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MHI Thermal Systems Expands Packaged Air-Conditioner Lineup with 3 Compact Outdoor Unit Models and 5 Indoor Types Featuring Motion Sensors

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- Improvements in Size, Weight, Installation Ease, Energy Efficiency, and Comfort -

- HyperInverter 4-6 horsepower outdoor units reduced to 1,050mm height, 86kg weight
- Motion sensor-equipped indoor units expanded to 5 types, 22 models
- Debut at "HVAC&R JAPAN 2018" followed by summer product launch

TOKYO, Feb 26, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - MHI Thermal Systems, Ltd., a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), is to launch new compact, lightweight outdoor units for the 4, 5 and 6 horsepower (HP) models of its "HyperInverter" series of high-efficiency packaged air-conditioners. The company will also commence marketing of five new indoor units, for both the HyperInverter series and its "EXCEEDHYPER" series of ultra-energy-efficient packaged air-conditioners, equipped with a motion sensor function that detects the level of ambient human movement and automatically adjusts the room temperature accordingly. The new offerings are engineered for enhanced installation and construction ease while also improving energy efficiency, ambient comfort and operating performance. All new units will debut at the "HVAC&R JAPAN 2018" trade show at Makuhari Messe (Chiba) from February 27. The indoor units will be launched from Spring 2018 onwards, with the outdoor units following in summer.

The three new outdoor units are significantly smaller and lighter than previous models, measuring 1,050 millimeters in height (a reduction of 250mm) and 86 kilograms in weight (a reduction of 12kg). This makes them the industry's most compact outdoor units for commercial-use air-conditioners. All units are in compliance with Japan's new energy standards introduced in 2015(1). Efficiency has been enhanced and dimensions reduced through the adoption of a high-efficiency DC fan motor and newly designed large-diameter fan. Further, a variety of technologies and innovations have been incorporated to improve ease of installation and construction. For example, one-way piping length is an industry-leading 80 meters (m), and a "renewal kit" built into the unit enables the existing refrigerant piping to be used when the unit is replaced.

Indoor units equipped with the motion sensor function have until now been limited to the FDT ceiling cassette type with 4-way air outlets; now this feature will also be available on the FDTW ceiling cassette type with 2-way air outlets, the FDTS ceiling cassette type with 1-way air outlets,

the FDR ceiling recessed cassette type, the FDU high static pressure duct connected type, and the FDE ceiling suspended type. The lineup will be expanded to include 5 types and a total of 22 models. A motion sensor kit option will also be available that, when connected, detects when someone is in the room and the level of movement, prevents excessive cooling or heating, automatically shuts down when no one is present, and automatically starts up again when someone returns. This feature contributes to energy-saving operations. The new indoor units will be launched starting this spring.

The HyperInverter and EXCEEDHYPER series of packaged air-conditioners offer an expansive lineup of models accommodating a wide range of commercial needs. In addition to their outstanding achievements in efficiency and comfort, all models are engineered to reduce environmental impact, as illustrated by their adoption of the R32 refrigerant, which features an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and only about one-third the global warming potential (GWP) of the earlier R410A. The introduction of the new models will further enhance these series' appeal.

Going forward, MHI Thermal Systems will continue to pursue the development of packaged air-conditioner products - for shops, offices and commercial buildings - engineered for environmental harmony, user convenience and operating ease.

(1) When combined with all indoor units (as of February 2018). In line with revision of the "Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy" (Energy Conservation Law), starting with shipments in April 2015 all products are required to meet the new 2015 energy standards (weighted-average basis).

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.
For more information, please visit the MHI Group website: http://www.mhi-global.com.
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: http://spectra.mhi.com.

Contact:
Joseph Hood, PR Manager Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email: mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168 Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TEPCO's Chief Announces Plans for Global Expansion, Renewable Energy

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Pledges JPY 500 Billion Annually for Fukushima, 450 Billion profit over next decade

TOKYO, Feb 26, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Nearing his first anniversary in office, TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa spoke at a press conference held at the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC) of Japan, in which he set out a bold vision for global growth and investment in renewables while also pledging to continue providing strong support for the restoration of Fukushima.

Kobayakawa, who at 53 is TEPCO's youngest leader ever, is charting a dramatically new path for the company as it navigates the challenges posed by deregulation of Japan's energy markets, the country's declining population, and the need to continue cleanup work at Fukushima. The company, he said, will continue its transformation from a local utility to an innovative global energy and technology company, partnering with other leaders around the world.

"Our main mission is guaranteeing the delivery of a stable supply of low-cost electricity customers. Within that mission, nuclear power is not everything. Thermal power, the procurement of renewable energy, and hydropower all play a part."

Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VRseTBKeU

Commitment to Fukushima

The focus on the future will not come at the expense of TEPCO's obligations to its past, Kobayakawa said. Noting the steady improvement of the situation both inside the Fukushima Daiichi facility and in the surrounding towns, he affirmed the corporate mission to rebuild communities and restore the trust of the residents, including efforts to support the sale of Fukushima produce.

Increase corporate value, earnings

To meet its obligations at Fukushima and return the company to profitability, Kobayakawa said TEPCO aims to grow revenue by 500 billion yen annually, and generate a total of 450 billion yen in profit over the next decade.

This will be accomplished through streamlining businesses and cost reduction, reorganization and integration of nuclear power and distribution, as well as forming alliances with partners.

Expanding in a shrinking market

To meet these ambitious goals, Kobayakawa said, TEPCO must look beyond its traditional service area in the Kanto region around Tokyo. Japan's electricity market is shrinking due to energy conservation and a rapidly decreasing population. TEPCO will create businesses in new areas, such as its JERA joint venture with Chubu Electric, which will create a value chain from fuel upstream to thermal generation and bundling the sale of electricity and natural gas.

Renewable energy domestically and globally

With TEPCO's fuel and thermal power generation business as an established revenue stream, the company has high hopes for the promise of renewable energy, which it expects to become a comparable pillar in the future based on global investment projections over the next decade. Kobayakawa commented that while there are challenges to overcome in connecting renewables to the distribution network, he is confident that the company's proprietary know-how will find various solutions.

To formulate a detailed plan during the coming fiscal year, TEPCO's holding company will pull together expertise from its various teams, including engineering, distribution, and international project consultation to form the Mirai (Future) Management Committee.

"Renewables are an essential component of our future. We believe we can scale up our renewables business to create a new source of revenue comparable to JERA."

About TEPCO

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) is Japan's largest power company group, holding three independent business entities: TEPCO Fuel & Power, Inc., TEPCO Power Grid, Inc., and TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. As a group, it generates, distributes, and sells electricity and other types of energy principally to the Kanto metropolitan area, which includes Japan's two most populous cities, Tokyo and Yokohama. Its 42,060 employees are committed to providing safe, reliable power as well as fulfilling its responsibilities to the communities of Fukushima. (As of April 1, 2017)
TEPCO Website: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html
TEPCO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTEPCOen
TEPCO Twitter page: https://twitter.com/TEPCO_English

 
Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Toyota Announces New Powertrain Units Based on TNGA

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Toyota develops Direct Shift-CVT, the world's first continuously variable transmission to use a launch gear

- Toyota develops a new 2.0-liter class TNGA-based powertrain unit. The powertrain unit's continuously variable transmission (CVT) utilizes an unprecedented(1) mechanism that significantly improves driving and environmental performance.
- By the end of 2023, Toyota intends to install TNGA-based powertrain units in approximately 80 percent of Toyota vehicles sold annually in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from Toyota vehicles by 18 percent or more(2).

Toyota City, Japan, Feb 26, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation announces that it has developed a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), 6-speed manual transmission, 2.0-liter engine, 2.0-liter hybrid system, and 4WD systems based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), a development framework aimed at making ever-better cars. The new technologies offer both superb driving performance and high environmental performance.

The new continuously variable transmission features a launch gear, a world first, to significantly improve transmission efficiency at low speeds when compared to existing CVTs. It realizes both direct and smooth driving response to accelerator application, as well as superior fuel efficiency.

Direct Shift-CVT: A New Type of Continuously Variable Transmission

The basic function of any transmission system is to achieve transmission efficiency, high-efficiency engine ranges, and highly responsive gear changes. To improve these functions, Toyota has striven to reduce mechanical loss, adopt a wider gear range, and improve shift tracking. These initiatives have resulted in a direct and smooth driving experience with superior fuel efficiency, which has been improved by six percent over the existing transmission system.

Reduced mechanical loss

The new powertrain unit features the world's first launch gear in a passenger vehicle CVT(1), which facilitates improved transmission efficiency in lower gear ratios where belt efficiency is poor. The transmission system utilizes gear drive when starting from a full stop, resulting in powerful acceleration while at the same time resolving the momentary sluggish feeling that was previously present during accelerator operation. Both smooth and comfortable launch performance are realized. When switching from gear drive to belt drive, the transmission system uses highly responsive gear change control technologies cultivated from AT technology.

