Press Releases

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8e0e47/uk_retail_christm) has announced the addition of the "UK Retail: Christmas 2009 Forecast - What's in Store?" report to their offering.

UK retailers are facing an unprecedented decline in the all-important Q4 sales period as a combination of unique factors come into play. The combination of recession, falling consumer confidence and capacity, and a VAT cut are all having a major impact on consumer retail expenditure. This report forecasts sales and winners per sector, with detailed analysis.

Scope:

    --  Q4 2009 spending trends; clothing & footwear, DIY, electricals,
        furniture, food & grocery,health & beauty, homewares, other sectors,
        online sales.
    --  Value, volume and inflation growth and spend per head in each sector
        with changes year-on-year.
    --  Unique survey of UK consumers' attitudes to spending in Q4 2009.
    --  Trends by value, volume and inflation Q4 2005-2009.

Highlights:

For the first time since Verdict's records began in 1989, we forecast retail expenditure will be down this Christmas. We estimate the market will shrink by 0.7% in Q4 2009 equivalent to 535.0m. But this conceals diverse trends in each sector.

As consumer expenditure includes tax, the 2.5 point cut in VAT has been a significant factor in the reduction in spending in non-food (food & grocery is largely VAT free). To maintain sales at last year's level, volume or prices would have to rise but overall both have declined and retailers compete aggressively to win share of a smaller market.

At least one in three consumers intend to cut back on their spending this Christmas, with family shoppers and those on low incomes the most nervous. At least 40.0% of consumers in the south and East Anglia, where the financial crisis has hit the hardest, are considering cutting back.

Reasons to Purchase:

    --  Measure your company's potential share of each sector and focus on most
        productive outcomes.
    --  Devise winning strategies to gain share of consumers' spending using
        unique survey of spending intentions.
    --  Benchmark your performance against the sector to devise future growth
        potential.

Key Topics Covered:

Overview Introduction

SUMMARY

    --  Christmas spending down as non-food doubles its drop of Q4 2008 to
        GBP1.3bn;
    --  VAT cut a significant factor in decline in spending;
    --  Exit of casualties has also reduced capacity for others to win;
    --  Consumers will be the winners as retailers fight for their custom;
    --  Women will stop this being the worst Christmas ever despite their
        intention to cut back;
    --  Online will be the star yet again - despite the postal strike scare;
    --  Electricals set to be biggest loser;
    --  Not Armageddon, but survival of the fittest.
    --  Executive Summary

KEY FINDINGS

    --  Christmas spending down as non-food doubles its drop of Q4 2008 to
        GBP1.3bn
    --  VAT cut a significant factor in decline in spending
    --  Exit of casualties has also reduced capacity for others to win
    --  Consumers will be the winners as retailers fight for their custom
    --  Women will stop this being the worst Christmas ever despite their
        intention to cut back
    --  Online will be the star yet again - despite the postal strike scare
    --  Electricals set to be biggest loser
    --  Not Armageddon, but survival of the fittest
    --  Table of Contents
    --  Table of figures
    --  Table of tables
    --  Analysis
    --  Spending set to fall as unique factors take effect
    --  Christmas 2009 headlines - expenditure falls for first time, but not
        retail Armageddon
    --  Consumers - intending to cut back on expenditure and being more
        selective
    --  Sector performance - only two show growth
    --  Clothing & footwear - time for a new party dress
    --  DIY & gardening - wrong time to move house
    --  Electricals - little sparkle in the market
    --  Food & grocery - we all have to eat, especially at Christmas
    --  Furniture & floorcoverings - not a priority for consumers nervous about
        spending
    --  Health & Beauty - looking and feeling good still a priority
    --  Homewares - pretty up the house for visitors
    --  Other sectors
    --  - Toys
    --  - Books, music & video
    --  - Jewellery
    --  - Others
    --  Online - the saviour

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8e0e47/uk_retail_christm

Source: Verdict Research Limited

    Source: Research and Markets

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/03/09 -- WebTech Wireless Inc. (TSX: WEW), a leading provider of vehicle location-based (LBS) and fleet telematics services, announces that it has reached a major milestone in the Brazilian market where it has, as of December 1, 2009, added 10,000 users to its Quadrant(TM) subscriber base.

Subscription to the web-based, Quadrant system gives customers in Brazil an end-to-end fleet management solution incorporating mapping, reporting, messaging and dispatching abilities, allowing them to easily track and manage their vehicles.

WebTech Wireless has seen steadily increasing demand for its WebTech Locators(TM) and Quadrant fleet management software in Brazil. The 10,000 Quadrant subscriber milestone comes as Brazil ends the year as one of the world's strongest performing and diversifying economies with a second quarter 2009 GDP growth rate of 1.9% and record-breaking central bank interest rate of 8.75%, which has spurred investment and helped bolster consumer demand.

