*UNILEVER SAID TO SEEK UP TO $2 BILLION IN RAGU PASTA-SAUCE SALE
{MERU US Equity DES <GO>}
Small Cap 100mil Market Cap, should move on this news today
Meru Networks announces that Meru 802.11ac market share jumped more than 6X from Q3 to Q4; also co deploys Meru Wi-Fi to support video and voice demonstrations at CeBIT 2014
Co announces:
- that its 802.11ac "Gigabit Wi-Fi" market share jumped more than 6X from Q3 to Q4 2013, moving from 1.5 to 9.4% of industry revenues for wireless access points, according to a report issued by from Dell'Oro Group. The co launched its flagship AP832, the industry's fastest access point, in July 2013, and has been very focused on gaining traction in the 802.11ac market. While industry analyst projections for 802.11ac share of enterprise access points in 2014 range from 1.5 to 18% of total shipments, Meru expects to more than double the high end of those projections for its shipments in 2014. Largely driven by sales of the AP832, Meru achieved operating breakeven with record revenue of $30.2 miln in Q4 2013.
- Co also announces that Microsoft (MSFT) has chosen to deploy Meru Wi-Fi solutions to support demonstrations of its voice and video solutions at CeBIT, which will be held March 10-14. This is the third consecutive year that Microsoft has deployed a Meru network at CeBIT, the world's largest IT trade show.
Microsoft Deploys Meru Wi-Fi to Support Video and Voice Demonstrations at CeBIT 2014
2014-03-03 13:00:01.17 GMT
Microsoft Deploys Meru Wi-Fi to Support Video and Voice Demonstrations at CeBIT
2014
Microsoft IT Leadership Names High-Density Client-Handling
Capabilities and Unmatched Reliability as Key Criteria for Selection
MUNICH, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 03/03/14 -- Meru Networks(R)
(NASDAQ: MERU), a leader in Wi-Fi networking, today announced that
Microsoft(R) has chosen to deploy Meru Wi-Fi solutions to support
demonstrations of its voice and video solutions at CeBIT, which will
be held March 10 through 14 in Hanover. This is the third consecutive
year that Microsoft has deployed a Meru network at CeBIT, the world's
largest IT trade show.
"We have once again chosen to deploy Wi-Fi from Meru in support of
our stand at CeBIT," said Monika Friedrich, fairs and events manager
for Microsoft Deutschland GmbH. "We are convinced about the ability
of the Wi-Fi technology of Meru to handle the high client densities
at the show."
More than a thousand visitors and journalists, more than 600 stand
employees and approximately 45 partners at the stand will have access
to the Meru network via mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets
and notebooks. The 3000 m2 stand -- which spans several floors and
includes a VIP area -- utilizes six different network names (SSIDs).
This project is especially ambitious in Hall 4 at CeBIT, where many
large exhibitors, all of whom also seek to provide visitors with
high-performance WLAN, will be represented. CeBIT organizers expect
up to 70,000 visitors each day to Hall 4 alone.
To support the Microsoft stand, German IT systems house M.S.
IT-Services GmbH will install 60 Meru Networks AP332e-series access
points along with Meru MC4200 mobility controllers. Meru's channel
layering helps ensure broad WLAN coverage, reliability and support
for high capacities. The network design reflects Microsoft's
anticipation that several hundred clients, including web-enabled TV
devices such as Microsoft Xbox One systems, will be simultaneously
connected to the exhibit's WLAN network on a regular basis during the
show. At CeBIT 2013, Microsoft frequently saw more than 600 devices
connect simultaneously to the stand's WLAN. An HP wired network, also
installed by M.S. IT-Services GmbH, will include 1,050 ports, 24
physical and approximately 260 virtual servers with firewalls.
Microsoft Berlin headquarters also equipped with Meru
Microsoft
Deutschland GmbH recently turned to Meru to equip the showroom at the
new branch office in Berlin with two virtualized wireless networks.
Microsoft will use the Meru-enabled modern facilities and lounges to
host new product presentations. The high-performance WLAN supports
the data, speech and video applications of Microsoft solutions and
services.
"We are very pleased that Microsoft has again selected Meru to
support its extensive exhibit at CeBIT," said Tabatha von Koelichen,
regional sales manager for the DACH region at Meru Networks. "This
deployment builds on close work between the two companies to help
ensure that Microsoft's highly advanced voice and video applications
always give their users the best possible experience during the
world's largest IT trade show."
