TECHNICOLOR: Technicolor and DIRECTV Sign Contract Extension for Technicolor Set-Top Boxes

July 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

PARIS, Jul 29 (MARKET WIRE) —
Technicolor and DIRECTV Sign Contract

Extension for Technicolor Set-Top Boxes

Technicolor’s 3D Services Enable the Launch of DIRECTV’s First 3D VOD
Service

Paris (France), July 29, 2010 – Technicolor (Euronext Paris : FR0010918292
; NYSE : TCH) today announced the signing of a three year contract
extension to provide a wide range of SD and HD set-top boxes to DIRECTV,
the world’s most popular video service. Technicolor is also the preferred
provider of 3D services, enabling the launch of DIRECTV’s first 3D VOD
service.

Since the beginning of this relationship, Technicolor has provided more
than 48 million set-top-boxes to DIRECTV. The contract extension will
allow the two companies to further develop their collaboration in new
areas such as 3D, to meet the demands of the ever-increasing number of
DIRECTV customers. DIRECTV is the first video service provider to offer a
suite of three dedicated 3D channels including n3D On Demand.

“Technicolor has been a strategic business partner for DIRECTV for over
fifteen years and has been a supplier in every set top box product
category available for DIRECTV”, said Vince Pizzica, Head of Digital
Delivery at Technicolor. “We are now supporting a significant number of
HD channels, and are ready to meet new challenges in the future, such as
greater interactivity and stereoscopic 3D services. We are honored that
DIRECTV continues to put its faith in Technicolor to support these
advanced services.”

Technicolor has been providing DIRECTV with multiple technology services
such as high performance set-top-boxes, hospitality video systems, multi-
dwelling broadcast distribution systems and aircraft video distribution
technologies. DIRECTV has a strong reputation as an innovative
broadcaster, rolling out new services including more than 160 channels of
high definition television, offering integrated DVR functionality and now
as a leader in 3D video services.

“Technicolor has consistently delivered the reliable, high quality
products we need to remain at the forefront of the industry,” said Romulo
Pontual, CTO of DIRECTV. “We look forward to continuing our relationship
and leadership position as we enter new frontiers of innovation like 3D
viewing in the home.”

Technicolor, widely recognised as one of the leading suppliers of set-top
boxes worldwide, reached the milestone of delivering 100 million digital
set-top boxes at the end of past year.

***

Technicolor is a company listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and NYSE stock
exchanges, and this press release contains certain statements that
constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe
harbor” of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations
and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed, forecasted or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a
more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties, refer
to Technicolor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
and its filings with the French Autorite des marches financiers.

***

About Technicolor

With more than 95 years of experience in entertainment innovation,
Technicolor serves an international base of entertainment, software, and
gaming customers. The company is a leading provider of production,
postproduction, and distribution services to content creators and
distributors. Technicolor is one of the world’s largest film processors;
one of the largest independent manufacturers and distributors of DVDs
(including Blu-ray Disc); and a leading global supplier of set-top boxes
and gateways. The company also operates an Intellectual Property and
Licensing business.

For more information: www.technicolor.com

Press contacts: +33 1 41 86 53 93

technicolorpressoffice@technicolor.com

Investor relations: +33 1 41 86 55 95

investor.relations@technicolor.com

Shareholder relations:

shareholder@technicolor.com

Industry Analyst Relations: +33 1 41 86 59 39

industryanalystrelations@technicolor.com

This information is provided by HUGIN

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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EDB Business Partner ASA: New CFO for EDB

July 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Oslo, 12 July 2010) EDB Business Partner ASA has appointed Jon A. Elde (41) as its new
Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr Elde will take up his appointment no later than 1
November 2010. Elde is also proposed as CFO for the combined company EDB ErgoGroup ASA.

Jon A. Elde is currently CFO of GTB Invest ASA. He has previously worked as the CFO of
Ringnes, part of the Carlsberg Group, and in corporate development in Orkla and
corporate finance KPMG. Elde holds a MBA from Manchester Business School and a BSc from
the University of Southern California.

