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God of War Sequel Delayed To 2022, Coming To PS4 Along With Gran Turismo 7
God of War sequel has been delayed to 2022 and now the game will launch on the PS4 along with previously PS5 exclusive Gran Turismo 7.
Fans of Kratos and Atreus have to wait a while before they are able to get their hands on the next game. While it was initially announced without a release date, the expectations were that it will be released in 2021.
PlayStation Studios head Herman Hulst has confirmed in a new interview that the game is now pushed to 2022 to give the development team some time to craft a great experience.
“So we have, currently, two very big, very narrative-driven games in development: Horizon Forbidden West and the next God of War. And for both of those, they’re frankly affected by access to performance capture and talent. For Horizon, we think we are on track to release this holiday season. But that isn’t quite certain yet, and we’re working as hard as we can to confirm that to you as soon as we can, ” said Herman.
“And for God of War, the project started a little later. So we’ve made the decision to push that game out to next year, to ensure that Santa Monica Studio can deliver the amazing God of War game that we all want to play.”
He mentioned that Gran Turismo 7 and the next God of War are both coming to the PS4 in addition to the PS5.
“Where it makes sense to develop a title for both PS4 and PS5 — for Horizon Forbidden West, the next God of War, GT7 — we’ll continue looking at that. And if PS4 owners want to play that game, then they can. If they want to go on and play the PS5 version, that game will be there for them.”
The sequel only had a single tagline “Ragnarok is Coming” and we haven’t really seen anything from the game so far. Based on this tagline, some fans were calling it God of War Ragnarok while the official title has yet to be revealed.


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Sega has confirmed that Alpha Protocol has been delayed.The according to Shacknews, listing all three versions – PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 – as due for release in “Spring, 2010.”Alpha Protocol was originally scheduled for launch within the next few weeks, but some are unlikely to be surprised by the delay. There was a bit of a recently from purportedly leaked documents that detailed a meeting Sega had with Sony, in which Alpha Protocol wasn’t well-received.It’s worth noting that, at this stage, the UK site hasn’t been updated and is still showing all three releases as October 2009, while UK retailers still appear to be listing it for an October launch. lists the game as March 2010, however, and with the US delay now confirmed, we imagine the UK one won’t be far behind.for Alpha Protocol has been updated,
Founder and Editor of PC Invasion. Veteran PC gamer of over 22 years.

domain: news


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This blog post was updated on October 16, 2018.
A new American Express Co. survey suggests that more Americans plan to travel this summer than in 2010, even despite rising gas prices.
According to the numbers, 59% of Americans plan to travel this summer; that’s up from 51% in the previous year.
About 70% of those polled plan to travel with their immediate families. That number is also up from 45% in 2010.
The effects of the recession are still being felt, however. About 40% of travelers said that getting a good deal was a big factor in determining their vacation.
Source: Wall Street Journal
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18 April 2019
Visiongain has launched a new pharma report Clinical Trial Supply and Logistics Market Report: Clinical Trial Manufacturing, Clinical Trial Logistics and Distributions, Clinical Trial Supply Chain Management, Clinical Trial Packaging, Clinical Trial Cold Chain Logistics.
Demands for increasingly complex and expensive clinical trials have led drug developers to look to external service providers to source clinical trial materials and deliver them to investigator sites. Demand for biological and orphan drugs will be one of the factors that drive the clinical trial supply and logistics market for pharma. Rising need for cold chain logistics will increase demand for new packaging and monitoring technologies that offer lower-cost solutions, including reusable packaging and phase change materials that allow cooling for more-specific temperature ranges.
The lead analyst of the report commented "Emerging markets offer many benefits for companies looking to conduct clinical trials, including large patient population and lower trial costs. However, these also offer unique challenges in terms of clinical trial logistics. In many of these markets, the infrastructure connecting second and third tier cities is not as developed as that connecting major cities - these destinations are harder to reach, causing delays in distribution of trial materials, possible resulting in product spoilage.
Additionally, passing through or conducting trials at multiple sites within these regions results in having to comply with varying regulatory and import/export standards. Cold chain integrity also varies within these markets, with few distributors offering a complete cold chain network throughout emerging markets. However, Visiongain predicts that improvements will be made in all these areas in the coming decade, simplifying clinical trial logistics in emerging markets and further increasing their appeal as trial destinations."
Leading companies featured in the report include ADAllen Pharma, Almac Group, Amatsigroup, Biocair International Limited, Catalent, DHL, Durbin PLC, FedEx, Fisher Clinical Services, Marken. Movianto, Packaging Coordinators Inc. and other companies.
Notes for Editors
If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org or call her on +44 (0) 20 7549 9987.
Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, Visiongain produces a host of business-to-business reports cusing on the automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors.
Visiongain publishes reports produced by analysts who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port of call for the business professional who needs independent, high-quality, original material to rely and depend on.
Deviating from protocols raises the danger of missing or delaying data collection from current investigations. This highlights the growing importance of digital medicine, which is being aided by advancements in cloud, mobile, and IoT technology.
11 October 2021
High performance HPC and supercomputing technology have evolved substantially in China in the last decades, leading to extraordinary accomplishments. HPC-based and combined pharmaceutical chemical and computational biology computational discovery and design has become a significant technique in drug research and development and is sponsored financially by the Chinese government.
07 October 2021
Many health-care organizations are seeing organic growth at levels that their supply networks were never designed to handle. Others are frantically attempting to integrate diverse technology and procedures as part of a consolidation effort.
06 October 2021
Rise in prevalence of meningitis, increasing initiatives by government and regulatory authorities coupled strong funding support from non-profit organizations is expected to drive the global meningococcal vaccines market


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Bridgestone will return to the virtually-held CES 2021 to showcase their advanced mobility solutions technology they’ll be using for their virtual city, Bridgestone World. These live and on-demand events will also allow customers to see how they’ll have use smart tyre technology and data analytics to enhance sustainable mobility within the industry.
Automechanika Kuala Lumpur Defers to 2022
The Automechanika Kuala Lumpur has been rescheduled to 15th to 17th March 2020 due to Covid-19.
Autopromotec Turns the Light off on Futurmotive Next "Hybrid" Convention Scheduled for May 2021
The Futurmotive - Digital Expo and Conference saw the participation of thousands of operators. During the live streaming of this "automotive industry marathon", discussions centred on topics related to technological innovation, smart mobility and circular economy.
The 16th Edition of Automechanika Shanghai 2020 Brokering New Automotive Trade Fair Experiences
The Automechanika Shanghai's physical fair closes its doors after successfully engaging with players worldwide through its hybrid platform, AMS Live.
Autopromotec Presents Futurmotive - Digital Expo and Conference: "The new toolbox for the aftermarket"
The event, scheduled for December 10th at 9.30 am, will take place in a virtual arena. Guests will discuss how technological innovation, smart mobility and circular economy will provide new impetus to the automotive industry.
Tarsus Group Strengthens Tyrexpo Asia with New Thailand Show
Tarsus Group, the organisers of the Tyrexpo Asia exhibition, have announced that they plan to annualise the event, making it rotate between Singapore (odd years) and Bangkok (even years).
Futurmotive – Digital Expo and Conference: The Event Agenda is Now Available
On 10th December 2020, within a virtual arena, members of automotive aftermarket companies and international experts will discuss key topics such as mobility, new technologies, eco-sustainability of the sector and post-pandemic scenarios.
Tarsus Group Postpones Tyrexpo Asia Until November 2021
Since acquiring Tyrexpo Asia last year, Tarsus Group has worked hard to revamp this prestigious event in the global tyre market.
Retreading, Fleet Tyre Management and Digitalisation Conferences to be Key Discussion Points at TyrexpoAsia 2021
Tarsus Group – Organisers of the Tyrexpo Asia 2021 Show in Singapore next March, have announced further details of the series of business conferences.
Tyrexpo Asia 2021 Attracting Ongoing Exhibitor Interest in Countdown to Show
Tyrexpo Asia 2021 has attracted over a hundred confirmed exhibitors' positive interest with stand of varying sizes have been taken up.


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Lidl was the first Danish supermarket chain to introduce contactless payments.
Now it takes technology one step further and offers contactless Swipp-payments from smartphones in all their stores.
” We see this as a game-changer for mobile payment, for now it does not get easier for shops and traders to introduce payment by mobile phone. With this solution shops just need to put a new chip in their existing payment terminals, they are ready for mobile payments,” says Peter Bredgaard, commercial manager at Swipp.
The payment option is currently being tested in two Lidl stores before all stores will offer it in May. Swipp and Verifone launched their cooperation last year and this is a continuing of Verifone’s POS system at Lidl where contactless payments is already offered.
”Technically, we are quite satisfied. It is a quick and efficient method of payment, as we look forward to offering our customers. We can see that Swipp plays well with Verifone in two shops where we test the solution. This is a clear advantage that we can easily integrate it into our existing POS system, and that we do not need to buy new units to our stores,” says the CIO of Lidl, Matthias Rüdinger.
Technically the communication between phone and store terminal uses standard Bluetooth Low Energy. Customers must simply hold the phone close to the payment terminal and swipe once to accept the amount on the phone display. Over 50 percent, about 30,0000, of Denmark’s payment terminals are from Verifone, and these terminals can accept payments from Swipp after a small upgrade.
“If we look at the cost per cash register line, we are at a fraction of what competitors can offer, and also the payment per transaction is significantly lower, said Martin F. Andersen at Swipp when the trial was launched last year.
Swipp users can accept a purchase of up to 25,000 DKK.
Swipp is a joint venture between Nordea Bank Denmark, Nykredit Bank, Sydbank, Jyske Bank, Workers’ Land Bank, Spar Nord Bank and members of Local Banks. In total, more than 70 banks across the country stands behind Swipp and customers of these banks can use Swipp.


