Press Releases

Research and Markets: Carbon Funds Directory 2009/10 - Now Available Dec 4, 2009 07:24AM

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/604975/carbon_funds_direc) has announced the addition of the "Carbon Funds Directory 2009/10" report to their offering.

Fully updated, now listing more than 100 existing or planned funds - managing more than $15 billion - dedicated to investing in emission-reducing projects that generate carbon credits.

An indispensable text for:

    --  Potential buyers of carbon credits
    --  Investors in the carbon market
    --  Project developers
    --  Host country authorities
    --  Consultants
    --  Verification agencies
    --  Project financiers
    --  Lawyers

Key Topics Covered:

At-a-glance summaries of each fund or facility including:

Aims

    --  Size and investment timescales
    --  Project eligibility criteria
    --  Contact details
    --  Other key data for potential investors and project developers

Plus:

    --  An exclusive survey of carbon fund managers - their views on, and the
        outlook for, the carbon market
    --  An update on and analysis of the Kyoto Protocol
    --  Glossary of terms

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/604975/carbon_funds_direc

    Source: Research and Markets

Research and Markets: Direct-to-Home Satellite Broadcasting in Western Europe Dec 4, 2009 07:22AM

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2466e9/directtohome_sat) has announced the addition of the "Direct-to-Home Satellite Broadcasting in Western Europe" report to their offering.

Western Europe's Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite platforms are frequently characterized by stagnating subscriber numbers and upgrading of their services to secure and increase revenues from exisiting subscribers.

The most notable exception remains the UK's BSkyB, which continues to build its subscriber base and, at 9.536 million subscribers at the end of Q3 2009, is closing on its 10 million-subscriber target for 2010. BSkyB offers the largest selection of high definition (HD) channels outside of the US and has used them to build a total of 1.6 million HD homes - many more than some smaller platforms have for their entire standard definition (SD) portfolio. What is more, the News Corp-owned platform has persuaded them all to pay an additional 10 (euro11) per month in subscription fees, a model replicated in many, but not all, of their Western European markets with varying degrees of success

The new HD receivers are also capable of delivering television content through the internet. BSkyB has confirmed that it will launch a pull video-on-demand service during 2010 -challenging itself to persuade subscribers to connect their receivers to broadband - and later that year add content in 3D. The latter is more likely to serve as a demonstration of the platform's technological prowess, given that sub- scribers will be required to purchase a new 3D capable television, even if the set-top receiver is capable of handling 3D with just an over-the-air download.

Canal+ has already launched a pull-VOD service through its eye-catching hybrid receiver known as Le Cube. In Scandinavia, Viasat is using progressive downloads to deliver content to its subscriber base, its rival Canal Digital plans to go hybrid in April next year. The rise of the hybrid receiver, which is also making its mark in the DTT sector, is a natural reaction to the launch of VOD services, both from cable networks, and over- the-top providers.

The delivery of linear channels by satellite remains an economic way of delivering content to mass audiences, but the popularity of on-demand, offering 'what you want when you want it', means that the DTH operators cannot be left behind. Broadband connectivity can provide a one-off drama or comedy with the possibility that satellite might still be used for, say, the top 50 programmes from a catch-up TV service that could be stored on the increasing numbers of personal video recorders (PVRs) that have been deployed.

This new 20,000-word report from Broadband TV News is written by Robert Briel and Julian Clover.

Key benefits you will understand

    --  Subscriber numbers and market data from 20 territories in Western Europe
    --  How public and private broadcasters are using satellite as an extension
        of their terrestrial services.
    --  How Triple Play is becoming as important for satellite as cable, while
        shoring up revenues against plateauing subscriber levels
    --  How new technologies, such as PVR, HD and 3D, are diminishing the
        importance of zapper boxes
    --  How Sky Deutschland is remodeling the Premiere DTH business
    --  How IPTV operator Orange is using satellite to supplement its broadband
        offer

Authors:

Robert Briel and Julian Clover

Executive Summary:

Western Europe's direct-to-home satellite platforms are in the main characterized by stagnating subscriber numbers and a development of their services to ensure increasing revenues from those that have already signed up.