Conversion to wider gear ranges

In line with the adoption of a launch gear, belt use is now specified for higher gear ratios. This new setup not only improves the efficiency of belt use, but also enables the adoption of wider gear ranges, thereby realizing a class-leading gear ratio range of 7.5 for the 2.0-liter class(1).

Improved shift tracking

The adoption of launch gears results in reduced input load. This enables the size of both belt and pulley components to be reduced. The belt angle has been narrowed and pulley diameters reduced, resulting in shifting speeds that are 20 percent faster. Both powerful and rhythmic acceleration are realized.

New 6-speed Manual Transmission (6MT)

Toyota has also developed a new manual transmission in response to global needs, particularly those in Europe. Compared to the existing version, the mass of the new system has been reduced by seven kilograms and total length by 24 millimeters. This makes it one of the world's smallest transmissions(1), and its small size contributes to improved fuel efficiency. The 6MT also offers world-leading transmission efficiency(1), while the use of iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) controls, which automatically adjust engine rotations when changing gears, ensures smooth gear shifting--free of uncomfortable recoils--for the driver.

2.0-liter Dynamic Force Engine, a New 2.0-liter Direct-injection, Inline 4-cylinder Gasoline Engine

Toyota's new Dynamic Force Engine adopts high-speed combustion technologies and a variable control system. It also achieves greater thermal efficiency, resulting in high output, due to a reduction in energy loss associated with exhaust and cooling systems, the movement of mechanical parts, and other aspects. As a result, the newly developed 2.0-liter gasoline vehicle and hybrid vehicle engines achieve world-leading thermal efficiencies of 40 percent and 41 percent respectively(1). In addition, compared to existing engines, the new engines achieve increased torque at all engine speeds--from low to high rotations--and will comply with expected future exhaust regulations in each country in advance.

2.0-liter Toyota Hybrid System (THS II)

Toyota has developed a new hybrid system for 2.0-liter engines, which applies the same size-reducing, weight-reducing, and loss-reducing technologies used in the fourth-generation Prius. The new system realizes improved driving performance while retaining superior fuel efficiency. When accelerating, the hybrid system reduces engine rotations while drawing increased electric power from the battery, thereby delivering a linear and lengthened sense of acceleration.

New Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD and E-Four 4WD Systems

Toyota has developed two new 4WD systems with the aim of improving fuel efficiency and achieving high 4WD handling, stability, and off-road performance.

The new Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system is used in gasoline engine vehicles. By adopting a torque vectoring mechanism, which independently distributes torque to the left and right rear wheels according to driving conditions, the Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system enables the driver to steer the vehicle exactly as intended. It achieves high off-road performance even on the toughest roads. It also incorporates a disconnect mechanism, which features the world's first ratchet-type dog clutches(1) on both the front and rear wheel shafts. These clutches stop the drive system rotations, which transmit driving force to rear wheels when in 2WD mode, significantly reducing energy loss and improving fuel efficiency.

The new E-Four system will be used in hybrid vehicles. The system increases total torque to the rear wheels--which are electrically driven--by 30 percent compared to existing versions. By adopting a new control system that optimally distributes torque to the rear wheels based on the driving conditions, the E-Four system offers high off-road performance, handling, and stability.

Moreover, both the Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system and the new E-Four system feature AWD Integrated Management (AIM), which harmonizes engine, transmission, braking, and 4WD systems to offer superb handling and stability regardless of road surface conditions.

Toyota intends to expand the number of models equipped with the newly announced powertrain units globally from this spring onward.

The powertrain units will not only contribute to improved environmental and driving performance of conventional gasoline engine vehicles, but the core technologies will be reflected in the performance improvement of electrified vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). These technologies play a part in Toyota's pursuit of the popularization of electrified vehicles.

Regarding TNGA-based powertrains, Toyota has already announced plans to introduce 17 versions of nine engines, 10 versions of four transmissions, and 10 versions of six hybrid systems by the end of 2021. The new continuously variable transmission, 6-speed manual transmission, 2.0-liter engine, and 2.0-liter hybrid system represent four of the planned components.

Within the next five-years to the end of 2023, Toyota aims to have TNGA-based powertrain units installed in approximately 80 percent of Toyota-brand and Lexus-brand vehicles sold annually in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China. Toyota forecasts that the TNGA-based powertrain units alone will improve fuel efficiency enough to reduce CO2 emissions from Toyota vehicles by more than 18 percent.

(1) As of February 2018 (Toyota Motor Corporation)
(2) Comparison of average amount of CO2 emitted by Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in 2015 in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China and the average amount of CO2 emitted by Toyota and Lexus vehicles planned to be sold in 2023 in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China, including vehicles equipped with the newly developed powertrain units. Estimated CO2 reduction contribution made only by newly developed powertrain units based on certified data in each country or region.

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

Contact:
Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Celixir appoints Dr Mubasher Sheikh as Chairman of the Board

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Dr Fiona Murray, CBE, Professor Gary Pisano, Conor Kehoe and Professor Sir Martin Evans also join Celixir's Board

Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, Feb 26, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Celixir, a private company discovering and developing life-saving cell therapies, announces the appointment of Dr Mubasher Sheikh (Chairman), Professor Fiona Murray CBE, Professor Gary Pisano, Conor Kehoe and Professor Sir Martin Evans as Non-Executive Directors.

Celixir recently announced approval of a clinical trial application from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to initiate a potentially pivotal Phase IIb human clinical trial with its Heartcel(TM) regenerative cell therapy for adult heart failure. This milestone follows a successful 2017 which saw Celixir partnering with Daiichi Sankyo in Japan, completing an institutional funding round, gaining GMP manufacturing approval and completing the FDA pre-IND process for Heartcel(TM).

Ajan Reginald, Chief Executive Officer of Celixir, commented: "I'm delighted to welcome our new Directors and to congratulate and thank our retiring Chairman, Lord Digby Jones, for his exemplary service to Celixir. This new Board provides us with international experience, diversity and expertise in bio-pharmaceuticals, finance and in developing world-class technology companies. The cell therapy segment has become particularly attractive, we're blessed with a rare combination of great people, disruptive technology and breakthrough medicines. The Board is well positioned to help the company fulfill its great potential."

Biographies in brief:

Dr Mubasher Sheikh is a partner and Head of Healthcare at the private equity firm Permira, prior to which he was a partner at McKinsey & Co. in London leading the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology R&D practice. He is a former transplant physician with qualifications in medicine from the University of London and the Royal College of Physicians.

Professor Fiona Murray, CBE, is the Associate Dean of Innovation at the MIT Sloan School of Management and William Porter Professor of Entrepreneurship. She serves on the UK Prime Minister's Council on Science and Technology and has been appointed a CBE for her services to innovation and entrepreneurship. Fiona holds MA from the University of Oxford and an AM and PhD from Harvard University in Applied Sciences.

Professor Gary Pisano is the Harry E. Figgie Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1988. He is the author of over 70 articles and case studies, and six books. He has experience of serving on the Boards of NASDAQ listed biotech companies. Gary holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and a BA in economics from Yale University.

Conor Kehoe is an Emeritus Senior Partner and Director at McKinsey & Company, where he founded the investor industry practice. Originally a software engineer, Conor was a member of the Executive Committee of McKinsey Solutions which invests in management software tools, and previously led McKinsey's Technology and Telecommunications practice in Europe. He was a member of the Global Risk Committee at McKinsey and an adjunct lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Conor previously served as Chairman, Services to Business Division of FTSE 100 company Granada Group PLC. Conor holds a BA in engineering from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from INSEAD.

Professor Sir Martin Evans, 2007 Nobel Laureate, is a co-founder of Celixir and Chief Scientific Officer. Sir Martin isolated the first embryonic stem cells in 1981 and has published more than 120 scientific papers and received numerous awards for his ground-breaking research including the Albert Lasker Award in 2001, the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the Copley Medal of the Royal Society and the Baly Medal of Royal College of Physicians.

For more information, please contact:
Celixir
Ajan Reginald, CEO
+44 1789 269 838
info@celixir.com

Consilium Strategic Communications
Mary Jane Elliott / Ivar Milligan / Sukaina Virji
+44 (0)20 3709 5700
celixir@consilium-comms.com

About Celixir
Celixir is a private UK regenerative medicine company that discovers and develops life-saving and life-altering regenerative medicines for patients with the greatest medical need. Celixir, founded in 2009, is made up of a world class team of scientists and biopharmaceutical executives, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans and former Roche Global Head of Emerging Technologies, Ajan Reginald. Celixir's unique platform technology allows it to adopt an 'off-the-shelf' approach to deliver regenerative medicines to patients.