“The appointment of Jon A. Elde gives both EDB and the combination EDB ErgoGroup ASA an
experienced CFO with a background in both industrial and financial activities as well as
experience from working for a large international group”, comments acting CEO John-Arne
Haugerud.

Vidar Nysæther is appointed as acting CFO until Mr Elde takes up his appointment.

Any questions may be addressed to:

John-Arne Haugerud, Acting CEO EDB. Tel: + 47 22 77 21 01
Jon A. Elde. Tel: + 47 93201690

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian
Securities Trading Act)

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Dialog Semiconductor Schedules Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Call For Tuesday, 20 July 2010

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

KIRCHHEIM/TECK, Germany–(Business Wire)–
Dialog Semiconductor plc (FWB: DLG), a leading provider of high integrated
innovative Power Management Semiconductor solutions, will hold its Second
Quarter 2010 earnings call on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 at 08.30 am (London) / 09.30
am (Frankfurt).

The Company’s Second Quarter 2010 financial results will be released at
approximately 07.00 am (London) / 8.00 am (Frankfurt).

During the conference call, Jalal Bagherli, Chief Executive Officer and
Jean-Michel Richard, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will review
Dialog Semiconductor’s Second Quarter 2010 results. Following this review,
questions will be taken from analysts and investors.

The management team invites you to participate in this conference call.
Participants may join the conference call by dialling the following numbers:

From Germany: 0800 10 12 072

From the UK: 0800 358 0886

From the US: 1 877 941 2927

A replay of the call will be available for 30 days following the end of the
conference call. Please dial the following number +49 69 58 99 90 568 followed
by the access code 143103#. An audio replay of the conference call will also be
posted on the Company’s website shortly after. Please use the following link to
access the website: http://www.diasemi.com/investor_relations_home.php

Für weitere Informationen:

Dialog Semiconductor FD London FD Frankfurt
Neue Strasse Matt Dixon Lucie Maucher
D-73230 Kirchheim/Teck T +44 20 7269 7214 T +49 69 920 37 183
Germany matt.dixon@fd.com lucie.maucher@fd.com
T: +49 7021 805 412
dialog@fd.com

www.dialog-semiconductor.com

Notes to Editors

Dialog Semiconductor creates energy-efficient, highly integrated, mixed-signal
circuits optimised for personal mobile, lighting & display and automotive
applications. The company provides flexible and dynamic support, world-class
innovation and the assurance of dealing with an established business partner.

With its unique focus and expertise in system power management, Dialog brings
decades of experience to the rapid development of integrated circuits for power
management, audio, display processing and motor control. Dialog’s processor
companion chips are essential for enhancing both the performance of hand-held
products and the consumers’ multimedia experience. With world-class
manufacturing partners, Dialog operates a fabless business model.

Dialog Semiconductor plc is headquartered near Stuttgart with a global sales,
R&D and marketing organisation. In 2009, it recorded $218 million in revenue and
was one of the fastest growing European public semiconductor companies. It
currently has approximately 370 employees. The company is listed on the
Frankfurt (FWB: DLG) stock exchange.

Sprache: Deutsch
Unternehmen: Dialog Semiconductor Plc.
Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine’s Way
E1W 1AA London
Großbritannien
Telefon: +49 7021 805-412
Fax: +49 7021 805-200
E-Mail: birgit.hummel@diasemi.com
Internet: www.diasemi.com
ISIN: GB0059822006
WKN: 927200
Indizes: TecDAX
Börsen: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg

Dialog Semiconductor plc
Birgit Hummel, +49 7021-805 412
carsten.dahl@diasemi.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Woori and Blackstone in stake sale talks: report

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – South Korea’s Woori Finance Holdings was in discussions with U.S. private equity house Blackstone Group over the acquisition of a stake in the state-owned Korean bank, reports said on Thursday.

Deals

The government, which holds a 57 percent stake in Woori worth around $6 billion, plans to announce a detailed sales plan for the country’s No.3 banking group in coming weeks. Industry officials do not expect it to be sold as a single block.

