Monthly Archives: March 2010

New Website Helps Renters Manage Rent Payment, Credit, Earn Cash Back

CHICAGO, IL March 29, 2010 – WilliamPaid, an online resource for renters and roommates, launched recently bringing relief to the 102 million Americans who live in apartments, condominiums, and other rental units. The comprehensive new website for renters and roommates provides flexible rent payments, the ability to build personal credit with rent payments and a cash-back program with a matching contribution toward student loan and rent payments.

“With WilliamPaid, powerful renter and roommate tools are just a click away,” said WilliamPaid CEO Evan Silverman. “For many, rent is a sensitive topic due to financial issues and roommate disagreements. WilliamPaid complements existing social media platforms to offer a hyperpersonal roommate relationship experience. We provide flexible payment options to relieve financial strain as well as a medium for roommates to communicate about and monitor rent payments without face-to-face conflicts or ‘text message stress.’ In the end, it is a win-win for everyone – landlords get paid on time, and roommates avoid needless drama.”

Communication and busy schedules, Silverman said, are big obstacles for roommates and rent. “I live with three other roommates, and our biggest challenge has been getting our rent in on time. It is difficult for us to be on the same page,” said Ingrid Perez, 19, from Suffolk University.

To address these types of issues, according to Silverman, WilliamPaid (www.williampaid.com) provides flexible rent payment options that let each roommate pay rent how each person chooses – bank account, credit or debit card or any combination – but yet provides a collective payment to the landlord. “With WilliamPaid, each roommate can see who has paid – and, more importantly, who hasn’t. It’s a non-confrontational way of dealing with the rent while also providing the flexibility that each roommate may need,” said Silverman.

WilliamPaid also helps renters build credit with their rent payments. “As the only rent payment service that reports rent payments to a credit bureau, tenants can build credit without going into debt – something renters struggle with,” Silverman added.

Matthew Vitko, SVP of Sales for PRBC, Inc., a credit bureau and division of MicroBilt Corporation, agrees. “Traditionally, apartment renting comes with a disadvantage,” he said. “Unlike mortgage payments, timely rent payments do not improve your credit rating. WilliamPaid helps renters build a positive payment history by providing them with the option to report monthly rent payments to a nationally-recognized credit bureau. If you are currently an apartment renter and you want to establish a positive payment history, WilliamPaid is a good option.”

The WilliamPaid Cash-back Program provides cash-back to its users who shop online and refer friends to the service, with a 10% matching contribution when users apply their cash-back to their rent or student loans. According to Silverman, WilliamPaid will also be rolling out a cash-back program for rental payments.

For more information about WilliamPaid or to schedule an interview with a member of WilliamPaid’s executive team, contact Evan Silverman, 847.510.6444.

Renters and roommates are invited to visit William Paid’s BLOG, YouTube Channel, Twitter Page, and Facebook Fan Page for more tips and resources.

About WilliamPaid
WilliamPaid is an online resource for renters and roommates, providing flexible rent payment options, including paying rent with a credit or debit card, credit building services such as having rent payments and past rent and utility payments reported to a credit bureau, shared bill management, allocation and tracking and other roommate tools that help renters and roommates communicate. WilliamPaid is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. Learn more: www.williampaid.com.
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Sodexo Named One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for Second Consecutive Year

Ethisphere Institute Recognizes Companies That Raise the Bar for Ethical Standards

GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 22, 2010 – Sodexo was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2010 by the Ethisphere Institute. This is the second consecutive year the company has been named to the coveted list, which recognizes firms based on their commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

Sodexo is a leader in providing comprehensive service solutions worldwide, and is one of the world’s leading employers, with core businesses in foodservice, facilities management and senior services.

Ethisphere, a think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, will publish the listing of the World’s Most Ethical companies in Ethisphere Magazine’s Q1 issue. Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries in order to determine the winners of the coveted ranking. This is the fourth year Ethisphere has published the rankings.

“Acting in accordance with high ethical standards is one of the ways Sodexo secures and maintains business relationships and attracts and retains employees,” said George Chavel, president and CEO of Sodexo North America and COO of Sodexo Group. “Sodexo voluntarily meets the highest standards of social responsibility and sustainability. We strive for transparency in our business dealings and have instituted rigorous internal controls to drive our ethical principles throughout the organization. We are pleased to be named again as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.”

Chavel added that Sodexo treats its employees with dignity, respect and equality, and supports and encourages them to shape their own future and grow with the company. “By living the Sodexo values and ethical principles, and actively fostering diversity and inclusion, our people make Sodexo a company of the future,” he said.

