Tower Club at lebua Ushers in 2015 with the World’s Highest Ball Drop

— The 872-Foot Ball Drop Atop the World’s Highest Alfresco Restaurant Secures Bangkok’s Place on the World Map of New Year’s Celebrations

BANGKOK, Jan. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Tonight the Bangkok Ball Drop at lebua once again put Thailand’s capital on the world map of New Year’s Eve celebrations as the 7-foot Bangkok Ball dropped 49 feet from above Sirocco, the world’s highest alfresco restaurant. Able to be seen for more than a mile across the city, the ball began 872 feet in the air, making it the most visible icon in Bangkok. For the second consecutive year, the descent of the Bangkok Ball is the city’s first and most memorable sight of 2015 followed by an eye-popping fireworks display.

Video – http://youtu.be/xZcqymR3BME
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141231/166592
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141231/166593
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141231/166594
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141231/166595

In addition to enjoying the best views across Bangkok, the guests at lebua’s four altitude-defying restaurants and bars – Sirocco, Mezzaluna, Breeze and Distil – were treated to an exclusive one-night only New Year’s Eve menu and a champagne reception with the CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts, Deepak Ohri.

As midnight approached, lebua Hotels & Resorts CEO Deepak Ohri said: “Following the international attention received by the Bangkok Ball Drop last year, we are delighted to host the event at lebua for a second consecutive year. It is set to be an annual event, and the city’s reputation as a New Year’s destination will continue to grow.”

With its incomparable vantage points from which to witness the record-breaking Bangkok Ball Drop, Tower Club at lebua was the ultimate destination to ring in 2015.

About Bangkok Ball Drop at lebua

  • Descended from a 49-foot steel pole, situated 872 feet above the ground
  • 7 feet in diameter and constructed of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal steel pieces covered with translucent fabric
  • Contains 2,950 LED lights and 50 strobes
  • Visible for a minimum of 1.1 miles
  • Weighs 1.2 tons
  • Constructed by 50 Thai engineers and craftsmen over a period of 40 days

About lebua Hotels & Resorts
lebua Hotels and Resorts is a growing international luxury brand that operates distinctive hotels, fine restaurants and bars in Thailand and India and an expansion of fine dining concepts in Europe. Led by visionary CEO Deepak Ohri, lebua takes a unique approach to hospitality that aspires to tap into a deeper level of exchange with guests to create emotional connections.
www.lebua.com

Press Contacts
Khanut Bunnooklub
Public Relations Manager, lebua Hotels and Resorts
E: khanut@lebua.com T: +66 (0) 2624 9550

Azubu Announces Historical Partnership with Fourteen Top Korean eSports Teams

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Azubu is proud to announce an unprecedented landmark partnership with fourteen of the world’s best League of Legends teams, all under the banner of the Korean eSports Association (KeSPA). Beginning September 16, the world’s best League of Legends players will begin broadcasting exclusively on Azubu, delivering more than 2,000 hours per month of live streaming entertainment. Special care has been taken to ensure that the players’ practice hours and other competitive commitments will not be adversely affected.

Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSp2ODNl1QU
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140910/145189

The teams involved are among the world’s premier eSports organizations, including the 2013 League of Legends World Champion SKT T1 K, along with SKT T1 S, CJ Entus Frost, CJ Entus Blaze, Incredible Miracle #1, Incredible Miracle #2, Jin Air Green Wings Falcons, Jin Air Green Wings Stealths, KT Rolster Arrows, KT Rolster Bullets, NaJin Black Sword, NaJin White Shield, Samsung White and Samsung Blue. Their players represent the pinnacle of eSports skill and talent.

To enhance the viewer’s experience, Azubu will provide a program guide with scheduled times for each streamer, so fans can plan ahead to watch their favorite streams live. This large-scale broadcast scheduling represents a first in the history of individual gameplay streaming.

Azubu’s CEO Ian Sharpe says, “This partnership marks a tipping point in the history of eSports streaming; never before have top Korean pro gamers personally streamed League of Legends to the public. For the first time, fans will be able to watch and interact with the world’s best while they stream on Azubu.”

Below are sentiments expressed by some of the players:

Faker, SKT T1 K – “I’m thrilled to be streaming on Azubu. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fans overseas. Please visit Azubu often and support my stream!”

Madlife, CJ Entus Blaze – “Hi, I’m Madlife – Ming-gi Hong from CJ Entus Blaze. I’m so happy to finally stream and meet my fans across the world. If you missed seeing my Blitz grabs and Alistar W-Q combos, then check out my channel! Thanks!”

Watch, NaJin White Shield – “I can’t wait to show my fans some incredible Baron steals and come-from-behind victories. I’m really looking forward to streaming and hope you have fun watching!”

Flame, CJ Entus Blaze – “I’m eager to start streaming on Azubu and communicating with fans from around the world. I’m excited to see you all! I hope you enjoy my stream!”

Imp, Samsung White – “This is a fantastic chance for me to show you some awesome League of Legends action. Being on Azubu gives me the chance to meet fans from all over. Stay tuned!”