Woori Chief Executive Lee Pal-seung had met Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman on Tuesday in New York and had asked the U.S. firm to participate in the auction, the Korea Economic Daily and MoneyToday said, both in unsourced reports.

A Woori spokesman said the group could not confirm whether privatization was discussed, and said Lee had met Schwarzman as a business partner because a Woori unit has invested $60 million in a private equity fund run by Blackstone.

(Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Chris Lewis)

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Woori, Blackstone in stake sale talks – report

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 24 (Reuters) – South Korea’s Woori Finance Holdings (053000.KS) was in discussions with U.S. private equity house Blackstone Group (BX.N) over the acquisition of a stake in the state-owned Korean bank, reports said on Thursday.

Stocks | Mergers & Acquisitions | Global Markets | Funds News | ETFs News | Private Capital

The government, which holds a 57 percent stake in Woori worth around $6 billion, plans to announce a detailed sales plan for the country’s No.3 banking group in coming weeks. Industry officials do not expect it to be sold as a single block.

Woori Chief Executive Lee Pal-seung had met Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman on Tuesday in New York and had asked the U.S. firm to participate in the auction, the Korea Economic Daily and MoneyToday said, both in unsourced reports.

A Woori spokesman said the group could not confirm whether privatisation was discussed, and said Lee had met Schwarzman as a business partner because a Woori unit has invested $60 million in a private equity fund run by Blackstone. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Chris Lewis)

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UPDATE 2-Norwegian IT firms EDB, Ergo in merger talks

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

OSLO, May 31 (Reuters) – Norwegian IT firms EDB Business Partner (EDBASA.OL) and Ergo Group are in talks over a possible merger, the firms said on Monday, with state ownership seen by analysts as a potential stumbling block for the deal.

“EDB has initiated formal dialogue with Ergo Group AS,” EDB said in a statement.

Ergo’s owner Posten Norge confirmed talks were ongoing shortly after.

Ergo Group generated revenue of 5.2 billion Norwegian crowns ($814 million) in 2009, while EDB Business Partner’s ran to 7.5 billion crowns.

Shares in EDB were up 10 percent at 0951 GMT, while Telenor stock was flat. The Oslo benchmark index .OSEBX was down 0.4 percent.

Analyst Andre Adolfsen at Nordea Markets said the prospects of an earnings accretive deal with Ergo and the possible reduction of Telenor’s stake in EDB was behind the stock rally.

“This would make the share trade in EDB much more liquid,” he said.

Norwegian telephone company Telenor (TEL.OL) owns 51 percent of EDB Business Partner. The Norwegian government holds 54 percent of Telenor, while Ergo is state owned through Posten.

“Both companies have struggled with weak margins in recent years, so a consolidation could lead to savings in administration — which would mean layoffs — and on IT infrastructure,” Adolfsen at Nordea said.

He added that the prospect of layoffs made the deal less likely, given the large state ownership.

“It would become an IT mastodon in Norway, which could also be negative for the competition in the industry,” Adolfsen said.

However, EDB has yet to replace Endre Rangnes, who resigned as Chief Executive in January, which could make negotiations easier, he added.

Telenor has said for years it was considering options for EDB. In 2008 a newspaper reported that EDB was seen by investors as “a perfect merger partner” for Nordic IT services provider Tieto TIEV.HE, but nothing came of it.

“We have for a long time sought to find a good and long-term industrial solution for EDB,” Telenor spokesman Scott Engebrigtsen said, but otherwise declined to comment on the merger talks between Ergo and EDB. ($1=6.390 Norwegian Crown) (Editing by Will Waterman)

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Briton jailed for life for killing NRI business partner

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In a widely followed case, a British solicitor has been jailed for life for arranging the contract killing of his NRI business partner to claim 1.5 million pounds insurance to pay off his debts.

John Cort, a solicitor in the east Midlands town of Leicester, hired Brain Farrell, a hit-man from Bayswater in west London, to kill 51-year-old Vina Patel.

