Press Releases

Fujitsu and University of Toronto Develop World's First Digitally-Processed Gigabit-Class High-Speed Transceiver Chip Feb 10, 2010 10:59AM

Kawasaki, Japan, Feb 10, 2010 - (ACN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. and the University of Toronto today announced their joint development of a new processing method for transceiver chips used in gigabit-class(1) high-speed data transmission over wirelines. The new technology employs digital circuitry to replace previously-required structures that used analog circuits. While analog processing require circuits that are adapted to the specifications of a signal being transmitted, such as transmission distance and amplitude, this new digital approach can perform these optimizations automatically, so that a single circuit could be used to accommodate a wide range of various wireline communications. Compared to conventional processing methods, this new digital-processing method makes it possible to shorten development periods by approximately half. It is anticipated that this new technology in the future could be applied to a variety of wireline communication applications, including 10 Gbps high-speed Ethernet in datacenters.

Details of this technology were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference 2010 (ISSCC 2010) being held in San Francisco from February 7-11. (Presentation number: 8.7)

Background and Technological Challenges

File size data volumes for large photographic, audio, and video files are becoming increasingly larger, thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth to transmit, leading to demand for ever-faster wireline data communications. Conventional transceiver chips rely on analog circuitry which needs to be optimized to accommodate specifications of the signal being transmitted - such as transmission distance and amplitude - and therefore require multiple transceiver chips to be designed in order to accommodate for various applications.

With a growing diversity of devices featuring high-speed data transmission, the need to optimize an existing technology for every new type of device or model has become a bottleneck in the development process. Efforts to develop transceiver chips within short development periods that can accommodate the wide range of different devices have been proven challenging.

Newly-developed Technology

Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto have developed a digital circuit-based transceiver chip. Featuring digital circuitry, the new transceiver chip can automatically optimize itself for a variety of high-speed communications circuits, thus significantly reducing development periods by approximately half compared with conventional methods.

This technology detects variations in the delay on the time axis of the input signal, caused during data transmission, and based on that can automatically adjust the timing it uses for judging whether an incoming signal is a 0 or 1 (Figure 1). Since variations in data transmissions increase along with faster transmission speeds, this new technology is essential for accurate data exchange. This is the world's first technology to achieve Gbps-class speeds without the use of analog circuitry elements, while offering fully-digital timing adjustments for signal-determination.

Results

As a world's first, by using digital circuitry-based high-speed transceiver technology, Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto's new technology makes it possible to reduce the design and development period for a gigabit-class transceiver chip by approximately one-half (1/2) compared with conventional methods. This suggests that transceiver chips for a wide range of communications devices could be offered in a timely manner.

Future Developments

Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto will continue with development of this technology to optimize the digital signal processing, to further reduce the transceiver's power consumption.

Glossary and Notes

1 Gigabit-class/Gigabits-per-second (Gbps):Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) expresses data rate and indicates how many gigabits can be transferred per second. 10 Gbps is 10 billion bits-per-second (10 billion bps) = 10,000 megabits-per-second (10,000 Mbps), and indicates that 10 billion bits of data can be transferred per second.

About University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. U of T's distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding students and academics from around the world. U of T is committed to providing a learning experience that benefits from both a scale almost unparalleled in North America and from the close-knit learning communities made possible through its college system and academic divisions. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse regions, U of T's vibrant academic life is defined by a unique degree of cultural diversity in its learning community. The University is sustained environmentally by three green campuses, where renowned heritage buildings stand beside award-winning innovations in architectural design.

For more information: http://www.utoronto.ca/

About Fujitsu Ltd

Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 160,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. For more information, please visit www.fujitsu.com.

Contact: Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.
Design Solutions Lab.
Platform Technologies Lab.
Tel: +81-44-754-2635
E-mail:hsio_adc_pr@ml.labs.fujitsu.com

University of Toronto
Prof. Ali Sheikholeslami
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tel: +1(416)978-1681
E-mail:ali@eecg.utoronto.ca
Address: 10 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G4

Copyright 2010 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved.