KaKAO, KT Rolster Arrows – “Hi, KaKAO here, Byungkwon Lee from KT Rolster Arrows. Streaming on Azubu is an awesome step forward because it’s for you, our fans! Hope you are as excited as I am. Enjoy my streams!!”

A complete list of the players who will be streaming on Azubu is below:

Team Rosters (LoL Squads)

SKT T1 K

SKT T1 S

Najin B Sword

CJ Frost

CJ Blaze

Faker

easyhoon

Duke

Madlife

Flame

Piglet

MaRin

Cain

Shy

Ambition

Impact

H0R0

kurO

CoCo

Daydream

bengi

Bang

Lee

Space

Gunza

PoohMandu

Wolf

Ohq

[TBD]

Emperor

Najin W Shield

JA Falcons

JA Stealths

IM #1

IM #2

Ggoong

XD

Cpt Jack

Smeb

A Lilac

watch

Pilot

Chaser

Bbuing

wisdom

Save

[TBD]

TrAce

Smurf

Frozen

Zefa

[TBD]

Fly

thy

SONSTAR

Gorilla

[TBD]

Chei

Bory

TuSin

KT Bullets

KT Arrows

Samsung Blue

Samsung White

Prime

KaKAO

dade

imp

Destiny

ssumday

Acorn

DanDy

Score

Rookie

Spirit

Looper

Nagne

Arrow

Deft

Mata

Limit

Hachani

Heart

Pawn

Keep watching Azubu for more information, including announcements on Azubu’s upcoming League of Legends World Championship enhanced broadcast.

For more information on the teams and players, visit www.Azubu.tv.

Contact Information:

Azubu is a global broadcast network which delivers premium live and on-demand eSports programming. Azubu provides worldwide high-definition action from premier tournaments, teams and players to phones, PC’s and tablets across the globe. With offices in Los Angeles, London, Vancouver and Seoul, Azubu is the ideal platform for publishers to drive advocacy and awareness for new titles and support for existing games, while brands can take advantage of a range of creative solutions to reach a targeted global audience

The Korean e-Sports Association, known as KeSPA, was formed in 2000 as the governing body of e-Sports in Korea. KeSPA has helped pioneer a strong e-Sports market in Korea as well foster a competitive environment to create the strongest teams and players in the world. KeSPA strives to grow e-Sports in a sustainable manner to create long term success for e-Sports in the world.

League of Legends is a trademark or registered trademark of Riot Games, Inc. League of Legends © Riot Games, Inc.

HeckArt Studios to World Premiere ALTERGEIST with DIRECTV Exclusive

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — On the heels of signing a 5-year output agreement, DIRECTV and HeckArt Studios have selected supernatural thriller ALTERGEIST from writer/director Tedi Sarafian (Terminator 3, Tank Girl) to be first up under the deal.  The film will world premiere October 9th on DIRECTV, where it will run exclusively until November 5th, immediately ahead of a platform theatrical release.

Video – http://youtu.be/GlAqWdidt4U
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140909/144545
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140708/124945

Shot on location at Korbel Champagne Cellars, ALTERGEIST follows a group of paranormal investigators as they search the famously haunted King’s Ransom Winery. As long-buried memories and deep-seated fears threaten to overtake the team, they are terrified to learn that even the ghosts fear the truly sinister presence that has plagued the family estate for generations.

Day-and-Date releases are becoming more common but opening a film on VOD weeks before it comes to cinemas is rare. “We are excited to world premiere ALTERGEIST on DIRECTV,” says HeckArt CEO Aaron Heck. “This emerging model has a number of benefits, including the national promotion undertaken by DIRECTV.”

HeckArt Studios will work with DIRECTV to build a national awareness of the film during the VOD platform’s exclusive window. “DIRECTV has roughly 20 million subscribers, and with over 115 million households in the USA, there are plenty of eyeballs to reach with other distribution outlets,” explains Heck. “As DIRECTV customers watch the movie at home, awareness will spread to other audiences, who will seek out ALTERGEIST elsewhere, such as in theaters or through EST outlets.”

The deal between HeckArt Studios and DIRECTV benefits both parties, providing DIRECTV with exclusive content for their subscribers, while raising awareness about the film ahead of launching it onto other platforms. As more exhibitors see the value this model can bring to indie theatrical runs, it may well be the future of independent cinema.

About ALTERGEIST
Supernatural thriller ALTERGEIST was shot entirely on location at the historic Korbel Champagne Cellars, established in 1882, and derives inspiration from true-life events on the estate, including paranormal phenomena and suspicious deaths. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlAqWdidt4U 
http://www.ALTERGEISTmovie.com 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985196/ 
https://www.facebook.com/ALTERGEISTmovie 
https://twitter.com/ALTERGEISTmovie

About HeckArt Studios
An established film and commercial production company, HeckArt Studios recently expanded into distribution operations, recognizing the need for a different kind of distributor. In addition to acquiring completed films seeking distribution, HeckArt Studios continues to actively develop their own feature projects.

http://www.heckartstudios.com

Contact:
John Negropontes
info@heckartstudios.com 
424.210.3320

TRESemme Looks to Make Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as Famous for the Hair as It Is for the Fashion

– New Global Approach Empowers Women Everywhere to Achieve the Latest Hair Styles from the Runway, Right at Home

NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — TRESemme, the official hair care sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, returns to New York for its 13th consecutive season to empower women with the backstage secrets of creating runway hair, you can wear. This season, the globally recognized brand is working across its 24 markets to introduce women to its team of Runway Insiders, a collection of fashion industry experts, and expose them to the professional hair expertise, at their fingertips. This new collective, which includes leading hair stylists, top established and emerging fashion designers, as well as the industry’s favorite expert insiders, will show TRESemme fans how to make runway looks work for their personal real-life moments.

Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-NY02991-20140903-01.mp4
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140903/142348
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140903/142349

“The infectious energy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is something that the women who use TRESemme want to be part of more and more,” said Chris Barron, Global Vice President of TRESemme. “This season, we aim to make Fashion Week as famous for the hair as it is for the fashion. We know that this is a bold statement, but it showcases our commitment to achieve what the brand is best known for – to inspire and empower women the world over to take trendsetting hair from the runway, personalize it and make it their own to express their individual style, whatever the occasion.”

Amplifying the presence TRESemme has at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week even further, the brand will debut a unique advertising campaign in the epicenter of New York City, featuring an interactive billboard on the NASDAQ in Times Square.  The “Catwalk to Crosswalk” campaign allows fans to place themselves in a TRESemme billboard, engaging spectators by giving them their own moment in the spotlight.  Fans from around the world are prompted to visit www.tresbillboard.com on their smartphone and follow instructions, once they log on to the site.  To personalize their own billboard moment, they can upload a photo from their Facebook page and share their larger than life appearance on social media. 

TRESemme RUNWAY INSIDERS:
From the streets of New York City to the backstage and front row at the hottest shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the TRESemme Runway Insiders will be working around the clock to bring women a personal point of view of the latest hair trends and how women at-home can achieve these looks. Part of this team will be  professional hair stylists Matthew Curtis, Paul Hanlon and Jeanie Syfu who will use the full collection of TRESemme products to interpret each designers’ vision into fashion-forward looks that standout on- and off- the catwalk and inspire women to turn these trends from runway to ready-to-wear.  As part of this inspiration, TRESemme is partnering with some of the most celebrated established and emerging fashion designers on the schedule including: Clover Canyon, Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, Misha Nonoo, Narciso Rodriguez, Rebecca Taylor and Marissa Webb.

Also joining our Runway Insiders team is blogger, model, DJ and fashionista Harley Viera-Newton.  No stranger to the front row, Harley is a girl with a passion for all things hair and fashion and is best known for her unique individual style. “One of my favorite parts of the fashion week experience is getting inspired by the amazing hairstyles you see on the catwalk, and around Lincoln Center,” says Harley. “I always come away full of ideas to try at my next event so I’m excited to go behind the scenes with TRESemme and experience life from the other side of runway this season. I can’t wait to share these insider secrets from the TRESemme team and empower women to try the trends themselves, with a little expert advice.”

With access to all areas throughout Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Harley will gain the inside hair scoop live from backstage, the front row and from the most coveted parties taking place around New York City. Her video diaries, which will be filmed by online style mavens “The Coveteur” throughout the week, will show Harley mastering her favorite hair looks from the runway as she prepares to DJ a party or take the front row at her designer friends’ shows. The TRESemme Daily Debrief series, will be streamed on www.coveteur.com and www.Facebook.com/TRESemme to give women the world over unprecedented access to the insiders at the fashion event of the year. These daily videos will show how the hottest runway hair looks can be achieved in a few simple steps thanks to TRESemme.

Completing the Runway Insider team is globally renowned blogger and street style photographer Candice Lake. Having walked the runway as a model before becoming a celebrated Vogue photographer, Candice brings her great eye for spotting trends as they develop on the city streets to the Runway Insider team. Candice’s unique perspective on how high fashion looks can be reworked, personalized and made relevant to your own style will provide inspiration throughout Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as the city comes alive through this most prestigious event in the fashion calendar. In addition to her Runway Insider role, Candice will again report live from Lincoln Center with the help of TV personality Louise Roe and style blogger Arielle Nachmani of Something Navy for the daily Style Setters web TV show that highlights the latest trends and tracks what’s trending in social media as the style crowd discuss their top looks. The Style Setter series will be hosted on www.youtube.com/TRESemme.

TRESemme AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK:
For the first-time ever, TRESemme and E!, the official media sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, will collaborate on a co-branded two-story Salon and Lounge at Lincoln Center, offering guests a truly unique Fashion Week experience.  With a top level VIP Greenroom overlooking the E! studio, guests will have a birds-eye view of live tapings.  Additionally, guests can book a professional styling appointment in the only on-site salon inside Lincoln Center.  Downstairs at the Trend Bar, visitors will browse through a digital library of runway-inspired hairstyles to draw inspiration for their styling appointment, and receive photo strips with instructions to recreate their desired looks at home.