About Meru Networks
Meru Networks (NASDAQ: MERU) is a market leader
in the development of mobile access and virtualized Wi-Fi solutions.
Meru's MobileFLEX wireless architecture addresses the ever-growing
need for higher bandwidth and higher client densities. The Meru
Identity Manager solution greatly simplifies secure device
on-boarding and the company's unique Context-aware Application Layers
enable dedicated channel assignments for specific applications,
devices and usage scenarios. Meru customers include Fortune 500
businesses as well as leaders in education, healthcare and
hospitality. Founded in 2002, Meru is headquartered in Sunnyvale,
Calif., with operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East,
Asia Pacific and Japan. Visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408)
215-5300 for more information.
Copyright 2014 Meru Networks, Inc. Meru Networks is a registered
trademark of Meru Networks, Inc. in the United States. Microsoft is a
registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.
Press Contacts:
Fabian Sprengel
Tel.: +49 (26 61) 91 26 00
Fax: +49 (26 61) 91 26 029
E-Mail: meru@sprengel-pr.com
www.sprengel-pr.com
Wilson Craig
Tel.: +1 408 516 6182
Director, Public Relations
E-Mail: wcraig@merunetworks.com
www.merunetworks.com
-0- Mar/03/2014 13:00 GMT
2014-03-03 13:00:01.17 GMT
Microsoft Deploys Meru Wi-Fi to Support Video and Voice Demonstrations at CeBIT
2014
Microsoft IT Leadership Names High-Density Client-Handling
Capabilities and Unmatched Reliability as Key Criteria for Selection
MUNICH, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 03/03/14 -- Meru Networks(R)
(NASDAQ: MERU), a leader in Wi-Fi networking, today announced that
Microsoft(R) has chosen to deploy Meru Wi-Fi solutions to support
demonstrations of its voice and video solutions at CeBIT, which will
be held March 10 through 14 in Hanover. This is the third consecutive
year that Microsoft has deployed a Meru network at CeBIT, the world's
largest IT trade show.
"We have once again chosen to deploy Wi-Fi from Meru in support of
our stand at CeBIT," said Monika Friedrich, fairs and events manager
for Microsoft Deutschland GmbH. "We are convinced about the ability
of the Wi-Fi technology of Meru to handle the high client densities
at the show."
More than a thousand visitors and journalists, more than 600 stand
employees and approximately 45 partners at the stand will have access
to the Meru network via mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets
and notebooks. The 3000 m2 stand -- which spans several floors and
includes a VIP area -- utilizes six different network names (SSIDs).
This project is especially ambitious in Hall 4 at CeBIT, where many
large exhibitors, all of whom also seek to provide visitors with
high-performance WLAN, will be represented. CeBIT organizers expect
up to 70,000 visitors each day to Hall 4 alone.
To support the Microsoft stand, German IT systems house M.S.
IT-Services GmbH will install 60 Meru Networks AP332e-series access
points along with Meru MC4200 mobility controllers. Meru's channel
layering helps ensure broad WLAN coverage, reliability and support
for high capacities. The network design reflects Microsoft's
anticipation that several hundred clients, including web-enabled TV
devices such as Microsoft Xbox One systems, will be simultaneously
connected to the exhibit's WLAN network on a regular basis during the
show. At CeBIT 2013, Microsoft frequently saw more than 600 devices
connect simultaneously to the stand's WLAN. An HP wired network, also
installed by M.S. IT-Services GmbH, will include 1,050 ports, 24
physical and approximately 260 virtual servers with firewalls.
Microsoft Berlin headquarters also equipped with Meru
Microsoft
Deutschland GmbH recently turned to Meru to equip the showroom at the
new branch office in Berlin with two virtualized wireless networks.
Microsoft will use the Meru-enabled modern facilities and lounges to
host new product presentations. The high-performance WLAN supports
the data, speech and video applications of Microsoft solutions and
services.
"We are very pleased that Microsoft has again selected Meru to
support its extensive exhibit at CeBIT," said Tabatha von Koelichen,
regional sales manager for the DACH region at Meru Networks. "This
deployment builds on close work between the two companies to help
ensure that Microsoft's highly advanced voice and video applications
always give their users the best possible experience during the
world's largest IT trade show."