Aluisio Mol de Freitas, Managing Director, WebTech Wireless Brazil, said, "These subscribers have been coming onto the Quadrant system over the past 18 months, even moving over from competitor applications, so we're very pleased that they're now generating monthly subscription fees." Adding, "We've seen general interest in fleet management technology growing in Brazil, helped no doubt by a relatively positive economic outlook. And even though we have competition, the significant advantages of WebTech Wireless' fleet management solutions are tangible. We can now boast of a considerable track record selling to various industries, which makes it easier for potential customers to compare and choose our solution. We'll continue to nurture these relationships in the coming year as well as approach other sectors where we can provide real benefits to customers."

Neil Chan, Senior VP Worldwide Sales & Marketing for WebTech Wireless said, "These new subscribers will generate higher margin Average Revenue per User (ARPU) than we typically see, even though actual rates may be lower given the more limited nature of the services they're receiving today. We do expect that the ARPU for these particular subscribers will increase as we offer enhanced services, response times and mine this customer base for up-sell opportunities."

This event underscores WebTech Wireless' commitment to providing customized solutions for a variety of industries around the world that depend on efficient and effective mobile resource management.

About WebTech Wireless Inc.

WebTech Wireless Inc. (TSX: WEW) is a global telematics and location-based services provider that develops, manufactures and delivers end-to-end wireless solutions designed to improve the productivity, profitability and safety of vehicle fleets. WebTech Wireless products and services run on GPS and cellular networks and provide Automatic Vehicle Location, Mapping, Reporting, Vehicle Diagnostics, Driver Status, In-vehicle Telemetry and Navigation and Messaging. The Company delivers products and services in over forty-one countries to a variety of small, medium and Fortune 500 companies, with a particular focus on the transport, service delivery, government and automotive markets. For more information, please visit www.webtechwireless.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties pertaining to, but not limited to product plans, timing, content, and pricing of products, market and industry expectations, the wireless communications industry, the mobile fleet industry, and general economic and political conditions. Given the risks and uncertainties inherent in the markets and industries referred to in this press release, WebTech Wireless cannot guarantee that any forward looking statements will be realized.

Trademarks are the property of their owners.

The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:
WebTech Wireless Inc.
Eric Wilson
Press and Media
+1 778.386.2712
Email: press@webtechwireless.com

WebTech Wireless Inc.
R. Joe Dhami
Investor Relations
+1 877.811.4518 ext 462
Email: ir@webtechwireless.com
Website: www.webtechwireless.com

CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/03/09 -- Valcent Products Inc. (OTCBB: VCTZF) announces that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has agreed to join the Company's advisory board. Over the past two months Valcent has launched a major sales and marketing campaign aimed at developing interest for the concept of urban farming in a number of major US cities in association with EMLINK LLC of Boston Massachusetts.

"My cousin Robert F Kennedy Jr. has agreed to join the advisory board of Valcent Products Inc. and he is excited about the potential of this technology to offer a new more sustainable model of food production which does not employ pesticides and herbicides and does not involve high fossil fuel use and generate greenhouse gasses as conventional factory farming often does," said EMLINK's Stephen Kennedy Smith. "In addition to commercial growers, and urban areas we see potential for this technology to be used in defense and foreign aid applications as well."

Further Mr. Smith stated, "We have gotten a very positive response from leaders in state and local government regarding the potential of VertiCrop(TM) to create green jobs and bring fresh food to inner city communities. We expect our first project will be sited on a rooftop near city hall in the city of New York in the next few months."

The first commercial size unit of the VertiCrop(TM) system has now been in production for 2,000 hours during which time two lettuce crops have been harvested by its partners at the Paignton Zoo environmental park, with a third crop consisting of mixed lettuce and herbs to be harvested this week. All crops have been closely monitored for growth rates, yields, energy and water consumption and the data is now being shared with other potential clients who are currently in the final stages of reviewing proposals.

Chris Bradford, President and CEO of Valcent Products Inc., is pleased to report that: "We are finalizing orders for six VertiCrop(TM) systems by mid-December which will include orders from commercial growers within the United Kingdom as well as North America."

Bradford concluded, "VertiCrop(TM) is providing the right technology at the right time."

About Valcent Products Inc.:

Valcent Products Inc. (OTCBB: VCTZF) is a leader in the development and manufacturing of commercial vertical crop technology for global markets. Valcent is a pioneer and leader in eco-technology with its core research and development in sustainable, renewable, and intensive agricultural products. For more information, visit: www.valcent.net and www.valcent.eu.

For more information, visit: www.valcent.net and www.valcent.eu.

Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information, in that it describes events and conditions, which Valcent Products, Inc. reasonably expects to occur in the future, and statements including opinions, assumptions and estimates. Forward-looking statements include information that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this document, the words "seeks", "anticipate", "believe", estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intent", "may", "project", "plan", "potential", "should" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a wide range of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including inability to complete sales in process or develop positive cash flow from anticipated product sales, and although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. We have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those current expectations or estimates expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The risks and uncertainties that could affect future events or the Company's future financial performance are more fully described in the Company's quarterly reports (on Form 6-K filed in the US and the financial statements and Form 51-102F1 filed in Canada), the Company's annual reports (on Form 20-F filed in the US and the financial statements and Form 51-102F1 filed in Canada) and the other recent filings in the US and Canada. These filings are available at www.sec.gov in the US and www.sedar.com in Canada. For all such forward-looking statements, we claim the safe harbour for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Valcent disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made herein.