The Spring/Summer 2015 season of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week takes place from September 4th – 11th, 2014 at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Notes to Editors:
YouTube: YouTube.com/TRESemme
Twitter: Twitter.com/TRESemme @TRESemme #TRESmbfw
Facebook: Facebook.com/TRESemme
Instagram: @TRESemme
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/TRESemme
www.TRESemme.com

About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries. We work with 174,000 colleagues around the world and generated annual sales of €49.8 billion in 2013. Over half of our company’s footprint is in the faster growing developing and emerging markets (57% in 2013). Working to create a better future every day, we help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Our portfolio includes some of the world’s best known brands, 14 of which – Knorr, Persil / Omo, Dove, Sunsilk, Hellmann’s, Surf, Lipton, Rexona / Sure, Wall’s ice cream, Lux, Flora / Becel, Rama /

Blue Band, Magnum and Axe / Lynx – now generate a turnover of €1 billion or more. 

Our ambition is to double the size of our business, whilst reducing our overall environmental footprint (including sourcing, consumer use and disposal) and increasing our positive social impact. We are committed to helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, sourcing all our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020, and decoupling our growth from our environmental impact. Supporting our three big goals, we have defined nine commitments, underpinned by targets encompassing social, environmental and economic areas. See more on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan at www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/(Link opens in a new window)

Unilever has been recognised in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes for 14 consecutive years. We are included in the FTSE4Good Index Series and attained a top environmental score of 5, leading to inclusion in the FTSE4Good Environmental Leaders Europe 40 Index. Unilever has been named sector leader of the CDP’s Forests programme for three consecutive years, and in 2014 led the list of Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders in the GlobeScan/SustainAbility annual survey – for the fourth year running. Unilever was named LinkedIn’s third most sought-after employer worldwide in 2013.

For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com

Contact:
Greg Casto/Edelman
+44-(0)-775-381-7995
greg.casto@edelman.com

Philips Debuts New Affiniti Ultrasound System at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2014

— Philips expands suite of innovative imaging solutions with technology designed to reduce pressures facing high-volume hospitals and clinics

ANDOVER, Mass., Aug. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced the launch of Affiniti, a new ultrasound system designed to enable global hospitals and health systems to overcome the demands of increasing patient volumes and cost pressures. Making its debut at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2014 in Barcelona this week, Affiniti provides innovative technology to help radiology/ultrasound departments facing more patients with fewer resources deliver high quality patient care.

Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/141574-Affiniti_Product_Video_CV_hq.mp4

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140829/141546

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140829/141548

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO

“Affiniti was designed with the everyday challenges of healthcare professionals in mind,” said Vitor Rocha, CEO and Senior Vice President of Ultrasound for Philips Imaging Systems. “We have leveraged more than 45 years of ultrasound innovation to deliver a reliable system that combines the excellent image quality our customers expect for fast, confident diagnosis, with advanced tools to help them improve efficiency and workflow and allow for the very best standard of care.”

Built on the same architecture as Philips’ ground breaking EPIQ ultrasound, Affiniti meets the needs of physicians who are challenged with treating large volumes of patients on any given day. Philips collaborated with hundreds of physicians around the world, who provided feedback to help inform Affiniti’s ergonomic design, which led to an intuitive, easy-to-use system. Philips put the system through 4,500 hours of reliability testing with the demands of a busy medical practice and heavy workload in mind.

“With our high patient volume, cost pressures and throughput demands, my department/clinic/facility needs a system that offers high performance, a range of configuration options and low total cost of ownership while still offering superior image quality,” said Dr. Martin Penicka, Cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, OLV Clinic, Aalst, Belgium.
“Philips Affiniti enables us to get to the level of detail we need to best serve our patients and enable our clinicians to keep up with increasing demand.”  

Officially unveiled today at the ESC Congress 2014, Affiniti will be showcased at the Philips booth (F500) from Saturday, August 30th through Wednesday, September 3rd. Key features include:

  • Crisp, clear images that enable fast, confident diagnosis and reduce the need for additional exams;
  • Philips’ PureWave transducer technology, delivering excellent image quality with little or no need for image adjustment for technically difficult patients;
  • Anatomical Intelligent Ultrasound, providing automatic anatomy recognition and quantification, making it easy to perform exams and quickly deliver new levels of clinical information;
  • Automation tools such as AutoSCAN, Auto Doppler and SmartExam to reduce the number of steps required to complete each exam, resulting in enhanced workflow;
  • DICOM and PC format capabilities to allow seamless information-sharing

*Affiniti is not yet available for sale, but will be available in several European markets later this year, with the U.S. launch slated for 2015.

To learn more about Affiniti and the full suite of Philips innovative ultrasound solutions, please visit: www.philips.com/affiniti. For more information on Philips’ participation at the ESC Congress 2014, including the speaker program, symposium and workshops, visit: www.philips.com/esc and follow the #ESCcongress conversation @PhilipsHealth.  