###

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: CELIXIR Plc via Globenewswire

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

First Corporate Sustainability Bond in Asia issued by TLFF for a Natural Rubber Company in Indonesia

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JAKARTA, Feb 26, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) today announced its inaugural transaction, a landmark US$ 95 million Sustainability Bond to help finance a sustainable natural rubber plantation on heavily degraded land in two provinces in Indonesia. The project incorporates extensive social and environmental objectives and safeguards. The planted areas will serve as a buffer zone to protect a threatened national park from encroachment.

The multi-tranche Sustainability Bond, arranged by BNP Paribas (BNPP) and issued by TLFF I Pte Ltd, will fund PT Royal Lestari Utama (RLU), an Indonesian joint venture between France's Michelin and Indonesia's Barito Pacific Group for climate smart, wildlife friendly, socially inclusive production of natural rubber in Jambi, Sumatra and East Kalimantan provinces. This is the first corporate sustainability bond in Asia and the first sustainability bond in ASEAN.

The project involves collaboration with WWF, which has worked with Michelin and RLU to set aside remaining High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Carbon Value (HCV) forests in the RLU concessions as well as critical wildlife conservation and riparian areas. Out of a concession area of 88,000 hectares, roughly 45,000 hectares will be set aside for community livelihoods and conservation.

In Jambi Province, the two concession areas held by RLU and two WWF concessions form a contiguous buffer zone protecting the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, which is one of the last places in Indonesia where elephants, tigers and orangutans co-exist. At maturity, the natural rubber plantation is expected to provide approximately 16,000 fair-wage jobs, providing a critical source of employment for local communities.

Welcoming the announcement, H.E. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Hon'ble Minister of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, said, "We highly support this positive drive from the private sector using an investment structure like the TLFF, which not only boosts economic development, but also improves much needed skills in the longer term."

"We are honored to take this important step alongside TLFF towards establishing an impactful partnership for the development of a more sustainable rubber industry," said David Sulaiman, President Director of RLU. "This demonstrates our commitment to a thriving, sustainable rubber market for the country and our unwavering support for local communities."

Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusbroto, Chairperson of the TLFF welcomed the project's alignment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through a holistic triple bottom-line approach that puts people and planet at the heart of all TLFF projects.

An initial 18,100 hectares of rubber were planted as of December 2017 and the TLFF bond issue will contribute to financing further development of the plantation. USAID has provided a partial credit guarantee on the transaction.

Erik Solheim, Executive Director of UN Environment expressed his delight at the progress achieved since the MoU between UN Environment and BNP Paribas signed at the One Planet Summit in Paris in December 2017 to target innovative sustainable finance of US$ 10 billion by 2025 for projects that support sustainable agriculture and forestry in ways that help solve the climate crisis rather than accentuate it.

"It is the role of banks today to make sure we can enable sustainable and impactful projects everywhere. While not without its own challenges, this transaction is proof that financial institutions can generate socially beneficial outcomes when we really work hard," said Eric Raynaud, CEO, Asia Pacific and Member of Group Executive Committee at BNP Paribas. "This complex structuring arrangement also demonstrates that our institutional investor clients have the appetite to invest in projects and companies that combine commercial and financial performance with clear environmental and social purpose and impact."

Luc Cardyn, President Director of PT Bank BNP Paribas Indonesia, added "As the Lead Manager on this groundbreaking Sustainable Bond transaction, BNP Paribas is proud to help generate economic, environmental and social benefits for Indonesia."

ADM Capital co-founder and partner, Chris Botsford said, "Reversing the current adverse trends on deforestation and climate change will take many billions of dollars. Private sector capital must be an essential part of the solution. We hope this transaction will inspire many others to step forward urgently."

"We are delighted to be involved in this exciting and innovative funding approach," said Tony Simons, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Simons noted "A new paradigm is emerging here with high value investments that seeks to contribute substantial environmental and social dividends alongside risk shared financial returns".

The US$ 95,000,000 Fixed Rate Secured Notes comprise of the following classes: US$ 30,000,000 Class A Notes due 2033, US$ 20,000,000 Class B1a Notes 2033, US$ 15,000,000 Class B1b Notes due 2023, US$ 15,000,000 Class B1c Notes due 2025 and US$ 15,000,000 Class B2 Notes due 2033. The Class A notes have been assigned a Aaa(sf) rating by Moody's.

This transaction marks the first corporate sustainability bond in Asia and the first sustainability bond in ASEAN. Vigeo Eiris, the Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) research agency, has confirmed that the Notes are 'Sustainability Notes' with a positive contribution to sustainable development and aligned with the ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines (http://bit.ly/2GKQx9L). More information is available at https://tlffindonesia.org.

About RLU:
PT. Royal Lestari Utama (RLU) - established as a joint venture of Michelin and a subsidiary of the Barito Pacific group in 2014 - operates three licenses covering 70,000 ha in BTP, PT. Wanamukti Wisesa (WMW) and PT. Lestari Asri Jaya (LAJ) as well as 18,000 ha in East Kalimantan, PT Multi Kusuma Cemerlang (MKC). All areas have been heavily deforested by mostly migrant encroachers. Barito and Michelin joined their expertise in agronomy and re-milling and established RLU to better manage the area including reforestation and socially inclusive and/or wildlife friendly rubber plantation development.

About TLFF:
The Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF), a partnership between UN Environment, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), ADM Capital and BNP Paribas aims to bring long-term finance to projects and companies that stimulate green growth and improve rural livelihoods in Indonesia. TLFF consists of a lending platform managed by ADM Capital with BNP Paribas as structuring adviser and arranger, as well as a grant fund managed by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). For more information, please visit: www.tlffindonesia.org

About TLFF Founding partners:
UN Environment (UNEP) - is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) - is a centre of scientific excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Leveraging the world's largest repository of agroforestry science and information, we develop knowledge practices, from farmers' fields to the global sphere, to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.

ADM Capital (ADM) - is an investment manager, established in 1998 and headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices also in London, Istanbul and Singapore. ADM has been investing in Indonesia since 1998 and is one of the longest established players in the private debt space in Asia. ADM has been particularly innovative in designing debt structures that provide strong alignment of interests between borrower and lender. In 2006, the Group established The ADM Capital Foundation, ("ADMCF"), which has pioneered work in avoiding deforestation, marine conservation and water pollution, among other programs. The IFC works closely with ADM to deploy capital in Asia in a way that complies with best ESG practices. ADM has a 50-person team led by Robert Appleby and Christopher Botsford.

BNP Paribas - is one of the best-positioned international financial institutions with an uninterrupted presence in Asia Pacific since 1860. Currently with over 15,000 employees* and a presence in 14 markets, BNP Paribas provides corporates, institutional and private investors with product and service solutions tailored to their specific needs. It offers a wide range of financial services covering corporate & institutional banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, as well as retail banking and consumer financing through strategic partnerships. Worldwide, BNP Paribas has a presence in 74 countries with more than 190,000 employees. It has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail-banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. Asia Pacific is a key strategic region for BNP Paribas and it continues to develop its franchise in the region. (*excluding partnerships)

For more information please contact:
Royal Lestari Utama (RLU)
communications@rlu.co.id

Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility
communications@tlffindonesia.org


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

NEC and KT demonstrate 5G potential in PyeongChang

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5G Connected Bus
Verification of the driver's identity
- Otoacoustic authentication provided inside 5G promotional vehicle -

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced the successful conclusion of demonstration tests of safety-related services for the 5G era in PyeongChang together with KT Corporation (KT), a leading South Korea-based communications carrier. This initiative was carried out in February 2018 based on an agreement concluded by the two companies in August 2015 to collaborate in the field of 5G networks.

KT is currently providing the world's first 5G trial services in PyeongChang. Inside the "5G Connected Bus," a 5G-connected promotional vehicle operated by KT, NEC conducted demonstrations in which the identity of the driver was verified before the bus started moving through the use of a hearable device (wireless earphone) equipped with otoacoustic authentication technology that utilizes the resonation of sound in ear cavities to identify individuals.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_NEC5GConnectedBus.jpg
5G Connected Bus

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_NECVerificatioDnriverIdentity.jpg
Verification of the driver's identity

The 5G Connected Bus also demonstrated identity verification at the time of boarding that used NeoFace(1), NEC's AI engine for face recognition featuring the world's highest recognition precision.

"NEC will continue leveraging its strengths in AI, biometrics, network, and other technologies as we collaborate with KT on the development, testing, and demonstration of technologies and services for the commercialization of 5G," said Tomonori Kumagai, General Manager, Business Development Division, NEC Corporation.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.

Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides "Solutions for Society" that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company's corporate message of "Orchestrating a brighter world," NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, please visit http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.