The body of Patel was found at the bottom of the stairs at the office of Cort and Co solicitors on 15 January 2009. Cort tried to make the death look like an accident.

Cort and Patel were business partners in the company.

54-year-old Cort and Farrell, 37, were found guilty of killing Patel and were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Nottingham Crown Court yesterday sentenced Cort to a life term with a minimum term of 29 years while Farrell has been jailed for a minimum term of 27 years.

Justice Linda Dobbs at Nottingham crown court ruled that the murder was “premeditated, calculated and ruthless”.

“You deprived the family and friends of Vina Patel of a cherished person. That you, Mr Cort, were able to have murdered a close friend of 30 years, erstwhile lover of 20 years and partner prepared to help you with your divorce, reveals your true character. You are a controlling person who will stop at nothing to achieve your aims. You were the driving force behind the murder,” Dobbs said.

Patel suffered a broken neck as well as other injuries. The court evidence suggested she had either fallen because she was being attacked or had been attacked then her body arranged to make it look like an accident.

Surendra Patel, the husband of the deceased, said after the verdict: “We wanted justice for Vina, this is it. The man (Cort) is completely callous, there was no reaction at all. I think he is the devil. If you ever want to meet the devil, he is it.”

The court was told that Cort “lived a life he simply could not afford” and had 171,000 pounds of debt.

Weeks before Patel’s death, Cort had persuaded her they should increase their life assurance cover from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds, claiming he had a serious illness.

The life insurance policy had been taken out by Cort and Patel to protect the company in case of the death of either partner.

Besides, more than 650,000 pounds went missing from the company’s client account, which should have been paid to customers or mortgage lenders.

The company was investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) after Cort’s arrest.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Redfern said although Patel’s death originally looked like an accident, thorough examination of the scene and an expert post-mortem examination led to an investigation which identified Cort and Farrell as those responsible for her death.

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Russian ex-PM says tycoon’s arrest was political

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Kremlin ordered the arrest of Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky because he had angered Vladimir Putin by funding opposition parties, Putin’s former prime minister said on Monday in court.

Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man, was arrested in 2003 and his business empire was then carved up and sold, mostly to state-controlled companies.

Mikhail Kasyanov, who became a vociferous Kremlin critic after serving as Putin’s prime minister from 2000 to 2004, said at a court hearing that Putin had told him YUKOS owner Khordorkovky and long-term business partner Platon Lebedev were arrested for bankrolling the Communist party.

“Both (YUKOS) co-owners were arrested on politically motivated grounds,” Kasyanov told the court. Russian officials have always denied any political motivation for the arrests.

(Reporting by Aydar Buribayev, writing by Dmitry Solovyov, editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

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Indian man on Interpol list arrested in US

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

An Indian man, who is on an Interpol list after he was sentenced in absentia to serve four imprisonment in the UK for smuggling cigarettes, has been arrested at the city’s O’Hare International Airport as he was about to board a flight to India.

Anis Gulamras Vohora, 39, was on an “Interpol lookout” list and was stopped by Chicago Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as he was boarding a flight to India over the weekend, the CBP said in a statement here.

He was arrested by CBP officers pending confirmation of extradition to the United Kingdom, where in October 2008, he was sentenced to serve four years in prison.

Vohora was turned over by CBP to the US Marshal’s Service on Monday for extradition to the UK.

It is unknown at this time if Vohora will be facing additional charges upon return to England.

“This apprehension is the direct result of that vigilance and attention to detail in apprehending Vohora and bringing him to justice,” said David Murphy, CBP director of field operations in Chicago.

Arrested along with three other men in August 2006 in the United Kingdom, Vohora was accused of seizing almost one million illicit cigarettes and 35 pounds of tobacco.

The operation led investigators to a residential house owned by Vohora’s business partner, where they uncovered extensive hand written ledgers detailing the organisation’s purchase and sale of more than 27 million smuggled cigarettes and four tons of hand rolling tobacco between November 2005 and August 2006.