To read more about company employees’ success and experiences with Sodexo, visit SodexoCommunity.com. Sodexo actively reinforces its commitment to maintain the highest ethical standards in several ways, including:

  • The company has a Business Abuse Hotline that provides employees at every level the opportunity to report legal, ethical, or safety concerns anonymously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • New management employees attend orientation where ethical conduct is emphasized as a core value.
  • Executives, senior leaders, and new managers are required to take interactive online ethics training through the company’s own Sodexo University.
  • All employees are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with uncompromising ethical standards. The company displays Business Integrity posters at all accounts and offices to reinforce this expectation every day.
  • Sodexo requires all of its manufacturers to adhere to the company’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which addresses respect for people, the environment, and business integrity. Sodexo is committed to these principles and asks the same from its business partners.

Sodexo also recently introduced its Better Tomorrow Plan, the company’s global promise for sustainability and its roadmap for sustainability over the next 10 years. The Better Tomorrow Plan includes 14 commitments with measurable targets that the company will work toward achieving.

The methodology for the World’s Most Ethical ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers. Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2010 World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme-2010.

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), a member of Sodexo Group, is a leading provider of Comprehensive Service Solutions serving more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care, retirement, schools, higher education, government and remote sites. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexo, Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. The Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org) is an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $12.7 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

Sodexo in the World
14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue
380,000 employees
33,900 sites
50 million consumers served daily
80 countries
22nd largest employer worldwide

Sodexo in North America
7.7 billion dollars revenue
120,000 employees
10 million consumers served daily (on-site consumers and motivation beneficiaries as a single number)
6,000 clients
700 facilities management sites

Contact
Jaya K. Bohlmann
301 987 4415
jaya.bohlmann@sodexo.com

KRAFT FOODS SCORES MULTI-SEASON PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NCAA AND CBS SPORTS

Contacts:

Melissa Siciliano, Weber Shandwick:  312/988-2069,  msiciliano@webershandwick.com

Basil Maglaris, Kraft: 847/646-4538, news@kraft.com

Gail Dent, NCAA: 317/917-6117, gdent@ncaa.org

Jen Sabatelle, CBS Sports: 212/975-4120,  jsabatelle@cbs.com

Major Snack Brands Named Official “Cracker,” “Nut” and “Cookie” of all 88 NCAA Championships


EAST HANOVER, N.J. (March 11, 2010) –
Kraft Foods’ U.S. Snacks business announced today it has teamed with the NCAA and CBS Sports to become an Official NCAA Corporate Partner for several of its flagship snack brands including Planters, Ritz, Oreo and Wheat Thins.  The partnership includes promotional and marketing rights for the NCAA and all 88 of its men’s and women’s championships.

As part of the agreement, the brands will be featured as the NCAA’s “official” Cookie, Nut and Cracker partners through in-store promotions and with a major advertising buy on CBS Sports starting in March with the Network’s exclusive coverage of the “Road to the Final Four®.”

“This partnership is a slam dunk for Kraft Foods,” said Stephen Chriss, Senior Director, Marketing Alliances at Kraft Foods.  “It gives us an opportunity to connect our delicious snack brands with key audiences in a big way.”

Throughout the partnership, NCAA and CBS Sports fans can expect to see Kraft Foods snack brands sharing a large presence before, during and after NCAA championships events.  Planned marketing initiatives include new product sampling, contests, promotions, and college-themed displays in retail stores.

“Having Kraft Foods on board as part of the NCAA team is a win for everyone involved,” said Peter Davis, NCAA Director of Corporate Alliances.  “Associating with well-known brands like Planters, Oreo, Ritz and Wheat Thins helps increase awareness and build excitement for all of our NCAA sports and the fans who support our student-athletes and championships.”

“We are thrilled to have Kraft Foods join the NCAA Corporate marketing family at CBS Sports,” said Chris Simko, Senior Vice President CBS Sports Sales and Marketing & Director CBS Sports Properties Group.  “This is exactly the kind of integrated promotional partnership that has become synonymous with CBS Sports’ NCAA corporate marketing program.”

The initial sampling effort during March Madness will feature Wheat Thins snacks and two of the company’s newest snack products:  Ritz Munchables pretzel crisps and Planters Flavor Grove almonds and cashews.  In addition, people can follow Mr. Peanut’s Road to the 2010 NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis by becoming fans of Mr. Peanut on Facebook.  Beginning March 12, Mr. Peanut fans on Facebook can enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2011 NCAA Final Four.  Visit www.facebook.com/mrpeanut for more information.

