text:
The Coherent, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR) board of directors has accepted the most recent offer received from II-VI Inc. (NASDAQ:IIVI) for control of their company – despite the fact that original suitor Lumentum Holdings (NASDAQ:LITE) offered more money. The Coherent board has notified Lumentum that they are terminating the purchase agreement they signed with the company (originally in January, updated March 9), which Lumentum has acknowledged. II-VI will now acquire Coherent for $220.00 in cash and 0.91 of a share of II-VI common stock in a deal expected to close by the end of the year.
Coherent will pay Lumentum a breakup fee of $217.6 million after turning down Lumentum’s latest offer of $230 in cash and 0.6724 shares of Lumentum stock for each share of Coherent. Lumentum’s bid was worth $283.12 compared to the $282.21 Coherent accepted from II–VI. Lumentum filed its most recent offer March 22. Unlike in previous rounds, II-VI decided not to sweeten its offer, indicating that the bidding had reached its conclusion.
The wording of Coherent’s announcement that it had accepted II-VI’s proposal indicated that money wasn’t the only criterion used in evaluating the final two bids. “In making its determination, the Coherent board of directors evaluated the comparative benefits and risks of the II-VI and Lumentum proposals, including the near-term and long-term financial opportunities and risks presented by each proposal, the potential synergies available through a combination with each company, and the complementary businesses of each company,” the board stated in the release.
Within this context, II-VI had pointed out when it submitted its opening offer that there was less overlap between its product lines and Coherent’s versus that between Coherent and Lumentum – particularly in China, where regulatory approval by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has proven difficult to acquire in a timely fashion in several instances.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Coherent to create a global leader in photonic solutions, compound semiconductors and laser technology and systems. Together, we will have significant opportunities to accelerate our growth through complementary technology platforms, strengthen our competitiveness by using our combined scale across the value chain, benefit from deeper market intelligence and expertise, and further diversify our businesses by end market and geography,” commented Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., CEO of II-VI. “Moreover, the combination of II-VI and Coherent will increase our collective exposure to irreversible megatrends for decades to come. We are excited to welcome the talented Coherent team to II-VI and look forward to working together to deliver significant value to all stakeholders, including both companies’ shareholders, customers, employees, and business partners.”
A really big company
II-VI says the combined company will have annual revenues of approximately $4.1 billion initially, with an enhanced ability to tackle a combined addressable market of approximately $25 billion. II-VI predicted the combined company will achieve $250 million in annual cost synergies within 36 months of close and that the deal will be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share in the second year following close.
II-VI may be underestimating its abilities to derive synergies, according to Harsh Kumar of Piper Sandler, who maintained his “Overweight” rating on II-VI’s stock after the deal’s announcement. “Given II-VI’s track record of successful integrations, we feel the synergy timeline and/or the cost synergy target could prove to be conservative,” wrote Kumar in a note. “In addition to the cost savings, the deal will add further diversification to the II-VI revenue stream, reducing the combined company’s exposure to the communications market.”
The deal will be financed via a combination of cash on hand, $5.4 billion of fully committed debt financing, and a convertible preferred equity investment of at least $1.8 billion from Bain Capital, which will reduce leverage.
For related articles, visit the Business Topic Center.
For more information on optical components and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
To stay abreast of optical communications technology, subscribe to Lightwave’s Enabling Technologies Newsletter.


text:
The latest news
Footfall set for big Easter boost as consumers bide their time
Expect this year’s long Easter weekend to be strong for UK retail. That’s the forecast from MRI Springboard, which thinks shoppers are “holding back in anticipation”.
Swaine opens key New Bond Street flagship in radical rebrand
Swaine, which claims to be the UK’s oldest luxury goods brand, has opened a flagship on London’s New Bond Street. And it’s an important statement, “becoming the centrepiece of its most radical rebrand in 273 years”.
Dominique White is latest Max Mara Art prize winner
Italian luxury label Max Mara has announced Dominique White as the winer of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, the only visual art prize of its kind in the UK.
Gucci launches collection from dormant stock
The Italian label is launching a circular project on its Vault website, inviting ten designers and labels, including the French company EgonLab, to design products made from its archive fabrics and dormant materials.
Kering joins Pitti Uomo to support ten young responsible designers
The luxury group is joining forces with the men's trade fair via its Materials Innovation Lab (MIL) by supporting ten young eco-friendly designers in the S/Style section.
Stella McCartney unveils summer campaign with animal sanctuary and Yoshitomo Nara link
Stella McCartney has launched its summer 2023 campaign starring Madelyn Cline. The shoot happened at an animal sanctuary and was inspired by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s ‘Change the History’ activist slogan.
Louis Vuitton opens new Brisbane flagship
French luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton opened on Friday its new Brisbane flagship store, located in the city's Queen Street Mall.
End of the online boom? Not for Millennials says ESW report
There's been a lot of talk post-pandemic about how e-tail growth has stalled and physical shopping has recovered. But many consumers remain heavily focused on e-commerce, and Millennials are most prominent among them.
Luxury activity exploded in 2022, pop-ups were key - report
Luxurynsight has released its annual Global Luxury Brand Analysis report and found an unsurprising double-digit rise in overall activity for fashion and leather goods last year as the world 'normalised post'-pandemic.
Giambattista Valli opens Harrods pop-up
Pop-ups are proving more popular than ever this year at many levels of the market, and luxury is no exception. The latest is at one of London’s top high-end department stores, Harrods.
UK Gen Z shoppers embrace VAT-free EU spending post-Brexit
The UK may have failed to offer the hoped-for Vat-free shopping for EU tourists post-Brexit, but British tourists are taking advantage of their ability to shop tax-free within the EU, and Gen Z is leading the charge.
Podcast: Sylvie Freund-Pickavance of Value Retail reveals secrets of luxury outlet village destinations
Sylvie Freund-Pickavance, head of Value Retail Group's global strategy, is the new guest of the LuxurynsightXFashionNetwork podcast series, telling Godfrey Deeny (in English) the secrets of luxury outlet villages.
LVMH Prize 2023 reveals names of nine finalists
LVMH Prize 2023 has revealed the names of the finalists in this year’s competition. And in a counterblast to the power of fashion schools, four of this year’s finalists are self-taught.
GfK UK consumer confidence rises again in March
UK consumer confidence rose for a second straight month in March following a dark period of consecutive declines going back to last autumn. Admittedly, it’s still in negative territory though.
Naomi Campbell is star of new Fendi Peekaboo bag campaign
Naomi Campbell is back as the face of the Fendi Peekaboo bag for its SS23 campaign, shot by British photographer David Sims.
Filippa K opens Amsterdam flagship
Filippa K has opened a store in Amsterdam, with the company saying its “serves as the latest chapter in the ongoing transformation, as Creative Director Liisa Kessler explores dualities within a single retail space”.

domain: news


text:
Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Heads
Reports of hip device failure in patients receiving the Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 hip component continue to be on the rise. This hip device part is known to cause metal wear resulting in dangerous metal ion release in the body. Certain types of this device part were recalled in Canada on August 24, 2016. Stryker recalled a different faulty artificial hip device, the Stryker Rejuvenate, in July 2012. The Rejuvenate device was recalled in Canada only months prior to the July 2012 U.S. recall. The Rejuvenate device caused dangerous metal on metal wear at the stem and neck interface.
The recall resulted in national litigation against Stryker. GoldenbergLaw represented and brought justice to numerous injured victims in the Stryker Rejuvenate litigation. GoldenbergLaw also currently represents individuals injured by the Stryker V40 head.
Health Canada Recall
As of August 24, 2016, Health Canada has issued a recall of the Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Heads stating, “Stryker has received higher than expected complaints of taper lock failure for specific lots of certain sizes of LFIT Anatomic COCR V40 Femoral Heads manufactured prior to 2011.”
What is the Problem?
Problems with the device are similar to those Stryker has seen in the past Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip litigation. In the V40 cases, failure occurs between the taper of the stem and the femoral head. The friction between the parts creates a metal reaction leading to corrosion and potential dissociation of the two parts.
What are the Injuries?
When device failure occurs, patients are experiencing similar injuries to those in past metal-on-metal hip lawsuits. These injuries include:
- Need for revision surgery
GoldenbergLaw will watch for developments as news on the topic continues to surface.


text:
Displaying results 1 - 10 of 49
UNCTAD updates principles to promote biodiversity-friendly trade
18 Jan 2021
Guidelines to help governments, companies and consumers benefit from sustainable trade in precious plants and animals now include elements such as climate resilience and marine biodiversity.
How biodiversity-friendly trade can support COVID-19 recovery
19 Oct 2020
A new call to action urges countries to make BioTrade a lever for recovery and resilience in the wake of the pandemic.
Blue BioTrade project set to improve fortunes in the eastern Caribbean
13 Oct 2020
The project is a point of convergence for conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and a driver for a blue and green recovery from COVID-19.
Trade officials equipped to manage non-tariff measures amid COVID-19
20 Jul 2020
Over 150 officials complete an UNCTAD online course delivered as part of efforts to help developing countries tackle the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Equipping East African women digital entrepreneurs with skills to thrive
6 Jul 2020
A new UNCTAD eTrade for Women masterclass seeks to empower and build the skills of women digital entrepreneurs in the region as well as explore opportunities amid the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19: UN calls on governments to help landlocked neighbours
10 Jun 2020
Well-functioning transit transport services and procedures are essential to ensure people in landlocked developing countries have timely access to medical products and basic goods during and after the crisis.
UN seeks to build transport and trade resilience in wake of COVID-19
28 May 2020
UNCTAD and the five UN regional commissions join forces to help developing countries tackle trade and transport challenges from the coronavirus pandemic.
Environmental impacts of coronavirus crisis, challenges ahead
20 Apr 2020
Written by Robert Hamwey, UNCTAD Economic Affairs Officer
Promoting biodiversity-friendly trade in the Mekong region
21 Jan 2020
UNCTAD coordinates activities to link trade with the sustainable use of biodiversity and maximize benefits.


