Press Releases

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Edmunds.com today comments on the announcement that Fritz Henderson has resigned as CEO of General Motors and government-appointed Chairman Ed Whitacre has taken over temporarily.

"This does not come entirely as a shock," commented Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Michelle Krebs. "Ed Whitacre was the government's choice to lead the company and the Automotive Task Force always appeared lukewarm about the idea of Fritz staying in the top job.

"In recent months, the board and Henderson appeared as if they were not on the same page," added Krebs. "Henderson wanted to sell Opel; the board overruled, keeping the European company. The eleventh hour failure of GM's sale of Saturn and Saab likely suggested to the board that Henderson couldn't get the job done."

Henderson became CEO when Rick Wagoner was forced to resign March 29 as part of the government's bailout of GM.

"Ed Whitacre has a track record of transforming companies, namely turning regional Southwestern Bell into AT&T, the largest telecommunications company in the U.S." stated Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell. "His challenge will be to keep GM number one in U.S. sales, pay back the American and Canadian taxpayers and take the company public quickly."

About Edmunds.com Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its most popular feature, the Edmunds.com True Market Value(R), is relied upon by millions of people seeking current transaction prices for new and used vehicles. Edmunds.com was named "Best Car Research Site" by Forbes ASAP, has been selected by consumers as the "Most Useful Web Site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study(SM), was ranked first in the Survey of Car-Shopping Web Sites by The Wall Street Journal and was rated "#1" in Keynote's study of third-party automotive Web sites. Inside Line launched in 2005 and is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. CarSpace launched in 2006 and is an automotive social networking Web site and home to the oldest and most established automotive community. AutoObserver.com launched in 2008 and provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit.

    Source: Edmunds.com Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/01/09 -- Today the previously announced transaction between Barclays PLC, the ultimate parent company of Barclays Global Investors International Inc., the Sponsor (the "Sponsor") of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust (the "Trust") and BlackRock, Inc. (the "BlackRock Transaction"), including the acquisition of the Sponsor of the Trust and certain of the Sponsor's affiliated companies by BlackRock, Inc. was consummated.

In connection with the BlackRock Transaction, the name of the Sponsor was changed from Barclays Global Investors International Inc. to BlackRock Asset Management International Inc.

It is not expected that the BlackRock Transaction will materially affect the Trust, its shareholders, or an investment in its shares.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The iShares COMEX Gold Trust ("Trust") is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act. Shares of the Trust are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds. Because shares of the Trust are created to reflect the price of the gold held by the trust, the market price of the shares will be as unpredictable as the price of gold has historically been. Additionally, shares of the Trust are bought and sold at market price (not NAV). Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Shares of the Trust are created to reflect, at any given time, the market price of gold owned by the trust at that time less the trust's expenses and liabilities. The price received upon the sale of the shares, which trade at market price, may be more or less than the value of the gold represented by them. If an investor sells the shares at a time when no active market for them exists, such lack of an active market will most likely adversely affect the price received for the shares. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors relative to the iShares COMEX® Gold Trust, carefully read the prospectus.

Following an investment in shares of the Trust, several factors may have the effect of causing a decline in the prices of gold and a corresponding decline in the price of the shares. Among them: (i) Large sales by the official sector. A significant portion of the aggregate world gold holdings is owned by governments, central banks and related institutions. If one or more of these institutions decides to sell in amounts large enough to cause a decline in world gold prices, the price of the shares will be adversely affected. (ii) A significant increase in gold hedging activity by gold producers. Should there be an increase in the level of hedge activity of gold producing companies, it could cause a decline in world gold prices, adversely affecting the price of the shares. (iii) A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors towards gold. Should the speculative community take a negative view towards gold, it could cause a decline in world gold prices, negatively impacting the price of the shares.

The amount of gold represented by shares of the Trust will decrease over the life of the trust due to sales necessary to pay the sponsor's fee and trust expenses. Without increase in the price of gold sufficient to compensate for that decrease, the price of the shares will also decline, and investors will lose money on their investment. The Trust will have limited duration. The liquidation of the trust may occur at a time when the disposition of the trust's gold will result in losses to investors.

Although market makers will generally take advantage of differences between the NAV and the trading price of Gold Trust shares through arbitrage opportunities, there is no guarantee that they will do so. There is no guarantee of an active trading market for the shares, which may result in losses on your investment at the time of disposition of your shares. The value of the shares of the Trust will be adversely affected if gold owned by the trust is lost or damaged in circumstances in which the trust is not in a position to recover the corresponding loss. The Trust is a passive investment vehicle. This means that the value of your shares may be adversely affected by trust losses that, if the trust had been actively managed, it might have been possible to avoid.

Shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust are not deposits or other obligations of or guaranteed by BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. or its affiliates, and are not insured by the Federal deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

BlackRock Asset Management International Inc. (BAMII) is the sponsor of the Gold Trust. BlackRock Fund Distribution Company (BFDC), a subsidiary of BAMII, assists in the promotion of the Gold Trust. BAMII is an affiliate of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. ("BlackRock").