Fujitsu and University of Toronto Develop High-Reliability Read-Method for Spin-Torque-Transfer MRAM Feb 10, 2010 10:54AM

Kawasaki, Japan, Feb 10, 2010 - (ACN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories Limited and the University of Toronto today announced that they have jointly developed the world's first high-reliability read-method for use with spin-torque-transfer (STT) MRAM(1) that is insusceptible to erroneous writes. STT MRAM is regarded as a potential future form of non-volatile memory(2) that could be used as an alternative to flash memory. NOR flash memory that is embedded in microcontrollers widely used in mobile phones and other electronic devices is expected to reach the limits of its feasible miniaturization in the near future, which has led to the search for an alternative low-power non-volatile memory that will allow continued necessary miniaturization. By resolving one of the major obstacles to using STT MRAM, Fujitsu and the University of Toronto's new read-method marks a major step towards the practical implementation of STT MRAM as a necessary replacement for flash memory, in view of future requirements that will be necessary for compact and low-power electronic devices.

Details of this technology were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference 2010 (ISSCC 2010) being held in San Francisco from February 7-11. (Presentation number: 14.1)

Background

Many electronic devices such as mobile phones or PDAs use microcontrollers with embedded flash memory, which allows onboard software to be rewritten. However, NOR flash memory used in such microcontrollers is nearing the physical limits of its miniaturization, which has led to research on various types of memory that could replace NOR flash memory.

STT MRAM, which uses magnetic materials as the memory storage element, is gaining attention as an emerging potential candidate to replace flash memory, as STT MRAM meets the needs for speed, low power consumption, and miniaturization that would make it a good candidate to replace flash memory.

Technological Challenges

STT MRAM uses memory storage elements that take advantage of the effect in which a current that is passed through a magnetic material - such as a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)(3) - reverses its direction of magnetization (Figure 1). Passing a current through the MTJ causes its direction of magnetization to switch between a parallel or anti-parallel state, which has the effect of switching between low resistance and high resistance. Because this can be used to represent the 1s and 0s of digital information, STT MRAM can be used as a non-volatile memory.

Reading STT MRAM involves applying a voltage to the MTJ to discover whether the MTJ offers high resistance to current ("1") or low ("0"). However, a relatively high voltage needs to be applied to the MTJ to correctly determine whether its resistance is high or low, and the current passed at this voltage leaves little difference between the read-current and the write-current. Any fluctuation in the electrical characteristics of individual MTJs could cause what was intended as a read-current, to have the effect of a write-current, thus reversing the direction of magnetization of the MTJ.

Newly-developed Technology

In a joint collaboration, Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto have developed an innovative circuit design (Figure 3) that for the first time resolves the issue of erroneous writes in STT MRAM during read operations.

The newly developed read-method uses a negative resistance(4) that is intermediate between the MTJ's high resistance and low resistance on a parallel circuit (Figure 4). If the MTJ is in a high-resistance state, this circuit exhibits negative-resistance characteristics. If the MTJ is in a low-resistance state, then it exhibits normal-resistance characteristics. These characteristics allow the resistance value to be read at lower voltages than before, suppressing the tendency of the read operation to reverse the direction of magnetization and avoiding the problem of erroneous write operations.

Results

The development of this new read circuit with negative resistance has resulted in STT MRAM that is insusceptible to erroneous writes caused by fluctuations in the electrical characteristics of the MTJs. It is anticipated that the STT MRAM used as miniaturized non-volatile memory would enable greater high-performance in mobile phones and other electronic devices.

Future Developments

Fujitsu Laboratories and the University of Toronto plan to continue with R&D related to STT MRAM to strive toward practical implementation, such as lowering write currents and developing process technologies for further miniaturization.

Glossary and Notes

1 Spin- Torque-Transfer MRAM:Spin-torque-transfer magnetoresistive (STT) random access memory. MRAM that uses the "spin-torque-transfer" effect to reverse the direction of magnetization of an element by passing current through it.

2 Non-volatile memory:Memory that persists even when electrical power is cut.

3 Magnetic tunnel junction (MJT):A tunnel junction that uses the magnetoresistive effect. Consists of a recording layer made of ferromagnetic material, an insulating film a few atoms thick, and a layer made of ferromagnetic material that will not change its direction of magnetization in the presence of a current.

