source: Bayat Foundation

The Other Face of the Data Explosion: New Ways to Combat Rising Smartphone Subsidies and Improve Telco Profitability

SINGAPORE /PRNewswire/ — The smartphone sector has become something of a bonanza of late, but it has also turned into a source of major headaches for CEOs in the telecommunications industry.
Consumers are increasingly eager to upgrade to smartphones and start accessing the Internet, using apps and sharing content. Indeed, markets such as Indonesia already have 19 percent of mobile customers on smartphones, while Singapore has 72 percent, according to Nielsen.
But smartphones are expensive – the new iPhone 5 retails from US$650 if bought standalone, so a key driver for smartphone growth is handset subsidies. Subsidies run at several hundred dollars per device allowing telcos to offer smartphones to consumers for free or at a heavily reduced price. The hope is that resulting data revenues will make the economics work, but it has risen now to become one of the largest operational cost items at 18 percent of revenue for many operators.
Delta Partners, the leading advisory and investment firm specialising in telecommunications, media and technology (TMT), today released its latest article, entitled The Smartphone Subsidy Conundrum, outlining how carriers can bring a number of new and trialed measures to rein in such subsidies.
“This is a hot topic for telecoms executives worried about the costs associated with rising smartphone penetration,” says Delta Partners Principal Mar Pages. “Telcos that address this issue now can gain several points of EBITDA margin without impacting competitiveness.”
Some of the potential initiatives this article explores through examples from leading operators such as Telstra, AT&T and Bharti Airtel include:
Prolonging handset lifecycles. A Bring-Your-Own approach adopted by Telstra that offers monthly discounts to consumers who switch provider and keep their previous device.
Lengthening the customer renewal process. AT&T has lifted fees charged to customers who wish to upgrade their handsets before the end of their contract.
Discount optimisation. Offering “reverse subsidies” where customers receive a monthly fee reduction instead of a free handset, implemented by Bharti Airtel and China Mobile.
Managing data economics. Using deep analytics to optimise the relationship between smartphone and data pricing.
“Which option is best depends on an operator’s market position, environment and cost pressures,” notes Delta Partners Senior Associate Anna Arlorio. “This article evaluates how to rethink smartphone subsidies and drive profitability.”
To download the full article, please visit: http://www.deltapartnersgroup.com/our_insights/articles
Karen Cordeiro, Marketing Coordinator, Delta Partners, Tel: +971-56-681-5864, Email: kc@deltapartnersgroup.com
Source: Delta Partners

FLAG Capital Management To Acquire Premier Asian Private Equity Investment Firm, Squadron Capital

STAMFORD, Conn. and HONG KONG, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — FLAG Capital Management, LLC, a leading private capital investment manager, today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Squadron Capital, a premier Hong Kong-based private equity investment firm with US$1.5 billion in assets under management. The transaction increases FLAG’s total AUM to over US$6 billion and allows it to more effectively deliver global solutions in private equity, venture capital, natural resources and real estate. The acquisition from Search Investment Group is expected to close on or before December 31, 2012. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Squadron Capital team has been managing Asian private equity funds since 1989 and will bring highly complementary experience and networks to FLAG’s global footprint. Squadron Capital has one of the largest and truly pan-Asia teams in the region. The structure of the deal, which integrates Squadron Capital’s team into FLAG, will ensure the continuity of management of the two firms’ extensive investments in the region. It will also enable the merged entity to leverage complementary strategies and capabilities in marketing, distribution and back office functions.

David Pierce, Chief Executive Officer of Squadron Capital, who will become a FLAG Partner, commented, “Squadron has one of the most experienced private equity fund of funds teams in Asia, and we are excited to be joining such a terrific organization. Together we believe we can grow our combined business rapidly, benefiting from highly complementary relationships and business practices. FLAG’s brand, stellar industry reputation, 17-year track record and the scalability of its platform make it the perfect buyer for our business. They have a strong record of innovation and entrepreneurship that will help us take our investment platform to the next level and ensure we continue to deliver value for our investors.”

