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Economy HTS

Monument Capital Group Holdings Appoints World Class Team of Science and Data Experts to Advise on Security and Technology Acquisitions

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WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Leading figures in the world of cryptology and data security have joined the expert team at global security industry investment firm Monument Capital Group Holdings (MCGH).

MCGH is an international private investment firm focused on investments in non-lethal products and services in the global and national security sectors. MCGH specifically targets leading-edge technology companies.

Michael Leiter is Head of Global Government & Cyber Operations and Senior Counselor to the CEO of Palantir Technologies. From 2007 to 2011 he was Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Centre. Mr Leiter has joined MCGH as a Senior Advisor. He will work the MCGH team to provide analysis of the changing global cyber security space and help to inform the firms’ target market and acquisition strategy.

Professor Silvio Micali is a world-renowned cryptologist at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Turing Award Laureate. Professor Alex Pentland is Director of Human Dynamics at MIT Media Lab. He is considered a world-leading expert on data. Both have joined MCGH as scientific advisors.

Chairman and Managing Partner of Monument Capital Group Holdings Joel Andre Ornstein said:

“We are developing a team of world class experts who have an unrivalled understanding of the pioneering development and application of technology within the fast moving security and data industries. We are one of only a handful of private equity firms focusing exclusively on the global security market and these appointments give us the insight and edge needed to deliver high growth returns.“

Spending on technology and services in the global and national security sectors currently exceeds more than $1.3 trillion globally and is expected to continue to grow in excess of 7% per annum.

The need for off-the-shelf innovative technologies means that middle-market R&D driven companies, pioneering technological innovation, are able to access this high growth, radically shifting market.

Monument Capital Group Holdings Co-founder Robert J.Dunn said:

“Changes in the global security landscape are creating a demand for different kinds of technology developed by new, small to midcap technology-led companies. Monument Capital Group Holdings is targeting investment at those companies that have the potential for significant growth. We use our expertise and access to emerging markets to create significant opportunities for investors and innovative firms alike.”

Michael Leiter, Professor Micali and Professor Pentland join an MCGH team that comprises leading figures from the worlds of finance, private equity, government and the technology security sectors.

Food and Beverage PUB

Frost & Sullivan: Focus on Product Differentiation and Innovation Will Sustain Alcohol Ingredients Market

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LONDON, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The global alcohol ingredients market, which covers flavours, colours and other ingredients for beers, spirits and wines, is expected to see steady growth despite the dominance of a few companies. While flavours remain the biggest segment in the market, strong growth is projected in the “other ingredients” segment due to booming demand for yeast and enzymes.

Geographically, focus is expected to increase on developing regions such as Asia-Pacific, where consumer spending on alcohol is rising. Understanding the traditional and cultural tastes and preferences of consumers in these regions will be crucial to take full advantage of this trend.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the Global Alcohol Ingredients Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $989.2 million in 2013 and estimates this to reach $1.18 billion in 2019. While Western markets – Europe in particular – are the largest consumers, the strongest growth potential is presented by emerging markets such as Asia-Pacific, South Africa and Latin America. Spirits have the largest market share of alcohol beverage ingredients, mainly driven by the extensive use of flavours.

“As innovation is a key success factor in the alcohol beverage industry, new product development is likely to gain pace in the ingredients space,” said Frost & Sullivan Chemicals, Materials & Food Industry Analyst Tosin Jack. “Brand image and customer loyalty will also drive growth, with consumers embracing authenticity and sticking to products they know best.”

However, the decline in alcohol consumption in developed regions reduces the incentives for manufacturers to invest in production, thus, stifling innovation and restraining alcohol ingredients market growth. Campaigns launched to tackle alcoholism also hamper market expansion. Further, price volatility and limited availability of raw materials to manufacture alcohol ingredients are challenging market participants.

“Within this scenario, finding ways to add value to the alcohol ingredients on offer, and providing robust technical support, will be of utmost importance,” noted Ms Jack. “For companies with a global presence, consolidating with regional and smaller companies that have substantial knowledge of the local market will allow them to tailor alcoholic beverage production to suit varying regional and local tastes.”

For more information on this study, please email Julia Nikishkina, Corporate Communications, at julia.nikishkina@frost.com.

Analysis of the Global Alcohol Ingredients Market is part of the Food and Beverage Ingredients (http://www.food.frost.com) Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan’s related studies include: North American Plant Health Improvement Agents (PHIA) Market, Global Food and Beverage Processing Support Market, and Global Dairy Ingredients Market. All studies included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

Fashion Media

WGSN Group Announces Launch of New WGSN.com, Combining the Best of WGSN and Stylesight Into A Single, Global Platform

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LONDON, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — WGSN Group, the knowledge partner for the global style and retail sectors, today announced that the new WGSN.com service will launch on 4thAugust 2014. The product has been designed around the highly respected Stylesight technology which has been enhanced with additional features to create the new super-platform. The new product will be called WGSN and its visual identity reflects the coming together of these two market-leading trend services.