About Meru Networks
Meru Networks (NASDAQ: MERU) is a market leader
in the development of mobile access and virtualized Wi-Fi solutions.
Meru's MobileFLEX wireless architecture addresses the ever-growing
need for higher bandwidth and higher client densities. The Meru
Identity Manager solution greatly simplifies secure device
on-boarding and the company's unique Context-aware Application Layers
enable dedicated channel assignments for specific applications,
devices and usage scenarios. Meru customers include Fortune 500
businesses as well as leaders in education, healthcare and
hospitality. Founded in 2002, Meru is headquartered in Sunnyvale,
Calif., with operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East,
Asia Pacific and Japan. Visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408)
215-5300 for more information.
Copyright 2014 Meru Networks, Inc. Meru Networks is a registered
trademark of Meru Networks, Inc. in the United States. Microsoft is a
registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.
Press Contacts:
Fabian Sprengel
Tel.: +49 (26 61) 91 26 00
Fax: +49 (26 61) 91 26 029
E-Mail: meru@sprengel-pr.com
www.sprengel-pr.com
Wilson Craig
Tel.: +1 408 516 6182
Director, Public Relations
E-Mail: wcraig@merunetworks.com
www.merunetworks.com
-0- Mar/03/2014 13:00 GMT
Apple’s newly announced CarPlay, which is the rebranded version of iOS in the Car, a system for converting your vehicle’s in-car entertainment system into an iOS-powered dashboard fed content and brains by your phone, is a play that could massively expand the Apple mobile ecosystem – by turning cars into app-enabled iPhone accessories.
The CarPlay system was revealed today during the Geneva Motor Show, where partners Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all announced that they’d begin shipping CarPlay-enabled vehicles to drivers this week. In 2014, that group will expand to include Honda, Hyundai and Jaguar, and beyond that it’ll ship on cars from BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Open, Peugeot-Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota.
There are still some manufacturers missing from that list, including Fiat and Volkswagen, but really that means Apple will soon have direct access to a platform expansion that could put its products and software front and center in potentially over 15 million new places annually – that’s how many new cars were sold globally last year.
The integration works through the iPhone’s lightning port, meaning that it’s only compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, and of course not ever new car sold will have CarPlay integration built-in (it’ll likely be an add-on option for many of these manufacturers, since it represents a chance to offer additional value and that’s generally the way upgrade packages work).
Still, it’s a big potential market, and while it does represent existing people who already own iPhone devices, it still has the power to impact iPhone sales via the network effect, the same way existing ecosystem accessories do. The more devices ‘Made for iPhone’ or featuring app-enabled software and features, the better for Apple’s overall ability to make its gadgets appealing to customers.
But CarPlay has even more upside than most of the accessories in Apple’s web; It represents a way to get actual iOS usage time up, during a time when usage would otherwise be more or less impossible to get. The system is designed to make it easy to access and use your iPhone’s services and software via Siri, touchscreen display panels, and knobs, buttons and other hardware controls. It offers access to hands-free calling functions, but also Siri search, messages and Maps. That last one means that Apple will have an opportunity to push its own maps over those of competitors like Google, and that’s a big deal for its efforts to improve the service.
All that additional data gathered will help improve the accuracy of maps and directions, and in turn that will mean better performance and reliability for consumers. Plus, it’s a host of location data that was going uncaptured before, which Apple can use anonymized to help it paint a better picture of iOS device usage overall.
Finally, Apple touts that this will work with other apps, including Podcasts and a number of music services from third-parties including Beats Radio, iHeartRadio, Spotify and Stitcher. Again, software with car-focused functionality represents an opportunity for Apple to grow its ecosystem. Based on this first reveal, it looks likely to take the form of a gradual, hand-selected roll-out more akin to how Apple has handled adding Apple TV software partners, but in the end it means more software, in more places, for more iOS users, and key to keeping usage up.
Apple touts usage at virtually every event these days; it uses this as a metric with merit, one in which it says you can actually glean more valuable information about user satisfaction than in something more general like total unit sales. CarPlay gives its users more excuses to venture away from the fold, even for temporary absences, and that’s bound to help push customer loyalty among iOS users even higher.