“I am proud of the success of Squadron Capital and its growth into a premier Asian private equity investment firm,” said Robert Miller, Chairman of Search Investment Group. Mr. Miller continued, “I am delighted that we have reached a mutually beneficial agreement with FLAG for the purchase of Squadron, and can think of no better home for this business.” Search Investment Group continues to be a significant investor in the combined firm’s Asia private equity offerings and will enlist FLAG in the management of the Group’s significant global private equity investment portfolio.

The acquisition of Squadron Capital continues FLAG’s history of prudent evolution and growth since it was founded in 1994. FLAG and Squadron Capital serve a global investor base that includes private and public retirement plans, foundations, endowments and family offices. The integration of the two firms will enable current and future limited partners to benefit from some of the most attractive private capital strategies in today’s market globally. The combined firm will have greater resources on the ground, including teams with local knowledge and language skills, and a deep appreciation of the nuances of each market, thereby helping current and future investors to access difficult to reach sectors and geographies.

“At FLAG, we strive to provide a range of approaches to private capital investing based upon the specific needs of our investors that are designed to generate superior long-term investment performance,” said Peter Lawrence, a Founding Partner of FLAG. “The talented Squadron Capital team not only augments our Asia offering, but also adds professionals to our firm who will lend their expertise to our other global strategies.”

About FLAG Capital Management

FLAG Capital Management is an independent private capital solutions provider with $4.7 billion of assets under management. Founded in 1994, FLAG offers a diverse platform of investment options that spans venture capital, private equity, and real assets, as well as customizable fund administration and reporting services. FLAG is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. For more information, see http://www.flagcapital.com.

About Squadron Capital

Founded in 2006, Squadron Capital is a private equity investment firm based in Hong Kong. On behalf of its clients, the firm constructs and manages portfolios of private equity funds and direct investments across the Asia Pacific region. The firm manages capital for institutional investors, family offices and high net worth individuals from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Squadron Capital is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and licensed by the Hong Securities and Futures Commission. For more information about Squadron Capital, see http://www.squadroncapital.com.

Banco Bradesco – 3Q12 Results

SAO PAULO, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The main figures obtained by Bradesco (BM&FBovespa: BBDC3; BBDC4), (NYSE: BBD) in the first nine months of 2012 are presented below:

1. Adjusted Net Income(1) in the first nine months of 2012 stood at R$8.605 billion (a 2.1% increase compared to the R$8.427 billion recorded in the same period last year), corresponding to earnings per share of R$2.98 in the last 12 months and Return on Average Shareholders’ Equity(2) of 19.9%.

2. Adjusted Net Income is composed of R$5.982 billion from financial activities, representing 69.5% of the total, and R$2.623 billion from insurance, pension plan and capitalization bond operations, which accounted for 30.5%.

3. On September 30, 2012, Bradesco’s market capitalization stood at R$113.102 billion(3), up 17.0% over the same period in 2011.

4. Total Assets stood at R$856.288 billion in September 2012, an 18.6% increase over the same period in 2011. Return on Total Average Assets was 1.4%.

5. The Expanded Loan Portfolio(4) stood at R$371.674 billion in September 2012, up 11.8% on the same period in 2011. Operations with individuals totaled R$114.536 billion (up 8.7%), while operations with companies totaled R$257.138 billion (up 13.3%).

6. Assets under Management stood at R$1.172 trillion, up 20.4% on September 2011.

7. Shareholders’ Equity stood at R$66.047 billion in September 2012, up 22.9% on September 2011. Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 16.0% in September 2012, 11.3% of which fell under Tier I Capital.

8. Interest on Shareholders’ Equity and Dividends were paid and recorded in provision to shareholders at the amount of R$2.923 billion in the first nine months of 2012, of which R$1.348 billion was paid as monthly and interim dividends and R$1.575 billion was recorded in provision.