Big Brands, Big Stages
In the last five years, Kraft Foods has embarked on several strategic, high profile sports marketing initiatives including NASCAR and the U.S. Open to raise the profile of its flagship snacks brands.  In fact, the company announced in January 2010 that Oreo and Ritz are the official cookie and cracker of NASCAR, in addition to its sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman.

“Showcasing our big brands on big stages takes our marketing and merchandising to new heights, providing perfect venues to elevate our equities, reach new audiences and promote new products in unique ways,” says Chriss.

Oreo has worked with A-list athletes Eli Manning and Peyton Manning and Venus and Serena Williams for its Oreo Double Stuf Racing League campaign, and enlisted sports analyst and former football star Tiki Barber for its recent Ritz “Tailgate” advertisement.

About Kraft Foods
The combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury creates a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals.  With annual revenues of approximately $50 billion, the combined company is the world’s second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in more than 160 countries.  The combined company’s portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion – Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gums; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats.  Another 70+ brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million.  Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor’s 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.

About the NCAA

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.  The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions—AT&T and Coca-Cola—and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners—Enterprise, The Hartford, Hershey’s, LG, Lowe’s, Kraft Foods and State Farm.

NCAA, Final Four and March Madness are licensed by or trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND ASKS STUDENTS WHAT THEIR HEART IS BEHIND FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THREE SCHOLARSHIPS

DEARBORN, Mich., March 8, 2010 – On March 15, 2010, Ford Motor Company Fund will launch the “Heart Behind the Oval” scholarship contest, awarding three scholarships to students who best describe the impact they are making in their community.

Modeled after Ford’s own standard of giving back to the communities in which it works, the two-part scholarship contest is open to high school seniors and current college students enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university by September 30, 2010. The first place prizewinner will receive a $3,000 scholarship, second place a $2,000 scholarship and third place a $1,000 scholarship.

“The Heart Behind the Oval scholarship contest salutes students who share the same value of giving back to the community that Ford has demonstrated for more than a century,” said Mike Schmidt, Director, Education and Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “More important, the program allows us to invest in these students’ futures.”

Students are required to submit a 1,000 – 2,000 character written essay demonstrating what their heart is behind, explaining how they are making a difference in their community. From contributing to local non-profit organizations to mentoring or volunteer work, each eligible submission will be judged based on originality, content, clarity, grammar and community impact. To register or view the Official Rules visit: www.fordscholars.org.

Ten semi-finalists will win an ULTRA HD FLIP Cam for their outstanding efforts. The semi-finalists will then use the Cam to produce a 3-minute video illustrating their essay. The videos will be posted to www.fordscholars.org for public voting May 10 – 14, 2010. The public votes combined with the judging panel will determine the scholarship winners. The winners will be announced on May 17, 2010.

Ford Motor Company strongly supports higher education. The “Heart Behind The Oval” scholarship contest is operated in conjunction with the Ford Blue Oval Scholar’s program. The program’s website, www.fordscholars.org, is a national web-based initiative open to the public as a resource for available scholarships supported by Ford Motor Company Fund. It also provides past Ford Motor Company Fund scholarship winners a place to network, coordinate community service activities and learn about internships and careers.

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is a community relations and philanthropic non-profit funded by Ford Motor Company. Ford Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster and promote innovation in education, greater automotive safety and American heritage and diversity. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS), which provides 21st century skills-based curriculum to more than 60,000 high school students; and Ford Driving Skills for Life, which has taught safe driving skills to more than 337,000 young drivers. In addition, the Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, enlists the help of thousands of Ford employees and retirees who volunteer their time to continue Ford’s legacy of community service worldwide. For more information about programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, please visit www.community.ford.com, www.volunteer.ford.com or www.abrighterfuture.ford.com.