Contact:
NEC Seiichiro Toda s-toda@cj.jp.nec.com +81-3-3798-6511

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Asia's First Corporate Sustainability Bond issued by TLFF Indonesia

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Arranged by BNP Paribas (BNPP) and issued by TLFF I Pte Ltd, the Bond will fund PT Royal Lestari Utama (RLU) for sustainable natural rubber production.

JAKARTA, Feb 27, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) announced its inaugural transaction, a landmark US$ 95 million Sustainability Bond to help finance a sustainable natural rubber plantation on heavily degraded land in two provinces in Indonesia. The project incorporates extensive social and environmental objectives and safeguards. The planted areas will serve as a buffer zone to protect a threatened national park from encroachment.

The multi-tranche Sustainability Bond, arranged by BNP Paribas (BNPP) and issued by TLFF I Pte Ltd, will fund PT Royal Lestari Utama (RLU), an Indonesian joint venture between France's Michelin and Indonesia's Barito Pacific Group for climate smart, wildlife friendly, socially inclusive production of natural rubber in Jambi, Sumatra and East Kalimantan provinces. This is the first corporate sustainability bond in Asia and the first sustainability bond in ASEAN.

The project involves collaboration with WWF, which has worked with Michelin and RLU to set aside remaining High Carbon Stock (HCS) and High Carbon Value (HCV) forests in the RLU concessions, as well as critical wildlife conservation and riparian areas. Out of a concession area of 88,000 hectares, roughly 45,000 hectares will be set aside for community livelihoods and conservation.

In Jambi Province, the two concession areas held by RLU and two WWF concessions form a contiguous buffer zone protecting the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, which is one of the last places in Indonesia where elephants, tigers and orangutans co-exist. At maturity, the natural rubber plantation is expected to provide approximately 16,000 fair-wage jobs, providing a critical source of employment for local communities.

Welcoming the announcement, H.E. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Hon'ble Minister of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, said, "We highly support this positive drive from the private sector using an investment structure like the TLFF, which not only boosts economic development, but also improves much needed skills in the longer term."

"We are honored to take this important step alongside TLFF towards establishing an impactful partnership for the development of a more sustainable rubber industry," said David Sulaiman, President Director of RLU. "This demonstrates our commitment to a thriving, sustainable rubber market for the country and our unwavering support for local communities."

Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusbroto, Chairperson of the TLFF welcomed the project's alignment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through a holistic triple bottom-line approach that puts people and planet at the heart of all TLFF projects. An initial 18,100 hectares of rubber were planted as of December 2017 and the TLFF bond issue will contribute to financing further development of the plantation. USAID has provided a partial credit guarantee on the transaction.

Erik Solheim, Executive Director of UN Environment expressed his delight at the progress achieved since the MoU between UN Environment and BNP Paribas signed at the One Planet Summit in Paris in December 2017 to target innovative sustainable finance of US$ 10 billion by 2025 for projects that support sustainable agriculture and forestry in ways that help solve the climate crisis rather than accentuate it.

"It is the role of banks today to make sure we can enable sustainable and impactful projects everywhere. While not without its own challenges, this transaction is proof that financial institutions can generate socially beneficial outcomes when we really work hard," said Eric Raynaud, CEO, Asia Pacific and Member of Group Executive Committee at BNP Paribas. "This complex structuring arrangement also demonstrates that our institutional investor clients have the appetite to invest in projects and companies that combine commercial and financial performance with clear environmental and social purpose and impact."

Luc Cardyn, President Director of PT Bank BNP Paribas Indonesia, added "As the Lead Manager on this groundbreaking Sustainable Bond transaction, BNP Paribas is proud to help generate economic, environmental and social benefits for Indonesia."

ADM Capital co-founder and partner, Chris Botsford said, "Reversing the current adverse trends on deforestation and climate change will take many billions of dollars. Private sector capital must be an essential part of the solution. We hope this transaction will inspire many others to step forward urgently."

"We are delighted to be involved in this exciting and innovative funding approach," said Tony Simons, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Simons noted "A new paradigm is emerging here with high value investments that seeks to contribute substantial environmental and social dividends alongside risk shared financial returns".

This transaction marks the first corporate sustainability bond in Asia and the first sustainability bond in ASEAN. Vigeo Eiris, the Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) research agency, has confirmed that the Notes are 'Sustainability Notes' with positive contribution to sustainable development, aligned with the ICMA Sustainability Bond Guidelines (http://bit.ly/2GKQx9L). More information is available at https://tlffindonesia.org.

The US$ 95,000,000 Fixed Rate Secured Notes comprise of the following classes: US$ 30,000,000 Class A Notes due 2033, US$ 20,000,000 Class B1a Notes 2033, US$ 15,000,000 Class B1b Notes due 2023, US$ 15,000,000 Class B1c Notes due 2025 and US$ 15,000,000 Class B2 Notes due 2033. The Class A notes have been assigned a Aaa(sf) rating by Moody's.

About RLU:
PT. Royal Lestari Utama (RLU) - established as a joint venture of Michelin and a subsidiary of the Barito Pacific group in 2014 - operates three licenses covering 70,000 ha in BTP, PT. Wanamukti Wisesa (WMW) and PT. Lestari Asri Jaya (LAJ) as well as 18,000 ha in East Kalimantan, PT Multi Kusuma Cemerlang (MKC). All areas have been heavily deforested by mostly migrant encroachers. Barito and Michelin joined their expertise in agronomy and re-milling and established RLU to better manage the area including reforestation and socially inclusive and/or wildlife friendly rubber plantation development.

About TLFF:
The Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF), a partnership between UN Environment, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), ADM Capital and BNP Paribas aims to bring long-term finance to projects and companies that stimulate green growth and improve rural livelihoods in Indonesia. TLFF consists of a lending platform managed by ADM Capital with BNP Paribas as structuring adviser and arranger, as well as a grant fund managed by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). For more information, please visit: www.tlffindonesia.org

About TLFF Founding partners:
UN Environment (UNEP) - is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) - is a centre of scientific excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Leveraging the world's largest repository of agroforestry science and information, we develop knowledge practices, from farmers' fields to the global sphere, to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.

ADM Capital (ADM) - is an investment manager, established in 1998 and headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices also in London, Istanbul and Singapore. ADM has been investing in Indonesia since 1998 and is one of the longest established players in the private debt space in Asia. ADM has been particularly innovative in designing debt structures that provide strong alignment of interests between borrower and lender. In 2006, the Group established The ADM Capital Foundation, ("ADMCF"), which has pioneered work in avoiding deforestation, marine conservation and water pollution, among other programs. The IFC works closely with ADM to deploy capital in Asia in a way that complies with best ESG practices. ADM has a 50-person team led by Robert Appleby and Christopher Botsford.

BNP Paribas - is one of the best-positioned international financial institutions with an uninterrupted presence in Asia Pacific since 1860. Worldwide, BNP Paribas has a presence in 74 countries with more than 190,000 employees. BNP Paribas provides corporates, institutional and private investors with product and service solutions tailored to their specific needs. It offers a wide range of financial services covering corporate & institutional banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, as well as retail banking and consumer financing through strategic partnerships. It has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets, International Financial Services and Corporate & Institutional Banking. Asia Pacific is a key strategic region for BNP Paribas and it continues to develop its franchise in the region.

For more information please contact:
Royal Lestari Utama (RLU)
communications@rlu.co.id

Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility
communications@tlffindonesia.org


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Free Electrons: American Electric Power Joins Global Energy Startup Accelerator

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Company Will Be The First North American Utility Member

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - The Governing Board of Free Electrons, the first global energy startup accelerator program that connects the world's most promising energy startup companies with leading utility companies, is pleased to announce that American Electric Power (AEP) will become its first North American utility member.

AEP, based in Columbus, Ohio, has an asset base of 65 billion USD. In 2017, AEP's electricity sales were approximately 194 million megawatt hours with 15 billion USD in revenue. Between 2018 and 2020, AEP plans to invest nearly 18 billion USD through its regulated and competitive companies to modernize the power grid, expand renewable energy resources and deliver cost-effective, reliable energy to customers in the U.S. market.

"Joining the Free Electrons accelerator program gives us access to the world's most innovative technology entrepreneurs in the energy space," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our long-term strategy includes building smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom products and services to our customers. We're excited to help cultivate the cutting-edge energy solutions that are being developed around the globe."

TEPCO is a co-founder of the accelerator, which now includes 9 electric utilities from around the world. The other Free Electrons utility members are Ausnet Services (Australia), DEWA (Dubai), EDP (Portugal), ESB (Ireland), Innogy (Germany), Origin Energy (Australia) and SP Group (Singapore), with the program being supported by Beta-i (Portugal).

"We are thrilled to have American Electric Power join Free Electrons and contribute a US perspective to our global acceleration program", says Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Executive General Manager, Global Innovation & Investments at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO).