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Typical Kelowna residence valued at a report $ 915,000
The typical house price in Kelowna is climbing ever closer to the magical milestone of $ 1 million.
In June, the benchmark retail price of a single-family home in Central Okanagan hit a record high of $ 915,100, up from $ 901,600 in May and $ 880,000 in April, according to the Association of Interior Realtors.
This five bedroom home on Bayview Court in West Kelowna is for sale for $ 948,000, which is near the new record price of $ 915,100 for a typical single family home in Central Okanagan. “Class =” img-responsive ” data-src=”https://www.kelownanow.com/files/files/images/benchmark%20home.JPG” style = “margin: 5px;” />
A total of 344 single-family homes were sold in the Central Okanagan in June, 31.8% more than in June 2020.
While the numbers are impressive, it’s actually a slight cool-down from the heady days of February and March when sales were frantic and prices kept rising.
It was a perfect storm for a real estate maniac.
Mortgage rates are at their lowest point; the actual number of apartments for sale is low; the pandemic caused people to buy bigger and better homes; and it also resulted in an influx of buyers with money from other parts of the country coming to Kelowna for the lifestyle.
“The market is still a very hot market, maybe just not piping hot anymore,” said Kim Heizmann, president of the Association of Interior Realtors, broker at Century 21 in Vernon.
“Like the weather last week, it went from over 40 degrees to a pleasantly warm 30 degrees, which according to all the information is still warm.”
Activities and prices are unlikely to subside anytime soon.
The benchmark retail price for a typical Central Okanagan townhouse was $ 637,200 in June, up 27.7% over the year.
For a condo, the equivalent is $ 459,300, up 23.2%.
“As more consumers become fully vaccinated and the province is in Step 3 of the reopening plan, we could see more inventory hit the market as the fear of listing homes for sellers who were uncomfortable during COVID, restrictions abate, “said Heizmann.
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Three men, aged between 27 and 31, will be charged in court on 14 October 2022 for their suspected involvement in the fraudulent registration of prepaid SIM cards.
Investigations revealed that between January 2019 and January 2020, the trio had allegedly misused other persons’ particulars to fraudulently register three prepaid SIM cards, with one of them purportedly using photocopied passports to fraudulently register the prepaid SIM cards. They were believed to have abused the computer systems to pre-register additional prepaid SIM cards using the customers’ personal information when the customers handed over their identification documents for the registration of prepaid SIM cards.
The three men will be charged with unauthorised modification of computer materials under Section 5(1) of the Computer Misuse Act. One of them, a 30-year-old male handphone shop retailer, will also be charged with illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A(1)(a) of the Penal Code. The offence of unauthorised modification of computer materials carries a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both. The offence of illegally obtaining personal information is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, a fine which may extend to $10,000, or both.
The Police take a serious view of errant handphone retailers and assistants who engage in such illegal acts and will spare no effort to clamp down on those who exploit and misuse other persons’ particulars to fraudulently register prepaid SIM cards, as they may be indirectly facilitating illegal activities such as unlicensed moneylending, scams and vice activities, among other illicit activities. Members of the public are advised to refrain from purchasing pre-registered prepaid SIM cards and to always keep their identification documents in view for transactions, to prevent their identification documents from being misused during the registration of prepaid SIM cards by handphone shop retailers or assistants.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 October 2022 @ 6:10 PM


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Aussies, listen up. dLux Media Arts is organising a unique spectacle of the senses this September. The organization, which supports cultural vibrancy, will take part in Sydney’s Fringe Festival with a one-night event showcasing some of Australia’s leading artists and designers in the fields of fashion, technology, digital, industrial art and sound engineering.
sARTorial, as the event is called, will be part fashion show, part exhibition, exploring the potential of merging fashion with cutting-edge interactive art and electronics. The event invites fashion designers, media artists, makers, geeks and technophiles to meet up, experiment and share their visions for the future.
This year’s sARTorial will revolve around four sensory elements – light, sounds, movement and touch. Drawing on these elements, the artists and designers will create one-off wearable pieces using the latest techniques and design technologies to produce interactive wearable artworks.
sARTorial’s 2016 ambassador is designer and artist Erica Gray, who is recognized as one of the leading figures in the field of wearable art, with her sculptural creations winning awards both in Australia and at New Zealand’s internationally acclaimed World of WearableArt (WOW).
The even hints at the future of dLux and aims to create experiences that generate a deeper understanding of art and technology for stronger and healthier communities.
Make sure to grab your tickets for sARTorial here.


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File this under things we would really like to see: An all-wheel-drive Mazdaspeed3 and a Miata Coupe, both cars that Automotive News reports could be on their way.
Mazda is currently working on big updates to its lineup, and Automotive News says it has some inside scoop on what the Japanese automaker is planning.
The new Mazdaspeed3 is expected to come out for the 2017 model year, and since the model relaunch of the regular Mazda3 for the 2014 model year, we’ve been dying to find out what an improved Speed3 would drive like. The previous-generation Speed3 acted like a wild animal, and its front-wheel-drive platform couldn’t handle the gobs of torque its engine was producing, so an all-wheel-drive model would tame it and make the hatch an all-out Subaru WRX fighter.
The other hopeful news is that a coupe variant of the MX-5 Miata might be being considered. A Miata Coupe would be a hearty competitor to the generally amazing Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S twins, which currently own the rear-wheel-drive sports car under $30,000 market. A completely redesigned soft-top MX-5 roadster will be unveiled next month and Automotive News says a hardtop model with a fastback look will be introduced a year after the soft-top goes on sale.


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China Trade Talks to Resume in Beijing Next Week with Mnuchin
With President Trump’s March 1, 2019 deadline approaching Secretary of the Treasury Stephen Mnuchin has announced he will join United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer traveling next week to Beijing for another round of trade talks with China.
By James DiGeorgia
With the pressure turned up to maximum, President Trump’s March 1, 2019, deadline would increase U.S. tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports from 10% to 25% if a deal isn't reached, Treasury Secretary announced on CNBC that he’s heading to Beijing…
“Ambassador Lighthizer and myself and a large team are on our way to Beijing next week. We are committed to continue these talks,” “We’re putting in an enormous amount of effort to try to hit this deadline and get a deal. So that’s our objective.”
This next round of trade talks comes after a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu that visited Washington last week for negotiations. Mnuchin described that last round of negotiations as “very productive.”
During President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday he asserted that any new trade deal with China must include "real, structural change"…
“I have great respect for President Xi, and we are now working on a new trade deal with China,”
“But it must include a real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs.”
President Trump has ruled out any meeting between himself and China’s President Xi before the March 1 deadline. At which point the U.S. would hike its punitive tariffs and thereby escalating the ongoing trade war despite the good faith efforts to reach a deal by the Chinese and the country’s resumed soybean purchases from the United States.
While Mnuchin has been encouraging in his latest comments, the reality of the negotiations is the Chinese may be unable to make the structural concessions the Trump Administration is demanding in a timely enough fashion to prevent a full-scale escalation of the ongoing trade war and the possible downturn of the world economies.
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Meanwhile, negotiations with the European Union to end Trump’s trade war against those trading partners haven’t progressed to either country’s satisfaction, and the modified NAFTA agreement has yet to be ratified by Congress. Failure to reach completed deals on all three fronts, much less with the Chinese could negatively impact Wall Street equities in much the same way they were hurt in December, which saw one of the worst sell-offs in the United States financial markets in decades.


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One in three small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UAE said that stiff competition in the market was the biggest risk they faced, according to the 2014 Global SME survey by insurer Zurich and Dubai SME.
About 20 per cent of the companies surveyed in the UAE said that weak consumer demand was the second biggest risk they faced, followed by 16 per cent who cited legal problems.
The 2014 Global SME survey polled 3,800 senior executives of SMEs around the world, including 200 in the UAE, to rank the top three risks faced by their businesses.
SMEs in the UAE were also found to prioritise such threats over other physical damages such as fire or a supply chain disruption, the study found.
Only 11 per cent of SMEs in the UAE believed that fire was a major risk while just eight per cent viewed the failure of partners and suppliers as a risk to their businesses.
In addition, just 14 per cent of SMEs in the UAE considered the health and safety of employees a potential risk to their businesses. This is in comparison to 32 per cent and 24 per cent of SMEs in Austria and Germany respectively who considered employee health a key risk to business.
Meanwhile, the number of SMEs concerned about cybercrime and damage to their vehicles rose from six per cent in 2013 to reach 10 per cent in 2014, the survey showed. Concerns over natural catastrophe and weather were up from four per cent to eight per cent in 2014.
On the other hand, the survey showed that theft has fallen as a perceived risk with just 11 per cent of SMEs listing it in 2014 compared to 18 per cent in 2013.
“The survey reveals that UAE SMEs need to seriously address gaps in their exposure to risk, especially when SMEs constitute more than 90 per cent of the total business establishments in the UAE,” said Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SMEs (Dubai SME).
“SMEs that understand business risks and take measures to protect their businesses tend to benefit in the long term. While our SMEs are generally doing well, they should not take their business growth for granted.”
SMEs play an important role in the UAE’s economy as they contribute more than 60 per cent of total UAE GDP, according to the ministry of economy. They also contribute 70 per cent of Emirates’ non-oil GDP and employ 42 per cent of its workforce, as per an earlier report by HSBC.