Cusip# 918881202

Contacts:
Valcent Products Inc.
Gerry Jardine
Investor Relations
(888) 506-7979 or (604) 630-2941

Valcent Products Inc.
Mike Parker
Investor Relations
(888) 506-7979 or (604) 630-2941
info@valcent.net
www.valcent.net or www.valcent.eu

Vorticom Public Relations
Nancy Tamosaitis
Media Relations
(212) 532-2208
Nancyt@vorticom.com

GENEVA, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) today announced changes in its global sales and marketing organization, aimed at better serving its customers, improving the overall effectiveness of its sales and marketing structure, The moves, which will be effective January 1, 2010, will consolidate ST's regions in Asia to two: Greater China & South Asia, Japan & Korea.

The Greater China and South Asia region will be led by Corporate Vice President Francois Guibert, who has guided ST's efforts in the Asia/Pacific region since June 2006. Under his direction, ST's revenue in the region has increased more than 10%* in a declining market. Within this region, ST's headquarters for sales and marketing will be based in Shanghai, while the company will keep its manufacturing headquarters in Singapore.

The Japan and Korea region will be led by Corporate Vice President Marco Cassis, currently the head of ST Japan. Since taking the helm of ST Japan in September 2005, Cassis has strengthened ST's presence in the automotive and gaming markets and increased the Company's revenue in Japan by more than 70%*.

Moving from Greater China to the Americas, Corporate Vice President Bob Krysiak will spearhead ST's efforts to expand into Central and South America and continue to increase market share in North America. Krysiak established ST's Greater China structure and regional headquarters in Shanghai and laid the foundation for solid progress in its sales and marketing efforts.

Andrea Cuomo will continue his excellent work as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sales and Marketing for ST's Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

With this move, STMicroelectronics has put in place an organization to further improve the overall focus and effectiveness of its sales and marketing efforts. This structure is also aimed at better serving customers by giving them earlier access to the Company's continuous wave of new products and technologies.

ST's worldwide sales and marketing initiatives focus on key global challenges and market trends. The Company's innovative semiconductor solutions address the importance of energy saving, the increasing need for affordable and accessible healthcare, and the growing concern for safety and security. Likewise, ST products help feed the consumer appetite for the internet everywhere and on everything, a world without wires, and compelling multimedia content and applications.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2008, the Company's net revenues were $9.84 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

*Q3 2009 iSuppli Company Market Share by Semiconductor Segments

SOURCE STMicroelectronics

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, December 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AEGON Asset Management has won the mandate to manage a fixed income portfolio on behalf of Stichting Notarieel Pensioenfonds (SNPF). SNPF is the occupational pension fund for the notaries and junior notaries. SNPF's total assets under management amount to approximately EUR 1 billion.

The mandate comprises two major parts. The first part is the active management of a EUR 100 million fixed income portfolio. AEGON will manage this portfolio using a Core Plus investment strategy that matches the risk/return requirements as set by SNPF. The Core Plus investment strategy effectively combines the efficiency of passive investments with the portable alpha of AEGON's fixed income overlay fund.

The second part of the mandate concerns the active management of a fixed income overlay fund. The objective of the overlay is to provide additional return on top of the return of an existing loan portfolio of EUR 140 million with SNPF. The entire mandate is effective as of December 1, 2009.

Max Muntinga, Directeur SNPF: "We have chosen AEGON Asset Management because of its expertise in fixed income with which they have achieved excellent investment performance. AEGON is an asset manager that understands the investment issues of pension funds, and provides effective and transparent solutions. The mandate that we awarded to AEGON matches perfectly with our requirements and adds the benefits of diversification to the existing investment strategies."

Michel Hulters, European Head of Institutional Sales: "We are very pleased that Stichting Notarieel Pensioenfonds chose AEGON Asset Management for managing a part of its fixed income portfolio. The active management of fixed income portfolios has been one of our core competencies for many years. Our investment style is marked by its structured and disciplined approach to decision-making and its focus on risk management."

About AEGON Asset Management

AEGON Asset Management takes an active approach to managing investments, helping retail and institutional clients to maximize available investment opportunities and realize their financial objectives. As part of AEGON, AEGON Asset Management has businesses in over twenty countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia. AEGON Asset Management manages approximately EUR 200 billion on behalf of individual investors, financial institutions, pension funds and insurance companies around the world. The AEGON Asset Management businesses employ over 1,300 staff worldwide.

    This press release is also available on http://www.aegonam.co.uk.

    Contact information

    Media relations: Thurstan Robinson
    +31(0)70-344-5563
    thurstan.robinson@aegon.com

SOURCE AEGON Asset Management