9. Financial Margin stood at R$32.684 billion, up 12.5% in comparison with the same period in 2011.

10. The Delinquency Ratio over 90 days stood at 4.1% on September 30, 2012 (3.8% on September 30, 2011).

11. The Efficiency Ratio(5) improved by 0.6 p.p. (from 42.7% in September 2011 to 42.1% in September 2012), whereas the “adjusted-to-risk” ratio stood at 53.1% (52.4% in September 2011).

12. Insurance Written Premiums, Pension Plan Contributions and Capitalization Bond Income totaled R$31.092 billion the first nine months of 2012, up 17.3% over the same period in 2011. Technical Reserves stood at R$117.807 billion, up 21.3% on September 2011.

13. Investments in infrastructure, information technology and telecommunications amounted to R$2.967 billion in the first nine months of 2012, a 5.3% increase on the previous year.

14. Taxes and contributions, including social security, paid or recorded in provision, amounted to R$17.056 billion, of which R$6.695 billion referred to taxes withheld and collected from third parties and R$10.361 billion from Bradesco Organization activities, equivalent to 120.4% of Adjusted Net Income (1).

15. Bradesco has an extensive customer service network in Brazil, comprising 8,439 service points (4,665 branches and 3,774 Service Branches – PAs). Customers can also use 1,456 PAEs – ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) in companies, 41,713 Bradesco Expresso service points, 35,128 Bradesco Dia & Noite ATMs and 12,414 Banco24Horas ATMs.

16. Payroll, plus charges and benefits, totaled R$7.660 billion. Social benefits provided to the 104,100 employees of the Bradesco Organization and their dependents amounted to R$1.840 billion, while investments in training and development programs totaled R$100.219 million.

17. On August 30, the Organization inaugurated Bradesco Next — the bank of the future — a thoroughly modern space for the presentation and experimentation of new technologies, products and services.

18. On September 13, Bradesco was once again included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a select NYSE trading list that includes only those companies with the best sustainable development practices.

19. Major Awards and Acknowledgments in the period:

Bradesco was elected Company of the Year by the Best of Dinheiro 2012 year book, as well as the Best Insurance Company, the Best Health Company and Best Human Resources Management Company (IstoE Dinheiro magazine, in association with KPMG, Trevisan and Economatica);

For the second consecutive year, Bradesco is the most valuable brand Latin America (Latin America BrandFinance);

Bradesco is the most innovative company in customer relations according to a survey conducted by the consultancy DOM Strategy Partners (Consumidor Moderno magazine);

Bradesco is one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Brazil (Epoca magazine, evaluated by the Great Place to Work Institute);

Bradesco placed first in the financial segment “Stock Exchange’s Stars” ranking. The study analyzed the performance of all Brazilian companies’ shares listed on Sao Paulo Stock Exchange and indicated those that created more value to their shareholders (Boston Consulting Group);

Bradesco was the only financial institution with a positive performance in the Stock Exchange in 2012 (Valor Economico newspaper, data from BM&FBovespa and Economatica);

For the sixth consecutive time, Grupo Bradesco Seguros ranked first in the Brazilian insurance company category (2012 Valor 1000 list of Valor Economico newspaper); and

For the second consecutive year, Grupo Bradesco Seguros was the “Best and major insurance company in Latin America”, in the “Top 100 Insurers” ranking (Latin Trade magazine).

20. With regards to sustainability, Bradesco divides its actions into three pillars: (i) Sustainable Finances, focused on banking inclusion, social and environmental variables for loan approvals and product offering; (ii) Responsible Management, focused on valuing professionals, improving the workplace and adopting eco-efficient practices; and (iii) Social and Environmental Investments, focused on education, the environment, culture and sports. In this area, we point out Fundacao Bradesco, which has a 55-year history of extensive social and educational work, with 40 schools in Brazil. In 2012, a projected budget of R$385.473 million will benefit 111,170 students in its schools, in Basic Education (from Kindergarten to High School and Vocational Training – High School Level), Education for Youth and Adults; and Preliminary and Continuing Qualification focused on the creation of jobs and generation of income. The nearly 50 thousand students in Basic Education are guaranteed free, quality education, uniforms, school supplies, meals and medical and dental assistance. Fundacao Bradesco also aided another 300,150 students through its distance learning programs, found at its e-learning portal “Virtual School.” These students completed at least one of the many courses offered by the Virtual School. Furthermore, another 83,323 people will benefit from projects and actions in partnerships with Digital Inclusion Centers (CIDs), the Educa+Acao Program and Technology courses (Educar e Aprender — Teach and Learn).

