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International ICT Community to Converge at CommunicAsia2012 and EnterpriseIT2012
Highly anticipated showcase of innovative technologies and solutions from industry leaders and promising SMEs is back
Singapore, June 12, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - CommunicAsia2012 and EnterpriseIT2012, together with BroadcastAsia2012, Asia's leading event for the global ICT, Digital Multimedia and Entertainment industries, expects over 53,000 attendees at the event which will be held from 19 to 22 June at Marina Bay Sands this year. Industry professionals will once again gather to see the latest technology developments, create business opportunities and discuss industry issues and challenges.
The event is set to be the most important of the year with close to 2,000 local and international exhibitors and an unprecedented 200 expert speakers at the CommunicAsia2012 Summit. The Summit will have 14 tracks and over 170 sessions covering pertinent industry topics from mCommerce to Next Generation Broadband and Satellite Communications.
At a press conference held today by Singapore Exhibition Services (SES) together with long-time exhibitor Huawei, Ms. Agnes Leung, Senior Project Manager for CommunicAsia, shared key highlights and statistics for the show. Huawei also gave attendees an overview of the company's innovative solutions for devices and enterprises, as well as a preview of the devices that will be unveiled at CommunicAsia2012.
"Over the years, CommunicAsia has evolved to stay relevant alongside the developments in technology and the changing needs of the ICT industry. This year's CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT will focus on exciting new offerings from industry leaders as well as promising SMEs from 48 countries/regions, ranging from satellite communications, network infrastructure, cloud security and services, and mobile technologies," says Ms. Agnes Leung from show organiser, SES.
Strong Interest in Mobile Technologies
Research has estimated that the Southeast Asia smartphone market will reach US$11.6 billion by the end of 2012.
"As the definition of mobile expands beyond voice communication, the show offers visitors a broad spectrum of mobile technologies that are essential to consumers' experiences. This year, we have seen stronger interest in mobile technologies from mobile applications, mCommerce and mobile payments to technologies supporting the ecosystem such as mobile security and cloud services," adds Ms. Leung.
In tandem with this growing trend, Huawei will be showcasing its latest mobile and convergence devices at CommunicAsia2012. Speaking at the press conference today, Mr. Riadi Sugihtani, Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei Device, South Pacific Region says: "CommunicAsia is recognised as a premier event for the ICT industry in Asia, where visitors get to see the latest technologies and solutions. This ties in with our vision of continuous innovation at Huawei Device. This year, we will showcase many exciting devices for the region, including our Ascend series of smart phones, Innovative Mobile Broadband solutions and Home Devices."
Mobile technologies will also be a key focus at the CommunicAsia2012 Summit, where new sessions on mCommerce, mHealthcare and mSecurity will be featured. For the first time, the Summit will be featuring more than 200 business and industry luminaries, as well as two visionary speakers - Ms. Aliza Knox, Managing Director of Commerce for Google Asia Pacific and Ambassador David A. Gross, Partner at Wiley Rein LLP. Both speakers will deliver their addresses on Wednesday, 20 June at Marina Bay Sands.
Launch Platform for Enterprise Solutions
Besides mobile technologies, visitors to CommunicAsia2012 and EnterpriseIT2012 can look forward to enterprise solutions within the 'Fibre' for NextGen Services, Cloud Security & Services and M2M Techzones on the show floor.
Placing a strong emphasis on enterprise solutions is Huawei, who is showcasing its enterprise solutions at the event. "We see CommunicAsia as the ideal platform to reach out to telecom service providers, SMEs and government officials all in the same venue. The event has constantly highlighted pertinent industry developments and addressed emerging trends, some of which Huawei will be sharing with visitors at the event. Our focus at the show this year is on promoting our range of cloud, IP surveillance, eEducation solutions to meet the needs of today's enterprises," says Mr. Heng Song Cheng, Enterprise Solutions Director, South Pacific Region, Huawei.
Vast Display of Singapore Homegrown Capabilities
In addition to international brands, local names will also be represented at the event. There will be over 150 exhibitors participating in the Singapore Group Pavilions this year, including 1-Net Singapore, Chainworld, CrimsonLogic, eNets, Inspire-Tech, TalariaX and Webvisions, who will leverage the show to launch their latest products and services as well as network with international and regional buyers.