4 Negative resistance:An element that has negative resistance value, in which its current decreases when voltage rises.

About University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, recognized as a global leader in research and teaching. U of T's distinguished faculty, institutional record of groundbreaking scholarship and wealth of innovative academic opportunities continually attract outstanding students and academics from around the world. U of T is committed to providing a learning experience that benefits from both a scale almost unparalleled in North America and from the close-knit learning communities made possible through its college system and academic divisions. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world's most diverse regions, U of T's vibrant academic life is defined by a unique degree of cultural diversity in its learning community. The University is sustained environmentally by three green campuses, where renowned heritage buildings stand beside award-winning innovations in architectural design.

For more information: http://www.utoronto.ca/

About Fujitsu Ltd

Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 160,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. For more information, please visit www.fujitsu.com.

Contact: Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.
Technology Integration Lab.
Platform Technologies Lab.
Tel: +81(46)250-8379
E-mail:til-si@ml.labs.fujitsu.com

University of Toronto
Prof. Ali Sheikholeslami
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tel: +1(416)978-1681
E-mail:ali@eecg.utoronto.ca
Address: 10 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G4 Canada

Copyright 2010 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved.

Balentine Launches Independent Asset Strategy Firm Feb 10, 2010 09:37AM

Firm Solidifies Experienced Team of Trusted Professionals

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Balentine, an independently owned firm of senior-level investment professionals, is open for business and moving quickly to establish a formidable presence in Atlanta and beyond. The firm is focused on acting with uncommon agility and collaboration to help individuals, families and not-for-profit organizations successfully navigate today's complex investment environment.

Balentine, which opened its doors in January 2010, currently has more than $250 million under management and expects to oversee $1 billion by the end of the summer. The firm builds upon the successful Balentine legacy, an employee-owned firm established over 25 years ago with a proven record of success and operations founded on partners investing their capital alongside clients.

The firm's business model combines the transparency and objectivity of an investment counseling firm with the ability to act decisively and be held accountable for the results of a money manager. As an asset strategy firm, Balentine will not offer any proprietary products and is not affiliated with any broker dealers. Client and partner assets will be held at Pershing, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a AAA-rated company. Alignment with clients and lack of financial conflict are key cornerstones of Balentine's overall management philosophy.

Robert M. Balentine, chairman of Balentine, believes the time is right for the firm he and his partners have entrepreneurially established.

"We focus on what we do best, which is innovative thinking and exemplary client service," said Balentine. "We emphasize creativity and process because we see investing as both art and science. Our unconventional thinking on markets, risk, asset allocation and investment selection challenges convention, and our clients benefit from this approach."

"With our firm, we are returning to the traditional days of locals working with locals, being intrinsically involved in the community, and understanding the lifestyle and values of the clients we serve and the long-term goals of families in the region," Balentine said. "There are not one-size-fits-all investment solutions in our business. Each client's needs and goals should drive the investment process every time."

Balentine is backed by Rosemont Investment Partners, LLC, a well-known private equity investor in asset management companies. Rosemont's founder, Chas Burkhart, remarked, "We are very enthusiastic about our partnership with such a top-notch team of investment advisory professionals. Balentine comes out of the gate as a well-organized, employee-owned firm with a best practices approach to asset allocation, investment management and client service."

"We are very pleased to have Rosemont as our partner," said Balentine. "The Rosemont team includes the most knowledgeable and connected investors in our industry, and we look forward to a very productive relationship."

Balentine has assembled a team of seasoned professionals, many of whom have worked together for more than a decade. With 17 staff members, including two Ph.D.s, four MBAs and six CFAs, each Balentine team member has served in the most senior positions, such as chief investment officer and chief financial strategist. In creating the team, Balentine noted the firm specifically sought senior advisers with direct experience managing large pools of capital and providing thought leadership in the industry.

"We have assembled an extraordinary group of talent and intellectual capital," said Balentine. "Our team combines seasoned, senior-level investment industry veterans with economists from some of the world's most prestigious universities and thinkers from business sectors outside of the world of financial services. Our team is immersed in the community, highly respected, extremely dedicated and of the highest integrity."