(1) According to non-recurring events described on page 8 of this Report on Economic and Financial Analysis; (2) Excludes mark-to-market effect of available-for-sale securities recorded under Shareholders’ Equity; (3) R$124.332 billion considering the closing price of preferred shares (most traded share); (4) Includes sureties and guarantees, letters of credit, advances of credit card receivables, co-obligation in loan assignment (receivables-backed investment funds and mortgage-backed receivables), co-obligation in rural loan assignment, and operations bearing credit risk — commercial portfolio, which includes debentures and promissory notes; and (5) In the last 12 months.

CONTACT:

Mrs. Ivani Benazzi de Andrade
Phone: +011-55-11-2178-6218
e-mail: 4823.ivani@bradesco.com.br

or Mr. Carlos Tsuyoshi Yamashita
Phone: +011-55-11-2178-6204
e-mail: 4823.carlos@bradesco.com.br

Office Building Expense Highest in Tokyo, Osaka, and Sydney among Asian Markets

Costs in Hyderabad and Hanoi are among the world’s lowest in a new Whitestone Publication.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — What does it cost to run the same building in 168 cities around the world? In its annual study, Whitestone ranked building expenses (not including rent) for the world’s major office building markets. Highest costs for a typical office building are $22.61 USD per square foot in Zurich, while lowest costs are $2.54 in Minsk.
Most Expensive

Rank City Total
1 Zurich, Switzerland $22.61
2 Geneva, Switzerland $22.05
3 Tokyo, Japan $18.99
4 Honolulu, United States $18.01
5 Osaka, Japan $17.71
6 Vienna, Austria $16.64
7 Sydney, Australia $16.55
8 Fukuoka, Japan $15.77
9 New York, United States $15.73
10 Copenhagen, Denmark $15.33

Least Expensive

Rank City Total
159 Bangalore, India $3.50
160 Buenos Aires, Argentina $3.38
161 Kiev, Ukraine $3.18
162 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam $3.16
163 Hanoi, Vietnam $3.13
164 Chennai, India $2.88
165 Kolkata, India $2.81
166 Hyderabad, India $2.81
167 Kabul, Afghanistan $2.57
168 Minsk, Belarus $2.54
Reported costs for a model 2 Story Office building. All costs are reported in $USD using May 30, 2012 exchange rates.
The complete list of costs for global cities is presented in the Whitestone Facility Operating Cost Reference 2012-2013, International Version. Updated annually, the Reference is a unique source of cost data for 74 building types and 11 types of expenses, including custodial services, energy, grounds, maintenance and repair, management, pest control, refuse, road clearance, telecommunications, and water and sewer.
About Whitestone
Whitestone Research, with offices in Washington, DC and Santa Barbara, California, specializes in applied policy research and software development. Whitestone products and services are used every year by thousands of major corporations, government agencies, and public and private institutions. Other Whitestone products include the annual Whitestone Cost Reference books, CostLab online cost tool, and the MARS Cost Forecast System.
CONTACT:
Doug Abate
1-800-210-0137
dabate@whitestoneresearch.com