The daddy remains the UK's BSkyB, which is continuing to build its subscriber base, and at 9.536 million subscribers at the end of Q3 2009 was closing in on the 10 million-subscriber target it had set itself for 2010. BSkyB offers the largest selection of high definition (HD) channels outside of the US and has used them to build a total of 1.6 million HD homes - many more than some of the smaller platforms have for their standard definition (SD) portfolio. What is more, the News Corp-owned platform has persuaded them all to pay an additional 10 per month in subscription fees, a model replicated in many, but not all, of the Western European markets with varying degrees of success.

The new HD receivers are also capable of delivering television content through the open internet. Sky has confirmed that it will launch a pull-video-on-demand service during 2010 - presenting itself with a challenge to subscribers to connect up their receivers to broadband - and later the same year add content in 3D. The latter is more likely to s e rve as a demonstration of the platform's technological prowess, given that subscribers will be required to purchase a new 3D capable television, even if the set-top receiver is capable of handling 3D with just an over-the-air download.

Canal+ has already launched a pull-VOD service through its eye-catching hybrid receiver known as Le Cube. In Scandinavia, Viasat is using progressive downloads to deliver content to its subscriber base, its rival Canal Digital plans to go hybrid in April next year. The rise of the hybrid receiver, which is also making its mark in the DTT sector, is a natural reaction to the launch of VOD services, both from cable networks, and overthe- top providers. The delivery of linear channels by satellite remains an economic way of delivering content to mass audiences, but the popularity of on demand, offering 'what you want when you want it', means that the DTH operators cannot be left behind. Broadband connectivity can provide a one-off drama or comedy with the possibility that satellite might still be used for, say, the top 50 programmes from a catch-up TV service that could be stored on the increasing numbers of personal video recorders (PVRs) that have been deployed.

Hybrid services work in both directions. France Telecom's Orange and Portugal Telecom's Meo both use satellite as a gap fill to provide their services nationwide, rather than where their earthly ADSL infrastructure permits. Both platforms are recent launches, in France the debut of Orange TV coming after the merger of CanalSat with its longtime rival TPS.

It is not just the IPTV operators that are launching new platforms; spurred by the digital switchover process that must be completed by 2012, free-to-view platforms have emerged in a number of territories, not least in France, that has managed to launch three such services!

The Freesat-style platforms have varying degrees of control placed upon them by the owners; some rights holders demand that the signals are encrypted, while others remain FTA. Freesat itself, owned by the BBC and ITV, transmits in the clear and is adding the hybrid connectivity that will allow it to offer a version of the popular BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service.

Some markets, most notably Germany, have a large base of FTA channels readily available. Attempts like Entavio and Premiere Star have failed to group together the channels in the way that Sky Multichannels achieved with analogue in the early '90s. Sky Deutschland, the new incarnation of the Premiere platform, is looking to change all that. New packaging was introduced in the autumn of 2009 and the News Corp-owned operation is bringing technologies familiar in other markets, but a world away from the zapper boxes that have previously characterized Europe's largest television market.

Key Topics Covered:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

AUSTRIA

    --  The Sky Austria offer
    --  Free-to-view channels

BELGIUM

    --  The TV Vlaanderen offer
    --  The Telesat Numerique offer
    --  Free-to-air services

FRANCE

    --  The CanalSat offer
    --  CanalSat TNT Sat
    --  The Orange TV offer
    --  The Bis offer from Groupe AB
    --  The Fransat offer
    --  HD
    --  Free-to-air channels

GERMANY

    --  Pay-TV on satellite
    --  Easy.tv prepaid service failed
    --  The new Sky platform
    --  The ArenaSat offer
    --  Kabelkiosk channels on Allessehen.tv
    --  Free-to-air channels
    --  HD