When comparing commodities and the iShares COMEX Gold Trust, it should be remembered that management fees associated with the trust are not borne by investors in individual commodities. Buying and selling shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust will result in brokerage commissions. Because the expenses involved in an investment in physical gold will be dispersed among all holders of shares of the Trust, an investment in the Trust may represent a cost-efficient alternative to investments in gold for investors not otherwise able to participate directly in the market for physical gold.

Although shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust may be bought or sold on the exchange through any brokerage account, shares of the trust are not redeemable from the trust except in large aggregated units called Baskets.

"Commodity Exchange, Inc." and "COMEX" are trademarks of Commodity Exchange, Inc. and have been licensed for use for certain purposes to BlackRock and the iShares COMEX Gold Trust (the "Trust"). The Trust is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Commodity Exchange, Inc., nor does Commodity Exchange, Inc. make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Trust.

©2009 BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All rights reserved. iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. iS-1865-1209

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE: HR) today announced that it has priced $300 million of 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2017. The notes were priced at 99.323% to yield 6.618% at a spread of 387.5 basis points over the comparable U.S. Treasury note.

The proceeds from the offering will be used to repay amounts currently outstanding under the Company's Unsecured Credit Facility due 2012, and for general corporate purposes.

Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. served as Active Book-Running Managers for the offering. Barclays Capital Inc., Calyon Securities (USA) Inc., Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC were Passive Book-Running Managers. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. served as Senior Co-Managers and BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. served as Co-Managers. Interested parties may obtain a written prospectus relating to the senior notes offering from Banc of America Securities LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 100 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, (800) 294-1322 or J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Attn: Syndicate Desk - 8th Floor, (212) 834-4533.

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of any such state. Such offering will be made only by a prospectus and prospectus supplement.

Healthcare Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust that integrates owning, managing and developing income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States. The Company had investments of approximately $2.2 billion in 206 real estate properties and mortgages as of September 30, 2009, excluding assets classified as held for sale and including an investment in one unconsolidated joint venture. The Company's 201 owned real estate properties, excluding assets classified as held for sale, are comprised of six facility types, located in 28 states, totaling approximately 12.3 million square feet. The Company provides property management services to approximately 9.0 million square feet nationwide.

In addition to the historical information contained within, the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks are discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Healthcare Realty Trust, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 under the heading "Risk Factors," and as updated in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter. Forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking material.

SOURCE Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/01/09 -- Actel Corporation's (NASDAQ: ACTL) Maurice Carson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will present at the 2009 Barclays Capital Global Technology Conference, to be held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California, on December 9, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. P.T. Both the live webcast and replay version of the webcast will be available at http://cc.talkpoint.com/barc002/120809a_rb/?entity=70_KG4EYHU.

About Actel

Actel is the leader in low-power FPGAs and mixed-signal FPGAs, offering the most comprehensive portfolio of system and power management solutions. Power Matters. Learn more at www.actel.com.

Actel name and logo are registered trademarks of Actel Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Investor Contact:
Maurice Carson
(650) 318-4700

Media Contact:
Anna del Rosario
(650) 318-4500

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- John Bloomhall, CEO of Diamond V Mills, a feed ingredient supplier, recently received the 2009 Entrepreneurial Achievement Award from the Iowa Biotechnology Association. Bloomhall was recognized for the successful growth of Diamond V and the launch of its human health subsidiary Embria Health Sciences.

"I'm honored to be presented with a business award from such a prestigious organization," remarked Bloomhall. "Diamond V and Embria are deeply committed to supporting Iowa's biotechnology industry through facility expansions, job creation and product innovation."

Upon becoming CEO of Diamond V in 1999, Bloomhall focused on two goals: 1) Defining company core values to facilitate a positive and productive work environment and 2) Establishing a strategic business plan and securing the resource allocation necessary to achieve it. As a result, Diamond V celebrated the grand opening of its second manufacturing facility in Iowa this past September and now employs more than 180 people worldwide. In 2005, Bloomhall was instrumental in launching Embria Health Sciences, manufacturer of the immune health ingredient EpiCor. EpiCor is used in nutritional products in the human health market.

About Diamond V Mills:

Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Diamond V is the world's leading supplier of fermented nutritional products used to optimize digestive function and nutrition key to animal and aqua health, productivity, efficiency and profitability. Diamond V Original Yeast Culture has been a trusted feed ingredient component for 65 years and is marketed in more than 45 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.diamondv.com.

About Embria Health Sciences:

Embria Health Sciences, www.embriahealth.com, combines science and nature to bring high-quality, research-based natural ingredients to the global human nutrition market. Embria's flagship ingredient, EpiCor, is an all-natural product designed to modulate and balance the human immune system and is manufactured using a proprietary technology, which produces vital metabolites, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that deliver nutritional benefits

    Source: Diamond V Mills