Structure

Three international modules held across the globe are the cornerstone of Free Electrons. During the course of the program participants will work closely with local players, utilities, mentors and other resources in order to accelerate their company's growth.

After the applications close, a one week Bootcamp will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) from April 3 to 6. It will be followed by the 1st Module, in Sydney/Melbourne (Australia). The 2nd Module will take place in Silicon Valley (USA), with the final stage moving to Berlin (Germany), in October.

The utilities backing Free Electrons are leading innovation in the energy sector. This project is a testimony of their commitment to work together with startups in building the future of the sector with clean, smart and widely accessible energy.

Free Electrons 2017 generated an overall financial value of contracts signed between the 12 startups and the 8 utilities of about 2 million dollars, with a pipeline of ongoing opportunities surpassing 12 million dollars.

About TEPCO

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TSE: 9501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the largest utility in Japan serving millions of homes and businesses. Worldwide the company has more than 34 subsidiaries and 32 affiliates in 8 countries and employs approximately 42,060 people. Consolidated revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, totalled 5.3 trillion Japanese yen. The company was established in 1951 and is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, visit http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/corpinfo/index-e.html

About Free Electrons

The Free Electrons Program is the best opportunity for startups in the energy space to grow and develop their businesses. The energy market has seen rapid changes in recent years with the rise of renewables, decentralization of the energy system, regulatory uncertainties and disruptive new technologies. To stay ahead, there is a strong need for utilities to source more innovation externally and consider the 'beyond utilities' business models.

 
Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Mitsubishi Motors Unveils Indonesian Electric Vehicle Research Scheme

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Car manufacturer to provide 10 vehicles as part of studies which will map new course for Indonesian automotive sector.

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors has today presented 8 units of Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV, 2 units of i-MiEV pure electric vehicle, and 4 units of battery charger to the Indonesian Government.

The top-of-the-range vehicles are being provided by Mitsubishi Motors as part of a joint study with the Ministry of Industry (MOI) into the development of Indonesia's rapidly growing electric vehicle infrastructure.

The vehicles will feature in a series of studies modelling how Indonesia's existing transport infrastructure can accommodate electric vehicles.

The studies will assess the use of electric vehicles in different environments, including cities, tourist areas and remote islands.

Meanwhile, the study will track the energy management potential of electric vehicles, examining the use of the Outlander PHEV as a storage resource.

Osamu Masuko, chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors, said: "Today is an important moment, for Mitsubishi Motors, for the Indonesian Government and for the people of Indonesia who stand to benefit from increased car ownership, more connected communities and a safer, greener environment."

Mr. Masuko added: "We see Indonesia as one of the most promising markets in south-east Asia, with a young population eager to unlock the opportunities car ownership provides. These opportunities bring with them challenges, such as balancing the drive towards greater car ownership with the need to protect the environment."

The ceremony is the latest in a string of major announcement from Mitsubishi Motors in Indonesia, with the Corporation having unveiled the new Bekasi production facility in April last year.

Mitsubishi Motors has been trading in Indonesia since the formation of the company in 1970s, and has strong relationships with local partners across the country.

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the sixteenth largest in the world. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. From October 2016, Mitsubishi is one-third owned by Nissan, and a part of the Renault - Nissan - Mitsubishi Alliance. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/index.html.

Contact:
Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Sharp to Construct Mega Solar Power Plant in Vietnam

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48 MW-dc Output to Supply Electricity for 32,628 Households(1)

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Sharp Corporation has signed an agreement with the Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company (GEC)(2), an affiliate of the Thanh Thanh Cong Group (TTC Group)(3), to construct a mega solar power plant in Vietnam. A signing ceremony involving the three companies was staged in Vietnam on February 23, 2018.

The plant will be constructed in Thua Thien Hue Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It will have an output of 48 MW-dc, with annual power generation capacity estimated at 61,570 MWh/year. This is equivalent to the amount consumed by 32,628 average Vietnamese households in a year.

The Vietnamese government has formulated a plan(4) to raise solar power generation capacity in that country to 12,000 MW by the year 2030. Sharp sees the new plant as an opportunity to make further inroads in solar power plant construction across the country, while contributing to the spread of renewable energy in Vietnam.

Overview
http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_SharpOverviewSolarPlant.jpg

(1) Calculated at 1,887 kWh per household.
(2) GEC is a joint venture of the TTC Group and plays a key role in the TTC Group's renewable energy business, including photovoltaic, hydropower, and wind power.
(3) The TTC Group is a conglomerate that operates in various sectors, including real estate, energy, agriculture, and education.
(4) The Vietnamese government's 7th Power Development Plan (PDP7) outlines plans for the period 2011 to 2020 and a vision for 2030. According to the PDP7, Vietnam aims to raise its solar power generation capacity to 850 MW by 2020 and 12,000 MW by 2030.
(5) Calculated at 0.333 t-CO2 per 1 MWh.

About Sharp Corporation

Sharp Corporation (TSE: 6753) is a worldwide developer of innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of electronics. As a leader in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and digital technologies, Sharp offers one of the broadest and most advanced lines of consumer electronics, information products and electronic components, while also creating new network businesses. For more information, please visit www.sharp.co.jp

Contact:
Miyuki Nakayama Tokyo Public Relations and Media Liaison Office Sharp Corporation Tel: +81-3-5446-8205 Fax: +81-3-5446-8206

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Eisai: Launch of "Dementia Support" Insurance to Provide for Dementia in Japan

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Jointly Developed by Eisai and Saint-Plus

TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that it has jointly developed with Saint-Plus Small Amounts and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd. dementia diagnosis lump-sum insurance "Dementia Support" in Japan, and that Saint Plus has launched this product today.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of people with dementia was approximately 4.62 million in 2012, and is expected to increase to approximately 7 million by 2025. According to a survey on dementia conducted by Eisai of 224 men and women aged 40 and older, the highest source of anxiety was "personal or family member's incidence of dementia" followed by "burden of nursing care on family" and "financial burden caused by dementia care," while the top three factors for reducing anxiety were "consulting with healthcare and nursing care professionals, the government and other organizations," "preparing savings and other finances" and "obtaining information on preventing dementia."

Eisai and Saint-Plus entered into a joint development agreement for insurance that aims to reduce anxiety over dementia in December 2016, and jointly developed "Dementia Support" small amount short-term insurance to provide for dementia. For beneficiaries aged 40 to 90, submitting an application is possible with a simple notice even after becoming certified as requiring long-term care and beneficiaries receive a lump-sum payment upon diagnosis of specific conditions such as organic dementia. In addition, as ancillary services, policyholders and beneficiaries may be provided with various kinds of useful information on dementia as well as introduced to services including telephone consultation services operated by the non-profit organization Alzheimer's Association Japan about matters such as symptoms of dementia and concerns about nursing care.
The sale of insurance, including provision of ancillary services, is handled by Saint-Plus, and Eisai receives royalties relating to joint development.

About "Dementia Support" Insurance to Provide for Dementia

Sales of "Dementia Support" insurance are conducted by Saint-Plus.
1. Provides assurance against organic dementia
2. Submitting an application is possible even after becoming certified as requiring long-term care
3. A medical certificate is not required from a physician, it is possible to apply with just a simple notice
4. There are three courses for benefit payments
5. Insurance premiums start from 163 yen per month (60 year old male: 200,000 yen rider course)
6. People aged 40 years old up to and including people aged 90 years old may apply
7. It is possible to continue up to age 100 by renewing the policy

Saint-Plus' website for product information: https://www.saint-plus-ins.co.jp/sasae/ (available in Japanese only)

For inquiries about the product, please contact Saint-Plus: 0120-786-765 (Weekdays 9:30 to 17:00, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, the New Year and other holiday periods, for residents in Japan only)

About Saint-Plus Small Amounts and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd.

The Saint-Care Group, which provides comprehensive health care services, hears the voices from the field of nursing care and welfare, and in wanting to provide a "new support framework" that will be useful to those who truly need nursing care and their families, Saint-Plus Small Amounts and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd. developed and markets Japan's first private nursing care insurance as a nursing care business.

For more information about Saint-Plus Small Amounts and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.saint-plus-ins.co.jp/ (available in Japanese only)

About Eisai

Eisai Co., Ltd. (TSE:4523; ADR:ESALY) is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: integrative neuroscience, including neurology and psychiatric medicines; integrative oncology, which encompasses oncotherapy and supportive-care treatments; and vascular/immunological reaction. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide healthcare system. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit www.eisai.com.

Contact:
Public Relations Department, Eisai Co., Ltd. +81-3-3817-5120

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Blockchain Start-up Devery Joins Inaugural JD.com Accelerator

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NEW YORK and SINGAPORE, Feb 27, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Devery, a leading global blockchain start-up that provides verification solutions, has been named in JD.com's inaugural blockchain accelerator program, AI Catapult Accelerator (AICA). The program is aimed at unlocking the transformative potential of startups demonstrating cutting edge talent in the blockchain space. Devery will bring it world-leading tech expertise to support JD in research and development of verification solutions using blockchain architecture, such as supply-chain tracking and identity management.