Source: Whitestone Research

Occlutech Wins the 2012 Excellence in Medtech Award

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland /PRNewswire/ — The European Tech Tour Association, an independant, not-for-profit organization committed to the development of emerging technology companies from Europe, announced that it has selected Occlutech to receive the 2012 Excellence in Medtech Award.
The award was presented at the gala dinner of the 2012 European MedTech Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland by Dr. Brian Hashemi, Managing Partner of Salus Partners who announced: “Occlutech represents excellence in the development of innovative technologies in the area of minimally invasive cardiac occlusion. Innovative devices such as Patent Foramen Ovale occlusion have improved therapy in this fast advancing field bringing significant health benefits to thousands of patients around the world.”
Tor Peters, Occlutech’s founder and CEO says: “This recognition means a lot to Occlutech, our employees, our suppliers, and our customers, all of whom have supported us tremendously over the past years. Building a company is teamwork and I am very grateful to the team, including customers and opinion leaders who have supported us in making this possible.”
Occlutech, (http://www.occlutech.com) is a leading developer of products for minimally invasive cardiac occlusion and intervention with manufacturing and development in several European countries.
Salus Partners, (http://www.saluspartners.com) is a leading Swiss advisory firm providing services in the areas of wealth optimization, healthcare investments and corporate services.
The European Tech Tour Association, (http://www.techtour.com) is an independent, not-for profit organization composed of key contributors to the high-technology industry. The association recognizes that continued prosperity in Europe lies in its ability to transform today’s innovative projects into tomorrow’s global technology leaders.
Source: Occlutech

Landmark Apple I Computer at Auction

COLOGNE, Germany, Oct. 23, 2012/PRNewswire/ —

– Cross reference: Picture is available at epa european pressphoto agency (http://www.epa.eu) andhttp://www.presseportal.de/pm/107018/ –

It was a classic rags-to-riches story. Two college dropouts from California who founded the world’s highest-valued company. Steve Jobs was introduced to Steve Wozniak in 1969 and ‘Woz’ and Jobs became friends while working for Hewlett-Packard in 1970.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121023/568255 )

By 1976, Wozniak was refining his own computer design. The Altair 8800 had just made the cover ofPopular Electronics and Jobs quickly realised the potential of his friend’s invention. Apple Inc. was established in April 1976 and the first order of 50 computers was assembled in the Jobs’ family garage and delivered to the Byte Shop for $500 per unit.

Apple I was the first ready-made personal computer. Admittedly, the buyer still had to provide the keyboard and monitor, but as Wozniak explained to enthusiasts at the Homebrew Computer Club in July 1976, his design allowed the user to work on a “human-typable keyboard instead of a stupid, cryptic front panel with a bunch of lights and switches”.

Of the 200 Apple I computers ever produced, just 43 have survived, and of these only six are in working order (“Apple 1 Registry”, by Mike Willegal). One was sold for a record $374,500 in June 2012 in New York, a second one of the six is being offered now by Auction Team Breker in Germany on 24 November 2012.

The Cologne-based auctioneer has been holding record-breaking sales of “Science and Technology” for 25 years. According to founder Uwe Breker, this is the first fully working Apple I offered publically in Europe, and the only example with the original period peripherals – transformer, Sony monitor and Datanetics ASCII keyboard – to have appeared so far. He comments “There is a long-established market for antique ‚Scientific Instruments’, whereas technology from the dawn of the computer age is attracting a great new generation of collectors.”

See http://www.breker.com for details of the auction and http://www.youtube.com/AuctionTeamBrekerfor the 7-minute demo-video of the Apple I in action.

In addition to the media attention around Apple products (especially the early ones), two motion pictures about the life of Steve Jobs have been announced for the end of the year, one of which (by Sony Pictures) stars Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs.

Contact: Uwe H. Breker, Auction@Breker.com, Tel. +49(0)2236-3843420

Source: Auction Team Breker

FDA Approves New Non-Invasive, Non-Ionizing Radiation Therapy to Treat Pain from Bone Metastases