text:
The much-anticipated 2021 Kawasaki Ninja 250 has been recently revealed. 2021 Kawasaki Ninja 250 made its debut a while ago, but you can only have one in Japan at the moment. Along with the standard variant, the Japanese bike manufacturer has also added a special edition KRT to the lineup. Kawasaki Ninja 250 is not likely to make a way to Nepal anytime soon, however, Kawasaki would surely earn praises if it introduces this edition of Ninja. For now, the quarter-litre Ninja is only available in Japan. The Ninja 250 is one of the few motorcycles left in the quarter-liter category.
For 2021, the only new aspect of the Ninja 250 is the color schemes. The motorcycle will be available in two colours – Metallic Carbon Gray and KRT edition. The rest of the bike remains identical to the previous model. Speaking of features, the bike has an LED headlight unit, a semi-digital instrument cluster with a gear position indicator and kick indicators at the front. Braking is achieved by a 310mm semi-floating petal disc at the front and a 220mm petal disc at the rear. Two-channel ABS comes as a standard braking duty. Ground clearance and saddle height are pegged at 145mm and 795mm respectively.
The new Ninja 250 is powered by a 248cc dual parallel unit producing 37PS at 12,500rpm and 23Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox that works alongside a slip-and-assist clutch. It gets a slip and assist clutch too. The new Ninja 250 is identical to its predecessor, which had a muscular design with a diagonal fuel tank and a curved exhaust. The company will also offer several optional accessories with the Ninja 250. These include a rear seat cowl, large windshield, DC power outlet, and a radiator screen.
As mentioned above, Ninja 250 is exclusive to the Japanese market for now. The 2021 Ninja 250 KRT is priced at 6,54,500 yen (NRs 5.78 lakh) and the Metallic Carbon Gray at 6,43,500 yen (NRs 5.67 lakh). At the moment, there is no word on whether Kawasaki plans on launching the Ninja 250 in Nepal. It’s unlikely that the bike will make its way to Nepal. For more information about auto news in Nepal, please stay tuned with us.


text:
By christopher Roungeris
The iPhone 6s has hit the crisis-troubled Greek shelves just 5 days ago, and has already broken every single record that Apple has previously set on the Greek market. Although official reports have not yet been announced, most of the stores that I have personally asked are already “out of stock”. And I wonder; what does the iPhone have, that Greeks want so much? First, a bit of history; when Steve Jobs announced the first IPhone, he gave the average consumer what he was missing; a simple, powerful device that gave him access to the internet. But, more importantly, through its very high price tag (then starting and a mere 599$), it gave him the ability to show the world that he was “somebody”.
A person who had the ability to spend 599$ on a phone. On a device that would go obsolete in a year. And that, in my humble opinion, is Apple’s biggest breakthrough. That is Apple’s power in the mobile phone industry. It is no longer selling a phone. It is selling a statement.
But what about Greece? Why has Apple “moved” our country up a scale, placing us at the second wave of countries getting the newest IPhone? Greece, a country with now officially bankrupt banks, with an average salary of 1.048 euros, and a debt of around 373 billion euros, is getting the iPhone sooner than other countries. That means, that some people have sat down and agreed that Greeks are more addicted to the iPhone than other people are.
“A device that would go obsolete in a year. And that, in my humble opinion, is Apple’s biggest breakthrough. That is Apple’s power in the mobile phone industry. It is no longer selling a phone. It is selling a statement”
So, what makes the iPhone so special to us Greeks? It’s a phone with not-so-advanced technology, which features you can get in a phone that costs about half the price of an iPhone. It’s got a sleek design and a very stable and beautiful locked firmware. It is also incredibly user friendly. But would an average, underpaid, uninsured Greek citizen spend a whole salary buying just a “stable, user-friendly” phone? Of course.
Over the years, Apple has managed to create a device that has become a “necessary accessory” in a plethora of teenagers. A device that leads to 8-hour lines outside retail stores. A device that makes you “cool and hip” the moment you put it in your pocket, but immediately turns you “poor” the moment the new one hits the shelves. In Greece’s case, we could we add that an expensive thing, whatever that is, is a way of escaping reality, escaping the problems we face every day as a society. So, when a flashy new device, that can make you “cool” arrives, you have to have it. No matter the cost. You have to wait in line for 8 hours. You have to spend a month’s salary on it. Even if it goes obsolete in a year. Even if it bends. Don’t you?
You must log in to post a comment.


text:
Ford Motor Co. said that it will halt production of its top-selling F-150 and Super Duty pickup trucks at some of its U.S. plants following a fire at a Michigan plant that produces instrument panels.
The truck side of Ford’s Kansas City Assembly plant has been suspended due to parts shortage. This means that about 3,600 workers are idled with no date set for reopening the plant. And the Dearborn Truck plant in Michigan is getting closed too. That plant has 4,000 employees. In addition, F-Series Super Duty production is suspended at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. Ford said that it will continue Super Duty production at its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake.
The fire that generated all this distress took place May 2 at Meridian Magnesium Products of America’s plant in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, injuring two workers. This plant employs more than 400 workers and is the city’s largest employer.


text:
Okay, three years and three months is a long time in tech, but the milestone of hitting 100 million users is still impressive, especially when the KakaoTalk app sat at 95 million users only 20 days ago and 90 million at the beginning of May.
KakaoTalk is certainly hitting home in its home turf of Asia, where other messaging incumbents continue in a never-ending struggle to win the hearts of their users though in-app offers, additional features, and localized content.
Most of Nimbuzz‘s users are residing in India and the Middle East, while LINE, KakaoTalk, and WeChat dominate the rest of Asia.
It’s certainly an interesting thing to see, especially knowing that most users will not use just one, but many applications on their devices simultaneously, making plenty of room for all of these apps to coexist and for newcomers to take their place in the market.
Like the others, KakaoTalk has certainly been putting itself out into the world as much as possible as can be seen by Kakao’s alliance with Evernote to add new features to KakaoTalk. In addition, KakaoHome was released by Kakao in May to combat Facebook Home.
Most recently, the company partnered with Tapjoy in May to put ads in Kakao Games to go along with an additional agreement made with AdPopcorn earlier that same month. The company also sports a number of add-ons for its app, such as KakaoAlbum and KakaoPage.
KakaoTalk launched on PCs in June, which should continue assisting the app with its growth across all mobile platforms now that users can connect whether they’re mobile or not. If you haven’t already done so — and you happen to own a Windows Phone, iOS, Android, BlackBerry, or Bada device, you can search your respective app store and download the KakaoTalk Messenger application to start chatting and sharing content with your friends.


text:
A tornado in Canada cut through fields filled with genetically modified canola plants. ?The tornado actually picked up the canola plants and actually wrapped them around these trees,? says farmer Vic Martens. The seeds from that crop were blown into other canola fields up to 6 ? miles away, raising new concerns about the uncontrolled spread of genetically modified seeds.
Brian Ellis, a professor of plant biotechnology, says the problem needs to be studied. ?This is something the regulators never even thought of. It just goes to show that you can?t control something once you get it out into real nature,? he says.


text:
Is circle bitcoin legit
Starting Friday at 5:30 a.m. ET, Bitcoin start-up Circle is launching a Web platform that will allow consumers to purchase Bitcoin in any amount they choose and then use that Bitcoin to spend on online shopping, at restaurants and really any way they might spend dollars — with all the safeguards in place that protect real-time currency transactions in the real world.Submissions that are mostly about some other cryptocurrency belong elsewhere.
Bitcoin Review, SCAM Cryptocurrency or Legit Way to MakeInbox Inner Circle Review When it comes to making money on the internet,.Gox last month played to the worst fears about digital currencies.
Coinbase Reviews - Is it a Scam or Legit?As of now, 10.35799117 BTC was spent out of 22.51357574. If you have ideas for the remaining BTC, see here for more info.The Five Best Bitcoin Debit Cards - Learn how to get a Bitcoin debit card which makes spending bitcoins at any merchant easy.On the flat lava plain of Reykjanesbaer, Iceland, near the Arctic Circle, you can find the mines of Bitcoin.
And on May 8, the Federal Election Commission ruled that political committees could legally accept small Bitcoin campaign donations.
Projecting The Price Of Bitcoin | Zero HedgeDo not post your Bitcoin address unless someone explicitly asks you to.Bitcoin ATM is installed at Circle K in San Diego. You are highly likely a victim of a scam.We look at five bitcoin scams and how to protect yourself from fraud. Beware of these Five Bitcoin Scams.
Cryptocrooks covers all things bitcoin, from revealing bitcoin scams to bitcoin investments and reviews.
Unconfirmed Transactions, Support & Open Dialogue - NewsIf you have a fairly powerful computer that is almost always online, you can help the network by running Bitcoin Core.While there are legitimate cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin,.Find location of Genesis Coin Bitcoin ATM machine in San Diego at.This is due to the many, repetitive, spam and scam links people post under our articles.
How Pay With Bitcoin - Legit Drug Store
Is Ripple legit? - The Bitcoin News - Leading Bitcoin and
FAQ - Bitcoin
The funds already donated will be spent on some sort of advertising, as intended.I presume because I joined before you had to verify identity so I never have.Do NOT join before you read this MLS Bitcoin Club review because I reveal the shocking truth behind them.
New merchants are welcome to announce their services for Bitcoin, but after those have been announced they are no longer news and should not be re-posted.He also emphasizes the advantages to consumer users for the first time that their ability to spend their Bitcoin will occur within minutes, not days, which is the typical transaction time currently.It offers a wide range of payment methods and has good prices.Here are the top five best Bitcoin exchanges to buy, sell, and trade for crypto. 1. Buy Bitcoin, Litecoin, or Ethereum in the USA (and 33 other countries).The implosion and subsequent liquidation of bitcoin exchange Mt.
Starting Friday, Bitcoin start-up Circle is launching a website that will allow consumers to purchase Bitcoin in any.
Circle users Beware! - Poker Forums - CardsChat.comBitcoin is a digital currency created in 2009, based mainly on a self-published paper by Satoshi Nakamoto.
My Coinbase review, detailing a service that is highly valuable as a gateway to the Bitcoin ecosystem, though not so much as a trading platform.
BitQuick.co - Buy Bitcoin and Sell Bitcoin Instantly for Cash
The Bad List. All Bitcoins Scams, Fakes Miners - SteemitAs such, it is more resistant to wild inflation and corrupt banks.Circle Caught Adding Fake Reviews, Demand For Bitcoin. on Circle to purchase and sell bitcoin.After 20 mins by bitcoin balance is updated I then test withdraw.Bitcoin is an online. the value of Bitcoins as legitimate. apps for more convenient Bitcoin buying and trading. Circle:.
How To Get A Bitcoin Debit Card - WeUseCoinsProviding breaking cryptocurrency news - focusing on Bitcoin, Ethereum, NEO, ICOs, prices, blockchain technology, and smart contracts.Unlike traditional currencies such as dollars, bitcoins are issued and.
Circle Emerges From Stealth To Bring Bitcoin To The Masses
Play top Bitcoin lottery games today and get more chances to win big and.