The loss of revenue to the United Kingdom is estimated at around USD six million.

In November 2007, Vohora failed to appear at his trial and a bench warrant was issued.

In October 2008, a British judge found Vohora guilty in abstentia and sentenced him to serve four years in a British prison.

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U.S. charges Australian with laundering $500 mln

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

U.S. prosecutors arrested an Australian man in Las Vegas on Friday on charges that he helped gamblers and illegal Internet gambling companies launder $500 million.

In a case unsealed in New York, prosecutors accused Daniel Tzvetkoff, 27, of processing gambling proceeds and making them appear legal to banks, starting in early 2008.

He created dozens of so-called shell companies in a scheme that he once wrote was “perfect,” prosecutors said.

Tzvetkoff was charged on four counts, including bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to operate and finance an illegal gambling business.

If convicted, he could face up to 75 years in prison.

Prosectors said Tzvetkoff stopped processing transactions in March 2009 after leading gambling websites accused him of stealing $100 million.

Tzvetkoff, who had a penchant for exotic cars and mansions, has also been sued by a former business partner for failing to keep accurate financial records, The Courier-Mail newspaper in Brisbane, Australia has reported.

(Reporting by Dana Ford)

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Delays in Burke trial

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The lawyer for former West Australian premier Brian Burke has hit out at prosecutors over a delay in the start of his client’s corruption trial.

Mr Burke, his business partner Julian Grill and a former public servant, Nathan Hondros, were due to stand trial today on charges of corruption and disclosing official information.

The charges arise from a 2007 inquiry by the Corruption and Crime Commission into the influence of lobbyists on public officals.

The start of the trial was put off to next week because the lawyers needed time to examine witness statements provided to them late last week.

Mr Burke’s lawyer said it was inappropriate that his legal team received the material so late.

However, prosecutor Bruno Fiannaca said the reasons for the delay were multifaceted and included late submissions by the defence.

All three men were released on bail.

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Gold Coast businessmen to be sentenced for fraud

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Two Gold Coast businessmen are to be sentenced for tax fraud.

Brothers Adam and Luke Hargraves and business partner Daniel Stoten were each accused of conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth of $3.7 million between 1999 and 2005.

The Court heard the men used an offshore scheme promoted by a Swiss-based accounting firm to avoid paying the tax.

Luke Hargraves was found not guilty after a six week trial this afternoon.

But his brother Adam Hargraves and Daniel Stoten were each found guilty of conspiring to dishonestly cause a loss to the Commonwealth.

They have been remanded in custody to be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

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Lover of collapsed MG Rover director paid 1.7-mn pounds for a year’s work

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 12 (ANI): MG Rover’s director paid his lover 1.7 million pounds for a year’s work, according to a report on the collapse of the car manufacturing giant.

In May 2000, the Phoenix consortium-John Towers, Nick Stephenson, Peter Beale and John Edwards-acquired the business for a nominal 10 pounds from BMW.

BMW ensured that MG Rover could survive for a few years. But from the outset, it was clear that it had no long-term future unless it could find a substantial business partner within the motor industry.

The report into the demise of the giant compiled by Gervase MacGregor, a partner at the accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, and the barrister Guy Newey QC condemns the consortium which made a fortune out of the collapsed car maker, The Independent reports.

They reported that the four directors supplied inaccurate and misleading information about Rover’s finances to MPs, and singled out evidence Beale gave to the Commons trade and industry select committee.

They expressed concern over the plainly excessive fee of almost 1.7 million pounds paid to Dr Qu Li for advice she gave the Phoenix management about potential business partners in China.

For some of the time Dr Li was paid by Rover, she and Stephenson were having an affair. The report protested about the poor “corporate governance” of the Phoenix team: some board members were not invited to several board meetings and inaccurate minutes were taken of discussions.

Despite the failure of MG Rover between 2000 and 2005, the Phoenix Four continued to pay themselves generously right up to the group’s demise in 2005.