JD.com is China's largest retailer, online or offline, and the world's third-largest internet company by revenue. With more than 266 million active customers, JD is a direct seller of millions of brands from around the world and hosts a marketplace of more than 160,000 trusted merchants. The company, which owns and operates its own advanced nationwide logistics systems, has embraced AI and blockchain across its operations and seeks to facilitate the growth of this disruptive technology and its benefits, including increased security, transparency and efficiency.

Devery provides software that abstracts the difficulties of blockchain development by providing easy-to-use tools and applications to clients and is partner to a number of leading global supranational bodies looking to implement its supply-chain tracking solutions to support large logistical operations across the developing countries.

"Supply-chain tracking and identity management are fundamental use cases of the blockchain. We are excited and honoured to be chosen by JD.com to research and develop this ground-breaking technology. It will significantly change how supply-chains are managed and will bring greater transparency to the movement of produce and goods all over the world. This is the next big step in bringing safer and more ethical products to consumers." - Andrew Rasheed, CEO of Devery.

The collaboration within the accelerator allows both parties to work more closely together to deliver more streamlined solutions to Devery's current ventures in developing countries and its commercial partnerships in the supply chain industry. This joint effort will additionally involve research and development into new and innovative ways to provide cheap and efficient tracking solutions.

A further four blockchain startups have been named in AICA's program: Bluzelle, Nuggets, Canya and Bankorus.

Devery website: https://devery.io/
Devery @ Telegram: https://t.me/deverychat

For Media:
Trestle Works for Devery
Timothy Han
timothy@trestle.sg


 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Toyota Announces Results for January 2018

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Toyota City, Japan, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces its production, domestic sales, and export results for January 2018, including those for subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., and Hino Motors, Ltd.

January 2018 Key Points (year-on-year)

Production in Japan

Toyota
- Fourth consecutive month of increase

Daihatsu
- Twenty-first consecutive month of increase

Hino
- Fourth consecutive month of increase

Toyota + Daihatsu + Hino
- Fourth consecutive month of increase

Sales in Japan

Toyota
- Decreased
- Lexus vehicle sales totaled 6,448 units (59.7% increase)
- Minivehicle sales totaled 2,384 units (8.4% increase)
- 45.5 percent share of market excluding minivehicles (0.5 percentage point increase)
- 28.3 percent share of market including minivehicles (1.1 percentage point decrease)

Daihatsu
- Tenth consecutive month of increase
- Minivehicle sales totaled approximately 51,400 units (9.4% increase); first increase in three months
- 33% share of minivehicle market (0.3 percentage point increase)

Hino
- Third consecutive month of increase
- Standard truck sales totaled approximately 2,200 units (2.1% decrease)
- 39.6% share of the truck(1) market (0.3 percentage point decrease)

Toyota + Daihatsu + Hino
- Fourth consecutive month of increase
- 42.9% share of market including minivehicles (0.3 percentage point increase)

Exports

Toyota
- Fourth consecutive month of increase; due to increased exports to North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa

Daihatsu
- There have been no exports for Daihatsu since May 2017.

Hino
- First decrease in seven months; due to decreased exports to Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East

Toyota + Daihatsu + Hino
- Sixth consecutive month of increase

Production Outside of Japan

Toyota
- First increase in three months and a record high for January, due to increased production in Asia and Africa

Daihatsu
- First increase in six months; due to increased production in Indonesia

Hino
- Seventh consecutive month of increase; due to increased production in Asia

Toyota + Daihatsu + Hino
- First increase in three months and a record high for January

(1) Maximum loading capacity of four tons or more (excluding imported trucks)

About Toyota

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.

Contact:
Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales and Export Figures for January 2018

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TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - January 2018 Summary:

Domestic Production
- First consecutive monthly year-on-year decrease since December 2017 (97.3% year-on-year)

Overseas Production
- Second consecutive monthly year-on-year increase since November 2017 (150.6% year-on-year)

Total Production
- Eighth consecutive monthly year-on-year increase since May 2017 (122.8% year-on-year)

Domestic Sales
- First monthly year-on-year increase in four months since September 2017 (113.4% year-on-year)

Exports
- Second consecutive monthly year-on-year increase since November 2017 (117.7% year-on-year)

Overseas Production

Asia
66,525 units: 50.2% year-on-year

Exports

Asia
1,483 units: 252.2% year-on-year

North America
14,611 units: 181.6% year-on-year

Europe
8,530 units: 115.0% year-on-year

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the sixteenth largest in the world. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. From October 2016, Mitsubishi is one-third owned by Nissan, and a part of the Renault - Nissan - Mitsubishi Alliance. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/index.html.

Contact:
Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

NTT DOCOMO: Industry Leaders Launch ORAN Alliance

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TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Today, AT&T, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, NTT DOCOMO, and Orange jointly announced the creation of the ORAN Alliance. The ORAN Alliance is a world-wide, carrier-led effort to drive new levels of openness in the radio access network of next generation wireless systems. ORAN will combine and extend the efforts of the C-RAN Alliance and the xRAN Forum into a single operator led effort.

As mobile traffic increases, mobile networks and the equipment that runs them must become more energy efficient (green), software-driven (soft), virtualized, flexible, and intelligent. The ORAN (Open Radio Access Network) Alliance is committed to evolving radio access networks -- making them more open and smarter than previous generations. Real-time analytics that drive embedded machine learning systems and artificial intelligence back end modules will empower network intelligence. Additional virtualized network elements with open, standardized interfaces will be key aspects of the reference designs developed by the ORAN Alliance. Technologies from open source and open whitebox network elements will be important software and hardware components of these reference designs.

By combining and extending the objectives of the C-RAN Alliance and the xRAN Forum, the key principles of the ORAN Alliance include:

Leading the industry towards open, interoperable interfaces, RAN virtualization, and big data enabled RAN intelligence.

Maximizing the use of common-off-the-shelf hardware and merchant silicon and minimizing proprietary hardware.

Specifying APIs and interfaces, driving standards to adopt them as appropriate, and exploring open source where appropriate.

"ORAN represents a comprehensive embodiment of Communication 4.0 and is empowered by the true Information, Communications and Data Technology (ICDT) convergence," said Zhengmao Li, CTO of China Mobile. "It will drive the radio access network from Green and Soft to Open and Smart. And ultimately operators will expect future networks to be built with deeply embedded intelligence, much higher efficiency, lower cost, great agility and flexibility, and all at manageable complexity."

"To take full advantage of the flexibility of 5G, we have to go beyond the new radios and change the overall architecture of the end-to-end system," said Andre Fuetsch, President AT&T Labs and Chief Technology Officer. "Open modularity, intelligent software defined networks, and virtualization will be essential to deliver agile services to our customers. ORAN will accelerate industry progress in these areas."

"For 5G to unlock new business opportunities and markets, it is essential that we evolve a RAN infrastructure platform that allows us to innovate quickly to meet customer expectations. The ORAN approach, to drive more openness, modularity and programmability in our future networks, can enable a more agile delivery of services to our customers," said Alex Jinsung Choi, SVP Research & Technology Innovation, Deutsche Telekom. "We are excited that the ORAN Alliance will build on and continue the journey we started in XRAN to extend the capabilities of RAN technologies and enable next generation open implementations."

"5G is expected to facilitate the creation of new vertical markets, the speed of which will be accelerated by the high flexibility and high intelligence derived from open APIs and interfaces," said Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, EVP and CTO of NTT DOCOMO. "We have experienced that openness can provide opportunities for expanding markets. We believe that ORAN will evolve open and cost effective radio access networks and that it will further advance them into the next stage."

"In order to respond to the growth of demanding business capabilities and affordable systems, 5G radio sub-networks need to evolve towards more flexible, open and smarter solutions," said Emmanuel Lugagne, SVP Orange Labs Networks. "The work of the ORAN alliance will be a perfect driver for the industry to help achieve these promises."

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We have the nation's largest and most reliable network and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. More than 3 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.

About China Mobile

China Mobile Limited was incorporated in Hong Kong on 3 September 1997. The Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) on 22 October 1997 and 23 October 1997, respectively. The Company was admitted as a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong on 27 January 1998.

As the leading telecommunications services provider in Mainland China, the Group provides full communications services in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and directly-administered municipalities throughout Mainland China and in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and boasts the world's largest mobile network and the world's largest mobile customer base. Its businesses primarily consist of mobile voice and data business, wireline broadband and other information and communications services. As of 31 December 2016, the Group had a total of 460,647 employees, 849 million mobile customers and 77.62 million wireline broadband customers with its annual revenue exceeding RMB700 billion.