text:
MILWAUKEE – “Red Nose” just meant a reindeer named Rudolph to Karen Mallet until she bought a print by that name for $12.34 at a Goodwill store in Milwaukee. It turned out to be a lithograph by American artist Alexander Calder worth $9,000.
Mallet’s good fortune is at least the fourth time in six months that valuable art has turned up at Goodwill, where bargain-hunters search for hidden treasure among the household cast-offs.
Last month, a Salvador Dali sketch found at a Goodwill shop in Tacoma, Wash., sold for $21,000. Last summer, a North Carolina woman pocketed more than $27,000 for a painting she bought for $9.99 at Goodwill. And last spring, a dusty jug donated in Buffalo, N.Y., was discovered to be a thousands-of-years-old American Indian artifact — it was returned to its tribe instead of being offered for sale.
When told of the Milwaukee woman’s find, a Goodwill spokeswoman said workers at its 2,700 stores try to spot valuables and auction them on the organization’s online site to net more money for the charitable group. But things slip through the cracks and the workers aren’t art experts.
“That’s kind of part of shopping at Goodwill — the thrill of the hunt,” said Cheryl Lightholder, communications manager for Goodwill in southeastern Wisconsin.
Mallet, a media relations specialist for Georgetown University, didn’t even like “Red Nose” when she first spotted it during one of her frequent Goodwill shopping trips in May.
In low-browed terms, it might be described as an abstract image of an ape with a hangover, with spiral swirls for eyes like the ones in cartoons when someone gets punched. A large red nose is the only color. Then she saw the Calder signature.
“I thought, I don’t know if it’s real or not but it’s $12.99. I’ve wasted more on worse things,” she said. A discount for using her Goodwill loyalty card brought the price down to $12.34.
Once home, she searched the Internet and found similar lithographs by Calder, who died in 1976 and is widely known for his mobiles and abstract sculptures in public places. Mallet’s piece was No. 55 of 75 lithographs and was made in 1969.
Jacob Fine Art Inc., in suburban Chicago, set its replacement value at $9,000.
Mallet has no immediate plans to sell her “Red Nose.”
“It grew on me,” she said. “Now I love it.”


text:
Cadillac is building its all-new small sedan. We know that because the vehicle has been spied testing at the Nurburgring a few days ago. Essentially, the 2020 Cadillac CT4 will take place from the ATS and will try to grab as much space in the compact C segment as it’s possible.
Even though it’s usual to look pretty much the same as its bigger brother, this is not going to be the case with the CT4. On the contrary, the entry-level sedan will have almost nothing in common with the CT5. That’s because the larger sedan has coupe-like lines, while the C-segment car gets a more traditional sedan look. Plus, the testing prototype shows notably shorter front and rear overhangs from the mid-sizer, while the mirror caps happen to sit higher as well. The testing model appears to feature a radiator grille in the front and a quad-exhaust system in the back. These features will stay when the production model arrives, which is not going to be the case with these Dodge Charger-inspired taillights. No, they are here to confuse us.
We can’t say what’s cooking inside of the small sedan, but we hope it’s going to be as interesting and luxury-oriented as its mid-size brother. Of course, Cadillac will bot miss the chance to add Super Cruise electronic driver aid for highways, as well as the latest safety aids.
Let’s back to the quad exhaust tips, shall we? Well, the set of pipes is unnecessary if the carmaker doesn’t plans to introduce a high-performance CT4. If this happens (and we think it’s going to happen for sure), then you can expect the vanilla model to use a twin-turbocharged V-6. As for the regular model, it will most likely use a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4, or even the 2.0-liter turbo LTG mill. In any case, the engines are going to be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which will supply regular rear- and optional all-wheel-drive systems.
The latest reports claim that the 2020 Cadillac CT4 is not going to be revealed before the second half of 2019.


text:
Asiamoney best bank awards 2019: Taiwan
Best Domestic Bank: CTBC Bank
Best Private Bank: CTBC Bank
The clustered skyscrapers at CTBC’s futuristic headquarters in Taipei’s Nangang district betray the reality that the enterprise housed within is just a bank. With its shopping malls, branded stores and dedicated infrastructure integrated into Taipei’s grid, it feels more like a miniature city here, or at the very least an important government ministry complex. Which, in many respects, CTBC is.
|James Chen, CTBC Bank|
Its owners, the Koo dynasty, have never been far from the nexus of power in Taiwan, regardless of who is wielding it. The Koos’ influence derives from the money machine that is Taiwan’s most profitable bank – still widely known to Taiwanese as ChinaTrust. Though CTBC’s still-handsome returns were slightly down in 2018, then so too were Taiwan’s; the island became collateral damage in US president Donald Trump’s trade war with mainland China, which is Taiwan’s notional enemy as well as its biggest trading partner. But taxed profits of NT$35.73 billion ($1.14 billion) at CTBC, the country’s biggest privately owned bank, were solid in this tough year on the island. As Taiwan’s mature economy endures its sustained slowdown, it helps CTBC that its non-performing loans have been pushed down to an industry near-low of just 0.24% of the total domestic loan book.
Under Daniel Wu’s no-nonsense stewardship, CTBC is well-placed to sail around further ill trade winds. Across 14 countries, CTBC has built Taiwan banking’s most extensive foreign network, which contributed 38% of group profit this year. That is targeted to rise to 45% by 2021, a buffer against problems at home.
Notably, CTBC is the only foreign bank to own a standalone bank in Japan, Tokyo Star, a testimony to its regional clout and standing.
In private banking, CTBC has pushed hard to capture Taiwan’s rising wealth, particularly in Taipei, which boasts the world’s eighth-highest concentration of ultra-high net-worth individuals (generally deemed as having more than $30 million in net worth), according to the international property agency Knight Frank. In 2018, Swiss bank UBS had identified 35 Taiwanese billionaires.
CTBC launched a NT$150 million ($5 million) net wealth segment, with its Private Privilege model in 2018, serviced by a new dedicated team of relationship managers. CTBC says total assets under management for this sector doubled in 2018. Moreover, the bank boasts, its client turnover rate is below 10%, highlighting the intimate relationship between HNWIs and CTBC, an “obvious differentiation in the Taiwan market,” it says.
Best Bank for SMEs: E.Sun
E.Sun likes to cite the Taiwan government’s annual gongs honouring this heavily industrialized island’s ‘outstanding small and medium enterprises’ as validation of its SME business. The awards are assessed by the economics ministry and, since 2014, a third of the winners have been E.Sun clients.
|Joseph Huang, E.Sun|
The last awards, for 2018, marked a particularly proud year for E.Sun; nine of the 22 awardees were clients. Chief executive Joseph Huang says the SME segment is in E.Sun’s DNA because it still remembers when it was one itself, not so long ago.
Owned by its employees, E.Sun was founded in 1992 with the very purpose of serving Taiwan’s SMEs, and it has grown as its customers have, to make Taiwan a crucial cog in the global supply chain. The bank says its SME loan book in 2018 was NT$347.3 billion ($11 billion), almost 6% higher than 2017, the best sectoral growth of its peers. As of December 2018, E.Sun says credit guarantee financing totalled NT$38.6 billion, ranking it in the top five in the market.
During the year, E.Sun opened branches in Brisbane, Guangzhou and Phnom Penh, and now boasts 28 outlets in nine countries.
It has followed its manufacturing sector customers into Hong Kong, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar and Australia, where E.Sun’s branches are fully integrated into the parent to allow local clients to avail of financial services by deploying property held in Taiwan and sometimes in mainland China too, as collateral for locally required loans.
Best International Bank: Citi
Best Corporate and Investment Bank: Citi
With their close links to the US, Taiwanese have long regarded Citi as their go-to international bank, a status that the likes of HSBC and Standard Chartered are normally accustomed to in much of Asia.
|Paulus Mok, Citi|
The 49-branch Citi franchise on the island has always been one of Citi’s brighter lights in the region – and calendar 2018 simply confirmed that. Paulus Mok’s Citi Taiwan reported pre-tax earnings of $432 million in 2018 to be the most profitable foreign bank on the island. Citi Taiwan’s return on assets and equity came in at 1.6% and 12.36% respectively in 2018, well above the industry averages of 0.7% and 9.31%. Citi Taiwan’s retail metier has long been its credit cards business. It launched them in Taiwan and is the leading credit card issuer on the island, with the highest activation rate (85%) and much higher spend-per-card, making it the best among the top five card issuers and 20% over the market average.
Citi Taiwan launched the Citi PChome co-branded card in May 2018 through a partnership with PChome, Taiwan’s leading e-commerce site. The card helped increase Citi card spending in PChome by over 40% in the three months after launch.
That suggests a wealthier clientele, so it is no surprise that Mok has also made inroads into Taiwan’s expanding wealth market this last year; the number of Citigold Private Clients and Citigold Clients rose by 7% in 2018, with assets under management up 7.3%.
In corporate and investment banking, it’s a similar story, Citi Taiwan being Corporate Taiwan’s go-to bank for dealmaking.
In the mergers and acquisitions sector, Citi’s corporate team advised on the largest and highest-profile deals in Taiwan, ending the year top of the league table with six deals completed, worth around $10 billion in total.
Its standout deal was a joint venture worth $2.7 billion between Taiwan Cement Corp and Turkey’s Oyak group in October. Citi introduced both parties in what is the largest outbound M&A transaction in Taiwan since 2016 and the largest M&A deal in Turkey in 2018. In May 2018, City advised leading Taiwanese electronic component manufacturer Yageo Corp in its $740 million purchase of Pulse Electronics from Oaktree Capital.
Best Digital Bank: Standard Chartered
In an era when legacy banks are challenged to win Asia’s so-called K-Pop market (and in media-flooded Taiwan, that’s a bigger challenge than in many other markets), Standard Chartered thinks it may have got it right. Its smart in-app keyboard aims to extend and enhance its digital offering, providing tailored social media channels for the island’s affluent millennials.
|Anthony Lin, Standard Chartered|
Its keyboard banking and QR payment services allow customers to conduct peer-to-peer payments on any kind of mobile device, and do it all within the app, while continuing to chat without switching between messaging apps.
StanChart has partnered with the digital pay services of Apple, Google and Samsung to be the only foreign bank offering all three in Taiwan. By the end of calendar 2018, the monthly spending via the three payment systems grew 50%, and the number of active users increased by 83% since launch. Overall, StanChart’s mobile adoption rate of transaction by clients grew 59% in 2018.
StanChart has won widespread plaudits for the instinctive ease and use of its digital offerings in Taiwan and the bank’s other big markets around the region, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and China.
Best Bank for CSR: E.Sun
Corporate and social responsibility hasn’t gained much traction in industrialized, ultra-capitalist Taiwan, but E.Sun is one bank that takes it seriously. Chief executive Joseph Huang says it is part of E.Sun’s ethos.
Owned largely by its employees, E.Sun, says Huang, was started in 1992 to advance the common good by servicing the then-emerging but underbanked army of small and medium-size enterprises, and that philosophy underpins its day-to-day business today.
That’s not to say E.Sun is a charity – far from it – but Huang says its goal is to financially empower the Taiwanese and bring the country with it. This is exemplified by what it claims is the island’s first public-private partnership financial plan, developed by E.Sun with the influential Taipei city authority, the state’s small and medium-sized enterprise credit guarantee fund and the official SMECF, the Small and Medium Enterprise Counselling Foundation.
The model shortens normal bank loan application time by a third while extending facilities to enterprises that might not ordinarily qualify for conventional financing, and with the lowest interest rate – 1.6% – in the country. E.Sun has devoted around $3 million to this ‘Smile and Hope Loan’ programme.
It has also been active in extending education to some of the island’s more remote and disadvantaged regions with its ‘Golden Seeds’ project to improve literacy in such areas.
As of 2018, about 140 libraries have been built, with 240,000 books donated. The medium-term target is to add 60 more libraries. The project is supported by E.Sun’s MasterCard, which has 200,000 cards issued. E.Sun says 70% of its VIP customers took the card because of its support for Golden Seed.