The senior Balentine team members include:

Robert M. Balentine, Chairman and CEO

Robert most recently served as executive vice president of Wilmington Trust Company and chairman and chief executive officer of Wilmington Trust Investment Management. Prior to that role, he was chairman and chief executive officer of Balentine & Company, the Atlanta-based investment counseling firm he co-founded in 1987, which was acquired by Wilmington Trust in 2002. Robert is a former executive of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith where, at the age of 28, he was elected the youngest vice president in the firm's history.

Robert has held a variety of leadership positions in his community, having served as chairman of the board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, vice chairman of the executive committee of the Woodruff Arts Center, and chairman of the Salvation Army and Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and serves as a member of its board of trustees.

Jeff Adams, J.D., Chief Operating Officer

Jeff previously served as president and director of Wilmington Trust - Georgia, where he headed the Wealth Advisory / Federal Savings Bank Office. Previously, Jeff was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Balentine & Company from 1995 until the firm's sale in 2002. He also served as chair of the NASD District Committee 7 in 2004. Jeff began his career as an attorney with Alston & Bird, representing public companies and managing issuer and underwriter financing and regulatory practices. In 1982, he was named a partner in that firm.

Jeff serves in many leadership positions throughout the community. He is a trustee of Young Harris College and chair of the marketing committee. He also is a trustee of The Culver Academies, acting as chair of the finance and investment committee. Jeff serves as chair of the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Jeff was a Morehead Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1973. He later earned a law degree from Yale Law School.

Adrian Cronje, Ph.D., CFA, Chief Investment Officer

Adrian directs all of Balentine's strategic asset class diversification, tactical rebalancing and manager selection and termination policies. He also oversees risk management techniques at a strategy level and identifies and prioritizes investment research. Previously, Adrian was chief investment strategist and chair of the Investment Strategy Team at Wilmington Trust Company. Prior to that role, he served as director and deputy head of Quantitative Equity Products at Schroders in London, where his team managed more than $3 billion across global equity markets.

Adrian holds a doctorate in macroeconomics and econometrics and a master's degree in economics and finance from the University of Cambridge, U.K. He earned his bachelor's degree in economics, with honors, from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is a frequent presenter at high-profile events such as annual CFA conferences, Barron's "The Art of Successful Investing" conference, the Georgia Tech MBA program, and the Southeastern Council of Foundations, among others.

Brittain E. Prigge, CFA, Managing Director of Client Relationships

Brittain joined Balentine & Company in 1994 and was a shareholder in the firm at the time of the firm's acquisition by Wilmington Trust in 2002. She is considered Balentine's expert in fixed-income trading and portfolio management.

Brittain is an active fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where she acts as a national associate and has worked with the board of trustees since 1998. She also is a board member and chair of the Resource Development committee for Families First, Georgia's largest not-for-profit family agency providing holistic services to children and families in jeopardy. In addition, she is a member of the Peachtree Alliance board, serving as secretary and E Rivers Elementary school liaison. Brittain holds a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University.

Philip Cave, Managing Director of Business Development

Philip most recently served as president of Wilmington Trust FSB Georgia, where he led business development and client account management for the company's wealth advisory business in Atlanta and the Southeast region. Prior to that role, Philip headed the Bessemer Trust office in Atlanta. Earlier in his career, he held senior private banking positions with JP Morgan and Wachovia.

Philip also holds leadership positions in Atlanta's civic community. He served as chair of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Annual Fund for three years and is currently chair of the board governance committee. He previously served on the Woodruff Arts Center Long Range Committee and on the advisory board of the Cox Family Enterprise Center. Philip holds a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University.

S. Alan McKnight, Jr., CFA, Chief Investment Strategist

Alan is Balentine's Chief Investment Strategist, managing Balentine's asset allocation strategies and supervising the firm's manager due diligence and selection efforts. He also works individually with endowment and foundation clients. Alan is the former chief investment officer of SunTrust Institutional Investment Advisors, LLC, where he was responsible for managing over $20 billion for foundations and endowments. Prior to joining SunTrust, Alan was portfolio manager for large-cap growth portfolios at Morgan Stanley. Previously, he worked for Equitable Asset Management as the portfolio manager of a small-cap value fund. He began his career with Wachovia Securities as a sell-side analyst covering the specialty retailing sector.