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Because the pegfilgrastim biosimilars sector is highly concentrated, with just a few large players, a full understanding of the main rivals and their key strategies is essential. A recent study from the Business Research Company examines the competitive landscape for pegfilgrastim biosimilars. Continue reading to learn more about the primary findings of the study.
What Are Pegfilgrastim Biosimilars?
Pegfilgrastim biosimilars are used to treat febrile neutropenia, a potentially deadly side effect of cancer treatment, as well as to increase the production of infection-fighting white blood cells after transplantation. Biosimilars are biological products that are identical to a previously approved reference drug by the FDA. Pegfilgrastim biosimilars are exact duplicates of the original medicine, Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim).
The Competitive Landscape
The top nine players in the market accounted for 100% of the total market in 2020. The market concentration is due to significant barriers to entry in terms of high costs associated with pegfilgrastim biosimilar research and development, as well as stringent regulatory limits imposed by regulatory authorities. The market is expected to grow more fragmented in the future as a result of the rising number of new entrants.
Coherus Biosciences Inc. was the most competitive, with 52.75 percent of the market. To expand its pegfilgrastim biosimilars business, Coherus Biosciences plans to commercialize its pegfilgrastim biosimilar UDENYCA® in a variety of geographies. Sandoz (Novartis), Biocon/Mylan, Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Mundipharma GmbH, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Emcure Pharmaceuticals (Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.), and USV Private Limited were the companies with the largest market share.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Major Players
The COVID-19 issue has harmed several significant enterprises in the pegfilgrastim biosimilars market. According to Biocon Biologics, the pandemic had a significant impact on its biosimilar business. Due to a prolonged regulatory investigation, operational slowdowns, and reduced demand caused by COVID-19, Biocon’s aim of $1 billion in annual biosimilar sales was dropped. The company’s pegfilgrastim market volumes in the United States declined by 7% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. It was more challenging for commercial teams to switch customers to biosimilars and penetrate new markets.
The recent introduction of Fulphila (biosimilar Pegfilgrastim) in Canada and Australia, which joined Trastuzumab in both countries, boosted the company’s oncology portfolio. Sales of the biosimilars Pegfilgrastim and Trastuzumab are expected to rise in the United States and some European areas, according to Biocon. During FY20, Biocon received FDA approval to enhance manufacturing capacity for two important biosimilars, Trastuzumab and Pegfilgrastim. Biocon will be able to boost capacity by a factor of ten as a result of these approvals, better serving the growing market opportunities in the United States and other areas of the globe.
Similarly, Coherus BioSciences was affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. UDENYCA®, a pegfilgrastim biosimilar of Neulasta created by Coherus BioSciences, a biopharmaceutical company based in the United States, has seen a reduction in sales. The company had difficulty maintaining and commercializing the use of UDENYCA® due to factors such as healthcare providers, payers, and patients not using or adopting UDENYCA® due to resources being strained or otherwise focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sales team’s efficacy in selling UDENYCA® being limited due to such strained resources and other factors such as travel restrictions.
Furthermore, primary care patient visits, preventive treatments, diagnostic interventions, and non-urgent surgical procedures all decreased during the pandemic, posing financial challenges as well as the risk of long-term, negative clinical consequences, all of which harmed the pegfilgrastim biosimilars market.
Large Number of Strategic Partnerships
Companies in the pegfilgrastim biosimilar market are benefiting from strategic agreements to boost product innovation. To stay afloat in an increasingly competitive market, businesses are developing new products and sharing talents and knowledge with other businesses.
While companies in this field have long associated with one another as well as academic and research institutions via partnerships, in- or out-licensing arrangements, this trend has intensified in recent years. Fulphila, a biosimilar pegfilgrastim made jointly by Biocon Biologics and Mylan, was approved by the FDA in July 2018 as the first biosimilar pegfilgrastim. In February 2021, Biocon Biologic Ltd. and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) announced a partnership to expand its life-saving cancer biosimilars to more than 30 African and Asian nations. The partnership is a significant step forward in the delivery of advanced cancer treatments.
Growing Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions are being used by several companies in the pegfilgrastim biosimilar market to increase their production capacity. Large prime manufacturers are forming joint ventures or buying small and midsized enterprises to gain new capabilities or access to new markets.
In October 2020, Ligand Pharmaceuticals announced its plan to purchase Pfenex for $438 million in order to expand the company’s product lines and capabilities. As a consequence of the acquisition, Ligand Pharmaceuticals aims to significantly increase its market share in the pegfilgrastim biosimilars sector. Mundipharma, a UK-based company that produces, develops, and commercializes high-quality biosimilars for inflammatory illnesses and cancer, has acquired Cinfa Biotech.
Key strategies employed by participants in the pegfilgrastim biosimilars market include expanding business via product commercialization, boosting business through various growth tactics in different areas, and obtaining pharmaceutical approvals in additional places.
Access the Full Report
The Pegfilgrastim Biosimilars Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Growth And Change to 2030, published by The Business Research Company, is one of a series of reports that examines and forecasts pegfilgrastim biosimilars market size, pegfilgrastim biosimilars market players, pegfilgrastim biosimilars market segments and geographies.
About The Business Research Company
The Business Research Company is a market research firm that focuses on business, market, and consumer studies. It employs professionals in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology, and it has offices all over the globe. Visit the company’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts for more information.


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Toyota car prices go skyrocketing
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The Indus Group, the assemblers and authorized sellers of Toyota have given out a new rate list for all the units being produced under their management.
The prices, which were already hiked, have been hiked even more by 20%. This means that the consumers of Toyota will be paying 20 percent more of the car price which is being sold to them at a rate higher than usual already.
The base model of Yaris, which was being sold at 3.04 million RS is now being sold for 3.8 million RS with a difference of almost 8 hundred thousand RS. Whereas the top of the line variant price has been hiked to 4.57 million RS from 3.66 million RS.
The base variant of Toyota Corolla with manual transmission is sitting at the new price of 4.9 million Rs, the old price being a straight million lesser than the new one. Whereas the top of the line variant of the Corolla sits at around 6.2 million Rs from 4.9.
The increase in the Hilux truck prices is the most increase ever recorded in the history of cars. The base variant of the truck has now been priced at 5.6 million Rs from 4.5 million Rs and the top model is tagged with 12 million Rs from 9.7 million Rs. The same situation has happened with the Fortuner, the base model sits at 12.5 million from 9.9 million and the top variant is now being sold for 15.8 million Rs whereas, earlier it was sold for 12.7 million Rs.
The chairman all Pakistan motors dealing association, H.M. Shahzad said that all the motor companies in Pakistan are only assemblers and none of them actually makes them locally. Toyota has raised the prices very much.
He also criticised Indus motors’ offer of refunding the booking payment up to 100% after 7 to 8 months.
The saddened and troubled motor dealers say that the company kept taking orders and booking cars for customers when they were not receiving the Completely Knocked Down Units (CKD) from the manufacturers and then raised the prices, the government has also not taken any action about it. The old cars in the market will also be sold on higher prices as people will not be able to buy new ones so the demand of old cars will also be increased.