text:
Members of Congress are now locked in a contentious debate over the value and perceived benefits of importing prescription drugs from foreign markets.
Proponents of the issue put forward a relatively straightforward argument -- prescription drugs in other countries appear to be cheaper, and it seems heartless to tell someone who needs lifesaving medicine that they couldn't buy a cheaper version from abroad. But the American health consumer can't always rely on the safety or effectiveness of cheaper imported drugs. Instead they have good reason to worry -- is this drug safe and effective, or is it counterfeit and possibly dangerous?
Today, America has the safest medicines in the world because virtually all the distribution is tightly monitored from production to the pharmacy. However, opening those channels to massive imports from foreign-based producers will create in America enormous opportunities for unscrupulous sellers of non-verified and unsafe medicines.
How big is this problem of counterfeit medicines? The World Health Organization estimates that as much as 8 percent of all medicines sold today worldwide are counterfeit. In developing nations, half or more is counterfeit. Of the five different categories that the WHO uses to identify counterfeit medicines, the percent of each type of fake is:
1. Products without active ingredients (43 percent);
2. Products with inadequate quantities of active ingredients (21 percent);
3. Products with incorrect active ingredients (24 percent);
4. Products produced by copying someone else's products (2 percent) or
5. Products with correct quantities of active ingredients but with the wrong name of manufacturer and/or country of manufacture on the label (7 percent).
The World Heath Organization reports that roughly nine out of every 10 counterfeit medicines are either without any active ingredients, have too few, or have the wrong ingredients altogether. Thus, the patient either gets no useful medication, or too little, or something perhaps even harmful.
Outside of Europe, Japan, and the United States, the sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines is of enormous scale. In Latin America, 15 to 20 percent of the entire drug market is counterfeit. More than 40 percent of the AIDS medicines in Colombia are phony. In Myanmar, the counterfeit rate for medicines is 40 percent. In Africa as a whole, it is between 25 and 50 percent. In China, the rate is 50 percent and in select brands up to 85 percent. In Vietnam, it is 64 percent. In these nations, a physician has no assurance that the medicine taken is that prescribed. It may be a placebo, or even something harmful, made to look as real.
Consider this. Malaria remains the world's major killer. Its infection rate in countries such as Guinea is extraordinarily high, roughly 75 out of every 100 people. In Botswana and Angola, it involves 48 of every 100. Unfortunately, more than 50 percent of the malaria treatments sold in these three nations are counterfeits with no medicinal value.
Producing counterfeit medicines is enormously profitable. One Columbian drug dealer confessed to DEA agents that he was getting out of cocaine because the sale of counterfeit medicines had such a larger market, was highly profitable, and law enforcement on fake drugs was minimal.
Before economic globalization, citizens of the developed world could smugly view the possibility of being administered counterfeit drugs as something far and apart from their lives. Now, that is no longer true. Since 2000, The Food and Drug Administration annually reports, "The agency is unable to assure the U.S. public that it can prevent unsafe imports from entering the country." This is an honest and brave statement.
Today, the FDA also is able to inspect very few of the drugs coming from Mexico, which serves American consumers from thousands of pharmacies just inside its border cities such as Tijuana. Much of this Mexican medicine comes from Colombia, China, and India and is counterfeit.
More recently, the FDA reports that hundreds of Internet sites, many operating out of Canada and Europe, are offering counterfeit medicines to Americans from foreign factories. The agency catches and closes some of these sites, but others pop up to take their place.
In our hearts, all of us would like to see patients get all the medicines they need at the lowest price. But in our heads, we must acknowledge that opening our market to the massive import of cheaper, foreign produced drugs is simply too risky for American consumers.


text:
This party was off the leash.
On June 12, about 100 Shiba Inus and their owners held an exclusive gathering in a small park on avenue Casgrain and rue Bernard as part of Montreal's first-ever Japan Week, a mixture of both online and in-person events that celebrated all things Japanese.
Editor's Choice: You Can Get $1 Churros In Montreal This Weekend
The gathering was hosted by YATAI MTL, a festival dedicated to Japanese food and culture, which launched Japan Week in lieu of holding an in-person event at a Mile End park due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To keep the event from being hounded by dog-lovers, participants had to preregister online, respect strict health guidelines, and send a photo of their Shiba Inus as proof of ownership.
Guests were only informed of the meeting place a few days in advance.
But that didn’t stop one person from sneaking in what appears to be a beagle corgi mix, though it was quickly spotted and adorably set upon. "Sanji a trouvé un imposteur au rassemblement de shiba," stated one social media commenter.
Japan Week ran from June 7 to 13. Other events included a karaoke competition, a sake workshop, and a food tour of some of the city’s best Japanese retail shops and restaurants.


text:
Sons of the Forest may not be coming out this month like it was originally supposed to, but that doesn’t mean those looking forward to it are totally without info and teases about the new game. Endnight Games, the studio which developed The Forest and is now working on the sequel, announced this week that the Steam page for the game had gone live. It contains a one-stop look at the game and the various media released for it so far as well as some new details about its story.
A link to that Steam page was shared by Endnight for those interested in the follow-up to The Forest which will officially turn that game into a series. If you’ve been keeping up with the trailers released for the game in the past, you’ll find those there alongside some screenshots from Sons of the Forest, too, to show what you might’ve missed, if anything.
Our Sons Of The Forest Steam store page is now live for our October release.
The team at endnighthttps://t.co/2BjsLQA48T
— Endnight Games (@EndNightGame) May 4, 2022
You likely haven’t missed much, however, simply because not much about the game has been shown off. Updates on the game have been sporadic from Endnight Games with the most recent trailer dropping in November 2021 and the next big update coming several months afterwards in March. It was then that Endnight Games announced Sons of the Forest would not hit its May release date and that the game would instead release in October 2022.
Neither that delay nor anything else really about the new game is listed on the site for Endnight Games which is exactly those looking forward to it are happy to receive any scraps of info like the ones found on the game’s Steam page. It sets up the story, for example, which involves players being tasked with finding a missing millionaire on the island that’s unsurprisingly wrought with danger.
“Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape,” a preview of the new game said. “Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.”
Beyond that, a rundown of the game’s main features should look familiar to those who’ve played The Forest. The game features “no NPCs barking orders at you” to give players more agency and different mutated creatures you’ll face while building and crafting your way through the game. It features co-op once more but can also be played solo should you choose to do so.
Sons of the Forest is scheduled to release in October 2022.