About Orange

Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales of 41 billion euros in 2017 and 152,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2017, including 93,000 employees in France. Present in 29 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 273 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2017, including 211 million mobile customers and 20 million fixed broadband customers. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan "Essentials2020" which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks.

About NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO provides innovative, convenient and secure mobile services that enable smarter living for each customer. The company serves over 65 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world's first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. Please visit https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/ for more information.

Contact:
NTT DOCOMO International PR Public Relations Department Tel: +81-3-5156-1366 Fax: +81-3-5501-3408 URL: www.nttdocomo.com

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show Opens Today at AsiaWorld-Expo

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Edward Yau Tang-wah, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, officiates the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show.
Models Mikki Yao (R) and Cara G. (L) present exquisite jewellery at the opening ceremony.
The Hall of Fine Diamonds showcases quality diamonds in a variety of sizes, grades and colours.
1,970 exhibitors present exquisite jewellery raw materials; International Jewellery Show to commence at HKCEC on Thursday

HONG KONG, Feb 27, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The fifth Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today and will run for five days (27 February to 3 March) at the AsiaWorld-Expo. This year's Show gathers a record number of 1,970 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, including new exhibitors from Belize and Turkey, to showcase an assortment of jewellery raw materials including exquisite diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones as well as pearls to international buyers. The 35th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which features finished jewellery products, will take place from 1 to 5 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The two shows will feature a total of more than 4,550 exhibitors from 52 countries and regions, forming the world's largest jewellery marketplace.

"This year's Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show continues to attract jewellers, trade associations and organisations from around the world. The participation of exhibitors is the highest on record. It is a testament to Hong Kong's standing as a key sourcing platform for the global jewellery industry," said Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC. "The improving global economic conditions have led to a steady rebound in overall jewellery exports. There is also an increasing demand for product diversity. The Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show and the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, which opens on Thursday (1 March) to showcase finished jewellery products, are set to generate synergy and to help industry players capture more business opportunities."

- A dazzling array of exquisite jewellery raw materials on display

To facilitate buyers to source jewellery raw materials, the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show has set up thematic zones for different product categories. The Hall of Fine Diamonds showcases quality diamonds in a variety of sizes, grades and colours. Exhibits include an enthralling two-carat natural green diamond presented by US exhibitor Rio Diamond MFG Corp (Booth: 2CON-21); a 28-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond ring from Scarselli Diamonds Inc (Booth: 2CON-25); a top-quality argyle pink diamond from Australia, which is valued at more than HK$7 million, featured by Rachminov Diamonds 1891, Asia Ltd (Booth: 2-Q17); and a radiant shape, natural fancy colour polished diamond from Hong Kong exhibitor Novel Collection Ltd (Booth: 2-Q01).

Another zone, Treasures of Nature, is devoted to precious and semi-precious coloured gems of different origins. Exhibits include a set of Colombian emerald jewellery, valued at more than HK$23.4 million, showcased by Hong Kong exhibitor Hatta New World Company Limited (Booth: 1-B05); a Sri Lankan chrysoberyl cat's eye stone, that weighs over 100 carats and is valued at more than HK$20 million, from Wilds Company Limited (Booth: 1-B11); a spinel snake presented by German exhibitor Paul Wild (Booth: 1-B01); a cushion vivid pink sapphire from US exhibitor Shaun Gems International (Booth: 1-A16); a purplish-red spinel from Swiss exhibitor ALine GmbH (Booth: 1-C16); and neon mint tourmalines from Ukrainian exhibitor Vitalii Golokoz, Pte (Booth: 1-A27).

With Hong Kong becoming a major trading and distribution centre for pearls, the Treasures of Ocean zone is set up to showcase quality pearls from Tahiti, the South Seas, Japan, the Chinese mainland, the Caribbean and other pearl-producing regions. Another highlight zone Rough Stones & Minerals has also returned to the Show to present unpolished and uncut precious stones.

As a major global sourcing platform for jewellery, this year's Show features 22 group pavilions of countries and trade organisations, representing Australia, the Chinese mainland, Germany, Italy, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United States; and prominent trade organisations such as the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the International Colored Gemstone Association and the Tanzanite Foundation.

- Buying missions to generate more business opportunities

The HKTDC will organise 115 mainland and overseas buying missions comprising over 9,800 buyers from more than 8,000 companies from 75 countries and regions to visit the shows. To let industry practitioners capture the latest trends, the HKTDC will organise a series of seminars and buyer forums, topics include "New Diamond Findings and Developments from the GIA Laboratory", "125 Years since the Invention of Cultured Pearl" and "The Latest Development and Opportunities in the Belt and Road Markets". The HKTDC will also arrange business matching sessions on-site to create more business exchange and opportunities for the visitors.

- Jewellery Show opens on Thursday at HKCEC

The 35th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show will open on Thursday and will run for five days (1 to 5 March) at the HKCEC. It will feature a broad spectrum of finished jewellery products, including exceptional jewellery collections, premier brands, antique jewellery and new designer brands. Several thematic zones will be set up, including the Hall of Fame, which showcases the collections of renowned jewellery brands; the Hall of Extraordinary, which presents the most exquisite, valuable and unique jewellery pieces; the Designer Galleria, which gathers youthful, trendy and high quality collections; the World of Glamour, which demonstrates the expertise and artistry of the Hong Kong fine jewellery sector; the Treasures of Craftsmanship, where jewellery and art converge; and the new zone IT Solutions for Jewellery. The two shows will create synergy and offer buyers an effective, one-stop sourcing experience.

In addition, there will be a variety of networking events during the Show, including a gala dinner sponsored by the Tanzanite Foundation on Thursday night (1 March). Under the theme "Roman Constellation", the dinner will feature a menu curated by Gianni Favro, an award-winning chef of the Virtual Group of Italian Chefs (GVCI). Along with special performances, local and international guests of the evening will have ample opportunities to network. There will also be multiple jewellery parades during the shows to demonstrate exhibitors' superior offerings to global buyers and to maximise exposure.

During the Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show, a complimentary shuttle bus service will run between the AsiaWorld-Expo and various downtown areas (including the HKCEC) to facilitate sourcing at both shows. Please visit the fair websites for details.

Fair Websites:
Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show: http://hkdgp.hktdc.com/
Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: http://hkjewelleryshow.hktdc.com/
Enhanced Security Measures for Buyers: http://bit.ly/2EIxhJa
Photo download: http://bit.ly/2GQwxCt

About HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Contact:
HKTDC Comms & Public Affairs Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

Lubrizol Participates at TCT Asia 2018 3D Manufacturing Technology Expo

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CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb 28, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The Lubrizol Corporation's Engineered Polymers business announces it will exhibit in booth NI-A31 at TCT Asia 2018 being held March 1-3 in Shanghai, China. TCT Asia showcases various products related to 3D printing (3DP), additive manufacturing and product development. The show spans every level of interest from medical to aerospace, delivering business-critical insights on 3D printing, additive manufacturing, CAD/CAE, metrology and inspection, as well as traditional manufacturing processes.

Lubrizol will showcase new Estane(R) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) technologies, ranging from soft/flexible to hard/rigid, for 3DP applications. This exciting new portfolio provides new options for plastics processing and applications that enable customers to meet the latest market trends and integrate new performance benefits into their products.

David Pascual, Lubrizol marketing manager for 3D printing, says, "Following the recently-announced partnership with HP, Lubrizol continues to expand our presence within the fast-growing space of 3D Printing. This event offers a great opportunity to further showcase our broad TPU portfolio aiming to serve all thermoplastic 3DP technologies including FDM (Fuse Deposition Modeling or Fused Filament Fabrication), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and MJF (Multi Jet Fusion - proprietary HP technology). By combining our differentiating chemistries together with our elaborate polymer expertise and understanding of end-uses and channels to market, we're able to develop truly differentiating 3DP materials, maximizing value for our customers globally."

Visit Lubrizol at booth No. N1-A31 at TCT Asia 2018, March 1-3, in the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Shanghai, China, to find out more about engineered polymer solutions from our Estane(R) TPU, Pearlthane(TM) TPU, Pearlthane(TM) ECO TPU and Pearlbond(TM) TPU brands.

About Lubrizol Engineered Polymers
Lubrizol Engineered Polymers offers one of the broadest portfolios of engineered polymers available today including resins that are bio-based*, recyclable**, light stable, flame retardant, adhesive, chemically resistant, optically clear and fast cycling. Our technology crosses many industries and applications, including surface protection, power and fluid systems, sports and recreation, wearable devices, electronics and automotive. For more information, visit www.lubrizol.com/engineered-polymers or contact engineeredpolymers@lubrizol.com.