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Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
NOVA Chemicals Corporation, 1000 Seventh Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 5L5
www.novachemicals.com | 403.750.3600 tel | 403.269.7410 fax
Calgary, Alberta, Canada (July 10, 2019) – NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) today announced its enhanced long-term sustainability commitments, furthering the company’s mission to be the leader in innovation that enables its customers to deliver plastic products that make everyday life healthier, easier and safer.
“We know that plastics add great value to society and have many environmental benefits, and we believe businesses like ours can be a positive catalyst for change to address post-use challenges and concerns,” said Todd Karran, president and CEO, NOVA Chemicals. “Sustainability has been a part of our heritage for many decades, and I’m proud and excited that we’re pushing ourselves even further to do our part in shaping a world that is even better tomorrow than it is today.”
NOVA Chemicals’ long-term vision for sustainability has six strategic commitments:
NOVA Chemicals’ 2018 Sustainability Report offers expanded information on the company’s sustainability commitments, programs and activities.
“We are eager to work with industry, governments, communities and consumers to bring about meaningful, systemic and permanent solutions to promote a plastics circular economy while keeping plastics out of our oceans and the natural environment,” said John Thayer, senior vice president, Polyethylene, NOVA Chemicals. “We know this is a solvable problem and welcome the opportunity to be part of the science-based dialogue.”
A founding member of Responsible Care® in 1985, NOVA Chemicals has a long-standing commitment to sustainability. Over the past five years, the company has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for innovation with its customers to advance recyclability of all-polyethylene plastic packaging, as well as its expandable polystyrene recycling program. In addition, the company has received awards in Canada for its programs to reduce emissions. The company is a member of Operation Clean Sweep®, a voluntary stewardship program that helps facilities implement procedures to keep plastic materials out of our waterways and eliminate plastic pellet, flake and powder loss.
Most recently, NOVA Chemicals joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste as one of its founding members. The growing group of more than 30 global companies is one of the most comprehensive business consortiums across the entire plastics and consumer goods value chains. The Alliance has pledged more than $1 billion (USD) with a goal of investing $1.5 billion (USD) over five years to help eliminate plastic waste in the environment and especially the oceans.
NOVA Chemicals has been a strategic partner to Project STOP since 2018, pledging nearly $2 million (USD) over three years to prevent plastic debris from reaching the ocean. Project STOP is a global initiative to design and implement solutions to reduce marine plastic pollution especially in Indonesia where economic development and plastics consumption have outpaced waste management systems.
Access the press kit for additional information and digital resources.
About NOVA Chemicals Corporation
NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life healthier, easier and safer. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly-owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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I like to sit back and think of what rides I will go on or what food I will eat as I look forward to a happy day at one of my favorite places to go in California: Disneyland.
But with its recent price increases, the so-called “happiest place on Earth” turned my bank account into the saddest place I know. It took away my happiness and excitement of being able to go to Disneyland.
Disneyland has bumped up its prices to a whole new level and added two new passes.
The Premium Pass is now the new Signature Plus, which is the most expensive pass. It costs over $1,000, an increase of 35 percent over the previous price of $779. This pass allows unlimited access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, as well as discounts on some food and merchandise in the parks.
Pass holders who have the Premium Pass are still allowed to use the pass until it expires, but will not be allowed to renew.
The somewhat cheaper version of this pass, the Signature Plus, has the same benefits as the plus, but has two weeks of blackout dates. These dates are during the holiday season, the busiest time of the year.
The Disney Deluxe also has risen nine percent to $600 with 50 blackout dates. The So Cal pass, which allows 215 days of admission to the parks can only be renewed and not be able to purchased by new pass holders. The pass is now $459, a 12 percent rise in price. The last pass, which is known to be the cheapest, is now $329, which used to be about $200.
Single-day admission remains at $99. It was increased to that price in February of this year.
Parking has increased to $18 instead of $17. Though it is just a dollar that is a dollar you could spend on something else. I remember when parking used to be just $15.
The reason Disneyland has increased its prices is because of revenue and overcrowding, according to Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown.
They hope to thin the amount of annual pass holders, as well as traffic in the parks, though they believe that they will still rake in the same amount or even more. Loyal Disney lovers will still go to Disneyland no matter what and pay to renew their passes.
Disneyland already rakes in so much money with the price of food and merchandise alone, so raising the prices even more is just too much.
As a student at La Verne who already struggles financially, having to pay the increased tuition of this year, as well as holding a job and other extracurricular activities, I am very grumpy like the dwarf in “Snow White.”
Unfortunately, I am one of those people who are not able to renew my pass because of this, and it saddens me that I can’t.
I am confident that I am not the only one unhappy with these prices because money is something that does not grow on trees.
Not having classes on some days, especially on Fridays, for the third semester in a row is a luxury. I can do what I want, besides homework, but I like a day where I can just go to Disneyland to unwind and have fun. Now, that has been taken away due to the price increase.
After my high school graduation, I took a two-week vacation to California to visit the University for the first time. I was so excited because I had dreamt of stepping onto the grounds of Disneyland since I was in elementary school.
Most of my friends took family trips to Disneyland and told me stories, and when I finally got the chance to go, it was an exciting experience.
Then, during my sophomore year at La Verne, I decided to invest in a Disney pass, which was one of the greatest investments I made. I was excited because I could go to Disneyland as much as I wanted and have a great time. Renewing it did not become a problem until this year. Unfortunately, I was not able to do it.
The clock wound down to midnight on Oct. 9 and my pass officially expired. The magic carpet ride of Disneyland happiness ran out, so I had to head back into a lamp of sadness.
Like many who hold a Disney pass and do not want to pay for the increase, I now have to decide if I want to be under the sea of debt or no longer enjoy the luxury of going to Disneyland as often as before.
Disneyland has never lowered its prices, and it would be a miracle if they did.
When Disneyland decides to lower prices, there will have been some bibbidi-bobbid-boo magic. But for now, I would not leave a glass slipper behind because you could pawn it to pay for your new pass.
Jolene Nacapuy, a senior journalism major, is editor in chief for the Campus Times. She can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.org and on Twitter @_jjolenenacapuy.
You have an error. The somewhat cheaper version of this pass, the Signature Plus, has the same benefits as the plus, but has two weeks of blackout dates.
You are referring to the Signature Pass and comparing it to the Signature Plus.
Also the Signature Pass is 20% cheaper than the Signature Plus. Compared to how you have listed increase percentages, “somewhat cheaper” may not be the most accurate way to present this.
You have missed the added benefits of Signature Passes which include a year of Photopass downloads.
Comments are closed.


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ArmInfo. As part of the marketing strategy for wine companies in Armenia for 2018-2023. Russia, Poland, Belgium and the USA were chosen as the target export markets. The executive director of the Wine Growing and Wine Foundation of Armenia (VWFA) Zaruhi Muradyan stated in a conversation with ArmInfo.
According to Z. Muradyan, to determine these markets in conjunction with the CBI (Center for Promoting Exports from Developing Countries) throughout the year, numerous studies were conducted, on the basis of which the marketing plan was developed. The main emphasis, as the head of the Fund emphasized, will be put on raising the recognition of Armenian wine and increasing the volume of exports.
"This year I participated for the first time in the exhibition PRODEXPO in Moscow as the head of the Foundation, and I was surprised to find that in Russia little is known about the Armenian wine. We are perceived there more as a cognac producing country. Consequently, much work is to be done in this direction. In particular, the RA Ambassador to the Russian Federation expressed readiness in rendering assistance for more purposeful events," she said. Speaking of Belgium, Z. Muradyan stressed that recently there has been a tendency of increasing demand for and increasing the supply of Armenian wine to this market.
In addition, she said that as part of the marketing strategy in July this year, the US will host a fair of Armenian wine. "To begin with, we will hold a fair in Los Angeles, given the numerous Armenian Diaspora living there," she said. However, in the United States, a number of events are planned, where the history of Armenian wine will be presented, for which it is envisaged to invite experts from the sphere, critics, journalists. In the future, the involvement of international specialists is planned in the implementation of the programs.
On March 30, the marketing strategy for winemaking companies for 2018-2023 was ratified.
The Foundation for the Development of Viticulture and Winemaking of Armenia was established by the government decision of June 23, 2016. The Fund's activity is aimed at solving problems in connection with the issues of improving the quality of the produced wine products in order to ensure its competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, Armenia in the year 2017 produced 8.8 million liters. wine and increased the export of wine by 30%.


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Axis Bank rolls out Season II of SPLASH - an all India Painting Competition at all its branches to spread happiness and celebrate the occasion of Children’s Day.
SPLASH – a painting competition for children in the age group of 7-12 years
Celebrating the occasion of Children’s day on 14thNovember, Axis Bank, India’s Third Largest Private Sector Bank, is rolling out season II of SPLASH, a pan India painting competition on Saturday, 16th of November across all its branches.
The aim of this competition is to celebrate children’s day and spread smiles among the children, help celebrate their dreams as well as festivals and spread awareness about protecting the environment. Hence the themes for this year are: My Dream World, Festivals of India & Go Green.
SPLASH, is open to all children in the age group of 7-12 years, through a simple registration process. All that the parents need to do is to register their child at the nearest Axis Bank Branch for participating in this contest. The competition is open to all the children of Non Customers & Customers of the Bank.
Manisha Lath Gupta, EVP & Head of Marketing, Retail Liabilities & Electronic Banking at Axis Bank said, “We are encouraged to initiate Season II of SPLASH after an overwhelming response from close to 30,000 children last year. Banks are an integral part of each neighbourhood community and through the SPLASH initiative; we look forward to celebrate Children’s Day by engaging with children in our neighbourhoods across the country”.
The Branch Level winners will be declared and awarded on the same day. The state level winners and the national winner would be declared by end of December.
Axis Bank is the third largest private sector bank in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture and Retail Businesses.
With its 2,225 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 11,796 ATMs across the country, as on 30th September 2013, the network of Axis Bank spreads across 1,502 cities and towns, enabling the Bank to reach out to a large cross-section of customers with an array of products and services. The Bank also has overseas offices in UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Colombo, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Bank’s website www.axisbank.com offers comprehensive details about its products and services.


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Pure Fishing confirms departure of Grant Harris and appointment of his successor
Article Media Click images to enlarge +
Pure Fishing EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) has confirmed the departure of Grant Ottignon-Harris as Managing Director and the appointment of his successor.
As revealed on the Angling International Facebook page on Tuesday (September 24) Harris left the world’s biggest manufacturer of fishing tackle last week after nine years with the company. Before taking charge of the EMEA business, he was UK Regional Director.
He is being replaced as Kjell Clefjord, who Pure Fishing describes as having a proven record of success across multiple industries. He has worked extensively across commercial and operational functions.
In a statement, Pure Fishing said: “Kjell is a salesman at heart and brings a passion for focusing on the customer, building teams and growing business. His deep experience will serve him well as he and the Pure Fishing team accelerate profitable growth and reestablish Pure Fishing’s leadership position in the EMEA region.
“As part of its growth strategy, Pure Fishing have roles available in the expanding product and marketing teams.’