Towers, who led the buyout, was paid 8.96 million pounds, Stephenson 8.98 million pounds and Edwards received 9.02 million pounds. Beale, who is accused of misleading the parliamentary inquiry into the company’s collapse, was paid 8.98 million pounds over the four years, while Howe pocketed 5.71 million pounds.

The report cleared ministers of blame for MG Rover’s demise. (ANI)

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Meera seeks protection after house attack

September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, August 31 (ANI): Pakistani actress Meera is seeking protection from the Punjab Government, following a recent “terrorists” attack on her house.

The star said that she was under constant threat from a special group of terrorists under the ringleader namely Attiqur Rehman, her former business partner.

“The terrorists attacked my house aiming to abduct and kill me,” the Nation quoted her saying at her DHA residence.

Meera revealed that she had been assured of adequate security by Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, but she had turned to the Punjab Chief Minister for protection.

She alleged that Attiqur, rumoured to be her husband, began threatening her after she withdrew from the business. (ANI)

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O’Neal slams allegations he cheated on Fawcett with Stewart

July 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, July 16 (ANI): American actor Ryan O’Neal has slammed allegations that he was having an affair with late actress Farrah Fawcett’s best friend Alana Stewart, while his long-term girlfriend was battling cancer.

Both O’Neal, 68, and Stewart, 64, are said to have grown closer in the last three years after they joined forces to support Fawcett, who was battling anal cancer.

But O’Neal’s estranged son Griffin, who is one of the sources making the sordid claims, said that their friendship took a romantic turn during Fawcett’s final months, before her death on June 25.

“They were sharing a room together,” Contactmusic quoted him as having told In Touch Weekly magazine.

Griffin, 44, also claims that Fawcett’s ageing father, Jim, once walked in on the pair in the bedroom after flying in from Houston, Texas, to visit his ailing daughter.

“It made Jim uncomfortable, so he packed his bags and went home,” he added.

Javier Salazar, a friend of O’Neal and Fawcett’s son Redmond, also made a similar claim.

“Ryan and Alana’s relationship was fishy,” he said.

A former business partner of Fawcett’s also added: “Ryan and Alana are a little too cozy with each other. It is raising eyebrows. They both stayed at Farrah’s (home) in the end.”

Representatives for both O’Neal and Stewart have denied the claims, but have declined to comment further. (ANI)

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Beijing Olympian becomes pimp as he lacks funding for 2012 London Olympics

July 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Wellington, Jul 13 (ANI): New Zealand taekwondo practitioner Logan Campbell has turned to pimping after his funds dried up, and his chances at making the London Olympics in 2012 looked slim.

Campbell, 23, joined hands with business partner Hugo Phillips, 20, last week, and launched a “high-class gentleman’s club” (read brothel) near Auckland’s infamous K Rd.

Campbell, who finished in the top 16 in the featherweight division at Beijing, after losing his first match against reigning world champion Yu-Chi Sung, of Taiwan, hopes to get to London off the earnings of prostitution.

He said that Sung was a “movie star” in his home country, and “never has to worry about funding”.

His 2008 Olympic campaign had cost 150,000 dollars, and Campbell hoped to raise the 300,000 dollars that he estimated he would need for the 2012 Olympics

Most of the money came from his parents, with his father, Max, an auctioneer, working two jobs to get his son to the Olympics.

Campbell said that he was sick of being a burden on his parents, which is why he planned on taking two years off from taekwondo in order to work full time before returning to training in 2011.

He believes with that kind of money behind him, he will be a serious medal prospect.

But his unorthodox fundraising plan has not gone down well with his national body.

TNZ funding manager John Schofield said that although it would not affect his membership, it would be taken into account when considering him for international selection.

“Selection takes into account not just performance but also the athlete’s ability to serve as an example to the youth of the country,” the NZPA quoted him as saying.

The new club, named 25 Cross St, opened this month and is one of the country’s biggest with 14 rooms.

Phillips put up some of the money, and the building owner also helped with finance.