* Affiniti is not yet CE marked or available for delivery in the EU.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O’Reilly
Philips Healthcare
Tel: +1 978-659-2638
Mobile: +1 978-221-8919
Email: kathy.oreilly@philips.com
Twitter: @kathyoreilly

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 113,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

AMRI Announces Second Quarter 2014 Results

— Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.22, up 100%

— Total Revenue of $68.2 million, including Contract Revenue of $61.5 Million, up 15%

— Company Increases 2014 Adjusted EPS Guidance to $0.87 – $0.92 to Reflect Addition of OsoBio and Strengthening Contract Business

ALBANY, New York, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — AMRI (NASDAQ: AMRI) today reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Highlights:

  • Second quarter contract revenue of $61.5 million, up 21% from 2013
  • Second quarter adjusted diluted EPS of $0.22 vs. $0.11 in 2013
  • Expanded second quarter contract margins to 27% from 16% in 2013
  • Acquired Oso Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing in July 2014, expanding contract manufacturing capabilities to include commercial scale, complex injectable drug product

Updated Financial Guidance 2014:

  • Full year contract revenue guidance increased to between $275 and $283 million, an increase of 33% at the midpoint
  • Royalty revenue guidance of $25 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA between $59 and $63 million, up 24% at the midpoint
  • Adjusted diluted EPS range between $0.87 and $0.92, compared to $0.70 in 2013, an increase of 28% at the midpoint, despite a $10 to $12 million decrease in estimated royalties from Allegra
  • Operating cash flow of $27 to $30 million

Adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures, which exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading “Non-GAAP Adjustment Items.”  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures are included in Tables 1 and 2 at the end of this press release.

“We are very pleased with our results this quarter, highlighted by a 34% growth in our large scale manufacturing business and the addition of Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals,” said William S. Marth, AMRI’s president and chief executive officer. “Importantly, contract margins improved across our entire operations as a result of increased capacity utilization and the addition of the higher margin Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals business.”

“We continue to see growth in our pipeline of discovery and development programs, notably the expansion of our innovative Insourcing chemistry program, together with the addition of new development and supply programs in our API and Drug Product divisions,” continued Mr. Marth. “Based on anticipated continued growth of our business and the recent addition of OsoBio, we are raising our outlook for 2014 with contract revenue growth of 33% and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 29% at the midpoint.”

Second Quarter 2014 Results

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2014 was $68.2 million, an increase of 15% compared to total revenue of $59.3 million reported in the second quarter of 2013.

Total contract revenue for the second quarter of 2014 was $61.5 million, an increase of 21% compared to contract revenue of $50.8 million reported in the second quarter of 2013. Contract margins were 26.7% for the second quarter of 2014, compared with 16.4% for the second quarter of 2013, driven by increased capacity utilization and the addition of Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals.

Royalty revenue in the second quarter of 2014 was $6.7 million, a decrease of 21% from $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2013. Royalty revenue for the second quarter of 2014 includes royalties from the Allegra® products as well as $2.5 million from the net sales of certain amphetamine salts sold by Actavis.

Net income under U.S. GAAP was $3.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2014, compared to a U.S. GAAP net loss of $(2.5) million, or $(0.08) per basic and diluted share for the second quarter of 2013. Net income on an adjusted basis in the second quarter of 2014 was $7.1 million or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $3.6 million or $0.11 per diluted share.  Net income on an adjusted basis excludes the following items that are included under U.S. GAAP:  the impact of restructuring charges, executive transition costs, convertible debt interest and amortization charges, business acquisition costs, litigation settlement charges, write-offs of deferred financing costs,  non-cash long-lived asset impairment charges, losses on disposals of assets related to restructuring activities, insurance demutualization gains, depreciation and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments, non-recurring income tax adjustments, and postretirement benefit plan settlement gains.

Year to Date

Total revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 was $127.5 million, an increase of 7% compared to total revenue of $118.7 million for the same period in 2013.

Total contract revenue for the first six months of 2014 was $112.5 million, an increase of 16% compared to contract revenue of $97.3 million for the same period in 2013.

Royalty revenue for the first six months of 2014 was $15.0 million, a decrease of 30% from $21.4 million in 2013. Royalty revenue for the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 includes royalties from the Allegra® products as well as $4.8 million from the net sales of certain amphetamine salts sold by Actavis.

Net income under U.S. GAAP for the first half of 2014 was $7.2 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to U.S. GAAP net income of $3.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share for the first half of 2013. Net income on an adjusted basis in the first half of 2014 was $12.2 million or $0.37 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $10.6 million or $0.34 per share in 2013. For a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per diluted share as reported to adjusted net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per diluted share for the 2014 and 2013 reporting periods, please see Table 1 at the end of this press release. During the second quarter of 2014 we identified certain tax liabilities that should have been recorded as tax expense in various immaterial amounts during the periods from 2007 through 2013. Financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 have been updated from previously reported amounts to reflect the immaterial prior period income tax adjustments.

Segment Results

Discovery Services and Development/Small Scale Manufacturing

Discovery Services and Development/Small Scale Manufacturing (DDS) contract revenue for the second quarter of 2014 was $19.5 million, consistent with the second quarter of 2013 as decreases in Discovery Services were offset by increases in Development/Small Scale Manufacturing. DDS contract margins were 19.1% for the second quarter of 2014, compared with 13.1% for the second quarter of 2013, driven by a stronger mix of business and the benefit of cost reduction initiatives in both Discovery Services and Development/ Small Scale Manufacturing.