NEW Discovery Lounge and Innovation Showcase
This year's CommunicAsia will feature a Discovery Lounge and Innovation Showcase at level 5 of Marina Bay Sands. The Discovery Lounge will provide SMEs, technology start-ups, educational institutions and research centres a dedicated space to present their technologies and network with interested industry professionals. Some 20 companies including multi-national exhibitors such as Panasonic will also be pitching their ideas and creative solutions daily, from 19 to 21 June. The Innovation Showcase will enable selected participating organisations such as Singapore Polytechnic and the Institute for Media Innovation of Nanyang Technological University to showcase their latest inventions.
Mobile Monday To Release First Ever Mobile Southeast Asia Report at CommunicAsia2012
Testament to the show's continued relevance to the industry, Mobile Monday - an open community platform of mobile industry visionaries, developers and influential individuals with chapter organisations around the world will be hosting the Mobile Monday Developers' Lounge at CommunicAsia2012, also at level 5 of Marina Bay Sands. As part of their participation at the event, Mobile Monday leaders will be presenting their views on the unique opportunities in Asia, as well as launching their first ever Mobile Southeast Asia Report.
CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia have been running together for more than 20 editions and are widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading technology showcases. Visitors will be able to experience a convergence of technologies at work at CommunicAsia2012, EnterpriseIT2012 and BroadcastAsia2012, with exhibitor representation from more than 50 countries/regions showcasing end-to-end solutions for the entire value chain.
Shows at a Glance
CommunicAsia2012/EnterpriseIT2012
Date: 19 - 22 June 2012 Venue: Basement 2, Levels 1, 4 & 5 Marina Bay Sands Singapore Opening Hours: 19 - 21 June: 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 22 June: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission: Business and trade professionals only Registration: http://www.communicasia.com/
CommunicAsia2012 Summit
Date: 19 - 22 June 2012 Venue: Level 4 Marina Bay Sands Singapore Opening Hours: 19 - 21 June: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 22 June: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Admission: Registered delegates only Registration: http://www.communicasia.com/fees®istration.html
BroadcastAsia2012
Date: 19 - 22 June 2012 Venue: Levels 3 & 4 Suntec Singapore Opening Hours: 19 - 21 June: 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 22 June: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission: Business and trade professionals only Registration: http://www.broadcast-asia.com/
About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global ICT solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end capabilities and strengths across the carrier networks, enterprise, consumer, and cloud computing fields. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom carriers, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive ICT solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. Huawei's vision is to enrich life through communication. By leveraging our experience and expertise in the ICT sector, we help bridge the digital divide by providing opportunities to enjoy broadband services, regardless of geographic location. Contributing to the sustainable development of society, the economy, and the environment, Huawei creates green solutions that enable customers to reduce power consumption, carbon emissions, and resource costs. For more information please visit www.huawei.com.
About Singapore Exhibition Services (SES)
Set up in 1976, Singapore Exhibition Services (SES) has established itself as one of the most innovative and respected exhibition and conference organisers in Asia. A pioneer in the Singapore exhibition industry, SES events have served as important platforms for companies aiming to forge new business contacts in Asia. With a portfolio of international tradeshows already serving the Communications, Engineering, Machinery and Lifestyle industries, SES continues to develop new events to meet market needs. SES events consistently attract a high level of overseas participation with foreign exhibitors accounting for almost 80 per cent of the show floor. SES is a member of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, a global network with over 50 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sesallworld.com .
CommunicAsia
Juliet Tseng Singapore Exhibition Services Tel: +65 6233 6635 Email: juliet@sesallworld.com
Lisa Alvares / Shelina Mahtani MSL Singapore Tel: +65 6327 0284 / +65 6327 0285 Email: lisa.alveres@mslgroup.com / shelina.mahtani@mslgroup.com
Copyright 2012 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved.
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McKesson Corp. (MCK) won a Department of Veterans Affairs drug contract valued at as much as $31.6 billion over as many as eight years, the agency said in a statement today.
The San Francisco-based company has been the VA’s primary medicine supplier for veterans hospitals and the department’s mail-order pharmacies since 2004. McKesson, the largest U.S. drug distributor based on revenue, has received as much as $27 billion in orders under the current contract.
It beat Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH), based in Dublin, Ohio, and the Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-based AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC) for the new contract.