GREECE

    --  The Nova offer
    --  FTA channels
    --  HD

IRELAND

ITALY

    --  The Sky Italia offer
    --  The TiVu Sat offer
    --  FTA channels
    --  HD

LUXEMBOURG

THE NETHERLANDS

    --  The Canal Digitaal Satelliet offer
    --  Free-to-air services

PORTUGAL

SCANDINAVIA

    --  Viasat
    --  Canal Digital
    --  First to introduce HD
    --  Hybrid PVR

SPAIN

    --  PVR
    --  TVE contract renewal
    --  Triple play
    --  Internet delivery
    --  Packaging

SWITZERLAND

    --  Teleclub offer
    --  CanalSat offer
    --  HD Suisse
    --  Free-to-view channels

TURKEY

    --  Digiturk offer
    --  The D-Smart offer
    --  HD

UK

    --  Pay-TV review
    --  ITV holding
    --  Triple Play
    --  TV packaging
    --  Technological advances
    --  HDTV
    --  3D
    --  Technology upgrades
    --  Freesat
    --  Freesatfromsky

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2466e9/directtohome_sat

    Source: Research and Markets

Dohmen Hires Exec with Caremark, Humana and Eli Lilly Experience for New Chief CDO Position Dec 4, 2009 07:20AM

Growing Healthcare Services Business Names Kelli Kovak Chief Development Officer, Michael Italiano, Senior Director, Corporate Development

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dohmen, a 151-year-old, family-held health care services company, has named Kelli Kovak, Chief Development Officer (CDO) and Michael Italiano, Senior Director, Corporate Development.

CEO, Cynthia Dohmen LaConte said both executive's industry experience aligns perfectly with Dohmen's existing business portfolio and future strategic direction, "Our current service offerings include outsourced business services to life science manufacturers through DDN and benefit management services to life science payers through RESTAT. Everything we do in the Dohmen family of companies is purposed to create a more efficient, affordable and accessible healthcare supply system - that's our vision. Michael's background in the Pharmaceutical sector combined with Kelli's experience serving Eli Lilly, Caremark and Humana -- a top-tier pharmaceutical manufacturer, the nation's largest prescription benefits provider and one of its largest health insurers - will be invaluable as we look to grow and diversify Dohmen's family of companies."

Kovak said she is excited about working for a company that values purpose as greatly as its bottom line. "Because Dohmen is private, it's able to step back and take a long-term view, rather than being reactionary. As we evaluate growth opportunities, we'll recommend only the start-ups, acquisitions and business alliances that support our vision of reducing complexities in the healthcare supply system while increasing accessibility and affordability. We'll also work with the divisional leadership to help coordinate growth initiatives within Dohmen's existing subsidiaries."

Kovak, a registered pharmacist, most recently served as the Senior Vice President of Catalyst Medical Communications, a Pharmaceutical marketing communications agency. Prior to joining Catalyst, Kovak's roles included, Vice President of Clinical Business Support and Vice President, High Impact Teams for CVS/Caremark as well as Regional Director of Pharmacy Administration for Humana. Kovak earned a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Purdue University and a Master's degree in Finance and International Business from the University of Illinois.

Italiano to Perform Strategic Analysis and Business Case Development

Shortly after coming on board at Dohmen, Kovak hired Michael Italiano to serve as Senior Director, Corporate Development. "Michael's experience and ability to perform strategic analyses -- to build out a business case either for or against an acquisition or corporate growth opportunity -- will be foundational to our success," said Kovak. "Michael's recommendations will help guide our decisions as we carefully choose which companies will further increase Dohmen's economic value."

"Dohmen has a strong history and a deliberate plan for growth; I feel especially enthusiastic about its vision to improve the well being of our communities by helping to create a better health care system." LaConte adds, "Dohmen provides capital infusion to its subsidiaries, allowing continued authorship of its executives. We're uniting all companies under Dohmen's recognizable umbrella brand while maintaining each company's individual brands," she said. "This cohesive branding strategy concentrates on the big picture commonalities that connect all Dohmen companies and makes the whole of the Dohmen product portfolio greater than the sum of its parts."