“Mum was hesitant but she met the girls, a couple came over to her house and she was sweet as. She realised they were just normal people supporting their kids and stuff,” Campbell said.

Phillips, an Auckland University of Technology accounting graduate, said that his parents, both lawyers, were not so keen.

Convinced that the sex industry was riddled with criminals and gangsters, his criminal lawyer mother, did not approve.

“I’ll be representing you in court if you continue with this,” she had said.

Campbell said that he was not a pimp in the traditional sense, and described his establishment as an escort agency.

“When people think of a pimp they think of a guy standing around on a street corner with gold chains. Pimps are more tough-type guys. I’m an owner of an escort agency,” he said. (ANI)

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MJ’s ex-wife to attend kids’ custody battle

July 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, July 13 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe might attend the custody hearing scheduled for July 20, it has emerged.

According to Marc Schaffel, a former business partner of Jackson andowe’s close friend, the 49-year-old is planning to attend the hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court for temporary guardianship of the children Prince 12, Paris 11 and Blanket 7.

“(Debbie) says that she will definitely be at the custody hearing,” People magazine quoted Schaffel as saying.

Meanwhile, the debate over the custody further increased, after it was revealed that a third person might try to claim rights.

Michael sister La Toya has revealed that her brother had made another will in 2007, in which he might have named someone else as their preferred guardian.

She said that the 50-year-old singer actually wanted the kids to live with his eldest sister Rebbie, 59. (ANI)

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Lindsay Lohan starts her own production company

July 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Jul 11 (ANI): ‘Mean Girls’ star Lindsay Lohan, 23, has started her own production company.

She has joined hands with business partner Kristi Kaylor, who runs the actress’ 6126 leggings brand, for their new venture Unforgettable Productions.

The duo is planning to create TV and movie projects in which Lohan can star, and they have already set the wheels in motion for two projects.

The new ventures include a TV show called ‘Faux Real’, which Lohan plans to make in answer to hit U.S. series ‘Entourage’, and a game show called ‘That’s What Friends Are For’, which will partner with charitable organisations

According to Kaylor, both are also optioning two books for film and television and are using the booming popularity of digital media to make their projects more easily accessible.

“We’re taking a 360-degree approach. Lindsay is 23 years old, and she’s so plugged in to mobile media,” Contactmusic quoted her as having told the Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)

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Lohan twitters “no formula was stolen” to create tanning line

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Jul 9 (ANI): After being accused of stealing someone else’s formula for her tanning line, ‘Mean Girls’ star Lindsay Lohan has taken to her Twitter page to deny it.

Scientist Jennifer Sunday had filed a federal lawsuit against Lohan and her business partner Lorit Simon for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, civil conspiracy, intentional interference with contractual relations and deceptive and unfair trade practices.

But Lohan, who takes credit for co-creating the spray tan mist, named after her lucky numbers, and sold for 35 dollars at Sephora, with Simon, a Las Vegas-based businesswoman, denies the theft.

“No formula was stolen for Sevin Nyne!” Us magazine quoted the actress, who just turned 23-years-old, as having written.

“It’s a woman looking for a payday. That’s it!” she added. (ANI)

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Nissan, Europcar to jointly sell electric cars in 2010

May 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Nissan, Europcar to jointly sell electric cars in 2010 Tokyo – Nissan Motor Co and Europcar Groupe SA have agreed to form a partnership to sell and lease electric vehicles from 2010, the Japanese carmaker said Tuesday.

The two companies plan to market electric cars first in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and then introduce them in other countries.

The partnership gives drivers “the option of exploring a new means of mobility by giving them the unique experience of using an electric vehicle in order to encourage them to become better eco-citizens,” Rafael Girona, chief operating officer of Europcar, said in a statement.

Nissan and its business partner, France’s Renault SA, also plan to introduce zero-emission vehicles in the United States and Japan starting in 2010, with the aim of leading zero-emission mobility in the industry.

They expect to start marketing electric vehicles worldwide in 2012. (dpa)

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