DDS contract revenue for the first half of 2014 was $39.0 million, a decrease of 2% from the first half of 2013 as decreases in Discovery Services were largely offset by increases in Development/Small Scale Manufacturing. DDS contract margins were 17.8% for the first half of 2014, compared with 14.9% for the first half of 2013.

Large Scale Manufacturing
Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) contract revenue for the second quarter of 2014 was $42.0 million, an increase of 34% from $31.3 million in 2013.  LSM contract revenue for the second quarter of 2014 includes $5.5 million of revenues from the Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals business that was acquired in April 2014. LSM adjusted contract margins were 30.5% in the second quarter of 2014, compared with 18.4% for the second quarter of 2013, driven by increased capacity utilization and improved mix including the Cedarburg business.

LSM contract revenue for the first half of 2014 was $73.5 million, an increase of 27% from $57.7 million in 2013.  LSM adjusted contract margins were 25.9% in the first half of 2014, compared with 19.2% for the first half of 2013.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2014, AMRI had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $136.9 million, compared to $171.0 million at March 31, 2014. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 was primarily due to the use of $38.7 million to acquire Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals, $4.8 million in debt payments, and $3.5 million of capital expenditures, offset by cash flow from operations of $12.4 million. Total common shares outstanding, net of treasury shares, were 32,419,424 at June 30, 2014.  Since the close of the second quarter we subsequently used $109.3 million of cash to acquire the Oso Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing business.

Second Quarter Results Conference Call

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-438-5525 (domestic calls) or 719-325-2354 (international calls) at 9:50 a.m. ET and entering passcode 9752010. The audio webcast will be available live via the Internet and can be accessed on the company’s website at www.amriglobal.com.

Replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 (domestic calls) or 719-457-0820 (international calls) and entering passcode 9752010 from Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. ET to Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. ET.  Replay of the audio webcast can also be accessed for up to 90 days after the call via the investor area of the company’s website at www.amriglobal.com/investor_relations/.

About AMRI

Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI) is a global contract research and manufacturing organization that has been working with the Life Sciences industry to improve patient outcomes and the quality of life for more than two decades. With locations in North America, Europe and Asia, our key business segments include Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) and Discovery and Development Solutions (DDS). The LSM segment includes Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and Drug Product Manufacturing, which supports the commercial cGMP manufacturing of complex APIs, starting materials, clinical formulation development and aseptic fill and finish. Our DDS segment provides comprehensive services from hit identification to IND, including expertise with diverse chemistry, library design and synthesis, in vitro biology and pharmacology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, as well as natural products. For more information about AMRI, please visit our website at www.amriglobal.com or follow us on Twitter (@amriglobal).

Forward-looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company’s estimates of revenue, contract revenue, adjusted EBITDA adjusted diluted earnings per share for the full year 2014, statements made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, including statements under the caption “Updated Financial Guidance,” statements regarding the strength of the company’s business and prospects, statements regarding the impact of recent acquisition activity, and statements concerning the company’s momentum and long-term growth, including expected results for 2014. Readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. The company’s actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which the company may not be able to predict and may not be within the company’s control. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, trends in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies’ outsourcing of chemical research and development, including softness in these markets; sales of Allegra® and the impact of the “at-risk” launch of generic Allegra®, the OTC conversion of Allegra® and the generic and OTC sales of Allegra in Japan on the company’s receipt of significant royalties under the Allegra® license agreement; the success of the sales of other products for which the company receives royalties; the risk that the company will not be able to replicate either in the short or long term the revenue stream that has been derived from the royalties payable under the Allegra® license agreements; the risk that clients may terminate or reduce demand under any strategic or multi-year deal; the company’s ability to enforce its intellectual property and technology rights; the company’s ability to obtain financing sufficient to meet its business needs; the company’s ability to successfully comply with heightened FDA scrutiny on aseptic fill/finish operations; the results of further FDA inspections; the company’s ability to effectively maintain compliance with applicable FDA and DEA regulations; the company’s ability to integrate past or future acquisitions, including Cedarburg Pharmaceuticals and Oso Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing , and make such acquisitions accretive to the company’s business model, the company’s ability to take advantage of proprietary technology and expand the scientific tools available to it, the ability of the company’s strategic investments and acquisitions to perform as expected, as well as those risks discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2014, and the company’s other SEC filings. Revenue, contract revenue, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA and other financial guidance offered by senior management today represent a point-in-time estimate and are based on information as of the date of this press release. Senior management has made numerous assumptions in providing this guidance which, while believed to be reasonable, may not prove to be accurate. Numerous factors, including those noted above, may cause actual results to differ materially from the guidance provided. The company expressly disclaims any current intention or obligation to update the guidance provided or any other forward-looking statement in this press release to reflect future events or changes in facts assumed for purposes of providing this guidance or otherwise affecting the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Non-GAAP Adjustment Items