About The Lubrizol Corporation
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a market-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimize the quality, performance and value of customers' products while reducing their environmental impact. It is a leader at combining market insights with chemistry and application capabilities to deliver valuable solutions to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol improves lives by acting as an essential partner in our customers' success, delivering efficiency, reliability or wellness to their end users. Technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, driveline and other transportation-related fluids, industrial lubricants, as well as additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for home care, personal care and skin care products and specialty materials encompassing polymer and coatings technologies, along with polymer-based pharmaceutical and medical device solutions.

With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,300 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2016 were $6.5 billion. For more information, visit Lubrizol.com.

*Bio-based content as certified in accordance with ASTM D-6866.

**Recyclability is based on access to a readily available standard recycling program that supports such materials. Products may not be available in all areas.

All marks are owned by The Lubrizol Corporation.

Lubrizol will showcase Estane(R) TPU specialties for 3DP at TCT Asia 2018.

Media Contacts
Michael Priola
+1 216 447-5697
The Lubrizol Corporation

Lidia Valcarcel
+34 93 579-9565
Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc.

Web Sites
www.lubrizol.com/engineered-polymers
www.lubrizol.com

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This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Lubrizol via Globenewswire

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

MHI Completes Investment in Orano (formerly "New AREVA Holding")

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Move to Strengthen Ties between Japanese and French Nuclear Energy Industries

- 5% equity stake in Orano acquired based on formal agreement signed in March 2017
- Technological and business cooperation ties to be enhanced, strengthening global value chain for nuclear energy

TOKYO, Feb 28, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed investment into Orano, a newly formed company created as part of the reorganization of the AREVA Group. Orano primarily focuses on the fuel cycle business, including uranium mining, enrichment and conversion and reprocessing of spent fuel. Previously referred to as "New AREVA Holding", Orano possesses advanced technological and marketing strengths within the global nuclear energy industry, and the new company is expected to achieve solid growth going forward. MHI has acquired a 5 percent equity stake in Orano with a total investment outlay of approximately 250 million euros. With the completion of this investment, MHI will now pursue deeper, more expansive human and technological exchange with Orano.

MHI has built strong ties with France's nuclear energy industry over many years. In 1991, in partnership with AREVA NC (now a subsidiary of Orano) MHI established a joint venture in the fuel cycle business that engages in the manufacture and sale of a full range of reprocessing equipment. In 2007, MHI and AREVA NP (now Framatome) began development of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant (NPP) integrating their technologies, culminating in the development of ATMEA1, a state-of-the-art PWR NPP in the 1200 MWe (megawatt electrical) class. Since its introduction, prospects for ATMEA1 sales have been expanding worldwide, especially in emerging economies where new NPP construction projects are moving forward.

Through its investment in Orano, MHI looks to support the company's future growth strategies. Further, by strengthening cooperation in technology and business operations, MHI aims to play an important role in forging stronger links between the Japanese and French nuclear energy industries, as confirmed by the two countries' governments in October 2015, with the ultimate goal of strengthening their global value chain in the nuclear energy business.

Commenting on the completed investment, MHI President and CEO Shunichi Miyanaga said, "For many years Orano has lent its support to the development of nuclear power generation in Japan. Now, with completion of our investment into Orano, our partnership will become even stronger. I have high hopes that we will be able to further improve the safety and reliability of nuclear power generation, thereby contributing to stable global energy supplies and reduced carbon dioxide emissions."

In parallel with the Orano investment, in late December MHI completed an investment in Framatome, a newly established group company of Electricite de France (EDF) specializing in the design and manufacture of NPP equipment and systems. By strengthening the relationship between manufacturers in Japan and France, every effort will be made to expand and improve structurally as a comprehensive manufacturer capable of supporting the global nuclear power generation business in all aspects; from production of nuclear fuel to plant design, construction and maintenance, and reprocessing of spent fuel.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.
For more information, please visit the MHI Group website: http://www.mhi-global.com.
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: http://spectra.mhi.com.

Contact:
Joseph Hood, PR Manager Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email: mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168 Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

MHI Thermal Systems and Chubu Electric Power Jointly Develop "Q-ton Circulation" Heat Pump, Launching Set for August

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- Adoption of R454C low-GWP refrigerant, a first in Japan, contributes significantly to curbing global warming -

TOKYO, Feb 28, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. and Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. have jointly developed the "Q-ton Circulation," an air-source circulation heat pump(1) engineered for use in factories. The Q-ton Circulation reduces environmental impact significantly through adoption, for the first time in Japan, of the R454C, a refrigerant that features a global warming potential (GWP)(2) approximately one-tenth previously available refrigerants. It is also the industry's first heat pump of its type capable of heating water to 75degC (167degF) amid an outside temperature as low as -20degC (-4degF). The Q-ton Circulation will be marketed by MHI Thermal Systems commencing in August.

Today, steam boilers fired by fossil fuels are widely used to create the hot water required in factories for removal of greases, cleaning of parts, etc. Recently, heat pumps have become increasingly prevalent owing to their contribution to energy saving enabled by their outstanding efficiency. The heat pumps available to date, however, use refrigerants with GWP values in a range of 1,430 to 2,090 times higher than carbon dioxide (CO2), and along with enforcement of the newly enacted Law Concerning the Discharge and Control of Fluorocarbons(3), calls had been raised for the development of refrigerants with lower GWP values.

In the newly developed Q-ton Circulation, lower environmental impact was targeted through adoption of the low-GWP R454C. Simultaneously, in pursuit of high energy efficiency a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle was adopted and optimal engineering of the refrigeration cycle was carried out through optimization of pipe diameters, etc. The cumulative result is outstandingly efficient operation-a COP(4) of 3.3-and the capacity to produce hot water up to 75degC amid an outside temperature as low as -20degC. Also, to provide swift after-sale service, remote monitoring of the Q-ton Circulation's operating status is possible through use of IoT technology.

(1) Air-source circulation heat pump: a heat pump that produces hot water by absorbing heat from the atmosphere.
(2) Global warming potential (GWP): a measurement of global warming impact from greenhouse gases, as compared with impact from carbon dioxide.
(3) The Law Concerning the Discharge and Control of Fluorocarbons took effect on April 1, 2015 as a revision of the earlier Law Concerning the Recovery and Destruction of Fluorocarbons. The new legislation mandates proper action to ensure against fluorocarbon leakage throughout all processes, and also calls for conversion to substitute fluorocarbons having a low GWP.
(4) Coefficient of performance (COP): an index indicating the energy consumption efficiency of a heat source system. The higher the COP reading, the higher is the level of energy-saving performance. COP is calculated as heating capacity (kW) + power consumption (kW), where power consumption refers to the power consumed by the heat source unit. COP readings do not include power consumed by externally installed circulation pumps. The Q-ton Circulation's COP of 3.3 is the value under the following conditions: external temperature 25degC (77degF) (relative humidity: 70%), water inlet temperature 60degC (140degF), and outlet temperature 65degC (149degF).

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems.
For more information, please visit the MHI Group website: http://www.mhi-global.com.
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA: http://spectra.mhi.com.

Contact:
Joseph Hood, PR Manager Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Email: mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp Tel: +81-(0)3-6716-2168 Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860

Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Behind the Wheel: STEYR takes to the slopes in World Cup ski jumping

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Adrenaline and passion provide the backdrop for the Austrian brand's tractors, which work in extreme conditions to prepare both the hill and the entire Kulm ski jumping site. Watch the full webisode on: cnhindustrial.com/behindthewheel

LONDON, Feb 28, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - STEYR Traktoren, the specialist tractor brand of CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is proud to provide support in the preparation of the ski jumping championships that regularly take place in the Austrian city of Kulm.

In the latest webisode from the Behind the Wheel Series, the Head of the Organizing Committee of the Kulm leg of the World Ski Jumping Championship, and Olympic medal-winning ski jumper Hubert Neuper, is amongst those who explain how STEYR is a partner to rely on during the preparation of the hill, even during changeable and challenging weather conditions.

Five tractors from the 4125 Profi CVT, 4110 and 4120 Multi ranges, in the orange municipality color scheme, were made available. CASE Construction Equipment, CNH Industrial's global construction equipment brand, also has a cameo role: the brand's G Series wheel loaders are featured during their snow clearing activities.

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website: www.cnhindustrial.com

Sign up for corporate news alerts from the CNH Industrial Newsroom:
bit.ly/media-cnhindustrial-subscribe

Media contacts:
Laura Overall
Corporate Communications Manager
CNH Industrial
Tel. +44 (0)2077 660 338
E-mail: mediarelations@cnhind.com

20180227_PR_CNH_Industrial_Behind_The_Wheel_STEYR http://hugin.info/163950/R/2171856/836986.pdf
20180227_STEYR_At_the_World_Cup_ski_jumping_in_Kulm_Image http://hugin.info/163950/R/2171856/836987.jpg

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This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: CNH Industrial N.V. via Globenewswire

 
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
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