text:
Marketers urged to update mailing lists with 5.2m Christmas offers sent to people who have died
The number of Christmas promotions and catalogues sent through the mail has increased an estimated 17% this year, but 3.2% of this mail will have been sent to deceased members of the public, according to latest research by deceased suppression experts Mortascreen.
Out of the 152 million offers sent through the post, 5.2 million have been sent to people who have died, causing unnecessary distress to bereaved relatives as well as a detrimental impact on a brand’s hard-earned reputation.
Karen Pritchard, director at Mortascreen, said: “It’s absolutely vital that marketers regularly screen customer databases for deceased individuals, especially if mailing lists are used infrequently or on a seasonal basis.
“We spend a huge amount of time working with brands and data managers to help introduce and apply best practice procedures. With marketing budgets constantly under scrutiny, it is essential that marketers apply regular suppression techniques which help to ensure accurate targeting and demonstrate a strong ROI. Brands need to make sure all consumers want for Christmas is them.”


text: The highly competitive nature of China’s start-up scene could limit the success of companies involved, according to venture capitalist and Paypal founder Peter Thiel. In Hong Kong to promote his book Zero to One , Thiel put forward his theory that having a monopoly is the key to success for start-ups competing in the world's second-largest economy. "The challenge that I see [in China] from my sort of monopoly perspective is there is a way that feels just hyper competitive," Thiel said at a book signing hosted by accelerator Brinc. "People are incredibly good, they're incredibly fast at copying other people and there are also very, very many people they are competing with in every sort of dimension and that's the biggest challenge." Forty-seven-year-old Thiel co-founded PayPal in 1998, and was an early investor in Facebook. He currently serves as president of hedge fund Clarium Capital and managing partner in venture capital firm Founders Fund, which has made investments in Spotify, Airbnb and SpaceX. Thiel also chairs Palantir, a data analysis firm that has been linked to US intelligence. Forbes gives his net worth as US$2.2 billion. Thiel explained that to achieve success a company must work to grab the greatest market share, which he identifies as timeframe one, before its competitors have caught up or even noticed. Timeframe two in Thiel’s model is the time needed for competitors to overtake. "The good thing in China is that people work super hard and try to get timeframe one down," he said. "The challenge is people are super competitive and so you really have to be on the watch for all the challenges that come from a much compressed timeframe two." In his book, Thiel emphasises the need to create new ideas rather than copying existing businesses, or what he describes as going from zero to one. "There’s something very deep in human nature that involves imitation. But it is also what leads to the madness of crowds, crazy financial bubbles and all sorts of insane behaviour in one way or the other." READ MORE: 'Don't rely on government' tech industry veteran Walt Mossberg tells Hong Kong start-ups The PayPal founder is known for his eccentric investments, such as the Seasteading Institute, which he founded in 2008 to develop a floating city to test new ideas of government. In January, Founders Fund invested an unknown sum in marijuana investment firm Privateer Holdings. The California native said China’s economic development has shown the country’s ability to copy ideas and skip steps taken by developed nations to reach its current state. However, he warned such a pattern means China could face economic stagnation like Japan, which also copied many technologies as it grew. "How much longer will China be able to continue on copying and what point does it become imperative to do new things and innovate?" Thiel asked, without answering the question.


text:
Future Chevrolet Colorado Plant Gets $133 Million Investment
While we wait for the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize trucks to arrive in the U.S., General Motors is investing $133 million in the Wentzville Assembly and Stamping plant. Adding a third stamping plant should make it easier for GM to adjust production between the new trucks and the Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana vans that are already made at the site.
Construction on the 114,000-square-foot stamping plant begins in July, and is set to finish early in 2015. The extra investment is the latest part of GM's plan to assure the new midsize trucks have a successful launch in the U.S. If the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are to effectively compete against the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, the GM trucks could offer a 2.5-liter I-4 as well as a 3.6-liter V-6, or even a diesel option similar to those offered on the Chevrolet Colorado in other markets.
Sales of the Chevrolet Express van remain somewhat substantial. Through the first five months of 2013, the Express van alone has contributed 31,734 sales, up 6.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The Savana van kicked in another 6320 units through the end of May, down 36.5 percent year-to-date.
What engines do you think should power the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado?
MotorTrend Recommended Stories
Is the Tesla Cybertruck *Really* Bulletproof?
2024 Tesla Cybertruck First Look: Really Here, Really Looks Like That
How Much Is a Tesla? Cheaper Than Before—Here’s a Price Breakdown
How Much is a Tesla Cybertruck EV Pickup? Here's a Pricing Breakdown
Tesla Cybertruck Electric Pickup Weight, Payload and Towing Capabilities Explained


text:
Samsung is going through some rough times, but that hasn’t stopped the company from turning a profit.
Although the South Korean tech giant might spend as much as $1.8 billion following its worldwide recall of 2.5 million faulty Galaxy Note 7 devices, the company still expects an operating profit of approximately $7 billion for the third quarter of 2016.
Despite the widely publicized controversy with exploding Note 7 phones, Samsung’s chip and display business is keeping the company afloat, ousting its mobile department as the company’s top-earning division.
SK Securities analyst Young Woo Kim told AP that Samsung’s chip and display division has generated as much as half of the company’s revenue for this quarter. What’s alarming, however, is Kim’s estimate that Samsung’s mobile business has hit its lowest point within the past three quarters.
Despite being in the black, Samsung has struggled to keep sales consistent. Following ongoing problems with faulty batteries, reports suggest the company has suffered a five percent drop in sales of mobile devices compared to the previous year.
While it seemed things were finally getting back to normal, last week new reports surfaced suggesting that replacement units are also catching fire.
Analysts project Samsung’s profits will continue to grow over the coming quarters, but a second recall might put a dent in the company’s earnings.


text:
New fall in real living standards as inflation still runs ahead of Bank of England target
Inflation is still running well ahead of the Bank of England’s two per cent annual target with figures on Tuesday expected to show the rate at 3.3 per cent.
Although lower than the peak of 5.2 per cent in the year to September, it still means that price increases are continuing to outstrip average pay rises, which are running at just 1.7 per cent a year, excluding bonuses, according to statistics.
Meanwhile, provisional figures for the annual survey of working hours and earnings for 2011, due on Wednesday, seem certain to confirm that real living standards, after taking inflation into account, dropped in 2011 for the second year in a row.
Running ahead: Price increases are continuing to outstrip average pay rises
This has happened only once before in modern times – in 1976 and 1977. Three consecutive years of falling living standards, which now seems likely, have not been experienced since before the war.
Andrew Smith, chief economist at accountant KPMG, said he expects real living standards to drop once again.
Rupert Robinson, chief executive of Schroders Private Banking, said: ‘I expect the Consumer Prices Index to have fallen from 3.6 per cent to three per cent.’
Most watched Money videos
- A 'mortgage-free' way for first-time buyers to own their home
- Which? finds out if an electric car runs out of battery in traffic
- Cinematic video of Lamborghini Countach with a top speed of 221mph
- £2M 1980s Lamborghini Countach is back with a top speed of 221mph
- Scaled-down electric Aston Martin DB5 marks release of new Bond film
- Taking a look at the Jaguar XJ220 from all angles on a test drive
- Take a look at clutter-free EV chargers trialled in London
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise sells for $1.98 million at auction
- Porsche 928 driven by Tom Cruise in Risky Business sells for a bomb
- Morgan's Plus Four CX-T is a mad £204k off-road sports car
- Rolls-Royce plans to mine on the moon
- Britain's Garage of the Year 2021 nominee's incredible construction


text:
Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard has hired a new executive team and set the firm’s to-do list, and now the new president and chief executive officer of Timex Group wants to turn the company into a billion-dollar global enterprise.
Since joining Timex in February, Hoejsgaard has spent the last few months reorganizing his top team and setting goals, namely establishing the Timex brand division as a separate business operation from Timex Group and focusing on the high-end market through the group’s luxury divisions.
“The staff announcements we’ve made are a reflection of our new strategy after my first 100 days,” Hoejsgaard said. “We are intent on making Timex Group a real group and making the marketplace understand that Timex is 15 different brands. Timex as a brand is important and the priority there was to appoint a president of that business. It’s always been its own operation, but it didn’t have its own management structure. Our second priority is Timex luxury groups, which includes the licenses for Valentino, Ferragamo and Versace.”
In February, Hoejsgaard named Adam Gurian as president of the Timex Business Unit, overseeing the namesake brand that accounts for one-third of the company’s $700 million volume. According to Gurian, past Timex Group ceo’s have managed the Timex Group and brand, which has contributed to the brand’s less-than-stellar earnings in the last five years. While Timex Group’s Sequel division, which houses the Guess collections, has grown tremendously to rival Timex as the firm’s top earner, the signature brand has been flat. Since his hire, Gurian has undertaken major initiatives to bring the Timex brand back to the forefront of better-priced watches.
“One thing we’ve been doing is evaluating our product assortment and cleaning it up to focus on product in our strongest categories: fashion, sport and expedition,” Gurian said. “Those are the categories that have been iconic, key driving products within the brand. In the last few years, there had been a proliferation of product introductions and price points all over the board that didn’t hold value to the Timex brand name. So what we’ve been doing is honing in on key components of the offerings we can build off of. It’s critical to remain relevant to what the Timex brand is and that whatever we’re offering has some connection back to the brand.”
Gurian is also spending time and money evaluating the Timex brand’s marketing efforts and dislodging its old advertising strategy of marketing individual styles as opposed to the brand as a whole.
“We haven’t done anything to get the Timex name in front of people,” Gurian said. “It’s always been about the separate styles. And splitting dollars up has had a splintered approach to our marketing efforts. Now we’re pooling our dollars together to have a powerful impact on advertising and the consumer.”
Like the Timex Business Unit, Timex Group’s luxury segments are seeking their own opportunities for growth. In addition to Valentino, Versace and Ferragamo, housed collectively in the Timex Group Luxury and Vertime divisions, Timex Group manages another luxury operation, the Vincent Berard brand, which it acquired in 2006, and will start shipping the watches this month, all of which start at $75,000 retail.
A former president and ceo at high jewelry house Georg Jensen, Hoejsgaard is poising Timex as a luxury-driven licensing operation. Timex Group also holds the licenses for Versace and Guess jewelry collections abroad and is making the category a priority within the firm.
“Our partners have identified that once you are in the luxury fashion business, a natural next step is jewelry and watches,” Hoejsgaard said. “The consumer franchise of those brands is looking to expand their presence in luxury categories and it’s obvious to me that jewelry and watches are a natural step without going too far from a fashion standpoint. I expect more brands to look at it that way.”
The company also expects to catapult into the $1 billion sales range by pushing more deeply into international markets. Timex Group operates 58 retail stores in India called Time Factory and is looking to manage 100 total before the holiday season. Timex Group is a public company in the country, listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and manufacturing watches for the region from its own Indian factory. The firm is also expanding into China, where the Ferragamo and Valentino collections will launch in September.
Hoejsgaard attributed two-thirds of Timex Group revenue to international business, citing Italy as one of its strongest overseas markets. Having such a global breadth is one reason the firm hasn’t felt the economic downturn in the U.S. market.
“So far, we have not been able to feel in our business what we read about in newspapers,” Hoejsgaard said. “I think our portfolio is so well balanced and all of our five business units are up over last year, in the U.S. and outside.”
Timex has 7,500 employees in the U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, the Philippines, China, Israel and India. According to Gurian, the Timex brand attributes 30 percent of its volume to international sales, but would eventually like it to be half.
In terms of domestic distribution, Hoejsgaard isn’t targeting any new stores, stating that such accounts as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Kohl’s Corp. are up 20 percent over last year. He said the opportunity to add more licenses to the Timex assortment is always being explored.�
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