To supplement our financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have presented non-GAAP measures of income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) and income (loss) per diluted share, as adjusted to exclude certain restructuring charges, executive transition costs, convertible debt interest and amortization charges, business acquisition costs, litigation settlement charges, write-offs of deferred financing costs,  non-cash long-lived asset impairment charges, losses on disposals of assets related to restructuring activities, insurance demutualization gains, depreciation and amortization of purchase accounting adjustments, non-recurring income tax adjustments, and postretirement benefit plan settlement gains in the 2014 and 2013 periods.  We have also presented non-GAAP measures of adjusted EBITDA, which in addition to the items excluded above, further excluded the impact of interest income and expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and income tax expense or benefit.  Exclusion of these non-recurring items allow comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time.  We believe presentation of these non-GAAP measures enhances an overall understanding of our historical financial performance because we believe they are an indication of the performance of our base business. Management uses these non-GAAP measures as a basis for evaluating our financial performance as well as for budgeting and forecasting of future periods. For these reasons, we believe they can be useful to investors. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) or income (loss) per diluted share prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in Tables 1 and 2.  Our projected 2014 adjusted EPS and EBITDA, however, are only provided on an adjusted basis.  It is not feasible to provide GAAP EPS guidance because the items excluded are difficult to predict and estimate and are primarily dependent on future events.

 

Albany Molecular Research, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share data)

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

Contract revenue

$ 61,474

$ 50,764

$ 112,512

$ 97,257

Recurring royalties

6,705

8,528

14,988

21,441

          Total revenue

68,179

59,292

127,500

118,698

Cost of contract revenue

45,038

42,450

86,648

80,272

Technology incentive award

424

569

1,017

1,683

Research and development

128

171

207

276

Selling, general and administrative

12,747

12,454

23,376

22,003

Postretirement benefit plan settlement gain

(1,285)

Restructuring charges

1,042

4,953

1,272

5,832

Property and equipment impairment charges

3,718

906

3,718

1,440

          Total operating expenses

63,097

61,503

114,953

111,506

Income (loss) from operations

5,082

(2,211)

12,547

7,192

Interest expense, net

(3,065)

(137)

(5,681)

(274)

Other (expense) income, net

(192)

377

(232)

884

Income (loss) before income taxes

1,825

(1,971)

6,634

7,802

Income tax (benefit) expense

(1,899)

504

(590)

4,000

Net income (loss)

$ 3,724

$ ( 2,475)

$ 7,224

$ 3,802

Basic income (loss) per share

$ 0.12

$ (0.08)

$ 0.23

$ 0.12

Diluted income (loss) per share

$ 0.11

$ (0.08)

$ 0.22

$ 0.12

 

Albany Molecular Research, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

June 30,
2014

December 31,
2013

Cash and cash equivalents……………………..

$        130,417

$            175,928

Restricted cash……………………………..

6,467

714

Accounts receivable, net. …………………….

58,480

52,216

Royalty income receivable…………………….

6,541

7,523

Inventory………………………………….

44,277

31,991

Total current assets………………………….

260,818

279,019

Restricted cash…………………………………………

3,810

Property and equipment, net…………………..

131,619

127,775

Total assets………………………………..

520,150

445,268

Total current liabilities……………………….

50,168

48,849

Long‑term debt, excluding current installments, net of unamortized
   discount…….

122,154

123,135

Total liabilities……………………………..

266,877

204,511

Total stockholders’ equity…………………….

253,273

240,757

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity………….

520,150

445,268

 

Table 1:  Reconciliation of three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 reported income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per diluted share to adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share:

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share data)
Non-GAAP Measures

Second Quarter

Second Quarter

YTD

YTD

2014

2013

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2013

Income (loss) from operations, as reported

$              5,082

$              (2,211)

$           12,547

$           7,192

Impairment charges

3,718

906

3,718

1,440

Restructuring charges

1,042

4,953

1,272

5,832

Executive transition costs

(14)

386

626

386

Business acquisition costs

1,346

1,668

Purchase accounting depreciation and amortization

275

275

Postretirement benefit plan settlement gain

(1,285)

Litigation settlement

1,920

1,920

Income from operations, as adjusted

$               11,449

$                 5,954

$         18,821

$         16,770

Net income (loss), as reported

$              3,724

$              (2,475)

$         7,224

$         3,802

Adjustments, net of tax:

Impairment charges

2,417

906

2,417

1,253

Restructuring charges

653

3,553

850

4,182

Executive transition costs

(9)

251

407

251

Business acquisition costs

875

1,084

Purchase accounting depreciation and amortization

179

179

Postretirement benefit plan settlement gain

(835)

Convertible debt interest and amortization charges

1,641

3,257

Write-off of deferred financing costs

286

286

Non-recurring income tax adjustments

(2,715)

46

(2,715)

92

Litigation settlement

1,248

1,248

Insurance demutualization gain

(252)

Loss on disposal of assets

63

63

Net income (loss), as adjusted

$                 7,051

$                 3,592

$         12,154

$         10,639

Income (loss) per diluted share, as reported

$                0.11

$                (0.08)

$            0.22

$            0.12

Adjustments, net of tax:

Impairment charges

0.07

0.03

0.07

0.04

Restructuring charges

0.02

0.11

0.03

0.14

Executive transition costs

0.01

0.01

0.01

Business acquisition costs

0.03

0.03

Purchase accounting depreciation and amortization

0.01

0.01

Postretirement benefit plan settlement gain

(0.03)