Prior to joining Dohmen, Michael held senior level management positions including leading Kimberly-Clark's Global Alliances and Technology Acquisitions team and as Director of Corporate Development at Schwarz Pharma, Inc. At Schwarz, Italiano was involved in a series of high-value transactions leading up to the ultimate sale of the Schwarz Group. Italiano began his career with Deloitte & Touche and held various financial positions with Cooper Power Systems. He earned a Master's in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting (Magna cum Laude) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

About Dohmen: Headquartered in Milwaukee, Dohmen is a fifth-generation, family-owned healthcare services business. Founded in 1858 as a retail pharmacy, Dohmen has steadily expanded its reach and capabilities, continually meeting market needs while adapting to the ever-changing healthcare delivery landscape. Dohmen's portfolio of service offerings includes outsourced business services to life science manufacturers through DDN, and benefit management services to life science payers through RESTAT. Driven by a desire to make the healthcare supply system more efficient and affordable, Dohmen is seeking to expand and diversify its family of companies -- continuing the family's healthcare service commitment upheld for 150 years.

    Source: Dohmen

BlueFire Named One of Top 20 Bioenergy Companies for Second Consecutive Year Dec 4, 2009 07:10AM

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BFRE), a company focused on changing the world's transportation fuel paradigm through the production of ethanol from non-food cellulosic wastes, has been ranked number 19 on the Biofuels Digest list of the "50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy;" the company's second consecutive year in the top 20.

"Having voters rank BlueFire Ethanol among the top 20 bioenergy companies for two straight years is a testament to the credibility of our technology and our proven ability to produce ethanol from presorted municipal waste," says Arnold R. Klann, President and CEO of BlueFire Ethanol. "BlueFire Ethanol remains focused on leading the way to energy independence and providing the Unites States with necessary alternatives to imported petroleum use."

"BlueFire remains on fire," said Biofuels Digest editor Jim Lane. "For the second year in a row, voters saw a unique blend of visibility and credibility in BlueFire Ethanol that makes the company one of the elite few to make the top 20 two years running, out of more than 1400 eligible companies."

Among BlueFire's many 2009 accomplishments are:

    --  Completion of a 20 month licensing process for its shovel-ready, fully
        permitted ethanol biorefinery in Lancaster, CA. The Lancaster facility,
        BlueFire's first U.S. commercial plant, will use post-sorted cellulosic
        wastes diverted from Southern California's landfills to produce
        approximately 3.9 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year;

    --  BlueFire is also moving forward with its internal project schedule for a
        second planned commercial cellulosic ethanol plant, which will be
        relocated to Fulton, Mississippi;

    --  The Department of Energy has determined that BlueFire Ethanol has met
        the requirements of Part One of the application process for a Loan
        Guarantee to finance its Lancaster, CA project and invited the company
        to continue onto Part Two of the process;

    --  Solazyme, Inc., the market leading algal synthetic biology company
        ranked number one on Biofuels Digest's "50 Hottest Companies in
        Bioenergy" list, began testing sugars produced through BlueFire's
        patented process for compatibility with Solazyme's renewable oil process
        to effectively produce oil at scale.

"BlueFire's work with Solazyme demonstrates emerging synergies among bioenergy companies that will further the industry as a whole. Industry innovation, together with a policy framework that sends clear and strong market signals to attract capital into the sector, would enable cellulosic fuels to achieve its full market potential," added Klann.

Winners of Biofuels Digest's "50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy" award will be honored at a presentation in Washington DC on April 27, 2010, in conjunction with the Advanced Biofuels Development Summit. Rankings were based on the votes of the Biofuels Digest award panel and reflected the importance of news announcements made in 2009. Votes were weighted by industry and region to ensure a fair and broad representation of companies and technologies.