Based on robust customer research, the new WGSN.com will combine new technology with the world’s most talented, commercially creative people to make future trend forecasting as inspirational, accurate and commercially effective as it can be.

WGSN Group offers five pillars of content: consumer intelligence, trend forecasting, commercial product development, retail strategy and data analytics. Within trend forecasting, the new WGSN super-platform will provide technological innovations including fast search, tailored content, increased shareability and a professional design toolkit which will enable sophisticated high resolution zoom, clip functions and extensive print and download facilities.

From August, WGSN.com will also offer an increased scale and breadth of analysis to its 75,000 users. The single platform will offer the viewpoints of content experts from hubs in London, New York, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, available in five languages.

Steve Newbold, Global Managing Director WGSN Trends, said:

“We are really excited to announce the launch of the new WGSN. We have listened to our customers and taken advantage of technology and innovation to deliver a truly market-changing product. The increased global reach and depth of content within the new platform elevates the value and strength of what WGSN can offer, saving our customers time, helping them collaborate more effectively and giving them even more certainty. Ultimately, it empowers their business to make better decisions and to be more competitive.

“Carla Buzasi, who is joining WGSN in the newly created Global Chief Content Officer role, will lead the content strategy across WGSN.com. She will bring considerable content expertise and sound commercial and editorial judgement which will add a further dimension to the Group’s global operations. Carla will also ensure we constantly excel at bringing great content propositions to market which provide a brilliant customer experience,” Steve added.

Catriona Macnab, Chief Creative Officer WGSN, said:

“The strength of our global content experts ensures that our customers will continue to have the most trustworthy, innovative and experienced people giving them a creative and commercial point of view. The new, highly-intuitive, super platform is filled with deep local knowledge from all major regions, giving users fast access to whatever they need to grow their business.”

Isham Sardouk, SVP Chief Creative Officer Stylesight, said:

“Stylesight’s extensive understanding of the American market, the expertise of WGSN in Europe and our combined strength around the world will now come together with all the key features and services our customers need. Our Advisory, research and content teams have mastered the art of deciphering data and applying sharp judgement which helps our clients transform trends into successful creative business. Uniting WGSN and Stylesight will only create more amazing things.”

WGSN is a leading provider of global trend forecasting services. Over the past three years, more than GBP50m has been invested in WGSN Group, including in people, technology, infrastructure, content, innovation and acquisitions.

Health Care

ITC Rules Redesigned APEX Humidifier Still Infringes ResMed Patents

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SAN DIEGO, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — An International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling issued Friday held that, despite a redesign of its iCH CPAP device, Taiwanese device manufacturer APEX continues to infringe ResMed patents in its humidification. ResMed (NYSE: RMD) is the innovation leader and pioneer in designing and manufacturing devices for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140310/LA79234LOGO-a

“Our research and development teams are constantly researching and improving designs to reach new levels of comfort, performance and efficacy,” said David Pendarvis, ResMed chief administrative officer and global general counsel. “This result — and APEX’s own expert — affirms that the superior quality and functionality generated by ResMed innovation cannot be duplicated.”

The original ITC action filed by ResMed in March 2013 asserted patent infringement by four products: APEX iCH and XT Fit CPAP humidifiers, the WiZARD 220 full face mask, and the WiZARD 210 nasal mask.  In July 2013, APEX agreed to entry of an order prohibiting it from infringing ResMed’s patents. And as a result, APEX has been banned from selling infringing products in the United States.

APEX then redesigned its products and sought a ruling that it had avoided ResMed’s patents. In this new ruling, the full commission held that the APEX iCH humidifier continues to infringe. As a result, APEX should continue to be banned from selling the iCH humidifier in the United States. The redesigned APEX XT Fit was found not to infringe. But APEX’s own expert stated that the redesigned humidifiers compromised on functionality and performance. The redesigned WiZARD 220 full face mask — which now has a fused elbow instead of the more desirable detachable elbow — was found not to infringe on ResMed patents. Again, APEX’s expert noted that the redesigned masks sacrificed functional advantages present in the ResMed products. Finally, APEX chose to withdraw its redesigned WiZARD 210 nasal mask from these proceedings, so the July 2013 order remains in place as to that product.

Contacts:

For News Media

For Investors

Gretchen Griswold

Agnes Lee

Director, Global Corporate Communications

Senior Director, Investor Relations

O: 858-836-6789

O: 858-836-5971

news@resmed.com

investorrelations@resmed.com