text:
Deb frecklington on sugar industry act amendments
NDP MLA Deb Frecklington has int더킹카지노roduced a motion to amend the sugar industry act.
“While it’s great to work toward a healthier Canada, I can only imagine the frustration and hurt that people in Quebec are experiencing from the sugar sector’s efforts to prevent Canadians from consuming the sugar they need to meet healthy, balanced, and environmentally sustainable needs,” Frecklington wrote to the minister of health.
Frecklington’s motion would clarify that Canada has the right to restrict the availability of sugar to encourage the use of healthier alternatives such as healthy grains, fruits and vegetables, and more direct marketing practices to sell these.
Frecklington has asked cabinet to approve her motion by March 21, 2017.
Canada’s Sugar Act was passed by Bill C-51 in 2015.
Section 32 – Exemption of specific products from certain requirements of the sugar act
Section 33 – Exemption of certain types of products from certain requirements of the sugar act (including sugar that is intended for human consumption)
Frecklington says sugar is a key contributor to Canada’s weight gain epidemic, particularly among seniors.
On Wednesday, Frecklington said that the sugar industry is using a new and effective marketing strategy to discourage sugar-consumption in Canada.
“We know that people want to buy healthy, fresh produce that is safe and nutritionally balanced. We know that people have a desire for healthy food,” she said.
Frecklington says sugar consumption is so high, that the U.S. government recently began restricting the sale of certain sugar products to young adults ages 20-34.


text:
Equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs has launched a secondary market.
A beta version will be launched in the summer.
Now investors have the opportunity to sell shares of companies they invested in through Seedrs, thereby realising early returns. Conversely, investors who want to add to their position in a Seedrs company will be able to buy shares through this market.
A spokesman for Seedrs says this is a pioneering move within the industry and one which continues the process of democratising early-stage investment, begun by the equity crowdfunding sector some five years ago. It also says that it decided to launch its secondary market after seeing strong demand from its investor base.
The secondary market aims to alleviate the problem of investors who have bought shares in Seedrs companies and then having to wait for an exit event, such as an IPO, or a sale of the business. The new market will allow investors the opportunity to sell shares in companies they have invested in via Seedrs to other investors. Meanwhile, investors in Seedrs-funded companies will have the opportunity to increase their stakes.
The caveat is of course, as in any market, the ability to buy, or sell, will depend on there being sufficient supply, or demand.
Seedrs told GBI Magazine that when the beta programme begins, a number of market rules will be in force:
- it will be open for trading for a one-week window every month. The window will start on the first Tuesday of each month, which Seedrs calls “Trading Tuesdays”;
- shares will trade only at “fair value”, which is the price that Seedrs marks them pursuant to its Valuation Policy (accounting firm EY has confirmed that the Seedrs Valuation Policy is consistent with the industry-standard International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines);
- only current investors in a given company will be allowed to buy shares in it;
- some companies will be ineligible for trading at certain times. This will generally be the case where the company is in the process of a major corporate transaction, or other extraordinary circumstances are in place.
CEO and co-founder of Seedrs Jeff Lynn said: “We have listened to our huge investor base, who have increasingly been showing a desire for a mechanism to buy and sell shares in our portfolio companies.
“The potential opportunities that a secondary market brings for buyers, sellers and entrepreneurs alike makes this development incredibly exciting. Perhaps most importantly, we believe this will help businesses who are raising capital through Seedrs: with the prospect of secondary sales now available, we expect more investors are likely to want to back the great businesses we work with.
“Secondary markets are challenging to operate successfully, and we are very conscious of our obligation to provide our investors the best experience we can. That is why we are launching this product in beta form initially, so that we can observe behaviour and make improvements as we go.”


text:
The issue of energy wastage using inductive battery charging (without wires) needs far more visibility, and fast. The manufacturers are rapidly rolling out these devices, and people who are concerned about conserving energy need to get the word out.
I’ve discussed this matter previously here, but now we are seeing more and more products coming out, such as wirelessly charging computers, and wireless electric car charge connections (oh, the irony!). We need to ramp up the issue in hopes of spurring groups such as the Sierra Club to take a stand. When it comes down to it, most people really don’t want technology to head in this kind of retrograde, energy wasting fashion.
As Dell notes about their computer,
As the world’s first laptop with a wireless inductive charging stand and dock, the Z gives you the freedom to charge, connect and collaborate in extraordinary ways.
The Sierra Club has developed information explaining how to stop vampire power devices, saying in a green tip that
Electronics like computers, televisions, and cell phone chargers continue to draw power even when you’re not using them, so kill these “vampires” at the source. … you can save power by plugging your desktop, printer, and fax machine into a “smart” power strip.
If using a power strip in this manner is deemed “smart,” then there’s no alternative to calling use of inductively coupled battery chargers “dumb.”


text:
CSN Steel Sales Reach 1.6 Million Tonnes in 3Q12, a Company Record
SAO PAULO, Oct. 31, 2012
SAO PAULO, Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CSN - Companhia Siderurgica Nacional
(BM&FBOVESPA: CSNA3) (NYSE: SID) announces its results for the 3Q12:
oNet revenue totaled R$4.3 billion in 3Q12, 3% up on the 2Q12. In the same
period, domestic market net revenue increased by 14%;
o3Q12 steel sales volume reached the record level of 1.6 million tonnes,
13% more than in 2Q12 and 35% up year-on-year. Sales in 9M12 amounted to
4.3 million tonnes, 17% higher than in 9M11;
oDomestic market steel sales reached 1.3 million tonnes in 3Q12, also a new
record, 21% higher than in 2Q12 and 24% up on the same period last year.
Year-to-date domestic sales volume totaled 3.3 million tonnes, a 5%
improvement over the first nine months of 2011.
oGross profit amounted to R$1.2 billion in 3Q12 and adjusted EBITDA reached
The full Earnings Release is available on CSN's IR website at
CSN will be hosting conference call about its 3Q12 Earnings on THURSDAY,
November 1, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. US ET in Portuguese with simultaneous
translation into English. Connection details may be obtained on the Company's
Investor Relations Executive Officer
Phone: +55 11 3049-7588
SOURCE CSN - Companhia Siderugica Nacional
Press spacebar to pause and continue. Press esc to stop.


text:
Lamborghini’s bosses have approved an expansion plan that will be used in the company’s first battery-electric model long-distance fourth model production line. The plan will be in the form of a two-door four-seater luxury wagon. The owner Stephen Wynn Kerman (Stephan Winkelmann) confirmed that it will be in the “second half of this decade.”
The new model will be “at least 2 + 2 or four-seater”
EV may be based on the upcoming SSP architecture
Lamborghini will also electrify its three existing product lines by the end of 2024
Lamborghini’s upcoming electric car: what we know so far
Winkelman said that the initial development of the new car has begun, but he said it has not yet decided on its final form. Winkelman told our sister publication ” OurUK”: “This will be at least 2 + 2 or 4 seats.” “We currently mainly imagine a two-door car, but we have not yet made a final decision on the body style or power output.”
The British “Autocar” first reported in 2017 that Lamborghini is likely to base its first EV on a four-seater luxury travel coupe. According to industry insiders, this route is being followed because this is the brand’s sports car tradition and current electric cars. The best combination.
Winkelmann added that the final decision on the basic specifications of electric vehicles will be made next year, and explained: “There are two steps. One is to analyze the body style and volume of the segment, and the other is our platform with Volkswagen Match between to find the best solution.”
The four-seater luxury station wagon will also be positioned in Lamborghini’s new market segment, thereby helping the Italian company expand sales.
Winkelmann said that it is too early to talk about sales targets for new models, but he suggested: “If we talk about two-door four-seat, it will be the gap between our existing models. This will not be the number of supercars. , But it will not be the number of supercars. [higher] Urus Roll [SUV]. “
As previously reported, Lamborghini is preparing to use the new performance-centric PPE platform for electric vehicles developed by Porsche and Audi. However, the launch time of Lamborghini EV is close to 2030, which means that it may now become one of the first vehicles to use the upcoming SSP architecture, which combines elements of the PPE and mainstream MEB platforms. The SSP platform is highly adaptable and can adapt to various electric motors and battery pack technologies.
The first car based on this will be the result of Audi’s ongoing Artemis project, which will expire in 2026 and will eventually provide support for 80% of all models of the Volkswagen Group.
In terms of powertrain, Lamborghini electric vehicles may use electric motors shared with Porsche and Audi, although partnerships with electric vehicle technologists and supercar manufacturer Rimac may be attractive. Porsche owns a large number of shares in this Croatian company and is currently negotiating with the company to jointly operate Bugatti in the future.
Lamborghini’s “Direzione Cor Tauri” route map
The new Lamborghini electric vehicle will be the culmination of the company’s newly announced Direzione Cor Tauri roadmap, which will include the electrification of the three existing product lines through plug-in hybrid powertrains by the end of 2024.
The Direzione Cor Tauri roadmap-citing the most dazzling star in Taurus-will invest more than 1.3 billion pounds (approximately Rs 13,474 crore) in PHEV technology in the next four years due to the need to reduce the company’s environmental impact. But Winkelmann vowed to “maintain the brand’s DNA” and “bring it to a new level.”
Lamborghini in India
In India, Lamborghini retails Aventador S and Huracan Evo supercars and Urus SUV. The Urus has always been Lamborghini’s best seller in India. The sales reached the milestone of 100 units In March this year.
Recently, the Italian manufacturer also launched Ulus Pearl Capsule Edition in India. Urus Pearl Capsule Edition is a pre-configured Urus that provides a two-tone color scheme and many other interesting features. This version has three unique paint options-Giallo Inti (yellow), Verde Mantis (lime green) and Arancio Borealis (orange)-while the body skirts, rims, exterior mirrors, roof and fenders are all decorated It is bright black.
The successor to the Lamborghini Aventador will use a V12 hybrid powertrain
Lamborghini will launch two new models powered by V12 in 2021