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Round-Up - SABMiller Makes First Move for Foster's Group
Two months ago, SABMiller saw Foster's Group turn down its bid of US$11.8bn for the Australian brewer. Today (17 August), the battle turned hostile. Here's just-drinks' coverage of the move, as well as its back-story.
Foster's Group has erected its takeover defences, but SABMiller still doesn't have to stretch too far to breach the walls.
SABMiller is set to go hostile in its bid for Foster's Group after announcing that it will launch a conditional offer for the brewer at the same price as its previous bid of AUD4.9 (US$5.1) per share.
Ray Rowlands of independent research consultancy Drinksinfo Ltd considers the potential outcome for Australia's Coca-Cola Amatil should SABMiller eventually succeed in its bid for the Foster’s Group's beer business.
SABMiller's CEO has faced down scepticism from analysts over the brewer's bid for Foster's Group, telling them that a deal will boost profits from the first year of acquisition.
I'm not going to be smug about today's news – I'm genuinely surprised by SABMiller's move for Foster's Group.
Click play, below, to view the thoughts of SABMiller's CEO, Graham Mackay, on the brewer's proposal to buy Foster' Group, which was rejected by the Australian company this morning.
Foster's Group has rejected a takeover bid from SABMiller valuing it at AUD11.2bn (US$11.8bn) including debt, marking the first public approach for the Australian beer group.
As takeover speculation on Foster's Group froths, just-drinks takes a look back at the bid talk and the key dates in the group's demerger voyage over the last 15 months.
Grupo Modelo is the surprise addition to a growing list of possible suitors for Foster's Group's Australian beer business. Who will it be next week?
The CEO of SABMiller has said he believes the global brewing industry is still consolidating, despite anti-trust and controlling shareholder hurdles in markets around the world.
SABMiller may have turned its back on a bid for Foster's Group's newly-demerged Australian beer business, with other potential bidders also melting away, according to analyst group Sanford Bernstein.
Foster's Group's core beer business and its wine arm, Treasury Wine Estates, have begun life as separate companies.
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The Apple Electric Car Project, nicknamed Titan is the technology company’s foray into self-driving and hyper connected, electric powered vehicles. Information has leaked mainly in the form of rumors and comments by top apple executives. At this time, many key factors are still hidden. What we do know is that as of September 2015, the Apple Car project was upgraded to committed status by the tech giant’s CEO Tim Cook. This expanded the 200 person exploratory team into a 2000 person team along with a 2020 release date for the finished product.
A partially detailed picture can be seen as you go through the list of new hires by Apple after September. From Tesla, Apple hired mechanical engineering manager David Nelson, former senior powertrain test engineer John Ireland, former Tesla head recruiter Lauren Ciminera, who may be working to recruit additional employees for the car project, and former Tesla Vice-President Chris Porritt, who may have joined Apple to play a key role in the development of the Apple Car.
In additional relevant happenings, Apple lured so many executives from A123 systems, a company that specialises in producing batteries for vehicles, that A123 sued Apple for poaching their employees. This suit was later settled. The employees that were poached were mainly specialists in lithium ion battery application for electric vehicles. There were several hundred other hires from a variety of companies such as Chrysler, NVIDIA, Google, Bosch and Tata.
Apple’s massive hiring spree has led Tesla CEO Elon Musk to refer to the Apple Car as an “open secret” in the car industry. According to Musk, the hundreds of engineers Apple absorbed make it clear that there is an electric car in the works. “It’s pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it,” he said. Musk believes that Apple will be ready to debut the car by 2020 and has called Apple’s efforts a “missed opportunity” due to the company’s late start with regard to the industry. Interestingly Musk’s comments come 2 years after Adrian Perica, Apple’s head of acquisitions met with Musk to allegedly buy Tesla. The acquisition failed but could have been the springboard to commencing Titan.
An interesting parallel company which has been called Apple’s beard behind which it hides its electric mobility projects is Faraday Future. A Cupertino based company, infused with a multi-billion dollar investment and a plethora of top executives from Tesla, BMW’s Electric Division, SpaceX, Volvo and General Motors. Although not much is known about the link between Apple and Faraday Future, there seems to be a circular flow of investment from Apple and research from Faraday into electric mobility and machine self-driving.
At the same time it is important to note that companies like Apple and Google have hundreds if not thousands of plans and explorations. Additionally, they can choose to begin and drop projects as they please, this could be a likely outcome for the following reasons. Firstly, they have absolutely no experience in the automobile sector and if you were Samsung’s CEO and you learned that Range Rover now makes cell phones, would it really threaten your vision and prospects for the company? Finally, no company through history has ever been able to turn profitability from electric mobility at a large scale. I think it is highly probable that Apple, a company that showed public loss in share value for the first time in half a decade, could shy away from the relatively extreme investments involved in self-driving electric mobility and revert to making limited edition gold Iphones with marginally larger screens than the previous models.
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Brussels agrees deal with Germany in spat over combustion engines ban
Brussels has agreed to exempt vehicles which run on sure varieties of gasoline from the EU’s new regulation which can ban the sale of combustion engines from 2035, after Germany threatened to dam it.
Frans Timmermans, the EU’s local weather commissioner, tweeted on Saturday that the European Fee had “discovered an settlement” with Berlin over the “future use of e-fuels in vehicles” after greater than three weeks of negotiations to avoid wasting the regulation.
E-fuels equivalent to e-methane or e-kerosene are made with captured CO₂ and hydrogen produced from renewable or low-carbon electrical energy. They’re usually thought-about carbon impartial, however the expertise is at its early phases.
German transport minister Volker Wissing mentioned: “This clears the way in which for automobiles with inside combustion engines that run on CO₂-neutral fuels solely to be newly registered after 2035.”
Wissing had introduced earlier this month that Berlin would block the phaseout of inside combustion engines within the bloc, simply days earlier than it was resulting from have its remaining rubber-stamp vote. He wished exemptions for e-fuels to guard Germany’s automotive business, he mentioned.
In line with some analysis, together with by automotive provider affiliation Clepa, the swap to electrical vehicles might price lots of of hundreds of jobs over the approaching many years as electrical engines require fewer components than combustion engines.
On Saturday, Wissing mentioned a path and timetable had been agreed to implement the exception from the brand new regulation. A separate class can be added to the regulation to cowl vehicles that solely use e-fuels, he mentioned. “We wish this to be accomplished by autumn 2024,” he added.
A fee official mentioned that an official announcement can be made on Tuesday, when the deliberate phaseout is anticipated to be authorised by EU vitality ministers.
Inexperienced teams and a few EU member states, together with France, had closely criticised the German transfer to offer e-fuels an exemption from the brand new regulation. Automotive producers together with Volvo and Ford have additionally attacked the concept, saying that the business had invested closely in electrical automobiles.
The regulation was agreed final yr between the EU’s three establishments, together with the council of member states; this can be very uncommon for such offers to be reopened.
The deal doesn’t require textual content adjustments to the brand new regulation however will create a brand new class of e-fuel vehicles sooner or later, a fee official mentioned. It’s anticipated that automobiles’ engines must be tailored so they might run on e-fuels solely and never on fossil fuels.
Extra reporting by Man Chazan in Berlin


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Weekly Tech Recap - № 197 - Google game, AI-generated faces, rollable OLED display, etc.
Google game of the year
Game of the Year. © Google.
To mark the end of the year, Google is offering a little game in the form of a multiple-choice quiz that lets you test your knowledge (or your hunches) about the most popular Internet searches in 2018. Did users google Justin Trudeau or Justin Bieber? Laurel or Yanny? You have 10 seconds to answer each of the 20 questions for the Game of the Year, but three strikes, you’re out. And since the questions get increasingly difficult, we doubt you will get to the twentieth level. But the really interesting thing is the fact that the voice that comes with the game was created using WaveNet technology, a neural network developed by DeepMind and trained with a large volume of voice samples. You can adjust the speed and tone of voice at the beginning of the game.
Nvidia researchers have created an artificial intelligence capable of generating realistic portraits of imaginary individuals through a generative antagonist network (GAN). Such systems have been generating human faces for a while now, but never with this kind of result. The researchers tested the same model on a slew of cat photos, but strangely, kitties seem more resistant to random generation. The researchers note in their paper: “Cats continue to be a difficult dataset due to the high intrinsic variation in poses, zoom levels, and backgrounds.” In short, it takes a certain spatial uniformity for the GAN to shine.
⇨ PetaPixel, “These portraits were made by AI: none of these people exist.”
LG rollable OLED display. © LG Electronics.
According to Bloomberg, next year, LG Electronics plans to start selling a 65-inch TV screen that can, at the touch of a button, roll up and disappear into a box. The device uses OLED technology, which makes for screens that are much more flexible than LCDs. LG showed a functional prototype at CES 2018 last January. The South Korean conglomerate LG is banking on these so-called “rollable” televisions and OLED screens to revive its consumer electronics business, which is struggling in the face of increased Chinese competition that is pulling prices down. OLED screens accounted for only 1.1% of the market this year. No prices announced to date.
⇨ Bloomberg, “LG plans to sell TVs that roll up like posters in 2019.”
The curvature of the iPad Pro
An 11-inch iPad Pro with a slight bend right out of the box. © The Verge.
Apple confirmed for the editors of The Verge that some of its iPad Pros, 2018 vintage, come with a slight curvature to the aluminum chassis. But nothing to worry about, according to the company: this is a “side effect of the manufacturing process” and should not worsen over time or negatively affect the performance of the iPad in any way. In other words, Apple does not consider this curvature a defect. However, customers whose iPad does not sit stable on a flat surface find that it is indeed a very real manufacturing defect, and an unacceptable one for a product of this price. Because this curvature does not affect all devices, we cannot really agree on standards ... Chris Welch aptly notes: “Even if only cosmetic, the issue is out of character for Apple, which has rooted its reputation in manufacturing devices with best-in-industry fit and finish.”
Drone with variable geometry
Quadrirotor. © Université de Zurich, EPFL.
Did you read that article in National Geographic about how birds are expert at narrowing their wing span to get through tight spots, mid-flight? This may have been the only competitive advantage that birds still had over drones. A team of scientists at the University of Zurich and EPFL just put them out of a job. This project wants to find a way to use drones to get people out of tight and unsafe spots. For that, the drone has to be able to get into the tight spot in question. With their usual wide arm- or wingspan, most drones can’t do it. Based on a fairly conventional quadrotor model but with added custom, 3-D printed parts, this drone can retract its arms and even wrap them around itself. While its rotors are spinning, in flight! With its ability to hover and fly at slow speeds, it can at least perform the first few functions of search and rescue where a human or a dog would have a hard time squeezing in.
⇨ Techcrunch, “This drone shrinks to fit.”