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Anything else we need to know?
Contact:
Laine Gordon
PCGCampbell
Marketing & Communications
313.203.7102
lgordon@pcgcampbell.com

MUSHROOMS MAKE THE GRADE: PURDUE SETS THE CURVE FOR CAMPUS CUISINE

Boilermakers Win Big Ten Mushroom Recipe Contest

SAN JOSE, Calif. (March 8, 2010) — Purdue University’s dining services team may change the way students feel about college cuisine with their award-winning recipes, Vegetarian Mushroom Stir Fry and Roasted Portabella Pizza. The Boilermaker culinary team nearly swept the Mushroom Council’s “Best Mushroom Recipe Goes to Indianapolis,” a contest held exclusively for foodservice directors within the Big Ten athletic conference.
The contest pitted executive chefs and foodservice directors from the 11-school conference against each other in a friendly competition to create mushroom recipes for three categories of university-favored cuisine: Pizza, Sandwich, and Entrée. Most entries were vegetarian, with mushrooms at the heart of the dish, which reflects the increased interest in vegetarianism among college students – a 2006 Aramark survey found that 30% of college students want vegetarian options when dining out.
“Based on the caliber of recipes we’ve seen through this contest, universities are redefining the concept of what students will eat, taking them in a very positive and healthful direction” said Bart Minor, president of the Mushroom Council. “More and more students who have embraced a vegetarian or flexitarian diet have found mushrooms add a satiating “meaty” mouth-feel to their favorite dishes. Now, universities across the nation are catering to their preferences. ”
In the final round of judging, students at Kendall College’s School of Culinary Arts in Chicago prepared tasting portions of five top-scoring recipes in each category for a judging panel that included Minor, along with Liz Grossman of Plate magazine and Frank Chlumsky from Kendall. Recipes were judged based on creativity, flavor and visual appeal.
“Judging the dishes was difficult. There were so many great-tasting, creative entries,” said Minor, noting that the pizza and sandwich categories’ top finalists were separated by only a few points.
Purdue earned Big Ten bragging rights by winning two of the three recipe categories, including best overall recipe, landing them the grand prize package that includes a trip for four to the NCAA men’s national basketball championship in Indianapolis this April. The University of Iowa’s recipe for Chorizo Breakfast Sandwich with Mushroom Gravy scored best in the sandwich category. As category winners, both schools will receive scholarships to attend the 2010 National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) annual conference in July.
Recipe entries for the Big Ten “Best Mushroom Recipe Goes to Indianapolis” contest are featured on MushroomInfo.com.
Following is Purdue’s grand prize winning recipe for Vegetarian Mushroom Stir Fry.
Vegetarian Mushroom Stir Fry
Serves 24
Sauce
• 1 ½ cups vegetarian oyster sauce
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¾ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 4 ½ quarts water
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¾ cup vegetarian soup base
Stir fry
• 5 pounds firm tofu, drained, cut into triangles (½ x 1 ½ inches)
• 3 pounds dry rice stick noodles
• 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
• ¼ cup minced garlic
• ½ cup minced peeled ginger
• 6 pounds cleaned, sliced shiitake mushrooms
• 1 ½ pounds sliced carrots, blanched and drained
• 5 pounds Chinese broccoli, cleaned and cut into 4-inch pieces, blanched and drained
To make the sauce: Whisk together the oyster sauce, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Bring to a simmer. Whisk together the water, cornstarch, and soup base. Combine with the oyster sauce mixture and heat until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat. Makes about 6 ½ quarts.
Heat a deep fryer until 375 to 400°F. Deep-fry the tofu triangles in batches until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
For each serving, to order: In a deep fryer, cook 1 ½ ounces rice stick noodles until puffed but not browned. Drain on paper towels. In a wok, heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat. Stir-fry ½ teaspoon garlic and 1 teaspoon ginger until fragrant. Add 4 ounces mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 ounce carrots, 2 ½ ounces broccoli, and about 2 ounces fried tofu. Stir-fry to heat through, 1 minute. Add about 1 cup sauce mixture and simmer until heated through. Put the rice sticks in a bowl and ladle the vegetables and sauce on top. Serve immediately.
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The Mushroom Council is composed of fresh market producers or importers
who average more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms produced or imported annually. The mushroom program is authorized by the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1990 and is administered by the Mushroom Council under the supervision of the Agricultural Marketing Service. Research and promotion programs help to expand, maintain and develop markets for individual agricultural commodities in the United States and abroad. These industry self-help programs are requested and funded by the industry groups that they serve. For more information on the Mushroom Council, visit mushroomcouncil.org.
CONTACT:
Kirsten Stahlberg
312-233-1324

BLOOMBERG TECHNOLOGY BRINGS BASEBALL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY WITH WEB-BASED APPLICATIONS FOR STATS, PROJECTIONS, CHARTS FOR FANS AND FANTASY PLAYERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 4, 2010

CONTACT
Silvia Alvarez
Bloomberg LP
+1 212 617 3707
salvarez13@bloomberg.net

New York, March 4 – With baseball season fast approaching, Bloomberg, a global leader in analytics, and MLB.com have come up with the most comprehensive, easy to use, online product for baseball fans that any sport has ever seen. Whether you are just a casual fan or trying to win your fantasy league in your frat or sorority or with your roommates, the BLOOMBERG SPORTSTM fantasy tools on MLB.com, are the best way to follow baseball today.