The agreement “will provide an overall savings to the government of approximately $3.26 billion,” according to the VA statement posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
McKesson shares rose as much as 4.7 percent to $91.99 in late trading. The shares had risen 13 percent this year before today’s announcement.
VA officials had hoped to award the new contract by the end of March, according to a December letter from Eric Shinseki, the VA secretary, to a U.S. lawmaker. The award was delayed after two small businesses challenged the VA’s decision to exclude small businesses from the new drug contract.
The Government Accountability Office, which arbitrates contract disputes, denied one protest on April 6. The second company withdrew its GAO protest on April 9, though it also filed a separate challenge with the department.
McKesson is “extremely pleased” to continue its work as the VA’s primary drug supplier, John Hammergren, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
“We are confident in our ability to meet the VA’s growing needs over the term of our relationship, and in the process create significant value for the VA and for McKesson’s shareholders,” he said.
Josh Taylor, a VA spokesman, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Congress and the VA’s inspector general are investigating illegal spending through the current contract with McKesson, which is also used by other agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the Indian Health Service.
VA officials have said the McKesson contract was used to make as much as $1.2 billion in unauthorized and potentially illegal purchases that weren’t explicitly covered by the agreement. The items bought included generic drugs, condoms and sunscreen.
W. Scott Gould, a deputy VA secretary, told lawmakers at a February hearing that some of the spending was illegal. Agency staff didn’t always seek competitive bids for some items bought from McKesson, as required by federal acquisition regulations, he said.
McKesson abided by the terms of the contract, Gould said.
Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen spokesmen didn’t immediately respond to e-mails and phone calls seeking comment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kathleen Miller in Washington at kmiller01@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Stoughton at sstoughton@bloomberg.net
Liz Claiborne Inc.'s remaining lines -- Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand, which are higher priced and contemporary -- could fetch $20 a share in a takeover, said Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co.Liz Claiborne Inc.'s remaining lines -- Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand, which are higher priced and contemporary -- could fetch $20 a share in a takeover, said Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. Photographer: Konrad Fiedler/Bloomberg Even after losing more money last year than any other U.S. clothing retailer, Liz Claiborne Inc. (LIZ) could still be a bargain in a takeover.
The $1.3 billion owner of the Kate Spade brand will return to profitability in 2012, reversing five years of losses that topped $2 billion, according to analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. With revenue projected to rise 14 percent next year, New York-based Liz Claiborne still closed yesterday at $12.36 a share, a 28 percent discount to 2013 sales. That’s cheaper than 94 percent of similar-sized U.S. apparel companies, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Liz Claiborne, which is changing its name to Fifth & Pacific Cos. next month, may lure buyers from private-equity firms to Warnaco Group Inc. (WRC) or VF Corp. (VFC), according to Imperial Capital LLC, after selling its namesake brand and other units last year. The remaining lines -- Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand, which are higher priced and contemporary -- could fetch $20 a share in a takeover, said Monness, Crespi, Hardt & Co. An acquirer could then benefit from splitting the three brands into separate companies, said Jim Chartier at Monness.
“It’s a completely different company now than six months ago,” Casey Flavin, an analyst at Hedgeye Risk Management LLC, an independent equities research firm in New Haven, Connecticut, said in a telephone interview. “You are left with three brands that are very attractive and so are inherently attractive to M&A because of the discount to their value.”
Today, Liz Claiborne rose 4.4 percent to $12.90 at 9:49 a.m. in New York, the biggest gain among 108 companies in the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap Consumer Discretionary Index. (S6COND)
“Our stock has been trading up significantly since we announced initiatives to focus the portfolio, reduce operating risk, and pay down debt back in October,” Jane Randel, a spokeswoman for Liz Claiborne, said in an e-mailed statement. “We are comfortable that the market can and will continue to respond to the growth in sales and profits as we make even further progress in executing our strategies.”
Shares of Liz Claiborne rose 13 percent on March 30, the biggest gain in four weeks, after the Wall Street Journal reported the company held talks with private-equity firms about a possible buyout at $20 a share. While Liz Claiborne isn’t currently considering a sale, KKR & Co., Permira and Warburg Pincus LLC remain interested in taking the company private, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
“There is currently no contemplation of any strategy for the company other than executing against the operating plan we have already discussed,” Liz Claiborne said in a statement the same day in response to the report.