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Greensboro, Dec. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. (TCDI) has named Ginny Gonzalez as chief marketing and business development officer of the Greensboro, N.C.-based company. Gonzalez will direct the company’s marketing strategy and execution, as well as the development of customized legal and cybersecurity solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments.
“We are extremely pleased to have Ginny join the TCDI team. This is an exciting time for our company as we prepare to launch new products and services,” said Bill Johnson, CEO of TCDI. “Her 25 years of business development and marketing experience and leadership will help us deliver the next level of service and innovation to our clients, as well as expand into new markets.”
Gonzalez was most recently senior vice president of business development at Integreon for over eight years, and was responsible for the expansion of the sales team, service offerings and physical footprint across the U.S. Before that, she was with the technology division and channel management team at FTI Consulting for four years, through that company’s acquisition of Attenex Corporation in 2008. Gonzalez previously held sales and marketing leadership positions with technology companies in business legal software and telecommunications. Gonzalez received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Georgia State University.
“I could not be more elated to join this talented team. TCDI has always, and continues to have a fantastic reputation with its clients for their strong leadership, client services teams and trailblazing legal technology solutions,” said Gonzalez. “TCDI takes pride in customizing both software and workflows that scale to meet their clients’ expanding initiatives. It’s going to be my pleasure to work closely with my TCDI colleagues to rapidly grow our business together through continuing the commitment to offer superior service to our clients.”
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For 30 years, TCDI® (Technology Concepts & Design, Inc.) has been a pioneer in the legal market empowering law firms and corporate legal departments to secure, discover, analyze and defend critical data. Specializing in large-scale litigation case management, eDiscovery, managed document review, computer forensics, and cybersecurity, our team of experts understands our clients’ specific needs and challenges. We build innovative proprietary legal technology solutions to efficiently organize and manage large volumes of data. We understand the importance of data security and privacy and apply advanced security techniques as a standard throughout our organization. Our specialized team of cybersecurity consultants perform penetration testing, cybersecurity assessments and other services to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of client data and critical systems. Visit www.tcdi.com for more information.
Media Contact David French 336-553-1806 firstname.lastname@example.org


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SK Innovation inks supply deal with Daimler
KOICHI KATO, Nikkei staff writer
SEOUL -- South Korean oil and chemical giant SK Innovation has signed a deal to supply Daimler with lithium-ion battery cells.
The German maker of Mercedes-Benz cars will use the batteries in an electric vehicle due out in 2017 and likely other models.
With this order, SK Innovation belatedly muscles in to a heated contest among Japanese and South Korean manufacturers to supply lithium-ion batteries for cars.
SK Innovation provides battery cells to the South Korean automotive group that builds Hyundai and Kia cars. It also supplies Beijing Automobile Works, a Chinese maker of civilian and military vehicles. The company doubled the scale of battery production at a factory in Seosan last July and is expected to consider a further expansion in anticipation of growing orders.
Global electric-vehicle demand now amounts to around 2.2 million units. SK Innovation believes that the market will grow to 6 million or so in 2020 as countries tighten environmental regulations.
Japanese and South Korean battery makers are busy enhancing their capability to supply lithium-ion products for cars. The Japanese players now lead, thanks to dominance of Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor in hybrids and electric vehicles. Panasonic, which supplies batteries to Tesla Motors of the U.S., is the world's largest electric-car battery manufacturer.
LG Chem has come on strong among South Korean battery producers, inking deals with automakers in the U.S., Europe and China. Once the company actually starts supplying batteries, its market share is likely to grow.
South Korea's Samsung SDI, which leads the global market for lithium-ion batteries for smartphones and other civilian applications, is strengthening ties with German automaker BMW.


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Konami has announced it plans to dissolve Japanese developer Hudson Soft on March 1, after which it will officially be absorbed into Konami Digital Entertainment. The move was agreed upon by members of the Hudson board of directors during a meeting held last week. Komani purchased a majority stake in the Bomberman firm during early 2011, and it is still unclear if any of the firm’s classic titles will continue development under the Komani brand. Additional information can be found via Andriasang. Thanks, Eurogamer.
Destiny bids farewell to two of its most popular regular events.
Pokemon Go players may be livid about performance during the first Fest event, but the app made record money last weekend anyway
Pokemon Go broke down and made enormous amounts of cash anyway. So it goes.
The Destiny 2 beta may be over on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but another beta will be held for the PC crowd soon.
Konami has said it has not made an official decision on Hudson’s projects, which were cut from Famitsu’s release schedule this week.
Hudson casualties appear to have expanded to include planned 3DS titles.


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In "Alabama Nightclub Raises Eyebrows With ‘Food Stamp Friday’ Party," The Daily Caller reports on how one business is adapting to the times.
A nightclub in Montgomery, Ala. is raising...(read more
Courtesy of Benzinga Stage Stores Inc (NYSE: SSI) swung to a first-quarter loss from a year-earlier profit. Stage Stores posted a quarterly loss of [...]
Stage Stores Inc (NYSE: SSI) reported a rise of 4.8% in its total sales for the five week September period ended October 2, 2010.
The company's sales for the same period came in at $118 million, up from $113 million in the year-ago...(read more


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ICM joins profits-warners list
Computer services group ICM has become at least the sixth company in the sector to issue a profits warning so far this month. The shares, which peaked at 1167 1/2p in March, tumbled 165p, or 30%, to 377 1/2p.
In common with many other companies in the sector, ICM said the expected pick-up in business after the virtual closedown for the millennium bug had not been as strong as it had hoped. But, more significantly, it said that its customers were taking longer to sign new contracts as they reassessed their entire IT needs within the new e-conomy.
ICM said that despite this it would show modest growth in the year that ends in a week's time, making more than the previous year's pre-tax profit of £4.3m, but it would not hit analysts' forecasts of £5m. Today these were slashed back to £4.45m with the £5m target moved to next year.
Today's collapse in the share price matched those seen at previous profits-warners in the computer services sector including Synstar, Computacenter, Kalamazoo and Action Computer Supplies.
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Subway introduces new, limited-time, pit-smoked brisket sub
HOUSTON – Subway is getting some Southerners' attention with its new sub.
The fast-food chain launched its limited-edition, pit-smoked brisket sub Sept. 5.
The brisket sub will be offered at participating restaurants until Nov. 7, so barbecue lovers may want to get a taste before it all runs out. The new sandwich will have smoked brisket, cheddar cheese and a zesty barbecue sauce, served between pieces of freshly baked Italian bread.
Customers can purchase the brisket sub for $6.99 for a 6-inch or $10.99 for the 12-inch.
Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.