text:
YORK, Maine — A home care aide from Rye, N.H., was indicted on one count of felony theft last week after being accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from an elderly client.
Police believe the jewelry was taken incrementally from the victim's home in Kittery during the past year. The 30-year-old suspect, Jocelyn Dowey, was employed as the woman's residential aide during that time.
Dowey was arrested in February after police questioned her about the missing jewelry and allegedly found at least $10,000 worth of stolen jewelry in her possession.
Dowey was indicted on Thursday, May 9, on a single charge of Class B felony theft, according to a spokesperson for the York County District Attorney.
If convicted of the charge, she could face a prison sentence of up to 40 years, Kittery Police Chief Paul Callaghan said Monday.
Dowey will likely face separate charges in New Hampshire, where she is the subject of ongoing investigations by police in Rye and Dover.
Police in Kittery began investigating Dowey after they were contacted by an elderly woman in February who reported as much as $500,000 worth of jewelry was missing from her home.
The woman, a jewel collector, told police she suspected Dowey may have stolen the items while working in her home during the past year, according to an affidavit filed by Kittery Police Sgt. Steven Hamel.
Later that day, Hamel contacted a jewelry store in Portsmouth and asked the clerk to look up the shop's sales records. The clerk reported Dowey had been selling "substantial amounts" of jewelry to the store, according to the affidavit. The last recorded transaction was on Jan. 31, 2012, when Dowey reportedly received $3,054 in exchange for a piece of jewelry, according to the affidavit.
Kittery police questioned Dowey the next day, and she allegedly admitted to stealing a gold ring from the elderly woman's home and hawking it in January, but denied taking anything else.
The next day, Hamel interviewed the Portsmouth store clerk who paid Dowey for the ring. She remembered that Dowey had presented her with several "large, valuable gems," in January, including some "museum quality" pieces, according to the affidavit.
She drew pictures of some of the gems from memory, and recalled offering Dowey $10,000 for one of the items, according to the affidavit. She said Dowey declined to sell it at that price, and that Dowey informed her she had researched the value of several items on the Internet.
Later that day, police contacted Dowey and arranged to meet her at her apartment at 4 Port Way in Rye to discuss the investigation.
During a taped interview, Dowey allegedly admitted to stealing a second item — an opal — from the elderly victim, and offered to retrieve it from a nearby shed.
Hamel and another officer accompanied Dowey to the shed, where she attempted to retrieve the opal from a box marked "Crown," which was covered with a small tarp, according to the affidavit.
Dowey was unable to lift the box, and Hamel stepped in to pick it up. When he looked inside, the detective spotted "numerous pieces of jewelry, gemstones and other rarities," according to the affidavit, including rare coins and gold jewelry.
The affidavit states Dowey "tacitly agreed" the items matched a description given by the elderly victim of her missing jewelry, but claimed some of the rare coins and other antiquities in the box were hers.
Two days later, the elderly woman identified "hundreds of items" that allegedly belonged to her among the collection, including small and large gems. She estimated their value at $231,000. However, numerous pieces were still missing, including a black opal and another opal inlaid with the figure of a naked woman, according to the affidavit.
Police also invited the jewelry store clerk who was involved in the January transaction to view the items seized from the shed. The woman said Dowey had previously shown her several of the jewels when she visited the store on Jan. 31.
Dowey was arrested by Kittery police a few days later and charged with theft of items valued at up to $10,000, a Class C felony. The charge was subsequently upgraded to a Class B felony based on the results of an appraisal, which confirmed the alleged stolen items were valued at more than $10,000.
Dowey was released on $25,000 personal recognizance after the arrest.
Rye Police Chief Kevin Walsh said Monday the department is coordinating with authorities in Maine to bring additional charges of receiving stolen property against Dowey in the Granite State, pertaining to the rare jewelry found in her possession.
Dover Police Lt. Brant Dolleman said city police are also investigating Dowey in connection with a reported theft, but declined to comment further, pending the ongoing investigation.
"These things do take time sometimes, and it's extremely frustrating for victims, but in police work, it's better to take the long route and be right than to take shortcuts and make mistakes," Dolleman said.
Dowey is scheduled to be arraigned in York County Superior Court on July 27.


text:
Mobile transactions market to exceed $500bn by 2018
The value of domestic money transfers, including operator money and social media money services, will reach $520 billion in global mobile transactions by 2018, up nearly 200% from an estimated $178 billion last year.
This is according to a new study from Juniper Research, titled Digital Money Transfer & Remittances: Domestic & International Markets 2016-2021.
The study reveals person-to-person domestic transfers, such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money, will increase by 45%, showing higher usage in developing markets. This will be supplemented by users making social media transfers in developed markets via services such as Venmo and WeChat.
In 2015, Africa and Middle East had 235 million registered mobile money users, representing the largest share of the global market. International remittances via mobile will exceed $25 billion by 2018, driven by higher value mobile a transaction, says Juniper.
The study notes the bulk of activity is currently occurring via WeChat and Alipay within China, with growth fostered by 'red envelope' promotions at the Lunar New Year.
Non-sustainable in SA
However, mobile payment services run by telcos have found far greater success on other parts of the African continent than in SA.
Vodacom officially pulled the plug on M-Pesa in SA in June after saying there was little prospect of the service to achieving a critical mass of users in its current format in SA.
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub says one of the factors that hindered M-Pesa in the country was the high level of financial inclusion.
World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck agrees, saying there is not enough of a market for the unbanked in SA.
"Almost all people in full-time employment have bank accounts, and 75% of the total adult population has a financial instrument of some kind. Those that are unbanked have found many workarounds, such as retail money transfer and airtime as currency," says Goldstuck.
A few months later, in September, MTN SA announced it had decommissioned MTN Mobile Money due to lack of commercial viability.
"The operating costs of providing a mobile money platform have become prohibitive," says Larry Annetts, MTN SA's chief consumer officer.
Dobek Pater, Africa Analysis MD, believes MTN giving up on Mobile Money was inevitable, given Vodacom's experience in the market.
"Although MTN appeared to fare somewhat better, it looks as if traditional mobile money services are proving themselves non-sustainable in SA in their current format," says Pater.
While South African telcos have found the going tough with their mobile money offerings, local banks are singing a different tune.
Last month First National Bank said South Africans are showing significant appetite for mobile money solutions. This is according to the latest data from FNB eWallet Solutions, which shows 4.2 million new e-wallets were created over the past 12 months, a rate of about 350 000 new e-wallets per month.
Juniper argues that over-regulation continues to be a key inhibitor in the licensing process for mobile money services.
"This can be complex, both in terms of the number and nature of licences that are required by service providers. Additionally, the services which the national government (often via its central bank) will permit a service provider to offer vary significantly", explains report author Nitin Bhas.
"In some markets, regulations for mobile money transfer may simply not have been defined, or may be in the process of being defined and then applied retrospectively. Furthermore, existing rules may stipulate that only financial institutions may possess money licences, thereby inhibiting the opportunity for players such as mobile network operators," says Juniper.


text:
The Italian brand VERSACE has confirmed that MADONNA is the face of its Spring/Summer 2015 campaign, shot in New York City by Mert & Marcus. Madonna is 56 years old and still one of the most sort after faces in the fashion & entertainment industry.
This exclusive worldwide campaign was shot by photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, who focused on her image as a pop-culture visionary, singer, businesswoman, and filmmaker in the black and white images.
“It’s always exciting to be dressed head to toe in Versace,” explained Madonna, who wore pieces from the latest Spring/Summer 2015 collection.
“Madonna is one of the true icons of Versace. I am thrilled to have my friend and the most powerful and directional artist as the face of Versace for Spring 2015,” added Donatella. Madonna is a mega worldly star of music and has her own one of a kind style.
This is Madonna’s fourth campaign for VERSACE, and her third decade working with the brand. She first posed for them back in 1995 (almost 20 years ago).