About BlueFire Ethanol Fuels

BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. was established to deploy a commercially ready, patented and proven Concentrated Acid Hydrolysis Technology Process for the profitable conversion of cellulosic waste materials ("Green Waste") to ethanol, a viable alternative to gasoline. BlueFire is the only cellulose-to-ethanol company worldwide with demonstrated production of ethanol from urban trash (post-sorted MSW), rice and wheat straws, wood waste and other agricultural residues.

BlueFire is one of four companies awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to construct cellulosic biorefinery production facilities. BlueFire's biorefineries will be located near markets with high demand for ethanol and will use locally available biomass. This should dramatically reduce delivery costs and increase biofuel supplies, while providing a unique waste processing technology to help America's cities better manage the increasing problem of overflowing landfills. For more information, please visit www.BlueFireEthanol.com.

If you would like to receive regular updates on BlueFire Ethanol, please select this following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1437&to=ea&s=0.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements about BlueFire Ethanol, Inc.'s expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as the term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. BlueFire's actual results could differ materially from expected results. BlueFire undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. Should events occur which materially affect any comments made within this press release; BlueFire will appropriately inform the public.

This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). BlueFire Ethanol, Inc. claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms "may," "believes," "projects," "expects," or "anticipates," and do not reflect historical facts. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: our successful development and deployment of ethanol production facility or facilities, impact of the company's expansion plan, and new business development success, future financial results, the impact of competitive products or pricing from technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations contained in any such forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: failure to manage operating expenses or integrate new facilities and/or technologies, each of which could have a material impact on our business, our financial results, and the company's stock price. These risks and other factors are detailed in the Company's regular filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made and BlueFire Ethanol, Inc. does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SOURCE BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc.

Yogen Fruz Introduces New Holiday Flavors: Yog-Nog and Mint Chocolate Chip Dec 4, 2009 07:05AM

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Yogen Fruz, the world's leading frozen yogurt conglomerate, announced today the launch of its holiday themed "NUmixes" -- Yog-Nog and Mint Chocolate Chip. On December 7, the new festive mixes will be unveiled at Yogen Fruz stores across North America. Yogen Fruz's low-calorie Yog-Nog and Mint Chocolate Chip flavors will offer customers a guilt-free dessert alternative to indulge in this holiday season.

"We are always looking for unique and exciting ways to serve our signature frozen yogurt," says Aaron Serruya, President of Yogen Fruz. "As we continue to expand our NUmixes portfolio, we anticipate a great response with the introduction of our healthy holiday-inspired flavors."

The naturally flavored Yog-Nog and Mint Chocolate Chip NUmixes set an exciting trend in the frozen yogurt category as customers enjoy the same, unparalleled, quality of Yogen Fruz's proprietary frozen yogurt mixed with a new variety of scrumptious flavors and toppings. Yog-Nog is mixed with non-fat frozen yogurt and eggnog spice, paired with a decadent rolled wafer. Mint Chocolate Chip is made with non-fat frozen yogurt mixed with mint and chocolate topped with chocolate curls.

Yogen Fruz is offered in low-fat, non-fat and no-sugar-added frozen yogurt, which can be custom blended with a large assortment of fresh fruit right in front of the customer and topped with fruit and/or sweet crunchy toppings in a cup or blended into a nutritious fat-free, ice-free dairy or non-dairy smoothie. Yogen Fruz adds one billion viable probiotic cultures to each serving of healthy yogurt. Probiotics have been shown to help with healthy digestion and immune system support.

For more information please visit: www.yogenfruz.com

About Yogen Fruz

Yogen Fruz USA Inc., is a subsidiary of Yogen Fruz Canada Inc., a world leader in the frozen dessert category, with over 1,200 locations operating in over 25 countries around the world. Yogen Fruz pioneered the frozen dessert/snack business when it opened its first store in 1986. Today, with its new assortment of proprietary probiotic frozen yogurt, smoothies and recently launched NUmixes, including Key Lime Pie, Pina Colada and Chocolate Almond, the company maintains its position as industry leader - consistently creating innovative ways to enjoy frozen yogurt.

SOURCE Yogen Fruz