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As the year was winding down, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in November adopted a resolution on the graduation of Bangladesh from the LDC category. With the adoption of the resolution at the 40th plenary meeting of the 76th UNGA, Bangladesh completed all procedures to graduate from the LDC category.
This is a “landmark achievement” in Bangladesh’s development journey, which coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
But the elevation to developing country status will not come without its challenges as Bangladesh loses some of the advantages and concessions it had previously enjoyed on the world stage.
On top of that, Bangladesh faces some formidable obstacles.
The COVID-19 pandemic with its lengthening shadows was a staggering blow to Bangladesh’s economy, dragging GDP growth in fiscal 2019-20 down to 3.51 percent, its lowest level in three decades. In 2022, the surge of the delta variant saw an even more severe second wave of infections and deaths in the country.
The government took action, imposing a series of successive lockdowns that brought much of the country to a standstill in the hopes of breaking the transmission chain. The decision was a tough one, hitting manufacturing, exports and imports, and all other sectors and sub-sectors of the economy.
But the measures seem to have paid off. Not only have cases and deaths dwindled over time, but the economy also seems to have rebounded, with positive indicators from the import-export sector, consumption, investment and infrastructure.
A visiting team from the International Monetary Fund agreed.
“Despite being hit by multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, quick and decisive actions by the authorities, supported by the external environment, led to a much quicker rebound than Bangladesh’s regional peers,” IMF economist and team leader Rahul Anand said on Dec 18.
The international financial institution had good news for the future as well, estimating Bangladesh’ GDP growth at 6.6 percent in the fiscal year ending June 2022 as the pandemic recedes and the government’s policies stay accommodative.
The optimistic outlook was also shared by economist Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute, a Dhaka-based think tank.
“This year is a recovery from the standstill brought upon by COVID,” Mansur said. “The situation is much better than in the first year of the coronavirus. There has been an upswing in nearly all economic indicators and we hope this will continue to improve. Overall, we’re doing well in all sectors except for rice production.”
There are concerns, too.
Import spending is on the rise as remittances decline. A spike in consumer prices, spurred by rising oil prices, threatens to squeeze a population that has already tightened their belts due to the pandemic.
EXPORTS ARE ON THE RISE, SO IS IMPORT SPENDING
The pandemic caused the export market to stumble in 2020. In April, May and June of that year especially, exports slowed to a crawl. Though there was a turning point in July, Bangladesh didn’t reach its export targets.
This year was a different story. As pandemic restrictions eased in July, exports saw a new dynamism. In the first 11 months of 2020, export earnings were about $30 billion. Over the same period in 2022, exports topped $56 billion.
Import spending has, however, risen in line with export orders. According to Bangladesh Bank, the country imported $42.15 billion worth of goods in the first 10 months of 2022, compared to $33 billion a year earlier.
But the import situation is not particularly alarming, according to Mansur.
While import spending has shot up due to dramatic hikes in global commodity prices, Mansur believes that, with the corresponding rise in exports, the outlook for the sector is quite positive overall.
Another positive indicator is that Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves have grown about 9 percent year-on-year, despite the increase in import spending, the appreciation of the dollar and the jump in international prices.
FALLING REMITTANCE NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN
However, one major contributor to the reserves, the inflow of remittance, was down this year.
Remittance had trended up in 2020, bolstering reserves amid a pandemic. It began strong this year too, performing well throughout the first six months before it started to slow in June. Bangladesh fetched $1.55 billion in inward remittances in November, the lowest in 18 months.
What caused this sudden change?
Some experts believe that, during the pandemic, expatriate workers chose to send money home through mostly legal means. But, as the pandemic has abated in recent months, they have once again resorted to using hundis and other illegal methods, which has removed these inflows from the government’s records.
Ahsan H Mansur says the remittance growth at the height of the pandemic was always going to be a temporary one and the drop in remittance is just the market returning to normal.
“Due to COVID, some excess cash was coming into the country and raising remittances. Maybe the money that would be spent by our own citizens on trips or entertainment abroad was coming into the country as remittances,” Mansur said.
“Now, as movement restrictions are lifted, the situation is returning to normal and the remittance inflows are trending down again. For this reason, we shouldn’t expect too much more from this sector this year.”
He believes the trend will continue for some time, but remittances may improve if Bangladeshi workers reach new markets within the next two to three years.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal also noted the drop in remittances but was also unworried.
IS INFLATION ‘TOLERABLE’?
The inflation rate in November was 5.98 percent, compared to the rate of 5.52 percent last year. Though the official data says the rise in prices is largely tolerable, the ordinary people may disagree.
The prices of everyday commodities such as rice, lentils, sugar, oil, fuel, vegetables, meat and fish have been on the rise since June.
Onion prices are down slightly compared to the past two years, but the prices of soybean oil, mustard oil, sugar, meat, fish and vegetables have risen by 50 percent, or even doubled.
But this does not seem to be reflected in the official data. As such, many believe the actual inflation rate is much higher than the official data.
Ahsan H Mansur agrees there is a significant disparity between the official data on inflation and the experience of the ordinary people but believes the rise in prices isn’t specific to Bangladesh.
It is a global phenomenon, he said, adding that US inflation was at its highest level in 39 years and it recorded an inflation rate of 7 percent last month.
Part of the blame lies with oil prices, which have been on a steady upward trajectory since a sharp drop during the pandemic and have now passed 2019 levels.
Few commodities have as far-reaching an impact as oil, as the last few months have shown in Bangladesh.
The government’s decision to raise the price of fuel oil on Nov 3 by 23 percent soon spiralled into an extended period of unrest.
Transport owners and workers declared a nationwide strike to demand that set fare rates be increased in response to the price hike. The government accepted the demands on Nov 7, raising bus fare by 27 percent.
Then came protests from students who demanded a 50 percent discount on the new fare, which expanded into a broader movement for road safety across the country.
The unintended victim in this long chain of repercussions was the general public, who not only bore the cost of the fuel and fare increase, but also the burden of the transport strike and the gridlock of student protests.
Given the financial straits of an extended pandemic and its accompanying lockdowns, it might be prudent to monitor the additional squeeze rising inflation can put on the poor and lower-income groups.
The pandemic pared down Bangladesh’s anti-poverty gains. Currently, some 50 million people are without food security, Mansur said. This number has risen during the pandemic. “We are doing well in terms of food production, but there is much left to do if we are to achieve food equality,” he said.
“If the poverty rate has risen near 30 percent, we must again bring it down to 20 percent. The pandemic has hit many people and we must first restore what they have lost before we work to improve their situation further.”
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
Now that 2022 is behind us, Bangladesh must look to the future and confront the inevitable question – what are its plans once it graduates to developing country status?
There is no doubt the graduation will occur, said Mansur. But the question is whether Bangladesh is adequately prepared for what is to come once Bangladesh graduates.
There are significant gaps in Bangladesh’s preparation and a lot of work needs to be done to remedy them, he said.
Bangladesh needs to reach bilateral trade deals with those countries that have yet to agree to one. In some cases, Bangladesh hasn’t even started the lengthy process of reaching such deals, which usually take years to complete. The country needs to ensure market access, improve its external competitiveness and solve problems in transport, ports and power, Mansur said.
“If we can do so, we may be able to complete the transition from graduation smoothly.”
[With assistance from Shoumik Hassin]


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When staffers at the Baton Rouge Gallery wondered how they could keep the facility going and help its artist members during the coronavirus pandemic, the answer was as plain as the masks on their faces.
Masks are becoming more than just protective face coverings. Some use them to express their fashion, others for a political statement.
So why not as a canvas for art?
"We were thinking about ways we could keep the gallery going and continue offering our programs while keeping everything in place," said Jason Andreasen, executive director. "We also wanted a way to help our artists members whose lives have been impacted by COVID, because they weren't able to exhibit their work.
Baton Rouge Gallery has reopened its doors with a special "Summer Artist Member Group Exhibition" through June 25.
"We reached out to our artist members, and they were all enthusiastic about the idea. Then we selected the pieces from the artists' work that we thought would transfer well on a mask."
Art from each of the gallery's 65 members is featured on a mask, which offer triple-layer protection with quilted, breathable fabric that can be machine washed and a fit that contours to your face.
The masks are $25, a portion of which goes directly to the artist whose work is featured on the mask. For an additional $15, you can send a mask to a first responder. The masks will be shipped or can be picked up at the gallery.
"Each mask is handmade, and though we have some at the gallery, some orders may take up to 14 days, because we have to order them from the manufacturer," said Andreasen, noting the masks are being made in London.
Andreasen said the masks not only are a way to support local art but are good conversation starters. And if you opt to pick up your masks, you can take in the gallery's artist member exhibition.
"Each mask helps support local and regional artists, as well as an organization that has been supporting local artists like them for more than 50 years," Andreasen said. "So far, the response has been great. We've already had well over 200 masks purchased, and knowing that masks are important in slowing COVID, our artists are excited to be a part of it."
To see the mask designs and place an order, visit batonrougegallery.org/brg-masks. For more information, call (225) 383-1470.


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Diebold Nixdorf is set to upgrade the entire ATM network of VyStar Credit Union, a Florida-headquartered credit union with more than $8.6bn in assets.
The programme will encompass 66 branches and the replacement of more than 250 ATMs. All the ATMs will be upgraded with Vynamic Connection Points software to offer more services to the members.
VyStar senior vice-president for operations and payments Melissa Thomas said: “Our ATM network is a vital delivery channel for our members.
“These software and hardware upgrades will keep us at the forefront of self-service trends and position us to continue expanding our service offerings in the years ahead.”
Once complete, the VyStar touchpoints will offer mobile device integration and improved transaction capabilities.
The upgrade will also facilitate management and maintenance of the ATMs in the future. Additionally, it will also help VyStar Credit Union to improve its branding and personalisation at the ATMs.
VyStar COO Chad Meadows said: “Diebold Nixdorf has been a trusted, strategic partner of VyStar for more than 40 years and provides us with the latest technology backed by unmatched strategic counsel and industry expertise.
“We’re proud to work with them to deliver an expanding suite of financial services and products that help our members take charge of their financial future.”
The VyStar ATM upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Last month, Diebold Nixdorf introduced a digitally-connected line of ATM solutions to improve self-service operations. Recently, the company also expanded its partnership with First Horizon National to bring further improvements to the latter’s ATM network.