Bloomberg spent nearly two years developing the product with the help of MLB.com’s vast library of historical data.  With input from key executives like former Padres general manager and current Yankees consultant Kevin Towers, former Mets general manager Jim Duquette, the Minnesota Twins slugger Jim Thome, and former Cleveland Indians Manager Eric Wedge, the Bloomberg team developed tools that give everyone the ability to come up with an entertaining, interesting way to follow baseball online for the first time.   It allows the computer-savvy fan to take a deep dive behind the scenes with their fantasy team or favorite players, while it is also a fun, easily navigable application for more casual fans.

“As someone who has been involved in analytics and loves baseball but has been terrible at fantasy this has been a labor of love,” said Bo Moon, a veteran product manager for Bloomberg and one of the creators of BLOOMBERG SPORTS fantasy tools. “We think we have found a fun and very cool way to marry technology and sports and make baseball easy to follow for everyone, whether you are a die-hard fantasy player looking for a little edge or someone who just wants to understand the game better. Our collaboration with MLB.com brings together the technological innovation that Bloomberg is known for in the business world, with all the numbers that baseball has in its history to give everyone a great experience of the sport, delivered right on their laptops.”

BLOOMBERG SPORTS fantasy tools on MLB.com consist of two products: “The Draft Kit” and “In-Season Tools.” These two products give fans the most powerful capability to prepare and conduct their fantasy draft and make replacements, trades and other decisions for their fantasy teams during the season. The season update tool also will give the casual fan the ability to explore added features and insights about all their favorite players and teams.

Some of the key differentiators for BLOOMBERG SPORTS Fantasy Tools on MLB.com include:
•    Interactive draft tools that allow the consumer to create and track player lists.
•    Complete, easy to navigate information on every player, including all career data, key splits and the ability to chart customizable stats to see critical trends needed for decisions.
•    The best match-up projections and player comparison tools ever built.
•    The most compelling, up-to-date and customizable charts, graphs and other visual tools.

In addition to the consumer product now available, Bloomberg and MLB.com also have created The BLOOMBERG SPORTS professional product, provided to Major League  baseball clubs with a secure, virtually unlimited set of analytical functions that will assist them in personnel evaluation and performance matchups. It was introduced to the clubs at the Baseball Winter Meetings in December 2009 on a trial basis, and is being tested by a majority of the 30 clubs. Current MLB analysts and former stars like Al Leiter, Ron Darling, and current Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach Rick Peterson have all sampled the product as well, and have raved about its ability to really explain the intricacies and matchups of baseball like never before.

Bloomberg has also assembled a team of top bloggers to pull facts and figures for the fans to follow.  The blog team is led by journalist Jonah Keri, and can be seen at bloombergsports.mlblogs.com/, and you can follow all the information on Facebook at: bit.ly/bloombergsportsfb and Twitter at www.twitter.com/bloombergsports.
More details are available at mlb.com/bloombergsports and BLOOMBERGSPORTS.COM.

About Bloomberg
Bloomberg is the world’s most trusted source of information for businesses and professionals. Bloomberg combines innovative technology with unmatched analytic, data, news, display and distribution capabilities, to deliver critical information via the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® service and multimedia platforms.  Bloomberg’s media services cover the world with more than 2,200 news and multimedia professionals at 146 bureaus in 72 countries.  The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® 24-hour network delivers smart television to more than 240 million homes.  BLOOMBERG RADIO® services broadcast via SIRIUS XM Radio and 1worldspaceTM satellite radio globally and on WBBR 1130AM in New York.  The award-winning monthly BLOOMBERG MARKETS® magazine, Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine and the BLOOMBERG.COM® financial news and information Web site provide news and insight to business decision-makers.  For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.com.

The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL service and data products are owned and distributed by Bloomberg Finance L.P. (BFLP) except that Bloomberg L.P. and its subsidiaries (BLP) distribute these products in Argentina, Bermuda, China, India, Japan and Korea. BLOOMBERG and BLOOMBERG NEWS are trademarks and service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.