text:
A few weeks ago, we wrote about a legal battle between bourbon and tequila. Today we are writing about a legal battle between two vodkas. Who says courtroom proceedings are boring and dry? (Zodiac Spirits Inc. et al. v. Moet Hennessy USA Inc. et al.)
Back in 2007, Zodiac sued Moet, distributors of Belvedere brand vodka, for false advertising and unfair competition, when Moet described its product as “the world’s only luxury potato vodka” and “the first and only luxury potato vodka in the world.” The parties settled their dispute in June of that year.
This year, Zodiac sued Moet, alleging infringement of its registered trademark, “Naturally Smooth.” Zodiac claimed that Moet’s use of this term in its advertising would “… cause significant consumer confusion among purchasers …” This, of course, would be especially likely among those purchasers who had already sampled the goods. Apparently for this reason, Zodiac not only sought a permanent injunction barring further use of “Naturally Smooth” by Moet, but also demanded that the court order Moet to destroy all infringing advertising materials.
Well, vodka drinkers, rest easy. This tempest in a booze bottle has been amicably resolved. The parties shook hands, exchanged samples and went home. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.


text:
A Martes Sport shop has joined the group of tenants of Galeria Libero in Katowice, it will occupy an area of nearly 1,200 sqm.
“While developing Libero’s commercialization strategy, on top of fashion tenants and service formulas we envisaged creating a comprehensive entertainment and sports offer, which would be based on proven brands and completely unique concepts. Tenants from the sports industry, such as Martes Sport, a chain which is famous for its broad range of products and convenient prices, is very much in line with our plans. The focus on sport, recreation and entertainment will be one of key features of Libero, apart from its architectural assets and solutions which maximize a sense of comfort and friendliness,” said Marek Gładki, director of commercialization and marketing team in Echo Investment’s Shopping Centre Department.
The sports character of Galeria Libero is emphasized by contracts signed with the Fabryka Formy chain of fitness clubs. Galeria Libero also includes the ‘Food & Ball’ sports pub – a new concept of Arkadiusz Milik, Polish footballer who plays for Ajax Amsterdam.


text:
A Maß litre of beer at this year’s iconic Oktoberfest drinking festival in Munich will cost up to €9.85 in the big tents, with just three of the 13 larger tents planning to charge less than €9.80.
The cheapest litre of beer will be available to revellers in the Augustiner tent for a cool €9.60, wrote the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Tuesday.
“I hope this price rise is enough for next year and that the prices stay stable for 2014,” Dieter Reiter from the Munich city Department for Economic Affairs told the paper.
But festival publicans haven’t resisted hiking up their prices every year, year on year, wrote the paper, and in 2013 all of them have put their prices up by at least 3 percent over 2012.
Some festival tents have pushed even further, with the Ochsenbraterei tent prices up 5 percent from €9.20 – 2012’s cheapest – to the top price of €9.85 in 2013.
And anyone thinking that staying on the wagon will keep their festival costs down can think again, with the cheapest litre of water clocking in at €6, all the way up to €9 in the Armbrustschützen tent.
Similarly, the Spezi lemonade and cola drink is €9.80 a litre and non-alcoholic beer will sell at normal beer prices.
The city authorities maintain they are not responsible for setting the prices, and spokesman Wolfgang Nickl told the paper they only have the power to intervene in cases of “daylight robbery” – which is defined as beer sold at over double the normal market price in Munich bars and restaurants.


text:
That means lots to do and to decorate for coordinator Patricia Taylor.
"It's a busy time," she said. Taylor said she opened the shop out of pure love—for the church and for her longtime passions: decorating and design.
"For years I wanted to open a thrift shop at the church, but there wasn't space for it," she told Patch. "After St. Christopher school closed four years ago, this space became available, and eventually, we opened."
Family members including her husband, sister and daughter pitched in to renovate the tiny building right off of Littleton Road to get it ready for customers. Merchandise came from donations from church members.
"I'm very selective," said Taylor, a 35-year resident of Parsippany. "If there are chips or tears, those items go into the bin in the back of the church. We only sell high-quality things, and at really good prices."
And there are a lot of things available. Taylor showed off a huge array of wares, including household items, jewelry, unique collectibles, toys, games, books, clothing and more.
"There's a man who comes in to go through the neckties," she said, as a donor dropped off a large collection of ties. "He's going to have a good time going through these." There are a lot of ties on display. In fact, there is a whole lot of everything at 2nd Hand Rose.
"We're having a half-price sale starting next Wednesday, Dec. 5th" she said, explaining that the store is so jam-packed with merchandise, including items covering Halloween and Thanksgiving, that there is precious little space for Christmas-themed offerings.
"We have to make space," she said. "I wish I could expand the walls so we could have more room."And what one sees is only half the story: Taylor said she has even more merchandise sitting at her home.
One challenge for 2nd Hand Rose is letting people know about its merchandise and bargain prices. "Right now, we get a mention in the church bulletin, but not everyone reads that," she said. "I hope people spread the word because there are really good buys here."
The shop is staffed primarily by Taylor, who volunteers her time. She said it is the perfect gig for her, given her near lifelong love for design and her background doing department store window displays and as a retail buyer.
"I loved being a buyer, going around to stores in the city, but having the chance to design the space was a real dream come true for me," she said. "I do this for love."
Christmas merchandise will go on display on Dec. 1, she said, adding that the half-price sale is serving as a pre-holiday savings event.
"This is a great place to take care of holiday shopping, save a lot of money and benefit the church," Taylor said, adding that donations are accepted gratefully.
The 2nd Hand Rose Thriftique is located at 1050 Littleton Road, on the grounds of St. Christopher's Church. The shop is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information or to arrange a drop-off of donated items, call Taylor at 973-713-4939.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Ashland and Air Products diverged Monday after the companies announced that Air Products would buy Ashland's Electronic Chemicals business.
Ashland said it's selling the Electronic Chemicals division for $300 million, and will use proceeds from the sale to reduce debt.
The transaction is expected to close within 60 days, the companies said. Ashland will provide administrative services during the transition period for the division, and there should be no disruption to customer supply or service.
Electronic Chemicals employs about 800 people. It has three manufacturing locations in the U.S., as well as facilities in Italy, South Korea and Taiwan.
Ashland is headquartered in Covington, Ky., and has various businesses including road construction, specialty chemicals and plastics distribution.
Air Products is based in Allentown, Penn. The company makes chemicals, gases and gas containers.


text:
PharmaJet’s needle-free injection systems are being implemented as an option in the flu shot campaign at Kroger Pharmacies. Kroger Inc. (NYSE: KR) is offering easy and affordable needle-free flu vaccinations to protect against seasonal flu viruses at over 800 of their pharmacy locations nationwide and 79 of The Little Clinic locations in select stores.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends an annual flu vaccination for all people age 6 months and older. Flu shots have proven to reduce illness, absenteeism and flu-related medical expenses. For many people, the fear of needles is enough to deter receiving a seasonal flu shot, despite the risk of contracting and spreading the illness. This season, Kroger is offering the needle-free delivery option at many of the Kroger, Frys, King Soopers and The Little Clinic pharmacies.
“Needle-free flu shots are as effective as traditional needle delivered shots and provide a sense of ease to those who might not otherwise receive the vaccine because of the needle,” said Dr. Ken Patric, chief medical officer of Kroger’s The Little Clinic.
Needle-free technology, which has been used in the U.S. and other countries to deliver millions of vaccinations, uses a spring-operated injector to deliver the vaccine through the skin by means of a narrow, high-velocity fluid jet. PharmaJet injections are delivered in 1/5th of a second and with minimal pain sensation. The Little Clinic offered the needle-free option in select clinics last year with positive patient feedback, especially from parents whose children are fearful of traditional needle shots.
“PharmaJet’s needle-free injectors have received FDA marketing clearance for use with liquid medicines and vaccines and are available throughout the United States,” said James A. Bowman, President of PharmaJet. “We are pleased to join forces with Kroger to provide advanced technology and enhanced customer experience at the Kroger locations.”
"Health experts recommend a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step to protect against seasonal flu viruses," Kroger VP pharmacy Lincoln Lutz said. "Kroger's family of stores offer a variety of options to our customers, including needle-free flu vaccinations available in many locations and a customized Workplace Flu program to help companies provide for their employees.” Further information about Kroger’s flu vaccine can be found at kroger.com/pharmacy.
About Kroger, Inc.
Kroger is the fifth-largest pharmacy operator in the United States and Kroger pharmacists administered more than 1 million flu vaccinations during the 2010-2011 flu season. Kroger employs more than 338,000 people who serve customers in 2,449 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen brands including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger focuses significant charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please contact Jackie Siekmann, Kroger Media Relations, 614-898-3318.
About PharmaJet Inc. and Needle-free Injection Technology
PharmaJet’s needle-free injection technology (pharmajet.com) delivers drugs and vaccines to intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal tissue depths. PharmaJet injectors use pressure to create a fine stream of liquid that penetrates the skin, delivering doses to the desired depth, while eliminating needle-stick risk and the burden of sharps waste management. Further benefits of PharmaJet injectors include the potential for dose-sparing of vaccines, reducing the overall cost of vaccine delivery. The PharmaJet system has been well received in the developed world, and is also extremely advantageous in the developing world due to its usability, affordability and inherent safety features.


text:
Samsung Taps Infineon for HSPA Capable Phones
Published on: 22nd Apr 2008
Note -- this news article is more than a year old.
Infineon Technologies has announced that Samsung Electronics has chosen it's HSDPA Platform XMM 6080 for their new family of HSDPA EDGE mobile phones. Samsung is introducing a comprehensive family using the Infineon XMM 6080 platform. The platform includes the HSDPA EDGE baseband power management single chip 3.5G RF transceiver and is complemented by Infineon's protocol stack for HEDGE phones.
The company says that its solution enables customers to significantly reduce their component count, footprint, complexity and cost of designs. The XMM 6080 platform will enable Samsung to introduce a wide range of new HEDGE (HSDPA/EDGE) phones reusing the Infineon core architecture.
Infineon has already started volume shipments of its platform. The Samsung HEDGE phones with the XMM 6080 are expected to be available in the second quarter of calendar year 2008.