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How Outdoor Gear Companies Helped Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
There’s something to be said for the outdoor industry: We have a lot of heart. Generally speaking, people are in this business because they love the outdoors and are passionate about creating products to enhance their adventures. And in my experience, it seems passionate people are caring people.
So when Hurricane Sandy delivered a powerful beating to the East Coast at the end of October 2012, we couldn’t just sit idle and say, “Too bad for you. Hope things work out.” No way. All of a sudden, thousands of people had no homes and millions were without power. And another storm was on its way, bringing snow.
The outdoor industry makes its business protecting people from the elements. So this was a perfect opportunity to help people in need. After all, Superstorm Sandy was a monster by all counts—the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, spanning 1,100 miles. It caused more than $60 billion in damage, making it one of the costliest hurricanes to ever slam in from the Atlantic, second only to Katrina.
Outdoor companies sprang into action, coming forward with generous donations to help East Coasters stay warm and dry and survive through dark nights without lights. The response was inspirational—a testament to the passion of the people in our industry. As one company put it, it wasn’t a question of whether or not to help, but what to do.
Outdoor Industry Association asked companies to share their stories of how they assisted Hurricane Sandy victims. Here’s what we heard.
- Adidas donated $600,000 worth of jackets to keep Staten Islanders warm.
- Brooklyn Boulders, a New York City rock climbing gym, opened its doors to house a military disaster relief response center.
- Goal Zero organized a “You Buy One, We Give One” campaign to provide matching donations for all purchases during a two-week period. In total, the company donated nearly $600,000 worth of solar panels, chargers, fridges and lights.
- Icebreaker stepped up with a donation of 500 pairs of merino wool underwear after the president of Staten Island said they had received tons of clothing but were short on skivvies.
- Longworth Industries — which owns XGO, Polarmax and AYG 365 Baselayers — gave $20,000 worth of baselayer crews, zipmocks and pants.
- NEMO sent 50 sleeping bags to a Brooklyn church.
- New Balance Foundation donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross to fund Hurricane Sandy relief as well as future efforts.
- Osprey Packs gave $4,300 worth of technical backpacks to the Humanitarian International Services Group.
- Primaloft provided hundreds of ultra-warm, insulated winter jackets, sleeping bags, blankets, gloves, hats, scarves, socks and pillows for people in the Tri-State Area.
- Ruffwear donated its demo sale proceeds to support Best Friends Animal Society’s hurricane relief efforts, and also contributed fleece dog coats for shelter animals in the Northeast. Awww!
- Sherpa Adventure Gear contributed more than 240 hats and fleece pullovers to AmeriCares’ relief efforts.
- Terramar Sports partnered with Goodwill to donate more than $500,000 worth of base layers and long thermal underwear.
- Woolrich delivered $50,000 worth of jackets, shirts and blankets to a badly damaged Queens, N.Y., neighborhood.
- Nat Geo Expeditions
It’s times like these—among a million others—that I’m proud to be part of this industry. If you have a chance, take a moment to thank these companies for their outpouring of support.
Avery Stonich is communications manager for Outdoor Industry Association. Follow us on twitter: @OIA and @averystonich


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You may have recently seen the fantastic news that electric collars which give a shock to pets are to be banned in the UK.
The remote-controlled collars are used as training devices and can be also be activated by the dog’s bark. These devices can spray chemicals or send an electric pulse of varied strength direct to the unsuspecting animal.
Although the Department for environment, food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had previously suggested there was insufficient evidence to support a ban, Environment secretary Michael Gove confirmed that shock collars which ‘cause harm and suffering to our pets’ are to be banned. Gove went on to say ‘this ban will improve the welfare of Animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive reward training methods’.
This announcement is welcomed by Buddies and many other businesses and organisations such as British Veterinary Association, RSPCA and Dogs Trust.
There are now calls to introduce a ban or a stricter code of practice as well as controlled sales on containment fences. These use e-collars which are triggered by a fence instead of a person, to keep animals within a certain perimeter.
What are your thoughts on the ban? Join the discussion beneath this post over on our Facebook page.


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This is a guest contribution from Mike Lloyd of Patent-Insights. Mike has previously contributed articles on the impact, from an Australian perspective, of COVID-19 on international patent, trade mark, and registered designs filings, and on what patent data can tell us about the Australian government’s plan for local manufacturing? Further details about the author can be found at the end of the article.
There is an increasing realisation that a successful economy is also a smart economy, and a smart economy is strengthened by having companies and organisations innovating and commercialising their inventions.
Luckily Australia is full of companies and organisations doing exactly this. But who are these companies, and in what areas are they innovating in?
To answer this question with the most recent yet reliable data, I have looked at patent global publication data for Australian companies filed in the 12 months prior to 31 March 2021. I have chosen this period as it is the latest quarter for which reliable data is available. By coincidence this is also the 12 month period after COVID-19 made its impact known, but maybe it is too soon to fully understand the effect of COVID in this area.


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iHeartMedia Minneapolis elevates Barb Neren to Director of Marketing and Partnerships. Neren joined the cluster in 2003 and most recently served as Director of Sponsorships and Events. “I am excited to see Barb promoted into this expanded role,” Market President Greg Alexander said in a release. “Her industry knowledge, both on the promotions and programming side of the business, will serve her well as she leads our marketing and partnership efforts.”
The iHeartMedia Minneapolis cluster includes country “K102” KEEY.


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Singapore’s economy rebounds 7.2% in 2021, despite challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic, however forecasts for 2022 are not as optimistic due to the omicron variant.
The Singapore government is targeting further economic recovery in the new year, through the implementation of booster Covid-19 shots and reopening of businesses, however the current outbreak of the omicron variant may put a halt to these plans.
The Singapore government expects a growth rate between 3% and 5% for 2022.
“The year ahead will be a time of transition,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his New Year’s message. “We will progressively phase out emergency support measures as businesses revive, though a few sectors will take longer.”
This growth is due to efficient vaccine rollout, 87% of Singapore’s population having received both doses by the end of 2021. Unfortunately, Covid-19 continues to persist, the city experiencing its largest outbreak in October 2021, resulting in increased restrictions, that are likely to tighten due to the new omicron variant.
This unfortunately slowed Singapore’s GDP expansion, which dropped in growth rate to 5.9% in Q4 2021, following a 7.1% increase in July to September 2021.
Singapore’s manufacturing sector, however, grew 12.8% due to consistent global demand for electronics components. The nation’s services and construction sectors also bounced back by 5.2% and 18.7% respectively.
The electronics and precision engineering sectors still recorded strong output growth in the fourth quarter of 2021, “driven by sustained global demand for semiconductors and semiconductor equipment respectively,” said Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.
“Although semiconductor equipment billings and global shipments of semiconductors remain robust …, recent data is suggesting that global demand in this aspect has peaked and this all-important driver of Singapore’s growth could see [a] weaker performance in the coming quarters,” the bank stated.
In order to maintain this growth, booster shots will be important for stabilising Singapore’s economy, allowing for retailers, restaurants, and other consumer-sector businesses to recover operations. The government is working hard to fulfil this goal, 41% of the population already having received their third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.
Singapore is opening up cross-border travel through quarantine exempt “vaccinated travel lanes” but ticket sales are suspended until January 20th 2022 due to concerns over the omicron variant’s growing presence in Asia.


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Tiffany and LVMH head to court
LVMH yesterday broke off its $16.2 billion engagement to Tiffany & Co., and then the two sides sprinted to file competing lawsuits in Delaware.
What we learned: The French government may have played a key role in the split, asking LVMH to delay the deal close for two months past the agreed-upon deadline.
Details: The request came via an August 31 letter from France's foreign affairs minister, who is the equivalent to the U.S. secretary of state. According to an English translation disclosed by Tiffany, it reads in part...
"The American government has decided to implement an additional customs duty on the import of certain French goods, in particular goods in the luxury sector, in reaction to France adopting a digital services tax, with the U.S. deferring the application thereof until January 6, 2021.
France considers these measures legally objectionable. ... Because the implementation of these tariffs may affect France’s external relations ... proposed investments by French companies in sectors that could be subject to such sanctions must be reevaluated in light of this new context.
You should defer the closing of the pending Tiffany transaction until January 6, 2021. I am sure that you will understand the need to take part in our country’s efforts to defend its national interests."
Basically, LVMH told Tiffany: "I really like you, but my parents hate your parents, so I just don't think it'll work out right now."
Tiffany didn't take the rejection in stride. It seems to believe LVMH is using the French government request as cover for its own cold feet, referencing how LVMH previously tried to negotiate deal terms under the guise of "U.S. social justice protests and the COVID-19 pandemic."
- It wants Delaware Chancery Court to enforce the deal.
- It also got some backup via a new Bloomberg report that LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault "asked for help from the French government in an effort to pull out of [the deal]."
LVMH this morning said not only that it will "defend itself vigorously," but also that it will file a lawsuit of its own — claiming Tiffany violated the deal terms through "crisis mismanagement."
- Specifically, LVMH says it will cite dividend distributions during the pandemic.
The bottom line: Breakups can be messy, particularly when there's a third party involved.