Alan earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Washington and Lee University in 1994, and a master's in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002. He holds the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA(R)) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts. Alan serves on the board of the Alliance Theatre.

Joe M. Stallings, Managing Director of Communications

As Balentine's communications director, Joe Stallings manages the firm's external communications, public relations efforts, brand equity and intellectual properties. A 1992 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Joe began his career with Balentine & Company in 1994, rising to Vice President of Marketing in 1999.

Joe joins Balentine from Electronic Arts, the world's second-largest software entertainment company, where he worked as a producer. Working in both Orlando, Florida and Vancouver, British Columbia, Joe helped create the ecommerce, social media, digital distribution and direct-to-consumer technologies used in some of Electronic Arts' best-selling products, including The Sims and Tiger Woods PGA(r) TOUR.

    Source: Balentine

Media Advisory: Veterans Ombudsman Hosts Public Consultation Meeting in Montreal Feb 10, 2010 09:37AM

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 10, 2010) - Members of the media are invited to meet Veterans Ombudsman Patrick B. Stogran as he consults with Veterans on the New Veterans Charter. Data collected will help the Ombudsman highlight Veterans' issues to the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, other parliamentarians and key stakeholders.

WHO:      Patrick Stogran, The Veterans Ombudsman, is an independent
          and impartial officer who reports directly to the Minister
          of Veterans Affairs.

WHAT:     Town Hall Meeting

WHEN:     Thursday, 11 February 2010, 7:00 PM

WHERE:    Officers Mess at Longue-Pointe,
          6560 Hochelaga St, Building L154,
          Montreal, QC

WHY:      The Montreal Veterans Ombudsman Town Hall meeting is part of
          a broader consultation process, and will be part of a series
          of cross-country meetings with Veterans and their families to
          air and receive feedback on key issues of concern.

Media representatives who wish to cover this event must be present at the Longue Pointe garrison's main gate on February 11, at 6:45 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
        Brian Gallant, Communications Advisor
        613-943-7867 (office)
        613-668-0045 (cell)
        brian.gallant@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca
        www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

Source: Office of the Veterans Ombudsman

Rule 8.3 - Uranium Limited Feb 10, 2010 09:37AM

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

FORM 8.3

DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

(Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)

1. KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing(Note 1)           Wellington Management Company, LLP

Company dealt in                         Uranium Limited

Class of relevant security to which the  Ordinary Shares
dealings being disclosed relate(Note 2)

Date of dealing                          09 February 2010

2. INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a) Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant security dealt in (Note 3)

                                      Long                        Short

                                      Number (%)                  Number (%)

(1) Relevant securities               4,255,442 shares (10.32 %)

(2) Derivatives (other than options)

(3) Options and agreements to
purchase/sell

Total                                 4,255,442 shares (10.32 %)

(b) Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:                  Long        Short

                                             Number (%)  Number (%)

(1) Relevant securities

(2) Derivatives (other than options)

(3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell

Total

(c) Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:  Details

3. DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a) Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale  Number of securities  Price per unit(Note 5)

Purchase       20,000 shares         1.6950 - GBP

(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product name,  Long/short (Note 6)  Number of securities   Price per unit (Note
                                    (Note 7)               5)

e.g. CFD

(c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Product    Writing,     Number of   Exercise  Type, e.g.  Expiry  Option money
name,

e.g. call  selling,     securities  price     American,   date    paid/received
option                  to

           purchasing,  which the             European            per unit
                        option                                    (Note

           varying      relates               etc.                5)
           etc.         (Note 7)

(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g. call  Number of securities  Exercise price per unit(Note
option                                         5)

(d) Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)

Nature of transaction (Note 8) Details Price per unit (if applicable)(

                                       )(Note 5)

4. OTHER INFORMATION

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person
disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant
securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any
derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be
stated.

None

Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9) NO

Date of disclosure                                       10 February 2010

Contact name                                             Robert J. Toner

Telephone number                                         (617) 790-7084

If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with which   N/A
connected

If a connected EFM, state nature of connection(Note 10)  N/A

Notes

The Notes on Form 8.3 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk

    Source: Wellington Management