Liz Claiborne got its start as a single namesake brand in 1976. When Chief Executive Officer Bill McComb joined in November 2006 from Johnson & Johnson, he inherited a company that had expanded into more than 40 labels, some of which targeted the floundering mid-priced department store channel, Flavin said.
McComb, 49, has been narrowing the company’s focus to Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand, which all sell higher- priced goods to younger consumers and are able to sustain retail stores of their own. Last year the company’s divestitures included the namesake Liz Claiborne brand to J.C. Penney Co., the Mexx business to private equity firm Gores Group LLC and the Dana Buchman label to Kohl’s Corp., and the proceeds were used to help reduce debt.
Liz Claiborne reported a net loss of $172 million in 2011, the only U.S. company in the apparel, footwear and accessories industry with a market value greater than $1 billion to lose money last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Analysts on average project the company will post net income of $15.7 million this year, its first annual profit since 2006.
While Liz Claiborne shares had gained 123 percent in the last year, the stock price as of yesterday was still 73 percent less than its peak of $46.64 in February 2007. The company was trading yesterday at 0.72 times projected sales of $1.7 billion in 2013, based on analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. That’s less expensive than 16 of the 17 other companies in the industry greater than $1 billion, the data show. The group has an average price-to-sales ratio of 1.49.
“This is still an undervalued portfolio,” Hedgeye’s Flavin said. “Kate Spade has continued to stay very strong and you are starting to see an inflection point at both Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand. Those brands are at an early stage of turnaround.”
Designer Deborah Lloyd, who helped rejuvenate Burberry Group Plc (BRBY), has turned the Kate Spade brand around with more- sophisticated handbags, costume jewelry and apparel such as bright, printed dresses. Fourth-quarter sales at Kate Spade, which now has 50 full-priced stores, soared 73 percent to $110 million from a year earlier.
Juicy Couture, which posted a 15 percent drop in sales to $161 million last quarter, was showing encouraging sales trends in the first few months of this year, McComb said Feb. 29. Known for its velour sweatsuits, Juicy Couture operates 78 stores.
The 179-store Lucky Brand business posted a 23 percent gain to $137 million in sales in the most recent quarter. A revitalization of the denim-based business has been spearheaded by David DeMattei, who was hired away from Williams-Sonoma Inc.
Liz Claiborne’s product lines could lure strategic bidders such as VF or Warnaco, said Mary Ross Gilbert, an analyst at Imperial in Los Angeles. New York-based Warnaco, which has controlled the license to sell Calvin Klein jeans since the 1990s, said last month that it wants to add “another power brand or brands” to its portfolio.
“They could have interest in any one of these brands,” Gilbert said in a phone interview. Kate Spade and Juicy Couture could attract VF and possibly Warnaco because of the “huge opportunities for growth globally, not only within the core business as it stands today, but the prospects of having subcategory brands and continued category expansion.”
VF could also benefit from adding each of Liz Claiborne’s three premium brands to its apparel lines, which include the Ella Moss and Wrangler labels, said Monness’s Chartier, who is based in New York.
“They have a denim business that Lucky could fit in and they’re looking to expand their offering of high-end brands, where Juicy and Kate would fit,” he said in a phone interview.
Wendi Kopsick, a spokeswoman for Warnaco, said the company doesn’t comment on speculation. Cindy Knoebel, a spokeswoman for Greensboro, North Carolina-based VF, said the company doesn’t comment on specific acquisition opportunities.
“Having said that, we have also stated that we remain interested in pursuing additional acquisitions, but primarily in the outdoor and action sports category,” she said in an e-mail.
While the company’s valuation and its brands may attract buyers, Liz Claiborne may not be a willing seller right now, said Corinna Freedman, an analyst at Wedbush Securities Inc. in New York.
“I don’t think that Bill McComb, who’s put in blood, sweat and tears over the last five to six years, would be willing to walk away after finally getting the company in the position where he wants it to be,” Freedman said in a phone interview. “Now, since they’ve whittled the company down to these three brands, it’s a totally new ballgame.”
Still, an acquirer may be willing to pay more than $20 a share for Liz Claiborne, according to Imperial’s Gilbert and Hedgeye’s Flavin, a 62 percent premium to yesterday’s closing price. Chartier at Monness said a takeout price of $20 is “definitely reasonable.”
Private-equity firms could bid as much as $21 a share, Gilbert estimates, using a sum-of-the-parts analysis.