TIRAT CARMEL, Israel /PRNewswire/ —
ExAblate(R) MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound is effective in reducing pain from bone metastases in patients who could not undergo radiation therapy; Patients reported significant improvement in well-being, function, and reduction in medication use
InSightec Ltd, the leader in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided Focused Ultrasound therapy, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ExAblate(R) MRI-guided focused ultrasound as a therapy to treat pain from bone metastases in patients who do not respond or cannot undergo radiation treatment for their pain. This is the second FDA approval for ExAblate, which has been used widely since it was approved in 2004 as a non-invasive, outpatient, therapy for uterine fibroids.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56632-insightec-fda-approves-exablate
Bone metastases occur when cancer cells break away from their primary site and spread to other parts of the body.
“Pain is the most common and severe symptom of bone metastases, often causing significant physical and emotional discomfort with a large impact on enjoyment of life,” says Mark Hurwitz, M.D., principal investigator of the international, multi-center, randomized study that formed the basis of InSightec’s Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application with the FDA. “Pain palliation by ExAblate can dramatically improve the quality of life for cancer patients with bone metastases. Results from the clinical study showed that ExAblate therapy significantly reduces pain caused by bone metastases. Patients also reported lasting improvement in wellbeing and function, along with a decrease in the need for medication.”
Dr. Hurwitz, who is currently Director of Thermal Oncology and Vice Chair of the Radiation Oncology Department at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, led the study during his previous tenure as Director of Regional Program Development for the Department of Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than two-thirds of breast and prostate cancers that metastasize spread to the bones and this also occurs in up to 30% of metastatic lung, bladder and thyroid cancers. Up to 30 percent of patients with bone metastases either do not respond to radiation therapy or will be unable to undergo radiation for pain relief.
ExAblate combines therapeutic acoustic ultrasound waves and continuous guidance and treatment monitoring with an MRI. Physicians use the MRI to plan and guide the therapy and monitor treatment outcome. The focused ultrasound acoustic energy destroys the nerves causing the pain, resulting in rapid reduction in pain.
“The recent FDA approval of ExAblate for pain palliation will offer new options for cancer patients with crippling bone pain who are seeking pain-management options and are no longer eligible for radiation treatment,” said Dr. Kobi Vortman, President and CEO of InSightec. “This is the second FDA approval for the ExAblate technology and represents a significant milestone in our quest to expand the applications for this innovative, non-invasive therapy. It also demonstrates our continued commitment to bringing ExAblate MRI-guided focused ultrasound into broad clinical use and improving our patients’ quality of life.”
The second FDA approval for ExAblate was based on the results of an international, multi-center, randomized clinical study comparing patients with painful bone metastases undergoing palliative therapy with ExAblate to a similar group undergoing a placebo therapy. Patients who underwent the ExAblate therapy reported clinically significant pain relief and improvement of quality-of-life during follow-up three months after treatment. Over 15 centers participated in the clinical trial including Fox Chase Cancer Canter, Stanford University, UCSD, UVA, Moffitt, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the US as well as University of Toronto, La Sapienza University in Rome, Sheba and Rambam Medical Centers in Israel, Petrov Research Institute of Oncology and Rostov Medical University in Russia.
ExAblate is the only FDA-approved MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for treating uterine fibroids and bone metastases-related pain management. It has also received European CE marking for uterine fibroids, bone metastases, and adenomyosis. 20 hospitals in Europe and Asia-Pacific offer ExAblate as a palliative therapy for bone metastases.
InSightec will be conducting a multi-center post-marketing study of 70 US patients who suffer from painful bone metastases and will also be establishing a commercial registry to collect data about patients undergoing ExAblate therapy for the palliation of painful bone metastases.
About InSightec
InSightec Ltd. is privately held by Elbit Imaging, General Electric, and MediTech Advisors. Founded in 1999 InSightec developed ExAblate to transform MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) into a clinically viable technology. ExAblate has won several awards for innovation and its potential to help mankind including The Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards and the European Union’s IST grand prize. TIME magazine recently named Focused Ultrasound as “one of 50 best inventions.” For more information about treatment centers and bone metastases please visit: http://www.insightec.com and http://www.bone-pain-palliation.co.uk
Media contact:
Lynn Golumbic, +972-4-813-1368, lynng@insightec.com
Hollister Hovey, +1-646-871-8482, hhovey@lazarpartners.com
Video: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56632-insightec-fda-approves-exablate
Source: InSightec Ltd