IMF official Klingen: Lithuania debt is at a turning point; deficit cuts are faster than targeted
- Lithuania looks relatively safe to meet fiscal criteria for Euro entry
Link to translation : {http://bit.ly/MIbWDC}
Link to French :{http://bit.ly/1dfWTLU}
We must beat the iron while it is hot. According to our sources, Vivendi has set a deadline of Wednesday, March 5, 20 am, for the submission of offers to buy SFR , a subsidiary of Telecom.
In fact, the cable operator Numericable and its shareholder Altice have already filed it a few days ago a proposed offer. The call for applications is launched by Vivendi, this time, to make out of wood Bouygues , who does not hide his appetite for the acquisition of its competitor, but has not yet formalized its interest. Free , however, remains ambush but would not be willing to articulate a concrete proposal at this stage, according to a close the procedure.
CVC FUND IN TROUBLE-PARTY
Others may play spoilsport. According to our information, the investment fund CVC Capital Partners, owner of Sunrise, the second mobile operator in Switzerland , explore the possibility of entering the race. Vivendi expects to obtain higher valuations than 15 billion euros of its subsidiary.
Meanwhile, the war lobbies full swing. Given the stakes in terms of jobs, investment, consolidation for the telecom sector, related to the sale of the second French operator who employs 10 000 people, Vivendi must take account of the positions of the Competition Authority and government.
While Martin Bouygues has an active campaign to make claims to its proposed takeover of government, Drahi Patrick, the patron Altice, is expected to meet this week Arnaud Montebourg, the minister of productive recovery and Fleur Pellerin, Minister delegated to the digital economy.
AD HOC COMMITTEE
Within the Supervisory Board of Vivendi, an ad hoc committee was formed in order to study applications for redemption. This committee is chaired by Henri Lachman, one of the members of the board, close to President Jean-René Fourtou.
Until then, the group had trumpeted its intention to put in Exchange SFR. But this prospect away. The insistence of Mr. Drahi to put their hands on SFR catalyzed Vivendi to try to raise the cons-offers.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
BN 03/03 13:34 *VIVENDI HAS SET MARCH 5 DEADLINE FOR SFR BIDS, LE MONDE SAYS
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
*VIVENDI HAS SET MARCH 5 DEADLINE FOR SFR BIDS, LE MONDE SAYS 2014-03-03 13:35:16.729 GMT
--JURJEN VAN DE POL
-0- Mar/03/2014 13:35 GMT
Gapping down
In reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: NUS -4.8%, CLDX -2.5%, DRI -2.3%, (light volume), JKS -2.2%, CTB -2.1%, SSYS -0.9%, BRK.B -0.5%.
Russia related names under significant pressure with ongoing turmoil in Ukraine/Russia: MTL -21.1%, YNDX -17.3%, MBT -12.9%, QIWI -9.5%, VIP -8.5%, CETV -7.2%, MT -4.2%
Select financial related names showing weakness: ING -5%, UBS -2.6%, MS -2.3%, SAN -2.2%, IRE -1%, .
Solar stocks trading lower: HSOL -3.3%, TSL -3.3%, YGE -2.9%, CSIQ -2.7%, SUNE -2.5%, FSLR -1.9%, RGSE -1.6%, SPWR -1%.
Select oil/gas related names showing early weakness: BP -2.2%, WFT -2.1%, RDS.A -1.1%, XOM -0.9%, VLO -0.8% (Klesse has chosen to step down as Chief Executive Officer).
Battery related names (recent momentum) are pulling back: BLDP -6.2%, CPST -5%, PLUG -3.2%, FCEL -2.8%
Other news: CCIH -12.3% ( announces $55 mln Private Placement), ARIA -3.4% (still checking), SCTY -3.1% (will be a reallocation of overhead expenses from leased systems to system sales, affecting 2012/13 GAAP numbers), HD -2.4% (Home Depot planning exec changes, according to reports out over the weekend), CTIC -2.3% (opens enrollment for PERSIST-2 Phase 3 trial of Pacritinib for patients with myelofibrosis who have low platelet counts), C -2.1% (Citigroup and Goldman Sachs (GS) being investigated over corporate bond trading, according to reports), LVS -1.5% (says customer data was compromised in hacking - Bloomberg TV ), SODA -1.5% ( announces strategic agreement with Sunny Delight Beverages; downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays; tgt lowered to $40 from $55), BA -1.3% ( FAA wants more improved cockpit automation in 737, according to reports ), IBM -1.1% (Warren Buffet on CNBC says he bought 'a few' shares of IBM this year and last year ), NDLS -1% (following cautious Barron's mention), AAPL -0.8% ( announces leading auto OEMs are rolling out CarPlay, for use iPhone in the car), MSFT -0.8% (Two higher execs to leave MSFT, according to reports ), CMCSA -0.8% (to acquire Video Ad Company FreeWheel for $320 mln, according to reports ), HLF -0.5% ( Icahn discloses acquisition of 33,515 more shares of HLF at $66.40 (~$2.23 mln), bringing total stake to 17 mln shares), .