Convertible debt interest and amortization charges

0.05

0.10

Write-off of deferred financing costs

0.01

0.01

Non-recurring income tax adjustments

(0.08)

(0.08)

Litigation settlement

0.04

0.04

Insurance demutualization gain

(0.01)

Loss on disposal of assets

Earnings per diluted share, as adjusted

$                0.22

$                0.11

$             0.37

$             0.34

 

Table 2:  Reconciliation of three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 reported income (loss) from operations to adjusted EBITDA:

QTD

QTD

YTD

YTD

June 30,
2014

June 30,
2013

June 30,
2014

June 30,
2013

Income (loss) from operations, as reported

$ 5,082

$ (2,211)

$ 12,547

$ 7,192

Impairment charges

3,718

906

3,718

1,440

Restructuring charges

1,042

4,953

1,272

5,832

Executive transition costs

(14)

386

626

386

Business acquisition costs

1,346

1,668

Postretirement benefit plan settlement gain

(1,285)

Litigation settlement

1,920

1,920

Income from operations, as adjusted

11,174

5,954

18,546

16,770

Add: Non-operating (expense) income net, as reported

(192)

377

(232)

844

Deduct: insurance demutualization gain

(388)

Add: Loss on disposal of assets

97

97

Add: Depreciation and amortization

4,263

3,949

8,024

8,012

Adjusted EBITDA

15,245

10,377

26,338

25,335

 

Accenture and Philips announce proof of concept app to show how ALS patients could gain greater control of their lives through brain, voice and eye commands

— Software connects Emotiv Insight Brainware to wearable display that allows wearers to command Philips Hue lighting, SmartTV and Lifeline products

ANDOVER, Mass. and NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) and Accenture  (NYSE: ACN) today announced that they have developed proof of concept software connecting a wearable display to Emotiv Insight Brainware that could ultimately give more independence to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Affecting more than 400,000 people per year*, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, impairs brain and spinal cord nerve cells, gradually diminishing voluntary muscle action. Late-stage patients often become totally paralyzed while retaining brain functions.

Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Coxfinalmed.mp4
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132659
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132661
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132663
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132660

“This proof of concept exemplifies how people, devices, data and technology could be brought together quickly to connect beyond the hospital walls in a way that can potentially help improve the quality of life for patients, wherever they are in their journey,” said Jeroen Tas, CEO, Healthcare Informatics Solutions and Services for Philips. “Philips will continue to collaborate with innovative technology companies such as Accenture to explore new wearable and sensor solutions that change peoples’ lives and create a healthier future.”

How it works

When a wearable display and the Emotiv Insight Brainware, which scans EEG brainwaves, are connected to a tablet, users can issue brain commands to control Philips products including Philips Lifeline Medical Alert Service, Philips SmartTV (with TP Vision), and Philips Hue personal wireless lighting. The tablet also allows control of these products using eye and voice commands. In both cases, a person could communicate preconfigured messages, request medical assistance, and control TVs and lights. Accenture and Philips developed the software that enables the integration and interaction between these multiple technologies.

The proof of concept application demonstrates how existing technology could be used to transform the quality of life for ALS patients. When patients lose muscle control and eye tracking ability, they can still potentially operate the Philips suite of connected products in their home environment through brain commands. The Emotiv technology uses sensors to tune in to electric signals produced by the wearer’s brain to detect, in real-time, their thoughts, feelings and expressions. The wearable display provides visual feedback that allows the wearer to navigate through the application menu.

The Accenture Technology Labs in San Jose, California collaborated with the Philips Digital Accelerator Lab in the Netherlands to create the software to interact with the Emotiv Insight Brainware and the wearable display. Fjord, a design consultancy owned by Accenture Interactive, designed the display’s user interface.

“This proof of concept shows the potential of wearable technology in a powerful new way — helping people with serious diseases and mobility issues take back some control of their lives through digital innovation,” said Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s chief technology officer.  “It is another demonstration of how Accenture and Philips, collaborating with other technology innovators, seek to improve the lives of people with healthcare challenges.”

“Empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s disease to live fuller lives is at the heart of the ALS Association’s mission,” said Ineke Zaal, spokesperson for Stichting ALS in The Netherlands. “We are tremendously excited about the potential for this proof of concept to give people with ALS greater independence and quality of life as we continue to actively search for a cure.”  

For more information on the proof of concept application for controlling Philips connected technologies with brain commands, visit http://www.philips.com/braincommand and join the continuing conversation on LinkedIn with Philips Innovations in Health Group

*Source: International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O’Reilly
Philips Healthcare
(o) +1-978-659-2638 (mobile) +1-978-221-8919
Kathy.oreilly@philips.com
@kathyoreilly

Charles Hartley
Accenture
+1-973-590-9920
Charles.hartley@accenture.com
@charleshartley

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 112,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 293,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About Emotiv 
Emotiv is a bioinformatics company offering a unique platform for crowd-sourced brain research. Emotiv leverages cloud computing, big data and mobile technology to offer valuable personal insights and accelerate brain research globally. Its home page is www.emotiv.com.