“What private equity sees is an opportunity to capture the tremendous growth opportunity for themselves,” Gilbert said. “The stock trades at a big discount to its implied value. They would take it private, let the company realize their growth strategy, and then bring it to market later.”
Each of Liz Claiborne’s labels functions independently and has its own brand-level executives, which could entice a private-equity firm looking to buy the whole company and then sell the individual brands, said Chartier. Kate Spade is worth $2 billion, Juicy Couture $350 million and Lucky Brand $250 million, Flavin estimated.
“They’re all standalone businesses,” Chartier said. “Private equity could buy the company and then sell off parts of the acquisition whenever they see fit. So they’d pay for Kate Spade, but you’re getting a big opportunity to do something with Lucky and Juicy and turn those businesses around.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Katia Porzecanski in New York at kporzecansk1@bloomberg.net; Cotten Timberlake in Washington at ctimberlake@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Hauck at dhauck1@bloomberg.net; Katherine Snyder at ksnyder@bloomberg.net; Robin Ajello at rajello@bloomberg.net.
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ARLINGTON, Va., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Indian economy—fueled by a population exceeding one billion, with more than 300 million of them in the middle class—has been growing at nearly 7%. Economists believe India will one day overtake the U.S. to become the second largest economy in the world after China. Bloomberg BNA | Cite will host a live conference, India: Legal, Tax & Financial Update, April 25-26 in New York City, that will provide anyone currently doing business in India or considering investing in India with instruction on the latest legal, tax, and financial issues facing companies with operations or business opportunities in India.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33627LOGO)
"India continues to attract foreign direct investment with interest moving from software & IT into manufacturing, consumer products, health care, high tech, and defense sectors," notes Robert Ross, Program Director at Bloomberg BNA | Cite. "Notwithstanding the opportunities, India is a tough place to do business and challenges exist, including corruption, backups in the court system, infrastructure shortages, complex and ever-changing tax laws and compliance requirements, shortages of qualified skilled professionals, and need for adequate public education."
This conference will provide a unique opportunity to learn from a faculty of experienced global professionals with in-depth knowledge of the Indian market while networking with other professionals and corporate executives seeking answers to similar questions and issues.
The impact of Indian tax law on U.S. companies operating in India or looking to invest in India will be covered from many points of view. Attendees will also examine how the Indian legal and regulatory systems work and compare Indian and U.S. tax and accounting, identifying the differences and how they will affect a business.
Various sessions will address initial considerations for setting up a business in India—economic trends and forecasts, political developments, key regulations, and involved government agencies—and actual operating issues, including human resource and employment issues, legal and tax aspects of using intellectual property in India, and the latest legal and regulatory developments and investment opportunities in key sectors in the Indian market.
By attending the two-day conference, attendees will understand:
Legal and regulatory issues for doing business in India Tax and legal strategies for funding new and existing investments and repatriating profits Tax and legal issues in structuring M&A or JV transactions in India New developments on how the tax and legal system works in India Transfer pricing planning and compliance in India Recent developments in corporate governance in India Legal and tax aspects of utilizing intellectual property and resolving commercial disputes Investment opportunities in key sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, aerospace and defenseThe India: Legal, Tax & Financial Update will take place at the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel in New York, New York. To register, go to www.bna.com or call (914) 328.5656 for further information on special rates.
About Bloomberg BNA Bloomberg BNA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bloomberg, is a leading source of legal, regulatory, and business information for professionals. Its network of more than 2,500 reporters, correspondents, and leading practitioners delivers expert analysis, news, practice tools, and guidance - the information that matters most to professionals. Bloomberg BNA's authoritative coverage spans the full range of legal practice areas, including tax & accounting, labor & employment, intellectual property, banking & securities, employee benefits, health care, privacy & data security, human resources, and environment, health & safety. www.bna.com
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2/11/2012 11:58 PM ET
(RTTNews) - The U.S. Air Force may purchase up to 18,000 Apple IPad 2s in order to reduce the load of flight crews, Bloomberg reported, citing a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
The Air Mobility Command of the service intends to place a request for proposals to buy 63 to 18,000 iPad 2 brand name or equal devices to replace the high-weighing manuals and navigation charts carried by pilots and navigators.
Air Mobility Command provides transport and refueling services to the U.S. military.
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