Analyst comments: ADSK -3.2% ( downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Citigroup), INFY -2.8% ( downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Robert Baird), AZN -1.9% (downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill), MWE -1.3% (downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS; tgt lowered to $65 from $72)
AMCOL International MTX raises offer ~5% to $45/shr from $42.50/shr
- Minerals Technologies has made an increased cash offer of $45 per share to acquire all outstanding shares of AMCOL International Corporation of Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The revised offer has been approved unanimously by the Minerals Technologies board and is clearly superior to the recently announced $42.75 per share offer made by Paris-based Imerys S.A. for AMCOL.
- Minerals Technologies' superior all-cash $45 per share offer was conveyed today to AMCOL's Board of Directors. JPMorgan has provided signed commitment papers with respect to financing the purchase price of the transaction. Minerals Technologies (MTI) expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings upon closing, excluding acquisition-related costs and charges, even before consideration of significant synergies. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2014 and would be subject to customary closing conditions.
- Minerals Technologies has identified a minimum of $50 million in near-term cost synergies, and expects to deliver more over time through the deployment of MTI's Operational Excellence/Lean management approach, speed to market with new products through combined technology platforms, accelerated geographic expansion and synergies in overlapping markets. MTI's lean approach to continuous improvement, which has shaped it into a strong, high-performance, cash-flow generating operating company, will enable the company to quickly and effectively integrate AMCOL and to drive near-term growth in shareholder value.
***Reminder: On Feb 24th, Minerals Technologies increased its offer to acquire AMCOL International by 1% to $42.50 per share in cash from $42. On Feb 12th Imerys to acquire ACO for $41/share in cash or $1.6B.
AMCOL International MTX raises offer to $45.00/shr from $42.50/shr
Rival bid for Amcol trumps $1.6bn offer
The battle to acquire Amcol International, the US minerals and materials group, is set to resume this week with domestic rival Minerals Technologies lining up a bid that would value the business at between $1.6bn and $2bn.
Amcol last week agreed to be bought by Imerys, the French materials group, for $42.75 a share, implying a value of $1.6bn including debt. Minerals Technologies is preparing to trump that offer, however, and could make public its bid as early as Monday, according to people familiar with the process.
The competition for Amcol reflects the Illinois-based group’s large reserves of bentonite – a versatile mineral used in the construction and energy industries. The company, which employs 2,800 people, also has a transport division.
The Imerys offer, which has been approved by Amcol’s board, is $0.25 a share higher than the original bid by Minerals Technologies. The price is also 4.3 per cent higher than Imerys’s initial $41 a share offer.
It is unclear how much higher Mineral Technologies is planning to go. The company and its advisers, Lazard and Cravath, declined to discuss the matter.
Bentonite is formed through the weathering of volcanic ash, with exposure to water turning the rock dust to highly absorbent clay. The material is used for landfill lining, walling and as lubrication for drilling machines. Besides industrial uses, bentonite is found in cat litter and has been used as a laxative. Amcol began processing the material in 1928.
In announcing the takeover deal on February 12, Gilles Michel, chief executive of Imerys, said it was a “very important milestone” that will allow the company “to strengthen its presence in the US, to be more innovative, and to enhance its growth profile”.
Amcol, which is being advised by Goldman Sachs and Kirkland Ellis, has operations in 26 countries and would help Imerys offset the sluggish demand in European construction markets.
Imerys’ bid, the second to be accepted by Amcol’s board, is not dependent on any financing.
Analysts have been positive about the impact such a takeover would have for the Imerys share price. However, some have questioned a decision that marks a deviation from M&A strategy by the French group.
Analysts at Société Générale said in a recent note that the price, which implies a multiple of 11.3 times the 2013 expected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, was “far above the multiples the group has tended to pay in the past”.
Amcol’s shares have risen by 30 per cent since the start of February and closed at $44.38 on Friday.